Best Gaming Router for MY odd specific needs?

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Hyozans

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Apr 22, 2015
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I currently have an 8 year old-ish Netgear Wireless-N router that Id like to replace, but Im not sure what to go with. Here is my situation:

- My internet speed is supposed to be 20 mbps. I may upgrade to 40 mbps sometime in the future (only a local provider in my area, they want $80/m for 40 mbps!)

- I have 3 phones, 3 laptops, 1 tower PC, and 5 gaming consoles that could be connected to the internet at anytime. I live in a house of 3, we all use these things an average amount I would say. Gaming is 90% on me.

- We live in an old house where the walls are made of cinderblocks (concrete). It's not a very large house, but my current router sits exactly in the middle and has never had a good connection in the living room, which is on one end. I use one Powerline adapter for one of my consoles in there, but it's only wired so it won't send out any signal. I'd rather not have to buy an expensive router as well as more Powerline adapters as the cost will get crazy for us.

- I would like it to be good-to-great for gaming. Right now I play mostly Overwatch on my PC and Mario Kart 8 on my Nintendo Switch and Smash Bros for Wii U.

- Id rather not spend more than $100, though if there is an option that could truly change my life I would consider more.

I have looked up what routers are best for what situation and while I have learned a good bit I still find a lot of it very confusing. I believe the concrete walls are an issue with AC wireless. I hope someone can give me some quality recommendations. Let me know if you need to know anything else. Thanks.
 
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Ok. The ASUS router I linked earlier gave me increased range over an n600 tp-link router that even had large 9dbi antennas on it so switching to the AC router alone might give you enough better coverage.

I would get the router linked above, and a faster powerine adapter like an av1000 for the living room.
If the new router gives enough signal then get a 5 or 8 port switch for living room for more then just the one wired device. Otherwise eitehr try reflashing Netgear to newest firmware or get inexpensive wifi router like a ASUS RT-N12 or netgear wnr3500l and make it into an access point. By setting up the access point that will give you 3 more ethernet ports as well
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boosted1g

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Jun 12, 2013
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Concrete walls will restrict 2.4 ghz and pretty much stop 5ghz band in its tracks.

Router plus powerline adapters (unless you can run ethernet through your cinderblock walls to attic or crawlspace) is going to be your best play here.
Powerline adapter is better then wifi for gaming anways as it has lower latency/faster pings which is frankly more important for gaming then mbps.

If in the USA then i recommend this router: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320228
It is a very capabile router and it $70 is a steal (normal retail is over $160). I got a refurbished one well over a year ago and have had zero issues.

Now in regards to powerline, you dont need a kit for each connection, so 4 adapters will give you 3 computers connections not 2.
Also if your devices are clustered together in the same room you can have powerline adapter feeding a 5 or 8 port gigabit switch and then that going to your devices.

What you can also do for your living room is turn that old netgear into an access point to proivde additional wireless.
You do this by dissabling dhcp, giving it a static IP address (on same subnet as your primary router) and then you plug the incoming conncetion from primary router/powelrine adapter into the LAN port of the netgear and not the WAN port.
 
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Hyozans

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Apr 22, 2015
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Thanks for the router suggestion. I like the idea of using my old router, but part of the reason I want to replace it is because I think it's causing dips in speed and performance. I seem to randomly lag quite often these days, and when I unplug and plug back in my router it fixes it for awhile - so it makes me think it's the router. My ISP says it's not thier fault. (They use Fiber Optics, I believe).

Would you recommend the wireless Powerline adapters instead? Can I mix wired with wireless Powerline? Here's the one set I have now:

TP-Link AV200 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit, up to 200Mbps (TL-PA2010KIT) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWRUIY4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hFkfzbKR4D4WE

I need a wireless option for the livingroom because that's where we use or phones and laptops a lot. I also have one gaming system in there, which is currently my WiiU and it's using those wired Powerline.
 
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Hyozans

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Apr 22, 2015
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Okay I did my best, I hope this is what you meant by layout drawing:

bkApcnu.jpg
 
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boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
14,846
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Ok. The ASUS router I linked earlier gave me increased range over an n600 tp-link router that even had large 9dbi antennas on it so switching to the AC router alone might give you enough better coverage.

I would get the router linked above, and a faster powerine adapter like an av1000 for the living room.
If the new router gives enough signal then get a 5 or 8 port switch for living room for more then just the one wired device. Otherwise eitehr try reflashing Netgear to newest firmware or get inexpensive wifi router like a ASUS RT-N12 or netgear wnr3500l and make it into an access point. By setting up the access point that will give you 3 more ethernet ports as well
 
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Hyozans

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Apr 22, 2015
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Thank you for all the help, I think I will go for the router you suggested and start there. Newegg shows an "Open Box" option for slightly cheaper, is it better to go Refurbished or Open Box?
 
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Hyozans

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Apr 22, 2015
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A quick update: I set up that router you suggested I get and now I have pretty strong signal everywhere in my home. I didn't realize just replacing the router could fix it all! I won't have to get any Powerline after all. Thanks again for the great suggestions. :)
 
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