Hi there! It seems your old Netgear extender has been having some reliability problems and connection issues. I think upgrading is the right move. I've been focusing on the ASUS RT-AC88U Dual Band AC3100 mainly for extra Ethernet ports and better coverage in my home, but I'm worried the $400 price might be too much for a small space like mine. I also need to support multiple devices—two Google Home Minis, two smartphones, one tablet—and my main activities include streaming Netflix 1080p, using Plex for Blu-ray, and playing online games. Any advice or recommendations would be really helpful. Thanks!
Google’s conversion gives roughly 204 square feet for US users—quite compact. My Synology RT2600AC works well for homes around 1300 sqft or 120 square meters. It still offers dual-band Wi-Fi with AC, but purchasing a router isn’t just about the wireless standard. Features like QoS settings or AP mode functionality are useful if you want to keep using your current provider’s gateway. Others have mentioned ASUS and Netgear also make solid routers; my Synology has performed reliably for nearly a year.