What gigbit wireless routers do folks recommend

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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
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I've started looking at a wireless gigbit network for home and curious what folks recommend. Three models that seem to pop up:
rt-n16u (no 5ghz - do i care?)
rt-n66u ($160; seems a bit pricey; some people sez it runs hot)
wndr4500 - (seems to have less range than rtu66; folks complain it is a pain to change bios with open dev version (not 100% sure I want to do this) bit cheaper than the n66u
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d-link n300 (dir 6363-l); cheap; not as good range as the n16u; closed system but good reviews.
tp-link-tl-wnd43600 n600 supports 5k; only negative I could find is closed system
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anways anyone have some consider this other model, buy that model or some 'stay away from one of those models' advice ?
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I'd definitly want gig on the local wired net for copying photos between raid/windows box; wireless just needs to be stable/secure - i think i'd be happy with 50Mb/s or perhaps even 20Mb/s as long as it is rock solid stable.
 
thestrangebrew1

thestrangebrew1

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2011
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I have a Linksys E3200 (dual band & gigabit) I've been running for just under a year and it runs fine. Seems to run a little hot but it hasn't had any issues since.
 
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zon2020

Member
Aug 17, 2012
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Netgear WNDR4000 available refurbed on Amazon for $75. Great buy for an excellent router. Not a hiccup, not a reboot, not a dropped connection, in the six weeks I've been using it.
 
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RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
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I've been happy with my E3000. Wish it put out a stronger signal, but my desktop is on the opposite side of the house and two floors up. So, kind of my fault at that point. Stability-wise it's been great with DD-WRT.
 
thestrangebrew1

thestrangebrew1

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2011
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donfm said:
That's a nice router same as the E3000 but no media server capability as I recall. You can get it for like $65 online not a bad price.

http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Ro...rod.htm?icid=e3200_new_pdp&src2=e3200_new_pdp
Click to expand...

Yep no MS ability that I'm aware of but I don't really use it for that. Just mainly for the laptop, tablet and phones. Everything else is hardwired. I think at the time I got it from NE for about $75. It does run hot though like I mentioned. I got one end leaned up on a book to get some airflow underneath.
 
donfm

donfm

Senior member
Mar 9, 2003
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While I have no experience with the Netgear WNDR4000......if you read the reviews on Newegg and Amazon the hardware failure rate on that router is greater than 33% within 6 months. Use your own judgement. The high failure rate appears to be a well documented issue on the message boards. Caveat Emptor!
 
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zon2020

Member
Aug 17, 2012
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If you take Newegg reviews as meaningful or gospel, I suppose that's relevant. And if you actually do think Newegg reviews matter, the nearly identical and far more common WNDR3700 (only difference is that the 4000 has added a third 5 Ghz antenna) has ten times as many reviews, with an overall 4 egg, and 50% 5 eggs, so I'd say it's pretty well recieved on Newegg. I think you'll find the WNDR3700 is a very widely used and very popular router.

Personally, I base my decisions on reviews at bona fide sites that know what they're talking about and actually test the products like AnandTech, or SmallNetbuilder.com, which may well be the best place for router reviews.

Please point out where this so called "failure rate" is "well documented" in any reliable fashion. Thanks.
 
Y

you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
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I tend to take multiple reviews from different sites (tomato forum and similar; amazon, b&h and newegg). I then focus on the negative reviews and WHY the review was negative and go from there.
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anways I'm leaning towards the rt-n66u (which is probably over kill for what i need) and the wndr4000. The rt-n66u does not run hot (from most reviews); is very fast; has 2 year warranty and will accept third party firmware if you have issues with it. In all honesty the three big negatives:
$160 (a $50 unit is probably able to do 99% or what I need)
original stock firmware was a bit buggy.
there is a new model (66ac) which supports the new ac standard for another $50.
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The primary plus to the 66 is very long range for reception. Anyways while I wait for a sale I'm still reading responses for ideas on alternative. The tplink and wndr4500 seems like the most interesting alternative 9the tplink is only $45; the wndr4500 is around $100 but well reviewed).
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gigbit on the wired lan is very important to me (more important than wireless) because I edit photos on the windows box using a raid from the linux box and the current 100Mb lan netowrk i ahve drives me batty during load time.
 
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zon2020

Member
Aug 17, 2012
52
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you2 said:
I tend to take multiple reviews from different sites (tomato forum and similar; amazon, b&h and newegg). I then focus on the negative reviews and WHY the review was negative and go from there.
-
anways I'm leaning towards the rt-n66u (which is probably over kill for what i need) and the wndr4000. The rt-n66u does not run hot (from most reviews); is very fast; has 2 year warranty and will accept third party firmware if you have issues with it. In all honesty the three big negatives:
$160 (a $50 unit is probably able to do 99% or what I need)
original stock firmware was a bit buggy.
there is a new model (66ac) which supports the new ac standard for another $50.
-
The primary plus to the 66 is very long range for reception. Anyways while I wait for a sale I'm still reading responses for ideas on alternative. The tplink and wndr4500 seems like the most interesting alternative 9the tplink is only $45; the wndr4500 is around $100 but well reviewed).
-
gigbit on the wired lan is very important to me (more important than wireless) because I edit photos on the windows box using a raid from the linux box and the current 100Mb lan netowrk i ahve drives me batty during load time.
Click to expand...

I think those are good choices, and I might well have chosen the 66 (or 56) as well but in the end to me it didn't seem to be worth double the price over the refurbished Netgear. Newegg actually now has the refurbished WNDR3700 for $55 which is certainly a lot less than the $165 for the Asus.
 
donfm

donfm

Senior member
Mar 9, 2003
677
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zon2020 said:
If you take Newegg reviews as meaningful or gospel, I suppose that's relevant. And if you actually do think Newegg reviews matter, the nearly identical and far more common WNDR3700 (only difference is that the 4000 has added a third 5 Ghz antenna) has ten times as many reviews, with an overall 4 egg, and 50% 5 eggs, so I'd say it's pretty well recieved on Newegg. I think you'll find the WNDR3700 is a very widely used and very popular router.

Personally, I base my decisions on reviews at bona fide sites that know what they're talking about and actually test the products like AnandTech, or SmallNetbuilder.com, which may well be the best place for router reviews.

Please point out where this so called "failure rate" is "well documented" in any reliable fashion. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I take no review as gospel. But if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck there is a real good chance it is a duck or in this case perhaps a lemon! At Newegg the WNDR4000 received 49% of reviews as 2 stars or less with 31% one star. At Amazon the same router has 40% negative with reviews of 2 stars or less..... with 26% of one star. These are reviews by people who actually own the router not merely playing with it for a couple days on a test bench. The biggest complaint is hardware failure after several months use. Personally I would not touch a component where 40% of the reviews are negative. Sites like Anandtech and Small Net Builder, while they give an accurate assessment of brand new routers performance right out of the box. They do not test for longevity and durability only performance. To discount all the hardware failure issues of people who actually own the router would be foolish. And you are hanging your hat on the older model WNDR3700 which is NOT the WNDR4000 to begin with so the reviews are irrelevant. Similar does NOT mean identical. Sometimes progress takes a step backwards in electronics as in the case of this router. I personally don't care what router the OP selects I am just presenting the facts as known.

You amuse me sir. In one thread you bashed the entire highly regarded E4200 linksys router line and call it crap merely because you couldn't figure out how to set it up...now in this thread you claim to be doing all this "deep analytical research" with "relevant" online reviews....too funny! Please pick a story and stick with it. ;)
 
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donfm

donfm

Senior member
Mar 9, 2003
677
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Sir I wish you success in your choice for a new router. If you do your homework you should make a wise decision. Reviews are not the be all or end all but they paint a pretty good picture of a component. Good luck! :) If you are looking for a bargain do not count out the refurbished routers either. :)
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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cheap, good, fast, pick any two.

I chose to get a gigabit switch, and chain it to some WNR2000 v2 units, that I picked up refurb at Newegg for ~$20 FS each.
 
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