Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, Steel, notfred
hkuspc40 wrote:It depends on what you want to do with it... The 8 ports really don't matter as you could go with less ports and use a network switch (more common). The gigabit ethernet is really only necessary if you're using a lot of bandwith on your local network. You're only as fast as whatever your ISP is providing. For 95% of the population this router is beyond overkill but, again, it really depends on what you're doing with it.
NovusBogus wrote:Definitely use a switch. If you're serious enough to be tearing down walls I suggest using Cat 6A cable; the cost is insignificant given the one-off opportunity to do do that kind of wiring.
Router wise, if it was me I'd skip the consumer stuff and go with a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite and one or more of their wireless APs. That being said, most any $50-100 router is up to the task provided you don't make it do both routing/switching and wifi. Where these all-in-one boxes go wrong is they cram way too much stuff onto one board in a small, poorly cooled enclosure, and bad things happen when too many things are active at the same time. Use a dedicated router and a dedicated wireless AP, either way.
notfred wrote:I'm with NovusBogus on this, split the router and WiFi AP parts. You want the router where the connection comes in to the property and that's usually not optimal for wifi. Also agree with the using a simple Gigabit switch.
I run a Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC-LR mounted to my upstairs ceiling just like a smoke detector. Ethernet cable from that is through the ceiling in to the attic and I have a tube running to the basement wiring closet where the power injector is and everything is plugged in to a simple 8 port Gigabit switch. Netgear, D-Link etc all do very similar 8 port dumb Gigabit switches. I do have a Linux server there that I use as my router, but an EdgeRouter Lite or pfSense or similar would be fine.
Tofucube wrote:Hi,
My father is currently remodeling his house and he wants to basically create a wired and wireless network in his house. He's really interested in this monster router for his home network.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... -_-Product
He likes the fact that it has 8 physical ports so he can route a physical wire to every room in the house, and the fact that its suppose to handle wifi connections to many different devices without a slowdown. Its also on sale at Costco for 250, so that is a significant discount over what it usually retails for.
I haven't dabbled in networking stuff for quite awhile, and my googling on the subject doesn't quiet end up answering my questions. My gut is that this is overkill, and that there is a cheaper router solution out there that can be paired with a switch that will handle high speed internet to multiple devices (physical and wifi) just fine.
Some opinions and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Tofucube wrote:I've done some minor it work when i was in college so i've wired in a few RJ-45 wall jacks before. We also have a electrician coming to work on the house, so I think we might get them to at least run the wire. Assuming i can convince him to wire the house properly, does anyone know a decent home networking guide to help me with the process? Specifically i could use a refresher on wiring jacks and i know nothing about planning out the location the wall outlets all connect back to, wiring that central point, and testing the connections?
Drachasor wrote:These connectors let you put the little wires all the way through
Tofucube wrote:Thanks for the responses everyone. I thought that router situation was overkill.
I've done some minor it work when i was in college so i've wired in a few RJ-45 wall jacks before. We also have a electrician coming to work on the house, so I think we might get them to at least run the wire. Assuming i can convince him to wire the house properly, does anyone know a decent home networking guide to help me with the process? Specifically i could use a refresher on wiring jacks and i know nothing about planning out the location the wall outlets all connect back to, wiring that central point, and testing the connections?
Thanks
Aether wrote:Just like some others above, I have also been served well by using a Unifi AP-AC-LR for wireless and an inexpensive 8-port gigabit switch. However, I do not need the configurability of (or want the complexity of) an Edgerouter for routing. I saved a bit of money by instead buying a refurbished Linksys WRT1200AC for $50 on Amazon and turning off the wireless.
ludi wrote:Aether wrote:Just like some others above, I have also been served well by using a Unifi AP-AC-LR for wireless and an inexpensive 8-port gigabit switch. However, I do not need the configurability of (or want the complexity of) an Edgerouter for routing. I saved a bit of money by instead buying a refurbished Linksys WRT1200AC for $50 on Amazon and turning off the wireless.
The five-port EdgeRouter X costs about the same as what you paid for that Linksys and is reasonably simple to configure, especially if you're already familiar with the Unify AP interface. You don't have to dig into the more complicated stuff unless you want to, but it's available if you ever need it. The X is tiny compared to that Linksys, and you can power both the X and the AP using a single PoE injector and the pass-through port.