For best performance should I buy a cable modem with built in wifi or get separate wifi router?

sefton

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Aug 22, 2013
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I currently have a 4 year old Motorola Surfboard Cable Modem Router that has a built in N WiFi. I recently cut the cord with my satellite TV provider and have run into slight issues with streaming TV over the internet through my home despite having enough bandwidth coming into my home.

Consequently I want to take this time as an opportunity to get a new wireless network for my home, one that's more secure and can handle multiple streaming devices for my family (multiple people streaming video over the internet while some play games, my cable modem plan has enough bandwidth to cover this, 70 down 15 up).

My first though after initial research is to get a Motorola Surfboard Cable Modem and a separate high performance network router (linksys or asus in the $200-$250 range). Will this have significant increased performance over a Motorola Surfboard Cable Modem with built in AC wifi router?

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
 

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
I recommend discrete (separate) components because the pace of change for wireless routers far outpaces modems. Any improvement in your wireless performance is dependent on the router AND the device. The new top-end AC routers have hardware that supports multiple simultaneous streams of data to a device. BUT if the device doesn't have similar hardware the performance may not change.

If your performance near the router is low AND you have newer devices then you might get a boost. If your devices can use the 5Ghz band you will get a performance improvement near the router. 5Ghz doesn't penetrate walls as well as 2.4 so 5Ghz range is less than 2.4.

If you are looking for more area covered by WIFI you should look at adding access point(s) connected back to the main router by wire -- either conventional ethernet (best) or powerline network adapters.
 

sefton

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Aug 22, 2013
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Thanks for the suggestions! Its not an area issue, its for a 1400 sq ft two story condo, just thicker walls kinda get in the way and I now have three devices that are capable of AC so that adds to the reasons to upgrade.
 

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator


For a condo, you have neighboring WIFI to contend with. The 5Ghz band is the way to go in a crowded 2.4Ghz environment like an apartment or condo.