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discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,479 posts) Thu Aug 16, 2018, 01:15 PM Aug 2018

Hi, PC techies. I'm looking for ideas to replace my loathsome comcast gateway

I've been in my current house for eight and a half years and I'm on my fourth modem/gateway from the cable wizards. The weekly hour plus outages and demands to change gateway hardware three times in two years is getting old. I am hoping to mitigate at least their hardware swapping habits and save the cost of renting their stuff which is apparently incapable of what my $25 netgear router did 12 years ago known as firmware-over-the-air (FOTA).

What I'm looking for is a good AC capable (2.4 & 5 GHz) unit that will work with their gateway set in bridge mode. At least 1 and preferably 4 LAN ports (10/100/1000) and at least 1 WAN port (10/100/1000) are needed. The number of LAN ports doesn't matter as long as I get at least 1 as I have a 24 port switch.

Wall mountable would be nice.
I've never used the USB ports for anything, so they would also fall in the nice-to-have category.

Subsequent to adding the router, I plan to replace the gateway with a modem which I'll be looking to buy next. Maybe I'm crazy but the 1 step at a time plan seems reasonable.

I'm hoping to keep the cost for the router at $150 and cheaper would be even better.

Thanks for your thoughts.

5 replies

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Hi, PC techies. I'm looking for ideas to replace my loathsome comcast gateway (Original Post) discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 OP

I have this ... better Aug 2018 #1

Thank you so much discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #2

My pleasure better Aug 2018 #3

Agreed it does 2.4 & 5 GHz discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #4

DOH! better Aug 2018 #5

better

(884 posts)

1. I have this ...

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Original post)

Thu Aug 16, 2018, 01:24 PM

Aug 2018

Netgear gateway, and am quite happy with it. It is both the modem and gateway, single box solution, at $100.

In my case, I have it going into a SonicWall TZ-215, with a trio of SonicPoint N2's for a very flexible WiFi mesh, along with a pair of TP-Link WAPs/Bridges bridging the network out to my detached garage.

Point of interest though, the TP-Link radios in the link are shipped from Latvia, so the power supplies are not US standard pattern.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,479 posts)

2. Thank you so much

Reply to better (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 16, 2018, 02:19 PM

Aug 2018

I may consider that if a well reviewed AC WiFi router is beyond my price.

Have a great day.

better

(884 posts)

3. My pleasure

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Reply #2)

Thu Aug 16, 2018, 02:32 PM

Aug 2018

But do bear in mind that this is an AC WiFi router, just with the cable modem built in.
I just seriously overdid it!

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,479 posts)

4. Agreed it does 2.4 & 5 GHz

Reply to better (Reply #3)

Thu Aug 16, 2018, 03:33 PM

Aug 2018

But per: https://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/WNDR3400.aspx#tab-techspecs

Standards
IEEE® 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz
IEEE 802.11 a/n 5.0 GHz
Five (5) 10/100 (1 WAN and 4 LAN) Fast Ethernet ports with auto-sensing technology
One (1) USB 2.0 port

802.11AC is not listed; total throughput is 600 not 1200 to 3000+ for some AC routers. If I'm going to spend a bit, I'd prefer some future-proofing.

I also don't have the coverage area you do. About everything on WiFi is about 12 linear feet from the router area. There may be some wood or drywall in there but distance of anything close to what you're mentioning.

better

(884 posts)

5. DOH!

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Reply #4)

Thu Aug 16, 2018, 04:10 PM

Aug 2018

I was thinking AC in terms of alternating current.
It's been a long week!

This one might be a better fit for what you're looking for then.

AC 1200 dual band
2 x gigabit
USB
$130

Or you could go with this AC 1900 one with quad gigabit ethernet, for $180.

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