Question Recommendation for wireless router option and placement

[Goi]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to recontract with my ISP, and they're offering the following router options for a discounted price. I can choose among the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000, Asus RT-AX88U and the TP-Link Archer AX11000 for the same price.

I stay in a 2-storey apartment, and am currently I'm using an Asus RT-AC2600 as the main router in the 1st floor living room, which connects via Cat6 to a Linksys Maxstream EA8100 (also AC2600) in AP mode in the 2nd floor study room. Most, if not all my WiFi 6 devices that require higher wireless network performance (laptops/desktops) are in the study room, and my other devices either don't support WiFi 6 or don't require the high wireless network performance (Smart TV, AV receiver, mobile devices, smart appliances) so I'm thinking of re-using the RT-AC2600 where it is, and replacing the Linksys AP with the new WiFi6 router.

Any idea which choice would be better? Also, does my placement make sense?

Thanks!

 

[Tech Junky]

If your stuff works skip spending on another router.

 

[Goi]

It works, but I figured it's a good time to upgrade to WiFi 6 given the discount.

 

[Tech Junky]

I think you're on 2 forums and that's why I'm having a bit of dejavu here. You should post the bit about construction and the 50% savings.

For half off I would take the offer if it's not factored into your ISP rate for renewal. The WiFi 6 won't make a huge difference but having 3 devices scattered about should improve your numbers for coverage.

 

[Goi]

Yeah just covering my bases Having lived in my country for the majority of my life, I forgot that construction is different in the USA.

FYI I would be replacing 1 of my 2 routers with the new router, rather than adding it to my existing routers.

Which of the 3routers would be the best, and based on my usage, should I replace the main router, or the AP?

 

[Tech Junky]

Keep whichever works best and throw the other one in the closet for a rainy day.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000

I believe, that out of those three listed, that is the only router with BOTH a 2.5gbe WAN and LAN, so it would support a 2Gbit/sec symettric ISP connection to a wired LAN.

I actually pick this up a few months ago, for MSRP ($399 USD) @ Newegg. I have yet to actually deploy it, waiting for 2GBit FIOS service to reach my town in MA. I don't know how the wifi is.

 

[Tech Junky]

I have yet to actually deploy it

Why wait? Did you at least plug it in and make sure it works when it arrived? What if it's DOA? $400 sitting in a box for months on end doesn't make much sense. Considering the pace at which these things change I would have waited until you had the service vs just buying to have it and keep it in the box. They're not collectible

 

[mpo]

Stick with the ASUS router. I switched from an ASUS router to a TP-Link Archer AX90.

It sticks in my craw that you have to pay for the TP-Link Tether Pro app to get features that ASUS has built-in.

 

[aigomorla]

Yeah just covering my bases Having lived in my country for the majority of my life, I forgot that construction is different in the USA.

FYI I would be replacing 1 of my 2 routers with the new router, rather than adding it to my existing routers.

Which of the 3routers would be the best, and based on my usage, should I replace the main router, or the AP?

Did you ever consider possibly moving to access points, and not using consumer based routers with built in wifi?
I would probably keep whatever router you have right now which is the most stable, and throw on a small POE switch, followed by a pair of dedicated access points.

 

[Tech Junky]

@aigomorla that's probably what I would do too but I think budget is of concern and it seems like the ISP will be billing over time on this situation.