My aging Centurylink Q1000 DSL router is on its last leg (I think). Regular re-boots, WIFI cutting out on different devices intermittently.....
I would prefer a combo unit but I can be swayed. We currently have 3 hard wired devices, 2 Ipads and 2 Iphones. Needs to have good security as well as being user friendly.
The house is hardwired. Would like the device to pass as much data as possible in a consumer grade item.
I know computers fairly well but I'm lackluster on peripherals.
What say the experts?
Can't go wrong with either an Asus or a Netgear wireless router. My current router is a Netgear and it has performed flawlessly even with seven devices drawing from it throughout the day.
I've been at total wireless data transfer and internet connection for over a year with two TL-WR1043ND 300bs Wireless N routers that are backward and forward compatible from Win98 to Win8
I also have matching wireless cards installed in 4 desktops computers plus two USB adapters for old laptops.
They connect to my cellphones and smart tvs and can handle 5,109 simultaneous connections and it gives a WIFI signal.
All for less than $200
I use a Netgear AC1900 and Netgear ethernet over powerline adapters for wifi security cameras.
B-)
I personally like NETGEAR because in addition to security via password, they also have a feature called "ACCESS CONTROL". This means that you have to actually grant permission for anything to connect through the wifi router. People can't even connect to try and start guessing at passwords with this turned on.
Count me in with the Netgear folks as well. They have held up much better than lynksys and others I've had.
It baffles me how something with no moving parts can crap out as fast as those things do. Netgear seems to go the distance though.
Another cool thing about Netgear, but it probably works on others as well, is you can wirelessly connect another wifi router to it and create a hotspot for extended wireless range. This really works well if you have wireless IP cameras all over the place. B-)
I have had two different Belkins in the last year and they both have crapped out early. So I wouldn't suggest them. I've had a cisco and it did ok. I would suggest Netgear too. I can name a specific one but I have those at my office and still going strong after several years. (KNOCK ON WOOD).
I was using Linksys stuff before my local internet providers went to using their own things.
I've been thinking of the same thing. I had the bright idea that getting the modem and router separate might be better, for the reason that if you ever wanted to upgrade one, you could upgrade it individually, and/or including if the modem went out, you only have to get a new modem and you can keep you quality router.
It sounds like netgear has the largest endorsement. I might look into that.
I've been using the same Lynksys router for 8 years or so. The only issues I had was, it turned out, that I was using the cable company's modems for most of it. Their modems were always having problems, and I had the cable guy over 3-4 times during that period. Someone clued me in that I was renting it from them, so I gave it back, bought my own from Walmart, and haven't had any problems in over 3 years.
That's exactly my situation and why I am looking for a router and modem. Cable company rents them and has even the gall to want to charge you if you are having a problem.
Every time I called the cable company about it, they asked about my router, and said something along the lines that it's probably the cause, but since it's not their equipment, they can't do anything about it, but if I let them install one of theirs (rental), it would probably fix everything.
It was very aggravating. I was having to re-start the thing 5 or more times a day. Almost got to the point where trying to watch a Netflix movie was more annoying than it was worth.
That new modem was probably the best $40 I ever spent. And to think that I'd already paid the cable company about $200 in rental for their POS modems over the years.
If I rent a modem from my cable provider, they will support it for free (for now anyway). If I have my own modem, I'm totally on my own (no support at all, in any way, shape or form) for fixing (or even seemingly diagnosing) modem issues.
I assume the pole connections would still be covered though (determining signal strength, etc). About every 5 years, the signal has dropped enough that the company has come out and replaced the connectors from the pole up to my modem.
My Cisco router is still doing quite well, although they got out of the consumer market a few years ago. They might still make commercial-grade hardware along these lines. My modem is an ActionTec brand and no complaints here, for what it's worth.
I prefer separate routers and modems but that's just me; if one fails you only have to replace that particular piece.
The only superior evidence is that which you haven't yet found.
http://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTN66U/
The advice I've gotten from security reviews and networking research is to NOT use combo modem/routers.
The router linked above is the latest iteration of the best bang-for-the-buck router I've ever owned. I got the RT-N65U two years ago to replace "D-Link" and have not regretted it.
Look to sites such as: http://www.tomshardware.org/ and http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/
for reviews. I recommend starting with "Your Router's Security Stinks: Here's How to Fix It" at Tomshardware.org.
I hope this helps.