Buying a new router - suggestions needed

[velis]

My old one (Asus RT-N16) died and so I'm left without a primary router.
Yesterday I hastily managed to spot an Asus RT-AC86U, but I'm not sure I'd go with that price.
I'm in no way attached to Asus, but their routers keep popping up when I search for good stuff

Here's the requirements I have:
1. budget 100 EUR (will go higher if it's worth it)
2. flawless 4+ port gigabit performance
3. I'd like ac, but will grudgingly settle for n wireless standard, depending on price
4. Must be Tomato compatible or at least DD-WRT

Is there a WRT54GL (god of all routers ) meeting these requirements?

 

[velis]

Hm, seems I subdued to the pressure of being without a primary router.

In the end, I was choosing among these three, all Asus:
RT-AC56U (105&#8364, RT-AC66U(145&#8364 and RT-AC68U(175&#8364

Basically, the differences are:
AC56U has the powerful SOC, but "only" 2x2 radio as well as antennas being internal
AC68U has the same SOC, but much more powerful radio config: 3x3 + 3 external antennas
AC66U has the radio capability of 68U (3x3 with 3 external antennas), but 25% weaker SOC (600 vs 800MHz)

Ultimately at this point I don't even have any ac capable devices, let alone am expecting to have any multi-band capable ones in the near future.
Taking this into consideration, I decided that the 3x3 configuration wasn't worth the extra 70 EUR or 40 EUR. It would not bring the signal into remote corners of my house. I still need another router for that (when the time comes that I really want the signal there)

So I went for 56U. If it turns out unsatisfactory, I can still go for the more expensive options.

 

[smitbret]

Hm, seems I subdued to the pressure of being without a primary router.

In the end, I was choosing among these three, all Asus:
RT-AC56U (105&#8364, RT-AC66U(145&#8364 and RT-AC68U(175&#8364

Basically, the differences are:
AC56U has the powerful SOC, but "only" 2x2 radio as well as antennas being internal
AC68U has the same SOC, but much more powerful radio config: 3x3 + 3 external antennas
AC66U has the radio capability of 68U (3x3 with 3 external antennas), but 25% weaker SOC (600 vs 800MHz)

Ultimately at this point I don't even have any ac capable devices, let alone am expecting to have any multi-band capable ones in the near future.
Taking this into consideration, I decided that the 3x3 configuration wasn't worth the extra 70 EUR or 40 EUR. It would not bring the signal into remote corners of my house. I still need another router for that (when the time comes that I really want the signal there)

So I went for 56U. If it turns out unsatisfactory, I can still go for the more expensive options.

Sounds like it is too late, but I would have gone N66U for your list of requirements. The investment over the N56U is worth it and the general consensus is that it is the best N router out there.

If I wanted AC and was willing to spend the money, I would get a NetGear R7000 (Nighthawk).

 

[velis]

Thanks for the info even though it really is too late: just got SMS that my order was shipped
If I find AC56U unsatisfactory, perhaps I will consider the N66U as well. It's even cheaper than AC56U here (93&#8364.

 

[s44]

Sounds like it is too late, but I would have gone N66U for your list of requirements. The investment over the N56U is worth it and the general consensus is that it is the best N router out there.

He got the *AC*56u.

It's actually a decent piece of future-proofing, because it has the same ARM dual-core as the Nighthawk etc, just underclocked (which you can tweak with custom firmware if you like). It gives plenty of horsepower for QOS, VPN, or other routing stuff he might want to run on it. Only downside is that we're at least a few months away from a stable Tomato build.

 

[velis]

Oooooohhh
I'm VERY impressed with this router
The casing looks really fancy, quite a contrast from N16

Also, the firmware leaves me nothing to desire. I actually don't feel any need to switch to Tomato. (Almost) everything I ever wanted is already there. Asus seems to have made some serious progress in the firmware department in the last two years. Seems it pays off to have things open-source.

Signal coverage tested to be the same as with N16. Can't say I'm impressed, but I'm not disappointed either.

The only thing I overlooked was the power delivery: it has 19V input which prevents me to power it from my HTPC as I do the rest of gadgets.

 

[s44]

Also, the firmware leaves me nothing to desire.

I'm sure features are pretty strong, but how's the stability been?

 

[JackMDS]

All of the terms that comes form Regular CPUs and Mobo (Firmware, Overclocking, etc.) are "nice and dandy" and even make enthusiasts feel important.

That said they are secondary to the actual Wireless operation.

Unless One needs the Wireless for one room. I.e, few feet of unobstructed environment), it is a mistake to get a Wireless Router with Internal fixes Antenna.

 

[velis]

I'm sure features are pretty strong, but how's the stability been?

Obviously I can't tell that from running it for a day. Everything's great so far, no hiccups.

All of the terms that comes form Regular CPUs and Mobo (Firmware, Overclocking, etc.) are "nice and dandy" and even make enthusiasts feel important.
That said they are secondary to the actual Wireless operation.

Of course. I would expect nothing less from any AT forums member.

Unless One needs the Wireless for one room. I.e, few feet of unobstructed environment), it is a mistake to get a Wireless Router with Internal fixes Antenna.

N16 that I previously had did not offer any significantly longer signal reach than this newest addition. Maybe AC66U / AC68U would then offer a lot farther reach?

 

[sonitravel09]

I think to purchse Netgear WNDR3700/3400 or D-Link DIR-655. I prefer to stay away for D-Link because of previous bad experience with D-Link.

 

[velis]

I'm sure features are pretty strong, but how's the stability been?

Yeah, stability wasn't particulary good. Occasionally, the router would just kinda stop serving traffic and I had to reboot it.

Moved to Merlin and had no issues since.

 

[Engineer]

N16 that I previously had did not offer any significantly longer signal reach than this newest addition. Maybe AC66U / AC68U would then offer a lot farther reach?

Unless you go to an older firmware, no. FCC (and Netgear lawsuit) has caused Asus to go into lockdown mode on their power levels of routers. Range is now lower than it was just a few month ago (by quite a bit) with little to no adjustment. Of course, you could load up an older firmware or do a few NVRAM tweaks (must telnet into the router as the command console has been removed), you can go above FCC levels and get much better range.