Holy crap AC wifi is BLAZING!

[blackangst1]

The setup in my house is main office is upstairs with internet connection...downstairs in the theater room is the HTPC. Essentially media storage. My house isn't hard wired, so Ive been playing with ways to connect the upstairs to the downstairs, and Ive finally hit magic.

First setup was second router downstairs connected via 5Ghz wifi over N. Second solution was powerline. Now Ive got an AC router in both places, the one downstairs in media bridge mode. Holy shit.

Transfer speeds over 5Ghz N = 20Mbs
Transfer speeds over Powerline = 45Mbs
Transfer speeds over AC wifi====375-390Mbs

 

[GreenOrbs]

Welcome to 2015! But yes, I can see how going from wireless N to AC would seem like magic. Kinda like my parents reaction after I swapped out the HD on their computer with an SSD.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I have to get an adapter for my computer since the router isn't in the same room anymore and running cable isn't an option. I have an ac router so might as well go ac for the adapter as well. Out of curiosity, are you using USB or PCI for your adapter? And what model?

 

[blackangst1]

I have to get an adapter for my computer since the router isn't in the same room anymore and running cable isn't an option. I have an ac router so might as well go ac for the adapter as well. Out of curiosity, are you using USB or PCI for your adapter? And what model?

Neither. It's an AC router. Tmobile is giving their customers a rebranded Asus RT-AC68U for free ($200 router) to promote WiFi calling. There's a workaround to get a second one, so that's what i did.

 

[BadOmen]

Thanks for sharing, my house setup is basically like yours, but my HTPC is an old 802.11b/g, 10/100 laptop with Powerline. Your numbers bring hope to my miserable TV streaming experience.

 

[smitbret]

Thanks for sharing, my house setup is basically like yours, but my HTPC is an old 802.11b/g, 10/100 laptop with Powerline. Your numbers bring hope to my miserable TV streaming experience.

Yes, you can reliably stream HD content on an AC connection. Distance and obstructions can play a big role, though.

 

[piasabird]

I have a gigabyte MINI-ITX WIFI board GA-Z78N-WIFI ver 2.0 with ac wireless and I stream Hulu to it from my router with N wireless over 3rd tier DSL. I have been doing this for about 2 years now. I did not know if it was going to work or not when I purchased it. I like to watch some korean shows with sub-titles over the internet.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I need to buy an adapter. I have the Netgear r7000 for my router, is it worth it to get the Asus PCE-AC68 or should I get a cheaper usb adapter?

The computer will be sitting two rooms over, somewhat far I suppose but not terribly. I will be streaming videos from this computer to other ones in the house, maybe more than one at a time but probably not.

 

[blackangst1]

I need to buy an adapter. I have the Netgear r7000 for my router, is it worth it to get the Asus PCE-AC68 or should I get a cheaper usb adapter?

The computer will be sitting two rooms over, somewhat far I suppose but not terribly. I will be streaming videos from this computer to other ones in the house, maybe more than one at a time but probably not.

As long as both ends are AC compatible, it shouldn't matter. Remember to also make sure all your cabling is Cat6 or cat5e.

 

[Caveman]

I've been through a very similar situation but unfortunately have been terribly disappointed... Because I need a switch in my system and apparently it's not up to snuff... I need a 16 port switch and I'm getting 120Mbps from Comcast and want each of the 16 lines to be able to pass this...

Can anyone recommend a great switch?

 

[Engineer]

Neither. It's an AC router. Tmobile is giving their customers a rebranded Asus RT-AC68U for free ($200 router) to promote WiFi calling. There's a workaround to get a second one, so that's what i did.

You can convert this to a fully fledged RT-AC68U by changing the bootloader (CFE) and firmware.

Details (Wiki including a video, etc):

http://slickdeals.net/f/7193262-t-m...r-postpaid-25-deposit?p=70386382#edit70386382

Guide to change CFE:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=73690012&postcount=3895

 

[blackangst1]

You can convert this to a fully fledged RT-AC68U by changing the bootloader (CFE) and firmware.

Details (Wiki including a video, etc):

http://slickdeals.net/f/7193262-t-m...r-postpaid-25-deposit?p=70386382#edit70386382

Guide to change CFE:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=73690012&postcount=3895

Yeah Ive seen those tutorials. I don't need to though I really wont gain anything. The only "tweak" TMo does is some QoS tricks to prioritize voice traffic (we use wifi calling so that's good). The missing features I don't really need. Appreciate the links though

 

[Engineer]

By the way, is that your connection speed or your transfer speed?

I, through a tip in the thread that I linked earlier at SlickDeals, picked up a refurbished Linksys AC media bridge, flashed it and used it as connection for my bedroom PC and it connected between 875 and 1,300Mbps. I had transfer rates, at times, north of 50MB(ytes)/sec between PC's.

Kicker is that the refurbished media bridge only cost $13.00 shipped and included 4 gigabit port switch built in.

 

[smitbret]

By the way, is that your connection speed or your transfer speed?

I, through a tip in the thread that I linked earlier at SlickDeals, picked up a refurbished Linksys AC media bridge, flashed it and used it as connection for my bedroom PC and it connected between 875 and 1,300Mbps. I had transfer rates, at times, north of 50MB(ytes)/sec between PC's.

Kicker is that the refurbished media bridge only cost $13.00 shipped and included 4 gigabit port switch built in.

That's a pretty good price point for that kind of speed.

I set up 2 TP-Link Archer C7s (AC1750) in a bridge and got 400+Mbps out of them. Here's the link to my Amazon review with more detail:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1OD0ARFGLI17L/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

 

[blackangst1]

By the way, is that your connection speed or your transfer speed?

I, through a tip in the thread that I linked earlier at SlickDeals, picked up a refurbished Linksys AC media bridge, flashed it and used it as connection for my bedroom PC and it connected between 875 and 1,300Mbps. I had transfer rates, at times, north of 50MB(ytes)/sec between PC's.

Kicker is that the refurbished media bridge only cost $13.00 shipped and included 4 gigabit port switch built in.

Thats actual transfer speed.

 

[Engineer]

Thats actual transfer speed.

That's good stuff!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[blackangst1]

That's good stuff!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Heres a pic of the transfer...63.3MBs/506Mbs

(hmm cant imbed I guess) http://imgur.com/ijTl28f

 

[Engineer]

Heres a pic of the transfer...63.3MBs/506Mbs

(hmm cant imbed I guess) http://imgur.com/ijTl28f

:biggrin:

I had the AC bridge (not quite as fast as yours) but gave it all up last week as I finally wired my house with Cat6. Debated going with Cat6A because it's 10Gbit at full length but decided that I could do the 10Gbit at shorter lengths of my house later on (change patch panel and switch when 10Gbit adapters and switches come down in price).