New Router Needed? (recommendations)

9dal39

9dal39

9dal39

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607
Hi Guys,

So basically I've had virgin in my home for years, just recently cancelled my mothers and started my own new customer deal won't go through the specifics and pricing as your probably all aware of virgin's rough pricing..


Anyway.. got the Superhub 3, and 300mb internet package being installed on Saturday next week which gives me a little time to prepare, ok so finally time for my question.

I've had the superhub 2 set up in the livingroom at the front of the house, my mums tv box is in this room (yes he still lives with his parents :D ) 2 Cat5E & obviously the coax cable for my tv box, cables run around the livingroom, through the wall into my room.. 1 goes into the PC, 1 goes into the Xbox. Every other device is connected by wireless, laptops, phones, firesticks, everything really..

So for the Install I have 3 possible solutions.
1) I either get the Hub 3 put in my room high up on a shelf in the corner as my rooms central to the house and will broadcast to all 3 floors better for the wireless, and also im planning on using the large cupboard in the corner of my room to house my PC, a switch, and the majority of my slack cabling, and route a cable back through for my mum internet wise.

2) I buy a good router not sure what people would recommend not really fussed what im paying I'm one of those who likes to buy higher end so I don't have to buy again, run 1 cable from the hub3 to my room to power this router and use the hub 3 in modem mode?

3) I don't bother with a router I keep the Hub 3 in the livingroom as it'll be much easier, and I run 1 or 2 wires to my room, (1 for switch then route everything from here that needs a cable in my room) second for my PC so it has its own wire? rather than being connected to the same switch as everything else I connected in my room? not sure if connecting all my devices through the same switch will limit my internet speed or not assuming it wouldn't if im using a gigabit switch can somebody help me out im a rookie!


Sorry for the wall of text making your eyes bleed guys lots of questions and need this done asap ha!
 
do you think I should get a router as a first question though or you think the hub3 with a switch be fine for what im using it for? I was curious is all as if I do buy a router I suppose at least I've bought one and its there at all times, with whichever router I buy im assuming I'll still have to run 1 wire from the hub3 regardless and have it in modem mode? can someone or you quickly put the pro's con's of an aftermarket router up for me please?

be much appreciated! :)
 
The Superhub 3 is pretty poor as a router and the WiFi range/performance is also not particularly good. Much better using it modem mode with a decent third party router.
 
hmm is the synology better than the asus ones that ive seen a few have? I seen the tri band asus one for like £140 in the rain forest I believe?
 
Hmm for say a basic home network where the only thing I really need from the setup is running the internet to my devices and getting closer to the higher end of my speed, which of these devices gives me that, also I mean to be fair the only thing I will tweak on it is opening the ports for Xbox live? :')

- Synology RT2600AC = £240 mark
- ASUS RT-AC88U = £268 mark
- ASUS RT-AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router = £165 mark

I am correct that I'll literally just get the hub3 setup in whichever room then run 1 wire from it to either one of these devices WAN port, then use it as normal from there right? (Obviously with the main setup as modem only mode.

Just want to be sure with everything before I commit to buy, as im buying a new desk, speakers, and pretty much changing the entire setup.
 
9dal39 said:
hmm is the synology better than the asus ones that ive seen a few have? I seen the tri band asus one for like £140 in the rain forest I believe?
Click to expand...

Doesn't seem to be worth the extra money on the face of it, the ASUS routers are generally solid.
 
Sp00n said:
Doesn't seem to be worth the extra money on the face of it, the ASUS routers are generally solid.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, would you say the tri band AC3200 I suggested would do well and am I right in my assumptions above about how I'd have it set up? with everybody recommending using a different device to the hub3 im inclined to do so ha
 
Sp00n said:
Doesn't seem to be worth the extra money on the face of it, the ASUS routers are generally solid.
Click to expand...

Only running Merlin firmware. The stock Asus firmware is junk.

There is a huge difference between the Synology RT2600AC and the Asus RT-AC3200. The Synology has a much more powerful CPU, double the RAM, faster Wave-2 AC WiFi, 32x the storage etc.

As mentioned previously Synology have the best web interface on the market, it's far superior to the Asus one that has been largely unchanged in 10+ years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfOlVaGT_LA
 
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I think ill just bite the bullet and order the synology looks far to easy to use not too! thanks for your help ohh farrar could I ask one more question?

in terms of a switch I don't think I'll need anything bigger than 8 ports, which of these would you go for?
- NETGEAR GS108UK
- TP-LINK TL-SG108

and my earlier question for internet use would I experience limiting on the speeds I get to my pc if I connect my pc xbox and everything to the switch, then connect the switch to the router?

or would it be pretty much the exact same as if I had it plugged in directly?
 
pcfarrar said:
Only running Merlin firmware. The stock Asus firmware is junk.

There is a huge difference between the Synology RT2600AC and the Asus RT-AC3200. The Synology has a much more powerful CPU, double the RAM, faster Wave-2 AC WiFi, 32x the storage etc.

As mentioned previously Synology have the best web interface on the market, it's far superior to the Asus one that has been largely unchanged in 10+ years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfOlVaGT_LA
Click to expand...

We're talking about a home user with probably a handful of clients, the Synology is overkill imo, yes I get that you love the GUI, that's super.
 
9dal39 said:
in terms of a switch I don't think I'll need anything bigger than 8 ports, which of these would you go for?
- NETGEAR GS108UK
- TP-LINK TL-SG108
Click to expand...

NETGEAR GS108E-300UKS would be my choice. It's worth the few £ more as you can login and view stats, run cable tests etc.
 
Sp00n said:
We're talking about a home user with probably a handful of clients, the Synology is overkill imo, yes I get that you love the GUI, that's super.
Click to expand...
I get that the gui is very simple, but is there any reason to pay the extra £100 for home use? to be fair if its better its just better :) im just looking for better than the hub3, unless the hub 3 would do me as I guess the hub 2 has been fine? im not too fussy just wanted some advice ha, ill get the switch regardless to help with managing cables :)
 
9dal39 said:
but is there any reason to pay the extra £100 for home use?
Click to expand...

No mate (imo), that's what I was alluding to :)

9dal39 said:
and my earlier question for internet use would I experience limiting on the speeds I get to my pc if I connect my pc xbox and everything to the switch, then connect the switch to the router?

or would it be pretty much the exact same as if I had it plugged in directly?
Click to expand...

It'll be the same as if you were plugging in to the router directly.
 
GS108UK is unmanaged, GS108E is managed, they're different switches.

For home use, unless you require the features the managed switch provides, stick with the unmanaged one.

As for netgear vs tp-link I don't think it matters, personal brand preference.
 
9dal39 said:
I get that the gui is very simple, but is there any reason to pay the extra £100 for home use?
Click to expand...

From experience Asus routers crash, and need reboots. Synology routers don't, everything just works. Synology also has better software support with frequent updates and clearly defined release notes.
 
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