Looking to upgrade my modem/wireless router

Dark Lord Greg

Dark Lord Greg

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I have had the same router and modem for a good while now and looking to upgrade. My modem is a Motorola surfboard Docsis 2.0 and my router is a D-link DIR-655. I'm looking to get better coverage in my house (currently signal does make it out of room and reaches outside guest room barely) and maybe better speed/connection with wireless devices especially my iPad. 

I did see a Motorola Surfboard SBG6782 which is a 2 in 1 modem/wireless router but reading its just ok and saying its just a glorified N router no AC.

Any tips/help suggestions? My top would be $200 total.

My ISP is Cox have with 25/5. 

 
My recommendation would be to not buy a combined modem and router. That is always a bad idea and I always recommend against it. You would want to get a Docsis 3.0 modem and I would look for a AC router. Docsis 3.0 is the new standard and most companies have begun or completely phased out the use of Docsis 2.0 modems. You will also probably notice a performance increase with a Docsis 3.0 Modem. I would also say that there is no point in getting another N router at this point. AC routers are coming down in cost quickly and is the new standard. It would be a better investment to get an AC router. You can get a Docsis 3.0 modem for about $60+ depending on what you get. You could get a MOTOROLA SB6121 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825122015 for $69.99 on sale until the 24th. An AC router will cost you at least 70 up to 200 and would depend on what features you need from it. You would need to be a little more specific about your internet usage and features needed for me to make recommendations on the AC router. Hope that helps you out.

Cloulien

Comptia A+ and Network+ Certified Technician

 
Cloulien said:
My recommendation would be to not buy a combined modem and router. That is always a bad idea and I always recommend against it. You would want to get a Docsis 3.0 modem and I would look for a AC router. Docsis 3.0 is the new standard and most companies have begun or completely phased out the use of Docsis 2.0 modems. You will also probably notice a performance increase with a Docsis 3.0 Modem. I would also say that there is no point in getting another N router at this point. AC routers are coming down in cost quickly and is the new standard. It would be a better investment to get an AC router. You can get a Docsis 3.0 modem for about $60+ depending on what you get. You could get a MOTOROLA SB6121 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825122015 for $69.99 on sale until the 24th. An AC router will cost you at least 70 up to 200 and would depend on what features you need from it. You would need to be a little more specific about your internet usage and features needed for me to make recommendations on the AC router. Hope that helps you out.

Cloulien

Comptia A+ and Network+ Certified Technician
Click to expand...
Thank you very much yeah very helpful and well as far as internet usage I have an Xbox One (Wired), PS3, Wii, Desktop (wired), Desktop, iPad connected. Don't do a lot of downloading just gaming, streaming videos/music and Skype as well as the normal browsing.

 
I think you might be a little confused with the terminology and are looking at what they are calling a AC750 capable router. The ACXXXX number scheme refers to the data rate of the frequency band. I don't see an asus router with the AC750 model number but I am assuming you mean this one the asus RT-AC52U http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320179. If I am indeed correct and this one is the one you were referring to then I would stay away from it. This particular model is terrible. You can see a review here http://www.trustedreviews.com/asus-rt-ac52u-802-11ac-router_Peripheral_review_asus-rt-ac52u-performance-and-verdict_Page-2#tr-review-summary. It promises a lot and does not deliver. They cut corners on it and it has a terrible design. I would go with something like these.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156451

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156436

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833168128

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833168130

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162078

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162077

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127496

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127516

Any of these should work for you. They have robust features and should future proof you for a good amount of time so that the router you choose should last for awhile like your last router. The AC1750 would be better in terms of future proofing but a AC1200 router would probably be okay for you as well. I hope that helps you out and if you have any more questions or need to know what a particular function or specification is referring to please feel free to ask.

Cloulien

Comptia A+ and Network+ Certified Technician

 
Yeah I noticed something was wrong when I wasn't getting the same router with that "model number" lol but thanks for the recommendations I am looking at the Buffalo AirStation Extreme AC1750, they are $76 on AWD right now. Just got a Motorola Surfboard 6141 for $65 on AWD so now jsut need the router. Thanks a lot for the help guys.

 
If you want to be totally secure, and have one of the very best wireless routers Linksys ever made, go for the e4200 model version 1.  I run that.  I put the custom DD-WRT firmware on it and then I followed this guide to completely secure it and also make it extremely fast.

Because of the firmware, I can get the max cap from my ISP now...more than 50 before with the stock I could get anywhere from 20-30.

The latest firmware this guy posts also gets rid of the Heartbleed OpenSSL vuln.

http://stevejenkins.com/blog/2013/01/my-cisco-linksys-e4200-dd-wrt-settings-for-max-speed/

This hands down beats all the corporate wireless routers at my work.  It is really built for business.  you can have up two 3 wireless networks, and the reason I love this one is that it meshes both 5 and 2.4 ghz and does auto balancing of the antennas for best signal to noise ratio and constantly adjusts based on interference.

 
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