Is the router old and in need of an upgrade?
Is the router old and in need of an upgrade?
Hey there, I'm trying to decide whether to upgrade my router. The main concern is whether it's worth the investment. I usually spend on tech, but I need to convince my wife. Right now, I'm using an old Netgear N150 that's been with me for a while. We're in a small townhouse apartment, with the router downstairs next to our Spectrum modem. Downstairs, the 2.4G connection is about 25-30Mbps at around 6 meters away. Upstairs, the connection is much slower—100Mbit/s, but only when plugged in. (ps4) I've covered all my points, really appreciate any advice! Thanks, Frake34
Place one premium router per floor, centered in the home. Use a top-tier model for the bigger room and stick with the older one until it fails. The main reason is that you and your wife each receive 1-2 new internet connections annually, kids also add more devices, and the old router won’t stay compatible much longer. I purchased a $300 Netgear, and my Wi-Fi speeds beat Ethernet. The times when Wi-Fi is slow are behind us.
Yes, particularly when your gadgets connect via WiFi and support Wireless AC (802.11ac, also known as WiFi 5 due to the updated naming...) because AC offers significantly improved performance over older standards like Wireless N. Upgrading to a robust external antenna router will clearly demonstrate the benefits.
Avoid adding extra routers; it can lead to unnecessary double NAT. If you truly need two units, opt for a wireless router and an access point for the upper level. Simply mounting a large antenna on a router offers limited benefit since remote devices have restricted transmission strength—like comparing a powerful lighthouse to a faint ship lamp—but in smaller homes, you might manage both levels if the top floor is modest and the router is positioned inside. MikroTik devices provide flexibility, working as both router and access point. If most of your gear is wireless (except one), consider the MikroTik Audience priced at $170. It gives you the option to expand bandwidth later by adding another unit that connects to the first. You might also explore Ubiquiti options for higher spending, which feature richer interfaces and more tools. I strongly discourage using generic brands like D-Link, Belkin, TP-Link, etc., as they often release minor firmware updates with little real improvement. If you seek advanced features, you’ll need to purchase a new hardware model. Those who bought MikroTik or Ubiquiti devices ten years ago still receive updates with new capabilities, extending their practical life—though they can’t introduce hardware-based enhancements.
You're correct in pointing this out. I intended to discuss an amplified external antenna setup, specifically a strong external-antenna router. I meant it comes with the router and typically offers good signal strength, usually around 8dBi or higher. I just wanted to highlight the advantage of an external antenna with strong gain compared to an internal, omnidirectional one.
It's possible, though the antenna gain plays a role only in part. I'd argue receiver sensitivity usually matters more than antenna gain. Many routers with big external antennas—often appearing like UFOs about to take off—have poor receiver sensitivity, which means you can use lower modulation rates even at the same signal strength as a device with better sensitivity. The bigger antennas can help somewhat, but they still need to comply with FCC (or similar) rules.
There will be a noticeable difference between a low-quality N150 router and a reliable AC router. 5GHz offers better performance, provided your home isn’t built like a concrete bunker. Using 5GHz can lead to quicker speeds. ASUS and Netgear are the top brands suggested here. I usually use a Synology RT2600AC, which has performed well, but for $200 it’s worth considering. Ubiquti is another brand to consider, though it’s more suited for PROsumers. The choice really depends on your budget.
According to me, Netgear isn't great and I wouldn't suggest it to anyone. I don't have much experience with ASUS either.
Plenty of reasons to upgrade to a new router with at least $80. It will deliver noticeably quicker and more stable Wi-Fi, especially for high-bandwidth tasks like 1080p or 4K streaming on a device such as a Fire Stick.