New WiFi Router - Giant improvement (eg., range)

[Newsman]

I need a new modem, but have phone (emta) line too.

Any suggestions for something Mediacom compatable?

Just use a standard DSL / cable modem from Mediacom and hook up your favorite Wi-Fi router. The OP's seems like a good one to get.

 

[JonW]

Rev I

Are you using FIOS for TV? Do you use any of the MOCA networking (networking via coax)?

 

[Rockn_M]

Are you using FIOS for TV? Do you use any of the MOCA networking (networking via coax)?

I'm not using FIOS for Tv and the router is hooked up to the coax for networking.

 

[JonW]

I'm not using FIOS for Tv and the router is hooked up to the coax for networking.

Hooked up to the coax just for the incoming network, correct? You're not using coax to distribute networking throughout the house?

If that is the case, call VZ and ask them to activate your ethernet port on your ONT (optical network terminal) outside. You can run an ethernet cable right off that to your other router and not need the VZ router at all.



(Sorry everyone for going off-topic here.... Rockn_M, PM me with further questions and I can help you out).

 

[d3track]

DOCSIS 3 modem was a bigger improvement to overall performance on my network than anything. Went from 70/80mbps downloads to 120mbps consistent.

Same here - makes the biggest performance increase

 

[KPBrews]

I'm so glad we are talking about routers\modems. I have a Linksys Smart Wifi router connected to a Verizon router to get internet. Does anyone know how to change the Verizon modem into a bridge so I can access my computer and stuff from outside the network?

Since you have your own router that you want to use, you can either do as JonW suggests and use the FIOS ethernet port to connect directly to your Linksys router, OR, as you suggested, use the Verizon router in bridge mode. Just call Verizon and their techs can walk you through configuring the Verizon router into Bridge mode.

I'm not clear how DOCSIS and cable is getting into the equation, however, if you have FIOS for networking. Cable modems and FIOS are completely separate things, two completely separate internet connections.

Also, be sure you know what you are talking about, and trying to do, if you want "access my computer and stuff from outside the network". You may inadvertently expose your systems to attack directly from the internet if you don't have everything locked down correctly.

 

[JonW]

I'm not clear how DOCSIS and cable is getting into the equation, however, if you have FIOS for networking. Cable modems and FIOS are completely separate things, two completely separate internet connections.

FIOS doesn't use DOCSIS. If you use coax from your ONT (optical network terminal), then the ethernet is done over MOCA. If you use the ethernet port directly from the ONT, then coax and MOCA never come into the equation. For those not using FIOS TV, it's real easy to dump their VZ router (it's not a modem). If you have FIOS TV and still want to retain video on demand, you can still dump their router but you'll need to substitute a simple MOCA bridge to provide ethernet connectivity to your in-house coax connections.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I had similar wifi woes and very recently upgraded to a business class access point. I looked into the Ubiquiti series but ultimately settled on the Xclaim Xi-3. Setup was slightly troublesome, as they rapidly roll out firmware updates that don't play well with the online, strangely cloud-based configuration tools that are obviously intended for businesses without sysadmins. Once the firmware was updated correctly, setup was a breeze (almost too simplified, though you can access advanced settings via SSH and/or a local web interface). I'm very happy with the results - much increased range, bandwidth, and reliability over the Motorola combination cable modem/router/AP I was using previously.

 

[Moose_MI]

Recently went from linksys ac1200 to netgear nighthawk x6......finally wife not griping about internet speed....teenage girls not yelling at little brother for using all the bandwidth with Xbox....family over for holidays and everyone can get on wifi.....I can get Pandora in the garage while brewing.......it's what I call the "shut the hell up, router"

 

[KPBrews]

FIOS doesn't use DOCSIS. If you use coax from your ONT (optical network terminal), then the ethernet is done over MOCA. If you use the ethernet port directly from the ONT, then coax and MOCA never come into the equation. For those not using FIOS TV, it's real easy to dump their VZ router (it's not a modem). If you have FIOS TV and still want to retain video on demand, you can still dump their router but you'll need to substitute a simple MOCA bridge to provide ethernet connectivity to your in-house coax connections.

Oops, I'm mixing up a couple of posts, I think. JonW's post:

I'm not using FIOS for Tv and the router is hooked up to the coax for networking.

...plus the one a few above again referencing DOCSIS.

All of the FIOS implementations I've worked with have been direct runs from the Optical terminal to the self-supplied router, no VZ router at all, so I was not aware MOCA is used in some FIOS systems. That's a bizarre setup. The people I've worked with who have FIOS all use DirecTV, since it's way better than FIOS TV anyway and they're far from price-sensitive.

 

[Lbm]

This morning I replaced my old wifi router with a Asus RT-AC68U. I have much better range in my house now. Highly recommended. Dual Band (2.4/5Ghz), supports 802.11ac, superb admin interface, some very cool features. You can plug a USB drive into it and use that drive for backups, or just as a PC-free networked drive.



Biggest problem with previous wifi router was lack of range. I had to add a klunky network extender in my kitchen to hit the back bedrooms. After some quick testing, won't need that anymore. In fact, I have almost full signal everywere outside my house, into the cul-de-sac!



The previous (now dead) router was from the cable co (Brighthouse) ,a Ubee cable modem with internal router and wifi. Range was horrible. The thing would completely lose its settngs every few weeks (SSID, etc). I exchanged it for a simple Motorola cable modem.



So, if you're looking for more range, or are just in the market, consider this one.

I just got the same router about a month ago. I swear I've been telling everyone it changed my life! I used an app called Wifi Sweetspots to test speed all around my house before and after and the difference was amazing. The signal would drop out on the back porch, but now it's as strong as it was at any spot in the house. I can sit out back and drink a beer and smoke a cigarette while I'm playing Minecraft with the kids and they no longer get kicked out of my world. Also, we noticed that our phone batteries appear to last longer because the wifi signal isn't constantly dropping out.

 

[Newsman]

I have to say, for $175, you darn well ought to expect freakin' miracles from it! No way I'd pay that much for one router

 

[Moose_MI]

I have to say, for $175, you darn well ought to expect freakin' miracles from it! No way I'd pay that much for one router

You would if you had to listen to a wife and 3 teenagers constantly complain....$175 is a bargain

 

[KPBrews]

I have to say, for $175, you darn well ought to expect freakin' miracles from it! No way I'd pay that much for one router

After you've replaced enough $40 routers that last a year or two at best, you start to see the value of a higher end router, as long as they last a good long while, especially if they deliver better performance.

 

[passedpawn]

I have to say, for $175, you darn well ought to expect freakin' miracles from it! No way I'd pay that much for one router

Haha, I understand! I've got 3 kids in college. The $$ blow through here like **** through a goose. This router is nothing compared to the rest of it. If it lasts a few years and continues to be a BOSS router, I'm happy.

I've been through more routers than I can remember. They all seem to be ****. This one might be too. We'll see.

I needed one that would cover my home. That's not a lot to ask I don't think, but until now it hasn't happened. This one does that.

 

[KPBrews]

Haha, I understand! I've got 3 kids in college. The $$ blow through here like **** through a goose. This router is nothing compared to the rest of it. If it lasts a few years and continues to be a BOSS router, I'm happy.

I've been through more routers than I can remember. They all seem to be ****. This one might be too. We'll see.

I needed one that would cover my home. That's not a lot to ask I don't think, but until now it hasn't happened. This one does that.

FWIW, I've been through the same thing more times than I can count (I do IT consulting). Apple's routers seem to be some of the only ones that stand the test of time, to date. They're priced in the same range as the high end Asus and Netgear routers. Great coverage and easy to administer... as long as you have an iPhone, iPad, or a Mac. (You can't administer the newer ones with a PC like you used to)

Clients end up paying me a lot more to come service/replace their cheap routers than they do if they just buy a good one in the first place.

Admittedly, I HAVE seen cheap routers last a good long time, too... but far more often, they last a year or two and then die, then it's another $40 router and another hour of paid consulting time to replace it, instead of installing the one Apple router and we're done for 5 years or more...

 

[CGVT]

I just added these to my house. So far they seem to work well-no degradation of speed and I no longer have dead spots in my house.

You techies will probably scoff, but they are plug and play, cheap as hell and work much better than the wifi extender that I had.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008F537KC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[KPBrews]

I just added these to my house. So far they seem to work well-no degradation of speed and I no longer have dead spots in my house.

You techies will probably scoff, but they are plug and play, cheap as hell and work much better than the wifi extender that I had.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008F537KC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Powerline network extenders? There's nothing wrong with those, as long as the electrical lines in your house are compatible. They're not as fast as a true, direct hard line, but that's not always feasible. They do add some overhead, but they're still faster than wireless so you're not likely to notice for most uses.

The thing to avoid is wifi repeaters. Those are the ones that cause serious speed degradation, of your wireless network. Each one you add halves your network bandwidth! (in other words, add one and you're at 50% of possible speed, add two and you're at 25%!)