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Looking for full features wireless router

Last response: in Wireless Networking
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September 20, 2014 9:22:41 PM

Hello:

I am looking for a wireless router with a similar features as the ASUS AC1900 RT-AC68U router. But I don't want to spend too much on a router. Can anyone suggest other model with features similar to ASUS AC1900 RT-AC68U? Thank you.

Wireless router features required:
DHCP server
DMZ
Dynamic DNS
Firewall Stateful packet inspection (SPI)
MAC address filtering
Network address translation (NAT)
Network time protocol (NTP)
Port forwarding
Quality of service (QoS)
Remote management
UPnP
VPN passthrough

More about : full features wireless router

September 21, 2014 5:52:00 AM

Those feature are pretty much on almost any router especially if you stay with asus since they add the features from the newer routers to the older firmware.

The ac1900 is expensive because you are looking at some of the latest 802.11ac technology. You would first have to determine which level of 802.11ac you need and if you even need it. If you do not have 802.11ac nics in your equipment it won't be used and if all you do is surf the internet the extra speed these allow also will not be used unless you happen to be one of those lucky people on google fiber networks.

In general tplink sells routers that are less costly but still have a large number of features. They use exactly the same radio and cpu chips as similar routers from more well know manufactures.

If you main goal is software feature you would likely be better off using third party firmware. Things like dd-wrt or tomato run can be loaded on many very inexpensive routers and give feature you only find in commercial networking equipment.
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September 21, 2014 7:22:49 AM

bill001g said:
Those feature are pretty much on almost any router especially if you stay with asus since they add the features from the newer routers to the older firmware.

The ac1900 is expensive because you are looking at some of the latest 802.11ac technology. You would first have to determine which level of 802.11ac you need and if you even need it. If you do not have 802.11ac nics in your equipment it won't be used and if all you do is surf the internet the extra speed these allow also will not be used unless you happen to be one of those lucky people on google fiber networks.

In general tplink sells routers that are less costly but still have a large number of features. They use exactly the same radio and cpu chips as similar routers from more well know manufactures.

If you main goal is software feature you would likely be better off using third party firmware. Things like dd-wrt or tomato run can be loaded on many very inexpensive routers and give feature you only find in commercial networking equipment.


The reason I am looking for those features is due to my job requirements.
I have to know those features well enough to implement each task without spending too must time.
Which means that I will have to practice at home.
Does dd-wrt or tomato carries similar software functions?
If yes, then I don't want to spend extra money
If not then I might go shop for a TP-Link router that carries similar features.
Thank you for your opinions.
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September 21, 2014 7:44:01 AM

DD-wrt and tomato as well as a number of other like open-wrt have many many more features. They support very advanced features such as routing protocols and vlan tagging etc.

The downside to these third party firmwares is they tend to take a lot of skill to use ...mostly because they have SO many option it tends to be a distraction when you want to do simple things. You can load this on many hardware platforms. A very small number of routers like buffalo have them preloaded but most people would recommend if you have to skill to load firmware you are better off going with a larger name router manufacture.
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September 21, 2014 8:21:10 AM

Hi there palmworks!

I personally got the D-Link AC1750 wireless router: http://www.dlink.com/ca/en/home-solutions/connect/route...

It has all the features that you need/want and has a very long range. This is one of the best routers I've used and it has been recommended by many review sites.

Good luck! :) 
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September 21, 2014 10:52:14 AM

If you can live with AC1750, then just get a TP-Link Archer C7 v2.

v1 had some issues with Apple devices but those appear to have been resolved several months ago with v2. Even so, I have been using a v1 and think it is an incredible value for ~$100 if you need AC.
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September 21, 2014 1:37:29 PM

smitbret said:
If you can live with AC1750, then just get a TP-Link Archer C7 v2.

v1 had some issues with Apple devices but those appear to have been resolved several months ago with v2. Even so, I have been using a v1 and think it is an incredible value for ~$100 if you need AC.


Hello:
Thank you for the suggestion.
The price is good locally for the "AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Archer C7"

Does it match with all the features that I need?
DHCP server
DMZ
Dynamic DNS
Firewall Stateful packet inspection (SPI)
MAC address filtering
Network address translation (NAT)
Network time protocol (NTP)
Port forwarding
Quality of service (QoS)
Remote management
UPnP
VPN passthrough
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September 21, 2014 2:24:51 PM

I also found this one "Trendnet TEW-812DRU AC1750"
It is about $70 cheaper than ASUS AC1900 locally.

It also has all the features that I need.
Anyone using this model Trendnet TEW-812DRU AC1750?
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September 21, 2014 3:21:16 PM

Hello palmworks!

The Netgear Nighthawk AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router would be a good choice too!

They sell this router at Costco, and Costco.com: http://www.costco.com/Netgear-Nighthawk-AC1750-Wireless...

It has all the features that you need and the best of all, you can return at any time before it was purchased from Costco!
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September 21, 2014 5:57:35 PM

Trendnet is not as common a brand but that does not mean it will not work as well. There really are only a small handful of chip makers and since all radio equipment must be certified by the FCC lots of information is filed. The particular router you list have the exact same chips..2 radios and a processor as a ASUS AC66U.

Still your list of feature is way to generic to be sure if any router meets your list. Only you will be able to determine this. You are likely best served by reading the manuals....those too must be filed with the FCC so all are online someplace.

As a example you say you need a Stateful firewall. Do you mean you just need simple things like the router to recognize for example FTP or do you need one that can do SIP or maybe filter URLs. The QoS requirements are similar. This is way to generic it is like wanting a car with a radio.
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September 21, 2014 6:05:25 PM

bill001g said:
Trendnet is not as common a brand but that does not mean it will not work as well. There really are only a small handful of chip makers and since all radio equipment must be certified by the FCC lots of information is filed. The particular router you list have the exact same chips..2 radios and a processor as a ASUS AC66U.

Still your list of feature is way to generic to be sure if any router meets your list. Only you will be able to determine this. You are likely best served by reading the manuals....those too must be filed with the FCC so all are online someplace.

As a example you say you need a Stateful firewall. Do you mean you just need simple things like the router to recognize for example FTP or do you need one that can do SIP or maybe filter URLs. The QoS requirements are similar. This is way to generic it is like wanting a car with a radio.


The reason why I am looking for a router similar to ASUS AC66U is because my instructor told me that I have to get familiar with the ASUS AC66U.
The features that I put on the list is the exact features of ASUS AC66U.

Thanks,
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September 21, 2014 6:21:00 PM

Asus firmware tends to be a moving target. If you were to get the first versions of ac66u they have very different features than the newest. Asus has gone to a single code base for all their routers so as they are adding features to the newer routers they get into the firmware versions for the old ones. There is substantial differences in the areas such as QoS between the latest ones and the ones from a year or more ago.

Likely the trainer is recommending the asus because it has many more software features than other routers. Most people do not need all the tricks it can do...it has the ability to be a torrent client and share files with the PC turned off. Some people really want that feature but it one of the few routers that can do it. You may want to ask if there is a cheaper one that will work.

The asus routers also tend to be some of the most flexible when it comes to running third party firmware so they are great devices when it comes to learning all the tricks related to alternate firmware.

This is a very different question than which router works best. You are talking about software features and that there is huge difference between routers....although most are not used by your average users.

Asus has router simulators online for most their router images. They let you play with the configuration as though it was a router. Some things though do not work but it should give you a good feel for the device.
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September 22, 2014 2:38:34 PM

I finally decided to go with D-link DIR-850L. It is within my budget and I can get to practice all the features.
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September 22, 2014 4:18:22 PM

That's a good choice! :) 

Congrats on making your decision.
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September 22, 2014 5:20:52 PM

Thank you for all of yours help.
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!