Each router has its flaws.
Each router has its flaws.
It's G, so everything checks out. It reminds me of a flashback from three years back. The folks who claimed the capacitors in my router were leaking were wrong—my C64 units aren’t showing any issues either. I’m really starting to think I might be right.
There are capacitors and there are quite a few of them. There used to be times when many motherboards failed because their capacitors swelled and leaked due to cost-cutting measures. Capacitors from the 1980s differ greatly from today's models. Cheap Chinese capacitors and Nippon-chemicon capacitors also behave very differently. I've seen a lot of hardware struggle with this issue, requiring capacitor replacement to get it functioning again. Just because you haven't faced it doesn't mean it isn't a widespread problem. Their recommendations are solid, but they come from older hardware (about ten years old) that hasn't received any firmware updates recently. It can still operate to some extent, though it's clearly not ideal for most users.
Based on my modest networking experience, professional Network Engineers generally have limited understanding of consumer hardware. Their expertise tends to focus mainly on premium switches and routers—especially from brands like Cisco or HP Aruba—while they may not be familiar with everyday devices. Additionally, each user’s setup and router configurations vary widely; for instance, some Netgear routers are reluctant to function as access points due to bridge limitations. I’ve been working on this for a few years now, but it’s clear that enterprise networking operates quite differently from consumer routing and tech.
I still have some knowledge about consumer hardware. Do you think we operate $60,000 ASR devices at home? We still need to select our personal gear. I use an $80 Mikrotik consumer router. Honestly, few people are familiar with consumer hardware in certain areas of technology. You don’t buy every brand each week trying to see what works best, the limitations, security issues. You search online and compare experiences whether you’re a best buyer or a network engineer. When folks claim they understand consumer hardware by experience, I usually roll my eyes. Most consumer routers (not modem/router bundles) are quite reliable except for security concerns. The main issues people face are user mistakes or problems with the last mile connection, not the router itself. Many don’t realize the constraints or why their device is behaving the way it does. Sure, bugs do exist, but usually routers get overwhelmed by limited memory and trying to run 100 features at once while managing 40 devices will cause slowdowns and restarts. Enterprise and consumer equipment are quite similar; in fact, most of our Cisco 3850 models have strange or worse issues than many consumer products. We’ve even switched some ME 1200 switches to Mikrotik, and all the problems stopped at those locations. I’m talking about moving from enterprise $1500 switches to consumer-grade ones for a significant cost reduction.
It was definitely a broad statement. I’m mainly working with a handful of engineers, and they didn’t appear to have much experience with consumer routers or access points. That doesn’t mean every network professional is equally knowledgeable about consumer devices. Still, since their role often involves understanding enterprise networking equipment, it makes sense that this isn’t unexpected. I think most people don’t possess the same depth of expertise for consumer hardware as they do for business gear. However, given their responsibility to grasp enterprise-level technology, it’s not surprising at all. I consider Netgear products to be decent, though there are clear distinctions between higher-end and budget options.
I understand your perspective. The truth is, if the router meets your requirements then that's fine. Also, many routers can find new purpose when you apply third-party firmware. This usually improves performance and extends their lifespan. I once had an old Dlink Dir 835 wireless N router that struggled with wireless connections despite running the latest firmware. After installing DDWRT, it worked well and lasted another year or more. The only reason I swapped it was due to security concerns with WPA 2, and I wasn't certain when the DDWRT team would release a patch to address those issues. In general, if something isn't broken, it's probably safe not to update.
Third-party software usually slows things down but improves reliability. It’s not a universal solution, which is why I switched from consumer routers to a basic low-cost PC. I was tired of constantly checking if turning on certain features would stress the router. Sure, I’m handling firewalling and VPNs that most people avoid, but I only realized how valuable they are once I stopped worrying about overloading my device.
I’m not really into networking, but I believe anything G or lower isn’t fast enough by today’s standards. Not because they need to be replaced, but just like a PC, if it meets your performance needs it’s okay. That’s why I’m choosing C.
G has a long history (fifteen years is quite a span in tech), originating when maximum broadband was 24Mbit but usually less than 8Mbit. Back then, WiFi became much more stable after the introduction of 802.11n. By today's standards, N feels slow, and the next big upgrade to AC (AX) is almost here—it’s thrilling because it promises speeds up to 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. Still, using a router by its WiFi type isn’t very helpful. Some G models barely support 8Mbit connections, while others are built for 24Mbit. Even certain AC devices struggle with just 100Mbit Ethernet ports.