ASUS AC5300 vs TP-LINK AC5400

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Aubtin

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Mar 18, 2014
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Hi,
I want to see which of these routers would be better? They seem pretty similar, but I'd like a second opinion.

The Asus AC5300 or the TP-LINK AC5400

I'm able to get the Asus for $290 and the TP-LINK for $270 (these prices include tax)... Is the ASUS one any better to justify the additional cost?

Thanks!
 
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corroded
Yes... I am not a fan of buying "Bleeding Edge" anything. You pay too much for something that is more likely to fail.
You could save a bit off the "Edge" and get this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704234

$$ left to think about Extenders or wired AP's



Another option is a PFsense Router as a base and then add on as needed.
http://store.netgate.com/SG-2220.aspx <- the 2 port version.

They also distribute the Software that you can load on your own box or in a VM. Very nice to work with, if you have the inkling.
https://pfsense.org/download/
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corroded

Splendid
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Aubtin

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Mar 18, 2014
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I've seen the Ubiquities, but I don't see how they're better? If I get a Ubiquiti AP and the other router, wouldn't the cost be the same?
 
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bill001g

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Aug 9, 2012
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Be very careful not to get sucked in by big numbers. Both these routers use 4x4 mimo. If you do not have devices that also have 4 antenna....which is extremely rare... you will not be able to use the top rated speed. Also end devices must support mu-mimo which also is not common. To use all 3 radios you must manually balance your devices over them. A single device will only use a single radio.

Be really sure you have a need for these fancy routers.

Price is hard to say, asus tends to historically cost more than tplink. Why is hard to say tplink is no longer some unkown brand from china.
 
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Aubtin

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The router automatically chooses what band to put the devices on I believe. I was aware of the speed marketing terms, but I wanted a router that can perform well at range. Newer devices are also coming out with mu-mimo these days.

Would an AP like the Ubiquiti ones need a wired connection to the router? If you have 2, both or just one?

When I was looking at the routers, I knew many devices don't have 4x4 for MIMO, but I wanted a triband router, and I can't find any that are significantly cheaper (if at all), that are triband and 3x3 or 2x2.

I'd love to hear some alternatives.

Thanks!
 
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bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
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There is nothing that will balance your devices between the radios. Most times you must put different SSID on them. I am not sure if you can put both 5g radios on the same SSID. Even if you did I am not sure which the end device would select.

AP are pretty much just the radio part of the router. In a way you get better coverage because you can take the second 5g radio and put it in a different location. It does require a wired connection

The other main concern with tri-band routers is they attempt to use all the radio channels. They use 2/3 of the 2.4g and 8 out of 9 channels on the 5g. This works fine if you do not have any neighbors that want to use wireless. Many times you end up have to do things like use 20mhz channels which makes these back into stupid 802.11n routers.
 
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corroded

corroded

Splendid
Sep 5, 2011
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All AP's are wired back to the Router to work.

Range Extenders and things like the Google Router/extender packs will do Wireless to Wireless
look here: https://madeby.google.com/wifi/how-it-works/ <_ not the fastest thing out there, just simple to setup.

My house is run with an older DIR-868L (2.4 and 5. simultaneous) along with 2 AP's... They are older and you do not get the automatic handoff you get with the newest systems, like the Google or a linked set of Unifi AP's. Roaming is nice!

 
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Aubtin

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Mar 18, 2014
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The problem I have with APs is that I don't have ethernet wires running through my house, so if I put two APs on opposite sides of the house, it would not work.. If I use a PowerLine, then it would degrade speed also...
 
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Aubtin

Reputable
Mar 18, 2014
45
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4,530
Upvote 0 Downvote
corroded

corroded

Splendid
Sep 5, 2011
2,859
0
21,960
Yes... I am not a fan of buying "Bleeding Edge" anything. You pay too much for something that is more likely to fail.
You could save a bit off the "Edge" and get this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704234

$$ left to think about Extenders or wired AP's



Another option is a PFsense Router as a base and then add on as needed.
http://store.netgate.com/SG-2220.aspx <- the 2 port version.

They also distribute the Software that you can load on your own box or in a VM. Very nice to work with, if you have the inkling.
https://pfsense.org/download/
 
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