Some thoughts on moving from 1Gb to 2.5G and switching to Wi-Fi 6.
Some thoughts on moving from 1Gb to 2.5G and switching to Wi-Fi 6.
Right now I’m using an Asus RT-AC66U with a Netgear GS116E as an unmanaged switch. It previously was a GS116V2 but failed, so the replacement came through warranty. I only connect one LAN port to the switch, and all my wired gear is plugged in there. It’s been reliable for years—especially back when we used slower cables—but this RT-AC66U feels outdated. Internet speeds have kept climbing since then, and now I’ve switched to gigabit fiber. The router I own dates back about a decade; it shows age and struggles with my current fiber connection, often dropping speed. I’m considering an upgrade, but replacing both the router and switch seems necessary if I want future systems to sync at 2.5Gbps, even though my internet is still capped at 1Gbit. I’m unsure if a simple swap will suffice unless I’m willing to spend a lot.
There don’t appear to be many 16-port switches under $600–800 from brands like Netgear, especially with 2.5+ ports. Most models seem limited to around 8 ports or fewer, which fits my needs since only a few devices run at 2.5Gbps and most are slower. I’m also aware that fiber support is growing—up to 5Gbit in some areas—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to upgrade without breaking the bank.
I’ve noticed that routers usually have just one or two 2.5Gbps ports, often for WAN or a single LAN connection. Most lack more than one, and only a handful have four. I searched for good options with both WAN and LAN at 2.5Gbps or higher and found mostly Asus and TP-Link models. I’m not keen on TP-Link unless there’s a major issue with Asus devices. The two models that caught my eye were the Asus RT-AX88U PRO and the GT-AX6000. The former feels like an updated version of what I have, while the latter is marketed as a gaming router—though I’m not sure if that’s relevant to my needs.
The TP-Link Archer BE550 popped up frequently too. It looks sleek and has four 2.5G ports, which seems odd given its price point. Still, I’m not confident about its build quality or long-term reliability.
I’m weighing whether to stick with the current setup or switch to a different Wi-Fi 6 router that might be more affordable and better suited for my future needs.
It's acceptable to connect switches directly to the routers' LAN ports. Exporting MAC address information varies by router model. Some allow you to download the configuration and view it on a computer, while others require manually copying the list. Since MAC addresses are simple to modify—many devices change them randomly with each connection—it might complicate filtering them. I keep my firewall rules based on MAC addresses to restrict certain devices, such as limiting access for my son during specific times. When searching for a 2.5G network, I evaluated several routers and opted for a mini-PC with pfSense (later OPNsense) as the router, paired with a 2.5G switch and access points. The advantage was that I could easily replace my access points when upgrading my Wi-Fi without purchasing a new router. Everything operates on 2.5G technology. This is just another potential option.
The issue is limited to the devices that are presently connected, displaying only those in the network view. I need to see the complete list or export it if possible. Right now, I just want to confirm which devices are currently linked and identify any unknown ones. The challenge is that the PC requires at least three Ethernet ports—two for 2.5, one for the modem, another for the 2.5 switch, and a third for the gigabit switch. Once that setup is in place, a router would be more affordable and efficient.