Posted on 09/17/2017 9:24:04 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax
If your home is plagued by Wi-Fi dropouts and other router issues, you may want to think about an upgrade, perhaps to one that offers multiple bands to up your choices and, with luck, performance.
Hence TP-Link's AC5400 Wireless Tri-Band MU-MIMO, also known as the Archer C5400 Gigabit Router. This sucker offers a total of six distinct networks, kind of: 1 x 2.4 GHz, and 2 x 5 GHz, with all three options available for both regular use or as specially noted "Guest" networks, so you won't get in trouble for some overnight interloper's porn downloads. Or whatever your issue may be.
Of course, offering a guest network means your visitors can have Wi-Fi without having to know your Wi-Fi password - and in this case you can also choose whether to allow guests to see each other and/or whether to allow them access to your local network (you can let them use the internet but not get at your files).
The issue in my house has traditionally been more "coverage" than "capacity" but the Archer C5400 - thanks to the abovementioned pair (or is it four?) of five gig offerings - has that handled, too. Naturally, it depends on where the router is located in your home, but you can't blame the router if you stick it someplace where the sun don't shine - or in some other location where its Wi-Fi signals aren't allowed to roam freely and happily.
Time was when you had to live with a single band router, then dual band, so this move to triple bands is a logical development (and quad band routers are available as well). Where will it all end?
I've been using a TP-Link router for a while now and have been very happy with its performance...
(Excerpt) Read more at thecoachsteam.com ...
Tp link or not, get 5ghz router. The speed and reliability is much greater. It’s coverage is small, so add a few 5ghz repeaters if need be.
Know this name: DD-WRT
DD-WRT is a firmware updater that supports a large range of older routers allowing them a useful range of features as well as use with newer forms of security.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index
These firmware updates require no drivers, no special software. Once installed they can be managed from any browser.
Yes, the wi-fi will still be the old speed ... but dropping $10 (or less) on a good 54g router at an estate sale to get second life as a repeater or bridge here and there in your home rather than a hundred plus on fancy four to eight antenna routers will pay for lots of Starbucks.
Just because it has wider unobstructed coverage doesn't mean it's going to penetrate three or four walls or a couple of floors.
If you don't use the VPN, it operates as a normal router. I use ExpressVPN..less than a hundred bucks a year.
5ghz with very wide coverage is not economical. Sure, go nuts, but there is no need. Get a cheapo 5ghz router and get supercheapo 5ghz repeaters that allow high-speed mode. I have a $60 router and $20 repeater covering a few thousand sq ft easily. Why buy a $300 router?
D-Link = China.
Not at home, so don’t know the brand, but mine hosts multiple bands including 5 ghz. Works great. Sometimes 5g isn’t available and I can switch to another band a keep right on surfing/working. The only reason the 5g quits (fairly rare) is because the cable provider is an asshole and wants to screw with me.
Ironic. I just ordered one yesterday
There’s much better AC wireless routers out there. Get an ASUS.
Post and run — spam
exactly. they’re awesome. I think I could connect to my wifi on the moon.
“TP-Link...Chinese”
Yep. I don’t remember the model number but I bought their dual band router. Returned it after it lost internet the first two nights, just after midnight. And, I didn’t feel their documentation was all that good, either. I repositioned our old Netgear router and kept on truckin’.
Using MOCA devices work well to deliver high speed access to areas with weak coverage or high bandwidth needs.
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