Will a new wireless router make a difference?

[adammthompson]

I hope this isn't too much of a newb question. I'm still using a wireless G router (Asus WL-520GU with Tomato) that I stole from a museum of ancient history. Will upgrading to a wireless AC router make a difference?

My ISP download speed is 15 Mbps. I'm using a mixture of N and AC devices (6 wireless devices total). I live in a two-story townhouse. Receiving signals through two walls or one wall & a ceiling is typical.

I understand that 54 Mbps is a theoretical limit. Still, there's a lot of distance between 15 and 54.

If I get a new router, I'll probably get a T-Mobile Personal Cellspot (Asus RT-AC68U) for $100. But I'm open to suggestions. I would like QOS, and I'm willing to install aftermarket firmware.

 

[Termie]

Have you tested download speed to your various devices? If they get 15Mbps (~2MB/s), you don't need to upgrade. My guess is that you're not hitting that when sitting a long distance from the G router.

 

[sdifox]

Yes it will make a difference. The biggest improvement is mimo.

 

[boomhower]

If all of you devices are getting the max internet speed across your house and you are not moving data regularly between devices directly that need the faster AC speed then no you won't notice a speed difference.

 

[sdifox]

If all of you devices are getting the max internet speed across your house and you are not moving data regularly between devices directly that need the faster AC speed then no you won't notice a speed difference.

It makes a difference in multi device simultaneous throughput.

 

[boomhower]

It makes a difference in multi device simultaneous throughput.

I agree but if all he is accessing is the internet I'm just not seeing a big difference with the cap of speed already in place. If he was transferring between devices or anything else that would take advantage of it sure a bigger difference would be seen.

I'd upgrade regardless. That thing is just ancient and something much newer and better can be had for dirt cheap.

 

[sdifox]

I agree but if all he is accessing is the internet I'm just not seeing a big difference with the cap of speed already in place. If he was transferring between devices or anything else that would take advantage of it sure a bigger difference would be seen.

I'd upgrade regardless. That thing is just ancient and something much newer and better can be had for dirt cheap.

the user experience is vastly improved going from G to N, regardless of internet pipe bandwidth.

 

[smitbret]

That is a G rated router. What that means is that your real-world transfer speed will be 20-25mbps under ideal conditions and it will tail off as distance and obstructions become an issue. If all of your wireless devices are also G then it won't make a bit of difference. If your wireless devices are N rated then you will see a considerable difference by even going to something inexpensive like this:
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Route...8&qid=1446838047&sr=8-1&keywords=netgear+2020

Since the ceiling starts higher (about 65mbps vs. 25mbps) and tails off in the same way, you'll have a lot more room to move.