Wireless router - Looking for range and throughput

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
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I know I know a tough beast to find. Unfortunately today after putting a series of holes into my walls my attempts to run ethernet from our office on the second floor down to the basement have been confounded by all manner of steel beams, duct work etc on the few walls that line up between floors.

Anyway I have a substantial movie collection that I would like to be able to stream from my media server to computers in the office and the basement. I'll need an AP as I'll have multiple devices that have wired connectors but no wifi.

I tried it with my existing Asus RT-66 and did encounter some buffering. Are there newer routers that will work better? I was looking at small net builder but haven't am still a bit confused. FWIW wifi analyzer showed -80dB on my 5Ghz and -50db for my 2.4Ghz signals in the basement

It looks like the Netgear R7800 has the best throughput and the range looks to be good as well but I'm guessing I would need another MU-MIMO device on the other end to see the true benefits?

Otherwise it looks like the Netgear R7000 AC1900 is the next best option? Any thoughts on some good matching APs? I'm not against buying a second to turn into an bridge if I have to

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/charts/router/bar/119-5-ghz-profile-dn
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/32975-mu-mimo-retest-six-routers-compared
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...1900-first-look-netgear-r7000-a-asus-rt-ac68u
 
Last edited:

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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I'll need an AP as I'll have multiple devices that have wired connectors but no wifi.

That doesn't make sense. If you have wired devices, that need to connect wirelessly to a router, you'll need either a "media bridge", or a router flashed with third-party firmware, and configured as client mode or client bridge mode. (Or WDS, I guess.)

Edit: I have a TrendNet AC1200 AP unit that supports client mode. I get 30MB/sec wirelessly to my AC1200 AP, that is gigabit hardwired to my LAN.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,569
3,762
126
That doesn't make sense. If you have wired devices, that need to connect wirelessly to a router, you'll need either a "media bridge", or a router flashed with third-party firmware, and configured as client mode or client bridge mode. (Or WDS, I guess.)

Edit: I have a TrendNet AC1200 AP unit that supports client mode. I get 30MB/sec wirelessly to my AC1200 AP, that is gigabit hardwired to my LAN.

Yep you're completely right I mixed up my terminology. Too much sweating and drywall dust I guess. How is the range on the TrendNet?