Forum Discussion
I need a new router.
I need a new router. This time of year fund are tight. I am thinking to spend under $100. I have done research for the last month. Now i'm more confused than when I started. I'm still on Gen 4 & n...
I've had good luck with Netgear. Granted, I've got an older one that only has 2.4Ghz capability, and I don't use it very often today due to having Gen5, but it worked perfectly when I had Gen4 and still does on the occasion that I use it for a specific reason with Gen5. It's a WNR2000v4, and it's six years old.
Even if you don't currently have any devices that can connect using the 5Ghz band (I have no idea if you do), I'd still get a router that has that ability, as more and more devices today can use the 5Ghz band. Just about all routers can use the 2.4Ghz band, but some still don't offer a 5Ghz connection, as well.
If you want the absolute best you can get for your price range, take a look at something like the Netgear R6700 Nighthawk. Granted, it's right at the top of your range, but it's got a lot of bells and whistles for the price. On Amazon, right now, it's on sale for $99.99, but it may be even less tomorrow due to it being Cyber Monday.
One piece of advice I think everyone would agree with, though, is to make sure you stick with a well known brand. Netgear, Linksys, ASUS, D-Link, TP-Link.
The following link is to the best selling routers on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-Computer-Routers/zgbs/electronics/300189
I'm too late from the looks of it but have had a very good experience with the Asus RT-N66R. The signal is strong and reaches out well. Going strong for a few years now. Thought I'd add it here for anyone else in the market.
P.S.: The specs are wrong on Amazon, it is a dual band router.
They definitely need to fix that. It shows in the comparison that it's only 2.4Ghz, but in the description it says 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. Wholly confusing. I wonder how many more of those they would sell were the information correct. I mean, many people, like you and I, would do further research, but a lot of people solely rely on the Amazon description, and in this case it would be a mistake to do so.
GabeU, At least Newegg has the description right but of course their price is higher. Probably can't go wrong with either one, I've gone with Asus for some years because of the Merlin firmware available.
Does the Merlin firmware work with the RT-N66R? I see it's not listed on the Merlin site as supported, but I know that there are always units that can use the firmware even if it isn't officially supported.
I was thinking, at one time, of getting an inexpensive ASUS router(RT-AC66U, I think), but I found out that, even though the Merlin firmware was officially supported on it, it was limited in what it could do. The full, individual data tally isn't there like it would be with the more expensive models. :(
I know that the R6700 can use the DD-WRT firmware, but only v1. It's doubtful that the one he's going to get is v1. But, either way, it's still a great router, even with the stock firmware. A lot better than what I have, that's for sure, and better than what the HT2000W offers.
P.S. Sorry for all of the additional email notices with each of my edits. :(
GabeU wrote:Does the Merlin firmware work with the RT-N66R? I see it's not listed on the Merlin site as supported, but I know that there are always units that can use the firmware even if it isn't officially supported.
It's in the legacy section, he's not doing new updates for it. The last one he did is working great though.
I don't get emails on everything, many turned off, I just lurk alot.
