Suggestion on a new router?

[Geosurface]

I want to get a much nicer router, I currently have sort of a crappy Belkin one or something. I just got faster internet and I think this thing's bottle necking me.

Also, if I name the new router the same as my current one, and set the password to be the same, will all my various devices still lock onto the signal just fine and is there any danger of creating nightmares for myself in doing that?

 

[gallegos20]

I can't suggest the Apple Airport Extreme enough. Probably the best rated router on Anandtech and worth every penny (i know, strange considering it's apple).

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/...-and-time-capsule-4th-gen-review-faster-wifi-

 

[Geosurface]

Thank you, can you sum up briefly why you like it so much?

 

[kleinkinstein]

Asus’s RT-N66U not only beats Netgear’s WNDR-4500 in almost every benchmark, it also delivers more features, a better user interface, and more attractive industrial design. The RT-N66U is a dual-band model capable of supporting three 150Mb/s data streams simultaneously. But if I was buying, I'd be eying the ac model.

 

[JimKiler]

Asus’s RT-N66U not only beats Netgear’s WNDR-4500 in almost every benchmark, it also delivers more features, a better user interface, and more attractive industrial design. The RT-N66U is a dual-band model capable of supporting three 150Mb/s data streams simultaneously. But if I was buying, I'd be eying the ac model.

Agreed, if you are going to upgrade go AC for future compatibility. I also like Asus, i have the RT-N16 and love it.

 

[gallegos20]

Thank you, can you sum up briefly why you like it so much?

I linked the article so you can see what Anandtech had to say.. but basically;

1. extremely stable. Been using for 11 months and never ONCE has it crashed or dropped my connection.

2. fantastic internals. Incredible build quality

3. did I mention it's incredibly stable? That was the selling point for me. The only time I've lost connection is when my actual cable modem dropped it from the line being down (storm, idiot crashed into pole etc.)

 

[Zargon]

I wouldnt drop that kinda coin on a router unless it was AC at this point

 

[jhansman]

I have the Netgear N600 (WNR3700) and am really impressed with how well it performs. Streaming (wired and wireless) never drops out, you can attach storage via USB that can be shared across the network, offers dual band (although there is still a lack of devices that can use the 5GHz band) and it has more options in the default firmware than I've seen before. Excellent product.

 

[Geosurface]

I have the Netgear N600 (WNR3700) and am really impressed with how well it performs. Streaming (wired and wireless) never drops out, you can attach storage via USB that can be shared across the network, offers dual band (although there is still a lack of devices that can use the 5GHz band) and it has more options in the default firmware than I've seen before. Excellent product.

That's what I just picked up.

http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-WNDR3400-N600-Wireless-Router/dp/B0041LYY6K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1353023228&sr=1-1&keywords=netgear+n600

I nearly got the Apple Airport Extreme thing, or a Netgear $169.99 ac router, but I decided this was just beyond my needs.

I looked more closely at the router I had been using and it was a Netgear g router, without the dual band. So I figured given that this is just a small apartment and only my gf and I using the connection, and rarely even at the same time... that this would work plenty well.

Only thing is, after running speedtest.net on her desktop in the other room, which is the main thing which uses the wireless, at first it was only clocking .50 mbps, and I'm supposed to have 54mbps. The most I've seen since upgrading to that on my main desktop which is not wirelessly connected, is about 36mbps. My laptop next to my desktop which is wireless gets like 16mbps, after messing with the wireless a bit more, her desktop was getting something equivalent to my laptop, about 16mbps.

Should I be satisfied with this?