I need a new magical box that makes the internet, could I please have suggestions?

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Amywalker730

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Nov 24, 2014
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Hello everyone!

I discovered that my current wireless router from 2006 is no-longer capable of operating with Windows 8.1. I went to my local Microcenter and the worker-dude said that he would recommend:

ASUS RT-AC66R - $140 -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320115

TP-LINK 1900 - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704232

Netgear Nighthawk - $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122581

I know virtually nothing about networking apart from that I have a 50mps bandwidth, my current wireless router is a decade old, and my service will routinely cease periodically throughout the night and say. Could anyone please offer me suggestions on what I should purchase?

 
Solution
Twistfaria
It all depends on what you are using it for, on and what speed internet you are paying for from your ISP.

The first thing to establish is what speed you are getting from your ISP. If you are only paying for 50Mbps then you don't need a router that operates much more than that. However if you are planing to upgrade to a higher speed tier level any time soon then you might want to get a router that is more forward compatible.

Possible reasons you might decide at some point that you want to have faster internet could include: playing internet mmo type games like WOW, streaming high def video from sites like hulu and netflix, and having multiple devices that you use on the same wifi.

Games and high def streaming require higher speed...
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Eximo

Eximo

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All are decent choices. I would only get the Nighthawk if you are a dedicated gamer.

There are also many, many cheaper alternatives. It really depends on how many users/devices you have and how large the area is. Even room configuration can be a choice factor.
 
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Twistfaria

Twistfaria

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Feb 3, 2016
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It all depends on what you are using it for, on and what speed internet you are paying for from your ISP.

The first thing to establish is what speed you are getting from your ISP. If you are only paying for 50Mbps then you don't need a router that operates much more than that. However if you are planing to upgrade to a higher speed tier level any time soon then you might want to get a router that is more forward compatible.

Possible reasons you might decide at some point that you want to have faster internet could include: playing internet mmo type games like WOW, streaming high def video from sites like hulu and netflix, and having multiple devices that you use on the same wifi.

Games and high def streaming require higher speed internet. Multiple devices (phone, laptop, wifes phone, kids desktop.....) SHARE bandwidth, which means that your 50Mbps isn't REALLY 50Mbps if you are using more than ONE device at the same time. A good way to understand it is to picture it like the water coming into your home. The pipe that supplies water to your home can only pump so much in at a time therefore if you turn on all the taps, and showers and are running the washing machine at the same time then your water pressure turns to crap! The same thing happens with your bandwidth. That's why the wifi at hotels can be so great in the middle of the day but god awful at prime time. To many taps are on!!

Another important factor is the type of speeds that your devices are even ABLE to get. Older devices that can only see the 2.4Ghz frequency won't even be able to take advantage of a higher speed wifi.

I personally really like netgear routers but I doubt that you need anything as high powered and expensive as the nighthawk. I would suggest checking out the reviews of various netgear routers on amazon AFTER you determine just what kind of speed you are really going to need. Clearly the guy you talked to didn't ask you enough to really know what YOU need.

Hope this helps.
 
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Amywalker730

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Nov 24, 2014
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The developers that make the drivers for my router stopped making them compatible with new OS's after Windows 7. As I understand it there is a group that released a driver that made it work, but the installation process was too complex for my level of understanding and I though that if it was anything like the benefits of upgrading other old hardware that I should just go ahead and upgrade it anyways. :p
 
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Amywalker730

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Nov 24, 2014
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It's difficult to give an accurate answer when I'm not quite sure myself. My house is 2,000 square / 600 square meters with five devices that utilize the internet at the most, including a very basic-function printer. I'm open to any suggestions that you might recommend. :p
 
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