Please Help with Wireless Router for my newly built PC and Home Network

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
E

eddieblade21

Prominent
Dec 5, 2017
26
0
530
Hi

Again i cant stress enough how Tom's Hardware forum has assisted me in every aspect in building PC.
Now I am looking to upgrade my wireless router to complete my build.

I live in NY and my cable provider is Optimum. They provide a modem and a smart router, which every one knows the company really don't provide top of the line stuff.

Here is what provided from Optimum
Arris TM1602 Modem
Sagemcom 5260CV Smart Router

I purchased a Asus RT-AC88U, and the router is good, but for such a expensive router believe me the Optimum smart router had better service as far as coverage area, with the Asus my devices constantly disconnect where the Optimum smart router didn't.
The Asus router is faster when devices are connected, where the smart router was slower.

Also what i noticed the Asus router is very restricted in connecting devices i had to setup some port forwarding to just to access my DVR off my WiFi connection. just a very complicated process for me but definitely not for others and forget about Asus customer support they don't really help Well that not here are there. I like the plug and play being i really don't know much about WiFi configurations. i tried a Netgear WiFi extender and the WiFi extender is connected to the router but has no internet where the Optimum router had no issue that just for an example.

Basically the Asus router is very unstable where as the cable provided router wasn't, I wanted to upgrade for a bit better coverage, and not be limited to the cable router. I just built a high end PC and wanted the best router without disturbing the rest of the house hold.

Again please i am not bashing Asus as most of their stuff is in my build. that is just my lack of experience with WiFi routers.

Currently my setup,
Optimum modem connected to the Asus Router
Gaming PC and CCTV connected directly to the Router.
About 10 devices connected to WiFi router from Apple iPads to Ring doorbells.

My area is approx. 2000 Sq ft.

I was thinking of the Netgear Nighthawk series X6S or leaning towards a mesh system just don't know which one.

Please help me make a decision and guide me in my purchase or should i stay with my Asus Router , so far every recommendation this forum has provided has been spot on.

I am truly sorry for the winded post, just trying to provide as much info as possible.

Thank you so much
Eddie




 
Sort by date Sort by votes
androbourne

androbourne

Honorable
Jul 18, 2017
2,369
6
13,615
Well two things. For one, if the new router is setup properly and you connect a device to its wifi. You shouldn't need to do any port forwarding when trying to access a device internally. If you have to do that, you most likely have a Double Nat issue. Which could be causing a lot of your issues if that is the case.

I'm assuming you are connecting the new router to an ISP provided modem? A lot of the times the ISP provided modem also does routing and if you connect your router to it, you get Double NAT. If this is the case, you need to call your ISP and tell them to put the modem in bridged mode. This will turn off NAT and firewall etc... and push it all down to let your router handle it instead of the ISP modem/router.

As for the wifi range. Try to download a wifi analyzer on your cell phone and connect your cell to the wifi network. Then open and app and scan the wifi while walking around. Is there any interference or dead zones? Channel conflicts from another wifi spot? Etc.... You can try changing wifi settings in your router such as channel type and frequency ranges to see if that helps.

Honestly, your router isn't bad. I would keep it and just purchased a WAP to extend the wifi if you need it. You can purchase a Unifi WAP for fairly cheap and they are pretty awesome.

I would normally recommend something like an Apple Airport for you since you are using Apple tablets, but since you don't have an Apple Router, you are kinda gimping yourself by getting the Airport.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

eddieblade21

Prominent
Dec 5, 2017
26
0
530
Thank you so much for the response, the reason i needed to port forward was to access my DVR outside of my network for example at my work this was Asus customer support provided info.
With the ISP router never had to do that, Another example is the ASUS router app, i can access it when i am connected to my wifi network but not outside my network.

I tweak the router according to this website https://www.rickygao.com.au/blog/tuning-the-asus-wireless-router-to-best-performance/

It did provide a bit better coverage

As far as WAP from my understanding i will need this to be a wired connection to the Asus router, if i am not mistaken. Unfortunately i don't have another Ethernet connected routed back to the router to connect a WAP. I can lay it on the floor but i will be accessing my router from the garage cause my wife would kick me out. Asus does have a mesh firmware when you can wirelessly connect another router to create a mesh system, but you will need to buy another one of there routers.

I was also leaning to eliminate the router and go with either Netgear Orbi, Asus Lyra or google Wifi.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
androbourne

androbourne

Honorable
Jul 18, 2017
2,369
6
13,615
Unifi has a mesh solution as well. You would just need to buy an extra WAP. The main hub would stay near the router and be connected to the LAN. While the other WAP near you would be connected to mesh network via wireless.

That would most likely be a cheaper option instead of purchasing a whole new router and WAP. But either option would work. It boils down to preference and cost.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

eddieblade21

Prominent
Dec 5, 2017
26
0
530
is the unifi a good system, to be a add on to the ASUS RT-AC88U router.

Is there anyway to find out if the ISP modem is bridged without calling the ISP company up. Also from my understanding the ISP (optimum) uses a Dynamic IP Address for residential user they only offer static IP addresses for business owners

Calling the ISP is such a pain in the you know what, they always try to recommend to upgrade to there highest level.

Any recommend tweaks for the RT-88U
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
androbourne

androbourne

Honorable
Jul 18, 2017
2,369
6
13,615
Yeah I know about ISPs. I have to deal with them daily. Not fun!

Unifi is great and comes with a software controller so you can just buy more WAPs if you want, plop it on the network and it ties to the controller pretty easily and nicely.

As for the modem, there is no way to really tell if the modem is in bridged mode or not unless you have login info for the modem and can see the settings for yourself.

For the dynamic vs static. That really wont do anything for you expect give you a non changing WAN address at additional cost. Unless you host servers or content etc... you really don't need a static. It shouldn't be related to any problems you are having here.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

eddieblade21

Prominent
Dec 5, 2017
26
0
530
OK perfect, going to call mu ISP now and see if the modem is in bridged mode to release it if it is.



As far as the unifi sytem, if i am not mistaken just connect each wap to the current Asus RT-AC88U or eliminate the Asus RT-AC88U and purchase the entire unifi system

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
E

eddieblade21

Prominent
Dec 5, 2017
26
0
530
Hi

According to the ISP modem cannot be bridged and they dont come bridged that is only offered in the AIO Modem/Router. being the company now provides a separate modem and separate smart router.


Any recommendation for a different router, I saw the unifi AmpliFi HD how is that?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
androbourne

androbourne

Honorable
Jul 18, 2017
2,369
6
13,615
Well whats the goal here? Are you looking for just a router with good WiFi range and no WAP? Or are you open to still getting a WAP and using your current router?

how would you like the end results to be?

Honestly. I've never used a unifi router. Only the WAPs. Their routers don't seem to be too popular so I would go with something else more main stream. Like a Nighthawk or something similar that has a high WiFi rating. However, from reading up on that router. It appears pretty good. I just never personally used it so can't recommend it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom