You're interested in buying a top-of-the-line router but feel uncertain about the process.
You're interested in buying a top-of-the-line router but feel uncertain about the process.
So initially, as the title suggests, I'm really new to networking. I recently got gigabit from Comcast using DOCSIS 3.1, so I started using the Netgear CM1000, which provides the full gigabit speeds I pay for when connecting my PC directly to the modem. However, my current router isn't working. I've heard recommendations from friends about Ubiquiti, though I'm not sure if that's true. I'm open to trying them out. I was considering options like the EdgeRouter 4 or a Unify setup with a cloud key and USG. I already have an access point, so what would be the most effective and affordable router for me? It needs to be more powerful than my current model, so it should cost a significant amount, but I'd really appreciate any advice. Also, I'm using DD-WRT on my existing router and really like it.
Edit: It doesn't have to be from Ubiquiti; they were just mentioned as a reputable networking brand.
I’d thoroughly investigate Ubiquiti products because the R7500 already performs well as a solid router. Still, I’m curious why you’re not getting gigabit speeds—wireless or wired? This is important since even with my R7000, gigabit line speeds are easy to achieve through direct connections. If you’re aiming to boost wireless performance, consider an Edgerouter X/Lite or comparable device and utilize Ubiquiti APs to cover your home with enterprise-level Wi-Fi.
Connected via my nighthawk, speeds reach up to 400–450 Mbps. On a strong day, wireless performance drops to about 200 Mbps.
There seems to be a speed restriction in place. I might try restoring the factory firmware to see if DD-WRT is the cause, or switch to a different OpenWRT version. Usually I allow custom firmware, but I recall that DD-WRT once faced speed limits on my R7000 because Broadcom didn’t open-source the wireless chipset drivers, which blocked full speeds on the 5GHz band. It could be similar with your hardwired setup—worth checking.
The router's traffic monitoring feature is turned off, which may affect performance and visibility of network usage data.