What router are you using?

bk

eddiem74 wrote: »

While I see the great reviews both routers are a few years old now, is that not a concern when it comes to router technology? Or firmware handles all that? Also is MIMO not worth having?

That is right and it is an advantage of them. They are well proven, solid and reliable. Which is really the most important thing you want with your network gear, in particular with relation to smart home tech.

Of course you should update them to the latest firmware to make sure they have the latest bug fixes and performance improvements.

Another advantage of their popularity and slightly older age, is that they also have well developed open source firmware for them (Open-WRT, DD-WRT, etc.) with lots of extra features and stability.

MU-MIMO is a horrible mess. Most of the MIMO chipsets ended up not working at all and have been disabled in firmware or are incredibly buggy. Also your client devices also have to support MIMO for it to work and in reality most don't.

For more info take a look at this article:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/basics/wireless-basics/33029-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-2017-edition

And this mess with MIMO shows why it isn't a good idea to buy the latest, most expensive routers. Their new features tend to be horribly buggy and end up causing loads of issues, while they mostly don't work as you also need to have the same support in the client devices for these features to work and most people don't.

I've seen lots of people buy €300 routers and eventually have to return them for older €100 routers, as they had nothing but problems with the fancy expensive ones, having to reboot them, constantly, etc.

IME Better to buy the well regarded, stable, reliable two year old router, then the new hotness.

eddiem74

bk wrote: »

That is right and it is an advantage of them. They are well proven, solid and reliable. Which is really the most important thing you want with your network gear, in particular with relation to smart home tech.

Of course you should update them to the latest firmware to make sure they have the latest bug fixes and performance improvements.

Another advantage of their popularity and slightly older age, is that they also have well developed open source firmware for them (Open-WRT, DD-WRT, etc.) with lots of extra features and stability.

MU-MIMO is a horrible mess. Most of the MIMO chipsets ended up not working at all and have been disabled in firmware or are incredibly buggy. Also your client devices also have to support MIMO for it to work and in reality most don't.

For more info take a look at this article:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/basics/wireless-basics/33029-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-2017-edition

And this mess with MIMO shows why it isn't a good idea to buy the latest, most expensive routers. Their new features tend to be horribly buggy and end up causing loads of issues, while they mostly don't work as you also need to have the same support in the client devices for these features to work and most people don't.

I've seen lots of people buy €300 routers and eventually have to return them for older €100 routers, as they had nothing but problems with the fancy expensive ones, having to reboot them, constantly, etc.

IME Better to buy the well regarded, stable, reliable two year old router, then the new hotness.

Thanks BK, interesting reading.

Took a punt on the Asus AC1900, got a Amazon deal on a "used - very good" for £75 delivered so ordered, already dispatched.

AndyBoBandy

I have an Apple AirPort Extreme 2TB as my main router (connected into my Vodafone fibre router (which has wifi disabled)),

I then have 2 Apple Airport Express used as boosters (one over my kitchen units is connected to a set of laptop speakers (with sub) for wireless audio streaming)