brucecampbell Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 My cisco - linksys router does not seem to handle my wifi requirements.Airplay from ipad/iphone to apple tv keeps cutting out.Any recommendations for boosting wifi capabilities without breaking the bank?I only have 5-6 devices that use wifi.Apple TV is soon to be hardwired to the network once I run another cable.Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 If the router is working well otherwise consider getting a dedicated WAP to add instead of replacing the router.Plenty of options there without breaking the bank (wide-open anyway).Asus has one that seems to work well, Engenius units (ECB series) are well-priced for their high output also.Both of those are the same or usually less than the average consumer grade router.A decent (W)AP tends to do a better job at WiFi than a good router - and for as much or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qVAMPIREp Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Asus RT-N66U or Asus RT-AC66U both work great and can be used as VPN clients. No reason to blow your brains out on a mega expensive router for 99% of owners. My N66U is way better than the old CISCO POS my dealer sold me at a fraction of the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecampbell Posted October 8, 2013 Author Share Posted October 8, 2013 Thanks Guys, I might look at the ASUS RT-AC66U router and keep the linksys dedicated to being the modem only.I assume I can do that (I'm not crash hot on hardware...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I'll certainly second the 66, or even the 65 as a great router, especially for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajphotos Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I'm using a apple airport Extreme and it's plenty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMHarman Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I'm using a apple airport Extreme and it's plentyWhich one? I'm looking at this.http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD031LL/A/refurbished-airport-extreme-base-station Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 Asus RT-N66U or Asus RT-AC66U both work great and can be used as VPN clients. No reason to blow your brains out on a mega expensive router for 99% of owners. My N66U is way better than the old CISCO POS my dealer sold me at a fraction of the cost.Ditto - works great and excellent wifi range. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecodeman Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I have the AC66U as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ichbinbose Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I use a Mikrotik router on all projects now, including my own home. Pair one up with a WAP (preferably a Ruckus) and your off to the races. A basic Mikrotik, RB750 is well under a $100 and is amazingly powerful. Put it in with even a basic Unifi WAP or two and you'll have a very robust and flexible network that will serve about 80% of the users here. Switch out the Unifi for Ruckus and you should be able to handle the other 20%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookedOnC4 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 We use the RT-N66R works great... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecampbell Posted October 9, 2013 Author Share Posted October 9, 2013 Not that experienced in hardware, so please excuse my ignorance.If I was to install a new WAP to go with my existing Router (cisco linksys):1. Will the WAP simply act as an extender or will it become the sole wifi point?2. does a WAP improve the performance or wifi - or should I upgrade the router as well as buying a WAP3. would I be best simply buying a good router (ASUS ?) and placing it in the lounge cupboard and leaving the existing router to run DSL only from the garage rack?- Noting this is all an issue in my house because airplay on apple tv keeps dropping off when run totally wirelessly using both ipad and iphone.Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 1 In your scenario it would replace the existing WiFi.2 Generally a good WAP will tend to run a better WiFi then a router's built-in, better coverage, better speed. The pure 'router' portion of a router generally has little effect on WiFi as such - but if your wired devices are slow as well, it could improve things for you.3 I assume this is a ISP provided router/modem in one? If so - if the router works well otherwise, as a DIY not knowing too much about networking, just get a WAP if WiFi is your only issue. If you ARE a bit more comfortable, if that's a modem/router in one, best is to set that to bridge mode (disabling the router and wifi) and use a better router in it's place. Keep in mind though that this may mean setting the replacement to specific range settings and/or changing things in your C4 system to keep it all working, and your provider may have to be scheduled to come by and make the change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecampbell Posted October 10, 2013 Author Share Posted October 10, 2013 Thanks Cyknight.Yes the current router is router/modem in one, I bought it, was cheap but has done the job for 6 years...Just like Control 4 has been soldiering on for 5 years on 1.7.4 - time to update.My first test will be to hardwire apple tv and see if airplay works better that way.I will probably go with the ASUS RT-AC66U anyway, and bridge to linksys to run as DSL only.I'm only going to get more wifi devices in the house, so may as well upgrade now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMHarman Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Thanks Cyknight.Yes the current router is router/modem in one, I bought it, was cheap but has done the job for 6 years...Just like Control 4 has been soldiering on for 5 years on 1.7.4 - time to update.My first test will be to hardwire apple tv and see if airplay works better that way.I will probably go with the ASUS RT-AC66U anyway, and bridge to linksys to run as DSL only.I'm only going to get more wifi devices in the house, so may as well upgrade now.Have you considered this.http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD031LL/A/refurbished-airport-extreme-base-stationApple certainly want it to work well with their devices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecampbell Posted October 10, 2013 Author Share Posted October 10, 2013 Apple Airport Extreme is $319 NZDAsus RT-AC66U is $340 NZDI would probably go with ASUS, simply to avoid Apple, although Apple is growing on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK1 Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 +1 - Mikrotik as a router cannot be beat for the features / price. Does require a reasonably technical background to take advantage of it all.I use a Mikrotik router on all projects now, including my own home. Pair one up with a WAP (preferably a Ruckus) and your off to the races. A basic Mikrotik, RB750 is well under a $100 and is amazingly powerful. Put it in with even a basic Unifi WAP or two and you'll have a very robust and flexible network that will serve about 80% of the users here. Switch out the Unifi for Ruckus and you should be able to handle the other 20%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMHarman Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Apple Airport Extreme is $319 NZDAsus RT-AC66U is $340 NZDI would probably go with ASUS, simply to avoid Apple, although Apple is growing on me.Outside some vintage iPods the Airport Extreme will be the only Apple device in my house.I have a lot of people recommending it to me.The prior generation Airport Extreme is $199 NZD with a 12m WTY so should be good as new. Generally these are returns that can't be sold 'as new'.http://store.apple.com/nz/product/FD031X/A/refurbished-airport-extreme-base-stationThough everyone here is recommending the ASUS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c44me Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Asus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajphotos Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I'm using a apple airport Extreme and it's plentyWhich one? I'm looking at this.http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD031LL/A/refurbished-airport-extreme-base-stationYup that's the one .. It's range is wonderful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajphotos Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 You can never go wrong with apple ! If something goes wrong you walk into any apple store and your covered !Good luck with asus if you need a replacement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 You can never go wrong with apple ! If something goes wrong you walk into any apple store and your covered !Good luck with asus if you need a replacement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicagoskiguy Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 +1 Asus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas3622 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 What are the best settings for a cisco router and access points? I have a 105 mbs service and the LAN consistely shows a speed of 130+ when I do a speed test. The WAN almost never goes above 40. Any suggestions or is that what I should expect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecampbell Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Anyone had experience with Netgear R6300 WiFi Router?How does it stack up against the Asus AC66U? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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