End User home router suggestions?

Dashrender

I used to recommend the Cisco/Linksys wireless routers for home use. But lately they have seemed slow and buggy and the fact that Cisco wants you to create a cisco logon and connect the device to them - No thanks!

So I'm looking for a new suggestion for home users. Sub $100 would be great, but $150 would be the max.

Please don't suggest a PFsense box, Untangle, etc. These users are non technical and looking for something that is simply plug and play.

Minion Queen

Since I am the no networking experience person around here. Netgear is my choice. Very easy to setup and deal with.

Bill Kindle

@Dashrender Asus routers are by far the easiest I have ever setup. Almost pull out of box and plug in easy.

JaredBusch

@Dashrender said:

I used to recommend the Cisco/Linksys wireless routers for home use. But lately they have seemed slow and buggy and the fact that Cisco wants you to create a cisco logon and connect the device to them - No thanks!

I've recommended Netgear to users because of the whole cisco borg thing.

Nic

Get an ASUS:
http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit/dp/B008ABOJKS/
Put Tomato on it, and then crank up the power until you drown out your neighbors. At least that is what I do because I live in an apartment and can see 30+ wireless networks from my unit.

Dashrender

@Nic said:

Get an ASUS:
http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit/dp/B008ABOJKS/
Put Tomato on it, and then crank up the power until you drown out your neighbors. At least that is what I do because I live in an apartment and can see 30+ wireless networks from my unit.

So you're the reason I can't get online.

There will be no flashing another firmware.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Nic

@Dashrender said:

@Nic said:

Get an ASUS:
http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit/dp/B008ABOJKS/
Put Tomato on it, and then crank up the power until you drown out your neighbors. At least that is what I do because I live in an apartment and can see 30+ wireless networks from my unit.

So you're the reason I can't get online.

There will be no flashing another firmware.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Only if you live next to me Actually the reason I started doing it was because someone else was drowning out my signal. I got a signal strength app on my phone and my own router wasn't the strongest signal in my own apartment.

scottalanmiller

@Dashrender funny that you mention pfSense right as @mike-ralston asks about it.

PSX_Defector

@Nic said:

@Dashrender said:

@Nic said:

Get an ASUS:
http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit/dp/B008ABOJKS/
Put Tomato on it, and then crank up the power until you drown out your neighbors. At least that is what I do because I live in an apartment and can see 30+ wireless networks from my unit.

So you're the reason I can't get online.

There will be no flashing another firmware.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Only if you live next to me Actually the reason I started doing it was because someone else was drowning out my signal. I got a signal strength app on my phone and my own router wasn't the strongest signal in my own apartment.

You know, they have these things called "channels" that allow you to reside on another frequency to prevent this kind of crosstalk. I recommend channel 13.

See, this is what happens when you got non-techs on a tech board. N00b!

@PSX_Defector said:

@Nic said:

@Dashrender said:

@Nic said:

Get an ASUS:
http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit/dp/B008ABOJKS/
Put Tomato on it, and then crank up the power until you drown out your neighbors. At least that is what I do because I live in an apartment and can see 30+ wireless networks from my unit.

So you're the reason I can't get online.

There will be no flashing another firmware.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Only if you live next to me Actually the reason I started doing it was because someone else was drowning out my signal. I got a signal strength app on my phone and my own router wasn't the strongest signal in my own apartment.

You know, they have these things called "channels" that allow you to reside on another frequency to prevent this kind of crosstalk. I recommend channel 13.

See, this is what happens when you got non-techs on a tech board. N00b!

zing-a-ling-a-ding-dang-dong ?

Nic

@PSX_Defector said:

@Nic said:

@Dashrender said:

@Nic said:

Get an ASUS:
http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC66U-802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit/dp/B008ABOJKS/
Put Tomato on it, and then crank up the power until you drown out your neighbors. At least that is what I do because I live in an apartment and can see 30+ wireless networks from my unit.

So you're the reason I can't get online.

There will be no flashing another firmware.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Only if you live next to me Actually the reason I started doing it was because someone else was drowning out my signal. I got a signal strength app on my phone and my own router wasn't the strongest signal in my own apartment.

You know, they have these things called "channels" that allow you to reside on another frequency to prevent this kind of crosstalk. I recommend channel 13.

See, this is what happens when you got non-techs on a tech board. N00b!

Trust me, with 30+ access points, all the channels were occupied multiple times.

Nara

Do you have an old computer laying around? Sophos UTM has a home-user version. IT doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of its corporate bigger brother and is limited to 50 IP addresses, but still has an impressive feature set and a well-polished UI.

Edit: For the really non-technical, Apple AirPort Extremes are really easy to use, run smoothly, and have decent performance.

Dashrender

this is for a client to use at home. They don't want to maintain an extra computer at home for something like this. Simple appliance is all they want.

technobabble

We've provided our consumer clients with Netgear routers and wireless adapters since 2003.

My techie friends (non-it peeps) love the Asus routers, but I haven't tried any myself.

scottalanmiller

@technobabble said:

We've provided our consumer clients with Netgear routers and wireless adapters since 2003.

My techie friends (non-it peeps) love the Asus routers, but I haven't tried any myself.

Netgear is very easy to support. And very affordable.

Chamele0n

@Bill-Kindle said:

@Dashrender Asus routers are by far the easiest I have ever setup. Almost pull out of box and plug in easy.

I love the newer ASUS line, it has DD-WRT by default for firmware. It has added features compared to most manufacturer firmware. But it's not too hard to configure. Should be fairly easy for non-techies to understand. I probably won't go back to Linksys since Cisco no longer owns it.

scottalanmiller

@Chamele0n said:

@Bill-Kindle said:

@Dashrender Asus routers are by far the easiest I have ever setup. Almost pull out of box and plug in easy.

I love the newer ASUS line, it has DD-WRT by default for firmware. It has added features compared to most manufacturer firmware. But it's not too hard to configure. Should be fairly easy for non-techies to understand. I probably won't go back to Linksys since Cisco no longer owns it.

I don't think Cisco owning Linksys added any value. Hurt it actually.

The Asua line with DD-WRT was a brilliant move on Asus' part. If you want DD-WRT which a lot of people do, why go anywhere else? I need to get one for testing soon. Probably the best way to go for home routers.