Bang for the buck? - eviltoast

I have Verizon FiOS 1GB service and currently the CR1000A router. I have a Verizon extender wired backhaul and speeds aren’t consistent, WiFi drops, teens whine and complain constantly.

I used to have an Asus router (old dual band model) for a 5400sqft house and, other than basement behind furnace, had decent service, range and parental controls. Been researching routers prepping for Black Friday and weeded decision down to (a) XT9 - AX7800 on sale 2-pack for $350 or (b) ET12 - AXE11000 on sale 2-pack for $700.

Question I have is (a) how much do I care about having 6E dedicated and 12 internal antenna (ET12) vs no 6E and 6 internal antenna; and (b) will either or both of these choices almost assuredly improve over Verizon’s CR1000A? So many posts about the VZ router having issues for years and I’m seeing them all.

If the XT9 has an extremely high probability of giving major speed, reliability, range and consistency improvements over the CR1000A, it’s a no brainer to pull “a trigger” - at which point I’d just need to know which trigger makes the most sense. Is the ET12 worth $350 more?

In case it matters I’d love to continue having separate 2.4, 5, 6, guest and IoT connections, but it’s not a showstopper. Thanks in advance.

  • brtaylor73@alien.topOPBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Thanks all. I think the XT9 is the winner then. I definitely want more control that the ISP router gives me as well, and I miss the features my old Asus used to give. I used to have Comcast and put the modem into bridged, then used the Asus for everything wireless. I was thinking of doing the same with the ET12’s or XT9’s.

    I like the idea of wired APs, though. I’m thinking - if I just turned off all WiFi broadcasts from the CR1000A, I can use the Asus mesh for WiFi and potentially even use MoCa adapters and leverage the existing coax in the house for a few wired APs.

    Pardon my ignorance but if I wanted to use one or two wired WiFi access points in addition two the two Asus units (vs. buying a 3rd or 4th), would a switch be helpful? If so - where in the architecture should it go? I’m assuming in between ISP modem and various Asus units would be okay - but I’m wondering if it actually would need to be after the main Asus router and the satellites/APs?

    Thanks again.

    • Background-Marzipan8@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      So your topology ideally goes like this.

      Modem/ONT -XT9- switch - everything else.

      But it’s fine to go

      Modem/ONT -XT9 - XT9- everything else