Good plug and play router?

[The_Eric]

Hi guys, I am now in the market for a new router - I'd like to keep the cost to less than $200 if possible and don't really want to have to use my phone and an app to configure the silly thing and I'll admit that I've fallen behind the times and am no longer familiar with the features that modern router should have.

I was looking on the Jungle Site and found some Cisco routers but many of them are "integrated services" - is that a router that also acts as a modem? I had seen some recommendations here in old threads to get a Netgear Nighthawk, but after having read the reviews on one model, it looked like it was difficult to set up (app) and flaky, which makes me want to steer clear of them.

 

[loneryder]

Check out eeros. Sets itself up and you can add remotes wherever you need them.

 

[rstcso]

I've been running Netgear for many years. My current router is the X10, and I've had it for a long time. Looks like you can get a refurb from Amazon for ~$164. They do not require an app. You can log in using your browser to complete setup.

What modem are you using? Our AT&T Fiber modem is also a router. This can take some of the load off a separate router.

 

[Danno]

https://www.amazon.com/MokerLink-Gigabit-Detection-Fanless-Network/dp/B08PV5DZMT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RF0RG5X9EAF8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Xwzu8nJHDLi4KTXX9DnKKf2UEw_ycAhqWWB6XTT__XAExmx8laSurwRA1fqMk2-XlbPJlCuiOiPmRuXVhVALD3JHemQ2YODVBHzNRt60-PkIxQjwQQq8-wPwfK1nYEkFCBZQXuT5ZTaP0wM_46xW_260Wi1xT-86SFzuUAPKaL2eGMMc9EZa8TwiQaLxoca4fYir4MjVcPuupOxBeEdtekhuveayv2z0QqKpe1tbXS0.yjM2HTXRHDDoc9-Ey1pSlFFWBW503csi3F8k3eMiA1o&dib_tag=se&keywords=MokerLink+11+Port+Gigabit+PoE+Switch&qid=1753893320&sprefix=mokerlink+11+port+gigabit+poe+switch,aps,87&sr=8-1&th=1

I have had this model for a year and a bit. Flawless.
Plug and play.
Would recommend if it meets your feature needs.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Check out eeros. Sets itself up and you can add remotes wherever you need them.

These are so simple and work great. I replaced a Netgear Nighthawk with 2 eeros. The newer Echo Dots also work as extenders if you have those

 

[The_Eric]

I clocked on that link for the MokerLink just realized that I should have asked for a WiFi router

My bad!

 

[The_Eric]

I've been running Netgear for many years. My current router is the X10, and I've had it for a long time. Looks like you can get a refurb from Amazon for ~$164. They do not require an app. You can log in using your browser to complete setup.

What modem are you using? Our AT&T Fiber modem is also a router. This can take some of the load off a separate router.

To be honest I don't know what the modem setup is... We have fiber to the yard, then copper to the house. It runs to a box on the side and the only thing inside the house is a UPS and a phone style jack that my CAT6 Ethernet cable to the WiFi router is plugged into

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Something from UniFi. Very modern, very solid, and no need for an app or an account (but you can use them if you want).

https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/cloud-gateways-wifi-integrated

I have an older Dream Router (per recommendations given here) and it's like something out of Star Trek compared to the D-Link I was using. You need to be fairly savvy to set it up to your liking but after that you're golden.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Hi guys, I am now in the market for a new router - I'd like to keep the cost to less than $200 if possible and don't really want to have to use my phone and an app to configure the silly thing and I'll admit that I've fallen behind the times and am no longer familiar with the features that modern router should have.

I was looking on the Jungle Site and found some Cisco routers but many of them are "integrated services" - is that a router that also acts as a modem? I had seen some recommendations here in old threads to get a Netgear Nighthawk, but after having read the reviews on one model, it looked like it was difficult to set up (app) and flaky, which makes me want to steer clear of them.

Have had good success with this Netgear https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgea...-wi-fi-7-router-black/6612969.p?skuId=6612969

 

[OVERKILL]

If you don't know what a Cisco ISR is, you definitely don't want one.

I'd probably go with Unifi, the Express 7 should be in your budget.

 

[Mainia]

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-BE92...d=1753906173&sprefix=asus,aps,165&sr=8-8&th=1

 

[The_Eric]

If you don't know what a Cisco ISR is, you definitely don't want one.

I'd probably go with Unifi, the Express 7 should be in your budget.

You're probably right

One more criteria that I spaced off - I'd like to get coverage in my garage, which would entail passing through a couple of walls and traveling about 40 feet... Would that 6ghz Express 7 do that okay? Doesn't the lower frequency like 2.4 work better with barriers?

 

[The_Eric]

If I went with a multi band setup like Mainia linked to, would I be able to connect some items to one frequency and other devices to another freq?

Also, would it be better to hook the TV up to via ethernet or does it even matter?

 

[OVERKILL]

You're probably right

One more criteria that I spaced off - I'd like to get coverage in my garage, which would entail passing through a couple of walls and traveling about 40 feet... Would that 6ghz Express 7 do that okay? Doesn't the lower frequency like 2.4 work better with barriers?

The Express 7 has 2.4/5/6Ghz
https://techspecs.ui.com/unifi/cloud-gateways/ux7?s=us

And yes, it SHOULD reach, though 40ft through 2 walls might require a 2nd access point, which is easy enough to add with Unifi.

 

[Mainia]

If I went with a multi band setup like Mainia linked to, would I be able to connect some items to one frequency and other devices to another freq?

Also, would it be better to hook the TV up to via ethernet or does it even matter?

I have the older version that is about 5 years old. After finding this one I linked to you and how much I LOVE ASUS routers, I bought one 30 minutes after I posted the link to you.

 

[The_Eric]

Does either the Asus or Unifi come with a firewall? Or is that old news and replaced with something better?

 

[Mainia]

Does either the Asus or Unifi come with a firewall? Or is that old news and replaced with something better?

They both are firewalls and the Asus has web filtering free for the lifetime of use by Trend Micro. You run their app on your phone together into the router.

Not the same router ( this the old one I have now) but a good video on setup that should be close. I will know in a couple days what their new software back end looks like. It is not a plug and play router though. Those are the 50 junk routers. Oh I date myself NOW those are $100. But this router may be an easy setup since it may have less advanced back end, again I will know in a couple
of days how advanced this one is.

 

[Mainia]

Well, it’s not a plug and play router, even with the “copy setting of your older Asus router. It will have to be a “work it” Saturday job.

EDIT: Got it, just needed sit down time, instead of thinking it would be a quick 10 minute install turned into a 20 min install.

 

[Carmudgeon]

In the AC past, I would have happily recommended ASUS, but now, I'm resisting the urge to take the AX model outside, set it alight, and replace it with a UniFi.

Also not going to touch anything can't be completely administered locally, requiring creating an account or phoning home to some company that has data mining provisions in its EULA.

Nor any desire to help a company finish beta testing their firmware whenever a new standard arrives.

 

[The_Eric]

Well I ended up ordering the Express 7 - I liked the idea of no apps and hopefully simpler set up better.


Is there any benefit to upgrading my Ethernet cable to the router? I have a flat style CAT6 right now. Also is there a benefit to running the TV off of a cable instead of WIFI?