Which Router to get in 2020?
Which Router to get in 2020?
Hello everyone, I’m looking for guidance on choosing a router in 2020. I recently purchased an Asus RT-AC88U at a discount, but it’s been acting up—unstable firmware caused frequent disconnections. I tried Merlin firmware, which helped a bit, but still faced issues. Living in a large, renovated house is challenging; installing new cables for a mesh network isn’t feasible. I rely on wired connections for gaming, so stability matters. I’m comfortable with 30-50 ping and don’t mind QoS affecting performance. Many users prefer wireless setups, but I need strong coverage and MU-MIMO support. Overall, I want a router with excellent range and the ability to handle around 15 devices simultaneously. Any suggestions? What models are popular among people in similar situations? I’m open to spending more for a reliable solution. Thanks for your help!
Is your internet service provider offering a straightforward modem or gateway unit? If it's a gateway, which one handles routing and NAT? Would you connect directly via Ethernet to the AC88U? Is your link reliable? Are you achieving the speed you expected during tests? What configurations are applied on the wireless antennas? Did you conduct a wireless assessment prior to setting up the signal, or did the AC88U manage everything automatically? If the latter, please install and operate WiFi Analyzer to display its findings on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels.
They shared a basic modem, but it's quite straightforward to circumvent. I configured a VLAN 102 for the wide area network and now the Asus router acts as my primary modem/router. 2. Using a cable works perfectly. 3. The AC88 handled the setup automatically. If you're asking about the channel, the images show that information. My network name is "Asus_Router." This is positioned directly above the router, which makes me think I'm much farther away than I actually am. The Merlin firmware adjusts to channels frequently (auto mode). Apologies if this wasn't what you intended.
I'll check further. What about the software aspect? Does it experience any performance issues?
If the AC88U automatically picks a wireless channel, it may do so while there’s heavy internet use, leading to brief interruptions. Even though your 2.4GHz network in your area appears busy, try selecting a channel with minimal nearby signals and stay consistent with that choice. Confirm you’re using a 20MHz width for the 2.4GHz radio; you can expand it to 40MHz or 80MHz if supported. Set your authentication to WPA1/WPA2 with AES encryption (avoid TKIP). Make sure your router’s antennas aren’t blocked by walls and there’s enough space around them. Positioning the router centrally can improve coverage. Also, verify none of your other devices are broadcasting on the same 2.4GHz frequency—otherwise, turn off any additional radios to reduce interference.
I'll disable the auto settings and correct the frequency. I'm currently using WPA2 with AES. The antennas aren't against a wall. Three of them belong to me. "Altibox Wifi" is mine, while the "hidden ssid" refers to the Asus router switching from 2.4 to 5 GHz for devices. These Altibox units will be removed once the Asus setup is resolved, making them temporary. If this doesn't solve your issue, what alternatives would you consider?
Once you configure a fixed wireless channel for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, the hidden SSID typically disappears. The "Altibox WiFi" signals appear to originate from your ISP device. This configuration suggests it functions as a gateway. Two issues stand out: when both the ISP gateway and your router use NAT, they may clash, leading to interruptions in your clients' internet connections. After some time, the ISP gateway might need to update its internal IP address for the Asus router, briefly halting its connection and affecting all connected devices.
Consider switching the ISP gateway to bridge mode (disabling its built-in router and access point) so the Asus router operates in default settings. Alternatively, switch the Asus router to AP mode to grant routing capabilities to the upstream gateway. Overlapping wireless signals cause interference, disrupting communication for clients already online. Distribute them or eliminate them if unnecessary. Also, avoid setting SSID priority or roaming preferences on client devices; they will automatically switch between stronger signals.
Once I resolve the 2.4-5GHZ issue, the hidden SSID will disappear. Previously, the setup was modem → router; now it's just the Asus router with VLAN 102. The old configuration is only active temporarily until the problems are fixed. I plan to test this change and see if it improves things. Additionally, I’ll dive deeper into the settings and tweak a few parameters.
It might just be a faulty setup. I've successfully connected several units using AC88U without any problems. Another possibility is creating an AI-Mesh with a second device to test the situation. Personally, I use dual AC68U paired with an AC5300 all hardwired and it functions well.