If you're saying 1200 square feet on each floor for a total of 2400, my recommendation is basically any router with long external antennas. Mount the router in the center of your home. A lot of people will say mesh, which isn't a bad idea, but you didn't ask for mesh recommendations. My recommendation comes from my experience with Netgear and tp-link routers. I have two Netgear routers, one with long antennas and one with shorter antennas. The tp-link router has long antennas. The shorter antenna Netgear router has significantly worse signal strength and reliability than the other two routers. For comparison, the short antenna model is rax10, the long antenna model is r7000p and that thing has unbelievable range. I have it in the basement up against the brick and cinder block foundation wall near my walk out door, and I get wifi coverage 1200 feet down the street.
I've had a few that stick out.
* Linksys WRT54G.
* Whatever Mikrotik model the WISP back home handed out.
* Netgear Nighthawk R7000.
For me, all of these were absolute tanks. They just...didn't quit.
I still have my Nighthawk because, you know, just in case.
Well, that's why I got the RT-AX86U after hearing about the potential TP-Link ban. After the airport went out of support, my first router was a Nighthawk R7000, and Netgear's firmware was so buggy I put DD-WRT on it, and then eventually got a Tp-Link to try. That's when I found out about the lack of firmware updates, and quit using it the first one which was a tri-band WiFi 5 model, I got a WiFi 6 one, and that was better with updates, but then I heard about the potential ban, so I got rid all TP-Link routers and got the Asus as AsusWRT is a lot like DD-WRT, which I really like. Anyway, I found out after I got things set that I didn't need all the extras Asus offers, and that was close to around the time I thought the RT-AX86U was done with support, and nothing official came the TP-Link ban talk. First, I got the Asus BE92U, and used it for about almost a year and it developed issues I couldn't resolved with it well known issues, and that's when I decided to just go simple again, and got the BE9300 from TP-Link. That brings you up to date.e. So this process is throughout many years, not all at once.
So like I said, the only reason I brought the topic up again is because posts on Reddit are starting again, about a Tp-Link ban.
As already mentioned, my plan now is to stick with the TP-link until I have problems, or they are banned, and go back to the Asus as my backup, unless I really need a WiFi 7 router sometime in the future.
In no particular order: WRT-54g running DD-WRT with upgraded antennas. Asus RT-AX68U running Merlin firmware, Netgear Nighthawk R7000 running merlin and finally Unifi Dream Machine
Based on your post I think the TP-Link Deco BE63 would be good for a WiFi 7 upgrade. It has 2.5gb WAN and 2.5gb LAN ports, This should work well with internet speeds up to 2.5gbps. If you have faster internet then this system will throttle (reduce/limit) your speed to 2.5gbps max and you should consider something with 10gb WAN and LAN ports (which would of course be more expensive). I don’t think most folks need internet speeds over 1gbps, but that’s just my opinion.
The BE68 is substantially more expensive but I think it is a partial solution. It only has a single 10gb WAN port on each device, then 2.5gb LAN and gigabit LAN port. So even if you had 5gb fiber internet and hooked that up to the 10gb LAN port, you’d still be throttled to 2.5gb on the LAN. So I suggest the BE63 for your use case.
The mesh BE63 3-pack kit is on sale at Amazon as I write this. Instead of $499.99 it’s $419.99 with a coupon (shown on the Amazon product listing page). I know you stated you’re looking for something affordable, but this is about the price you could expect to pay for tri-band WiFi 7 mesh technology.
If you wanted to save a bit you could opt for WiFi 6E instead (still gives you 2.4/5/6ghz bands), but you won’t get multi link operation and some other WiFi 7 only featues. You can’t take advantage of MLO for example on WiFi 7 unless your client devices support it, so I think WiFi 6E is a good system to purchase today. Still a bit early to get WiFi 7, as the tech is still improving and prices will continue to fall. If you want to buy WiFi 7 today, you will pay more. Meanwhile prices for WiFi 6E and WiFi 6 routers/mesh systems are very reasonable in comparison.
A good TP-Link 6E mesh system to consider would be the Deco XE70 Pro. 2.5gb WAN and two one-gigabit ports on every device. The 3 pack is $239.99 at Amazon now with the coupon, $30 off normal price. The Deco XE75 Pro looks very similar, a little bit faster theoretical speed on the 5ghz band (perhaps it is 3x3 streams instead of 2x2, that would make it ‘faster’). It’s $269.99. If I were picking between these two I would get the Deco XE70 Pro. I doubt you would notice the speed difference between that and the XE75 Pro.
If you want to save even more money you can buy most of those products in “Used - Like New” condition, just check the product listing. If you decide to do this make sure it’s sold by Amazon! That way if you have any issues you could easily return it within 30 days. A word of warning on “Used- Like New.” Sometimes it is a customer return (they didn’t like it, couldn’t figure out how to use/configure it, etc.) and then that is a great deal for you, as you get a like new product for sometimes $100-$150+ less money than if it were brand new. Other times the person who bought it and returned it maybe discovered it was broken, or they tried to apply custom firmware to the router and bricked/broke it. Amazon has no way to really test these devices when they are returned.. I am confident all they do is look and say, “Yup, looks like the product I see on the box. Seal it back up and sell it as ‘Used-Like New.’” So it is a bit of a crap shoot. I will mention I bought my current ASUS XT8 mesh system (WiFi 6) four years ago as “Used, Like New” and saved nearly $200 from the brand-new price. But I had to factory reset the router & mesh node as the prior purchaser’s wireless configuration was still on the devices (clearly they tried it, then decided to return it without factory resetting it). Easy for me to fix, just another step, 5 minutes. If you want something that will “just work” and don’t want to mess with potential issues, then just buy a brand new unit.
Another point about cost: $419 may seem like a lot, but consider how long you will own it and the cost isn’t too bad. For example your current mesh system is about 5 years old. If the new system costs you $419 and lasts 5 years, then it’s only about $7/month (over a 60 month period) that you are paying for that product. Not too bad, it’s less than a trip to Starbucks, and most people get coffee more than once a month.
I don’t recommend “prioritizing network traffic” as this requires the router to inspect every data packet, which can slow down all devices using the network. As long as you have a well-functioning network and sufficient bandwidth/speed for your devices, you shouldn’t need to bother with Quality of Service (QoS), device prioritization, etc. If my thinking on this is inaccurate, someone will helpfully correct me.
Good luck and enjoy your new hardware!
You’re welcome and thanks for sharing the news! Glad to know it’s working well for you. Appeciate the confirmation that you didn’t need to prioritize network traffic either.
I’ll tip my hat to the Netgear Orbi for lasting 5 years. That’s good service. Too bad it couldn’t last a bit longer, but one never knows with hardware. I actually kept a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router that I replaced 4-ish years ago with the Asus XT8 mesh system. I kept it around because it was a great little router and I didn’t have the heart to give it away or donate it.
Fortunately I identified a use for it: I took it out of storage, dusted it off, factory reset it and set it up as a Wired Access Point in my current mesh network. The R7000 is providing wireless access to some finicky “smart plugs” which just don’t work well with WiFi 6 (either that or they really hate Asus’s firmware). When used with the Asus the plugs would drop off and on the network repeatedly. But with the R7000 (which is a WiFi 5/AC router), the plugs stay connected! Been about a month and the plugs are very reliable on the network, thanks to the R7000. Netgear makes some good hardware!
Hmm, not my experience. I have a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 (about 9 years old) that I still use in my wireless network as an access point. It can deliver nearly 400mbps wirelessly (which is the full internet speed I pay for). I have it connected as a wired access point in my network.
I used to like Netgear. I still use one of their products, a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router, as a wired access point in my network. Great range and fantastic reliability. It is nearly 10 years old and is still working well as a WAP.
However, I won't buy a Netgear product today. I do not agree with their business model (90 days free then you pay for customer support; and selling a subscription plan for security features \["Netgear Armor"\]).
Details on warranty - [https://kb.netgear.com/000055960/What-levels-of-warranty-and-support-does-NETGEAR-ProSupport-for-Home-offer](https://kb.netgear.com/000055960/What-levels-of-warranty-and-support-does-NETGEAR-ProSupport-for-Home-offer)
Not sure why your comment was downvoted, but I tossed you an up-vote. I can confirm ASUS AiMesh doesn't like IoT very much (I have an ASUS XT8 system, wired backhaul). Smart plugs/switches don't stay connected, and other times they remain connected fine for weeks. Very aggravating.
To fix this I dusted off the router I replaced the XT8 with, a Netgear Nighthawk R7000. I added it as a wireless access point (connected via ethernet to my XT8 via MoCA). I moved the IoT network for the "smart" things to the R7000. Voila, they stay connected. Months at a time, no issues. I guess IoT loves WiFi 5. Side note, the cool thing about the Nighthawk R7000 is you could install Fresh Tomato or DD-WRT on it (3rd party firmware) to create VLANs and breathe new life into a 10+ year old router. Great stuff!
I feel a need to defend the older Netgear Nighthawk routers. I have a WiFi 5 Nighthawk R7000 that has been flashed with 3rd party firmware (Fresh Tomato). Works great, fantastic range. This router is over 10 years old and still works just as well as it did on day one. (It is being used as a wireless access point in my network).
Haven't used a newer Nighthawk but the one I have from 10+ years ago is working well.
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OpenWrt enthusiast's choice; good value, but lacks 6GHz.
x21wing
