Question How much router do I need?

[jamesdsimone]

I'm looking at new router and was wondering if there is any reason to spend more money. I'm looking at these two. I use wired connections 90% of the time when streaming and I don't share my WiFi bandwidth with anyone 90% of the time. I don't game online. It would be nice to have more than 4 LAN ports but that adds another 100.00 to the price.

https://www.newegg.com/tp-link-archer-a8/p/0E6-002W-006B7?Item=0E6-002W-006B7&cm_sp=product-_-from-price-options

https://www.newegg.com/tp-link-archer-ax75/p/33-704-657?Item=33-704-657&cm_sp=product-_-from-price-options

 

[mxnerd]

All you need is a cheap gigabit switch. 5 or 8 ports, not another router. Just link the switch to existing router using any port.

You don't route anything between LAN devices. When LAN devices need internet access (which requires routing), they will forward the packets/traffic to the router and router will do the job for them.

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?d=gigabit++switch

 

[jamesdsimone]

I know I already have 3. It would just clean up my wiring so not worth the price. I'm just wondering if I need any more band width if I buy a new router.

 

[mxnerd]

You already have 3 of what? switches? And consolidating what? List your existing devices.

So do you need more bandwidth or more ports?

If internet is slow, you have to ask your ISP to upgrade speed and pay more monthly fee, not upgrading router or adding more switches.

Unless you use more bandwidth than your existing router can handle (either 100Mbps or 1Gbps), then you need to upgrade the router.

You only need one router in any condition, however. More routers or switches will NOT upgrade your internet speed.

 

[jamesdsimone]

3 switches. I'm just wondering there is any reason to get the more expensive router with my current usage. I have 3 desktops/4 NAS/4 laptops/3 tablets and a phone connected to the network but most are wired.

 

[mxnerd]

No current ISP internet speed, bandwidth usage stats, router spec? You have no idea how much bandwidth you use/need?

One way is buy a x86 based mini pc (a lot of them already have 4x 2.5 gbps ports, search "pfsense firewall" on Amazon) and install pfsense on it and run your current router in AP mode. But it has a learning curve.

The setup should be future proof for several years no matter your current setup is, but it's more expensive than your 100 dollars budget.

 

[mv2devnull]

A router routes between two (or more) subnets. The subnets would be your "home LAN" and the ISP's subnet, where the router is a member. Lets call the latter "WAN". The speed that router has to act at is most likely limited by the speed in WAN.

The "4 LAN ports" on "router" are almost always ports of a switch that is integrated to the "router". No different from separate switch. You need additional ports only if you cannot connect all (wired) devices and separate switches are the cost-effective way to do that.

The "WiFi" on "router" is a "Wireless Access Point" that is integrated to the "router". One can add separate APs to the LAN for better WiFi (coverage, etc).

 

[Hans Gruber]

The keep it simple stupid approach would be to get a Mesh 3 hub setup. I know there are networking experts who use enterprise grade stuff. For the simple person, a 4-8 port gigabit switch with a Mesh network will serve you well.

 

[jamesdsimone]

I have checked all my cables and they are all cat5e or cat 6. I have a couple more to check but my wired speed seems ok but my wireless speed is painfully slow. Not sure where the bottle neck is. I don't know if it is my router.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I have checked all my cables and they are all cat5e or cat 6. I have a couple more to check but my wired speed seems ok but my wireless speed is painfully slow. Not sure where the bottle neck is. I don't know if it is my router.

You have to run a known good Cat5e or Cat 6 cable to a known good/working gigabit switch. Run it straight from the source to your wifi. The next question is what is painfully slow? You may be running off a 100mbps port somewhere in your network.

 

[mxnerd]

No existing wifi router spec, no wifi devices spec, no info how far the devices are from the router and whether they are in different rooms and expect answers / suggestions?

 

[mv2devnull]

I have a couple more to check but my wired speed seems ok but my wireless speed is painfully slow. Not sure where the bottle neck is.

You did start the thread on how you use mainly wired connections and now you reveal that it is actually WiFi that you are not happy about?

Wireless connection has client, Access Point, and possibly brick walls between them. Any and all can contribute. Oh, and neighbours wireless traffic too, if it is on overlapping channels.

Obviously, if the AP is the weak link, then you do need a better AP or better place for it. Getting an additional/new AP does not automatically mean that you have to replace the router though.