newer routers with built in timer for wifi on/off?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I've been using a Netgear WNDR-3400 router for about 5 years now with little or no issues until just recently. Our wifi dongles (several different brands) started losing connection to router with regularity, every few minutes. I noticed that there are about double the wifi routers/devices showing up in our neighborhood than when I first set this up.

I saw a TP-Link AC1350 router for $19 shipped, and decided to give it a try, since it would be upgrading from wireless N to wireless AC. Suddenly, dropped connections appear to be a thing of the past for us. (yay!) My only real complaint is that the new router doesn't seem to have a built in timer feature for turning the wifi off and on using a schedule. We had the wifi turn off at a certain time, which helped serve as a good bedtime 'alarm clock' for everybody. It also removed the temptation of getting online when we were supposed to be sleeping - often an issue for me.

I had thought that an on/off wifi power timer was a standard feature in routers these days, but I've checked several brands and only found 'parental controls', which is not the same thing. (and you have to configure each device separately - annoying) Can anyone recommend a recent router that has this feature? Is this a Netgear only thing?

Also - can anyone recommend a decent usb wifi adapter with antennas? I've previously used cheapo dongles that were about 10 bucks, but I'd like to try a couple of other devices out. We get consistent 32 mbps connection according to speedtest, (30 mbps is the advertised speed for our internet) but in reality I think we get about 1 megabyte per second throughput based on downloading steam games over wifi. If I'm not mistaken, I think that is only about 1/4 of the hoped for speed in practice. Is that pretty typical?

Thanks!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Also - can anyone recommend a decent usb wifi adapter with antennas? I've previously used cheapo dongles that were about 10 bucks, but I'd like to try a couple of other devices out. We get consistent 32 mbps connection according to speedtest, (30 mbps is the advertised speed for our internet) but in reality I think we get about 1 megabyte per second throughput based on downloading steam games over wifi. If I'm not mistaken, I think that is only about 1/4 of the hoped for speed in practice. Is that pretty typical?

Those "Nano wifi dongles" are complete garbage, in my experience. Even some of the "better branded" ones - you pay more, but it seems inherent in that form-factor, that they are only really meant for web browsing (intermittent duty cycle), and not "max load", like media streaming, large downloads, and P2P usage, not to mention gaming. (They tend to overheat, and something inside them burns out, then they don't connect any more, or don't connect as well as when you first plugged it in.)

Plus, the diminutive size of them, means that they have sub-par antennas. Plus, modern PCs generally have USB3.0 ports, and not USB2.0, so the port itself will tend to interfere strongly with the 2.4Ghz signal (look it up, there's some white papers on the subject, one from Intel), and most of those Nano dongles are 2.4Ghz only.

I think that you should possibly invest in some PremierTek 8812AU AC1200 USB3.0, or some Aukey 8814AU AC1750 USB3.0 dongles on ebay. (Run you about $20-25 on ebay.) A bit more expensive than the cheapest "Nano" dongles, but these are like 2.5-3.0 in. long, and an inch or inch and 1/2 wide, and they're big enough to have multiple antennas inside, and a heatsink.

I have experience with them, using them for transfers to my NAS wirelessly, as well as media streaming, browsing, etc., and they seem OK for a constant load, without overheating.

I strongly suggest using a USB3.0 extension cable, to plug into the back of the PC, and then either connect the dongle at the top of your desk somewhere, or plug in a USB3.0 hub, and then plug the dongle into the hub, sticking up in the air. Either way generally works a bit better than just trying to plug them into the back of the PC, and if you do, because of the size of these units, you might not be able to use the neighboring USB ports, both vertically and horizontally, so that's another reason to use an extension.

Can anyone recommend a recent router that has this feature? Is this a Netgear only thing?

That's interesting. I've never used that feature, but I believe that Tomato might have a similar feature hidden somewhere.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Btw, I voted 80%, because I have Gigabit FIOS, and I get around 200Mbit/sec over my 5Ghz AC wireless.

 

[JackMDS]

I get 60 Mb/s on a Laptop with a Nano AC dongle from a 200 Mb/sec connection,

70% down.

The Internal Wireless is only N and yields much less.

Edit: I also have this Wireless Gizmo. It larger has Antennae, and only A/B/G/N (no AC).

In environmental condition same as the above, and same Laptop it yields 92 Mb/sec.

https://www.rosewill.com/product/rosewill-rnx-n600ube-dual-band-wireless-usb-n600-wi-fi-adapter/

Unfortunately it can be use only with Stationery Computer/Laptop. Its size and the need for USB cable connection deems it a problem if a laptop is used as Portable device.

Edit 2: A 15" MacBook Pro Internal Wireless card A/B/G/N (no AC) with Win 10 pro in Bootcamp yields 95 Mb/sec.
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All done under same condition connecting to TP-Link 1350AC Wireless clients in second room 20 ft away with doors wide open.

 

[namx01]

You could get a programmable ac outlet timer. As long as the router has a physical power switch powered on you would be good to go. This would be good for the bedtime thing but may not be sufficient for multiple schedules.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

You could get a programmable ac outlet timer. As long as the router has a physical power switch powered on you would be good to go. This would be good for the bedtime thing but may not be sufficient for multiple schedules.

I would do that, except that our Obihai is wired to the router to give us 24 hour home phone line. Turning the router itself off would not allow us to get calls in the night if somebody died, etc.
Nobody can recommend a newer router that has the wifi on/off feature on a timer, like the old Netgear WNDR3400 did?

 

[JackMDS]

Separate the WIFI from the main Router by using a second Wireless Router as an Access Point, and disable the WIFI on the main Router.

Then, whether this is in the Secondary Router, or using an external timer you can disable the WIFI without affecting the Main Router.

Using Wireless Routers (or Modem/Wireless Router) as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html