Some fear has erupted at the news that Apple may be shutting down development of its own AirPort wireless routers. However, picking a router isn't as complicated as it used to be, and ÌÇÐÄVlog has some suggestions that work well with other Apple hardware.
D-Link Ultra AC5300
For the highest-bandwidth needs allowing for one device to serve data at the best possible speeds, the has tri-band connectivity, with 1000 megabits per second at 2.4GHz, and two bands of 2167 megabits per second at 5GHz.
The Ultra AC5300 has 8 detachable antennae, and features the company's "SmartConnect" band allocation, as well as SmartBeam "beam-forming" to direct a signal specifically at a device.
Wired network needs are provided by 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, and a USB 2.0 port. Configuration is handled by the mydlink SharePort app, allowing for management both inside and outside the local area network.
For the advanced user, the router supports DD-WRT OpenSource firmware, allowing for further customization options not available to the "regular" user.
The D-Link Ultra AC5300 isn't cheap at , but you get what you pay for.
Netgear Nighthawk R6700 AC1750
If your Internet modem is in a relatively central location to the house, a single, powerful, router may be sufficient. The provides up to 1750 megabits per second of wireless bandwidth, and has three antennae to beam-form the 802.11ac signal to users.
Netgear has implemented a quality of service prioritization feature, allowing for administrators of the router to allow clients to minimize gaming lag, or to prevent streaming interruptions.
Connectivity is provided with 4 down-stream Gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 WAN port, 1 USB 3.0 port to attach a hard drive, and one USB 2.0 port for printers or other shared devices. Netgear claims that any connected printer will be made AirPrint compatible.
Setup is performed with the Netgear Genie app for iOS, or through a browser-based interface. While the app is sufficient for basic users to get the networking peripheral up and running, ÌÇÐÄVlog suggests superior browser-based interface for the router for medium- to advanced-networking users.
The Netgear Nighthawk R6700 AC1750
TP-Link
If you've got relatively modest needs, the is a good starting point for 802.11ac. The $85 router offers up to 1750 megabits per second, and has three internal and three external antennas.
Like the more expensive Nighthawk R6700, the router has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 WAN port. Connectivity to devices is provided by a pair of USB 2.0 ports, allowing for media sharing with external devices, and printer sharing.
Upgrading to the brings beam-forming, and upgrades one of the USB ports to 3.0.
Regardless of model, the TP-Link Tether app allows for network management on iOS or Android. As with the Netgear, we recommend the browser-based setup for advanced users.
Eero
For the most Airport-like experience, has a solution. The company, with the eponymously named Eero router uses a mesh networking model, allowing for the three-pack of Eero routers for $500 to cover most homes.
Eero features ease of setup, as well as the company's TrueMesh technology, that adapts to network conditions, and switches routing methods to prevent interference from other devices, or network congestion.
Like the Airport, Eero allows for a single SSID, and is configurable entirely with an iOS app. Eero recommends one basestation per 1000 square feet of needed coverage.
The recommended configuration for most installations is . A contains two Eero basestations, with a .
The Eero would be best for users needing an extremely low maintenance configuration -- think a family member who seems to always need technical support around the holidays.
For now, the AirPort Extreme
Apple has been in the router business since the last century. The software is mature, and compatibility is guaranteed with Apple products for a while, at least.
Time Machine backups can be made to a AirPort Time Capsule, or to a hard drive connected to the USB port on an AirPort Extreme. Setup of a network is easy with the Airport Configuration app on macOS or iOS.
Got old 802.11n AirPort basestations laying around from before the 2013 shift to 802.11ac? Apple has made it easy to extend a network either with Ethernet or with a wireless handoff.
The AirPort Express can not only extend a network (with 802.11n speeds), but can also turn any speaker set into an AirPlay receiver with the headphone jack.
Apple's Time Capsule retails for , and . An Airport Extreme without a hard drive . The Airport Express .
...but don't get the Google OnHub
In 2015, Google promised a great deal with the . While the router is extremely easy to set up with the app, there is little outstanding about the router itself.
Additionally, if the router loses its internet connection, it no longer has most all of the features it touts, and most of the router's advanced settings including device information are no longer accessible to the user.
The Google WiFi, unveiled in , is not yet shipping and promises a system very similar to the Eero. A three-pack of Google WiFi base stations will but if it has the same limitations as the OnHub is not yet known.
Speaking of you get what you pay for...
Apple's routers have been not necessarily the fastest, but they have been best-in-class, and reliable -- so if Apple has in fact , it is the end of an era. In the last decade, manufacturers all over the globe have gotten onboard with wireless networking, with as-expected varying quality.
There are a large number of sub-$75 802.11ac routers available from vendors, and we have a hard time recommending any of them. While for the most part routers aren't considered a disposable commodity any longer, the cheap routers from no-name manufacturers aren't generally reliable, and may not get any kind of security update for exploits from the seller or builder.
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