Wireless router advice: Asus Or Netgear Nighthawks?

spincut

[H]ard|Gawd
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I was hoping to wait until another refresh, but it appears that my routers signal strenght is weakening (is that possible?), and I might need to do something about this sooner rather than later.

I really wanted to like the Netgear Nighthawks more, but the reviews seem to reveal that they underperform a bit?

A lot of people seem to give high praise to Asus, particularly their newest offering the 87u. Did people have any alternative recs or comments on these two?
 
Get an Asus which is supported by Shibby's Tomato firmware. With the Nighthawk you'd probably be using DD-WRT instead. DD-WRT is crap and they also disrespect GPL by selling copies of DD-WRT for some routers even though DD-WRT mainly represents the work of thousands of open-source developers who have nothing to do with the DD-WRT project itself (e.g. Linux developers). They profit on the work of others while breaking the law...

My Asus RT-AC66R has been perfect with Tomato.
 
Yeah, I really don't know what Shibbys tomato firmware is? I have a Neatgear N router from 3-4 years ago, and it just works, I have messed with the bands and options a tad, but mostly the thing just worked without any tweaking. Again though, and I dont know if this is a thing, but it seems to be getting "weaker" in it's signal strength and throughput (as it stands I always felt that with my 40/40mbs connection that a newer better router would be able to get me closer to my true speeds anyway, if at least from stronger reception with new better attenae stuff).

I have had bad experiences with Asus before they became a bit more mainstream and accessible, at least support wise, so I Was sort of resisting, but it seems like they're king of the roost, at least for the meantime?

I did see D-link just announced a rather intense looking line of stuff? Granted it's untested, and the router I had before my most recent Netgear was D-link, and suffered deterioration problems a bit worse than my current.

Anyway, your entire DD-WRT/Tomato speech did kind of go over my head..

Also, I was rather struck by the idea that the Asus 66 outperformed newer higher end Asus models in many instances? At least according to some of the reviews I looked up.
 
Well, you can ask for advice and take it into account by Googling what we tell you or asking for further explanation, or you can just say you don't understand our advice and move on to more advice you will probably just say the same thing to.

The Asus routers are better, but the Netgear Nighthawk is still better than nearly any other consumer router.

There. Did you understand that?
 
I think the first question is, "Why do you think you need a Nighthawk router?"

How many devices are going to be connected to it consistently?
What kind of range do you need?
What kinds of media will you be streaming? ie 1080p video or larger?
 
Well, you can ask for advice and take it into account by Googling what we tell you or asking for further explanation, or you can just say you don't understand our advice and move on to more advice you will probably just say the same thing to.

The Asus routers are better, but the Netgear Nighthawk is still better than nearly any other consumer router.

There. Did you understand that?

If you're going to be snippy about it, you could also google other threads to contribute to instead of remaining here to give me crap for really no good reason?

What I do understand is that you are presumptuous and easily agitated, so I will gladly speak with other people about this, how I respond is up to me, and since I don't imagine everyone is as rude and impatient and blunt as you, I'll probably have a fine time of it rather than responding the same (which I wouldn't if they didn't seem to deliberately want to answer a question they KNOW I do not know the answer to, only to whine that I didn't google their long winded explanation about it), but thanks anyway..

I think the first question is, "Why do you think you need a Nighthawk router?"

How many devices are going to be connected to it consistently?
What kind of range do you need?
What kinds of media will you be streaming? ie 1080p video or larger?

As I mentioned at the start, what I care most about, particularly in differentiating what's out there (and what's coming out), is throughput and range. I am still confused as to how the one I have has degraded in that regard, and while I assume just about anything I get would be an improvement, I do want to avoid problems/reception issues, especially in a 2000sqft place with concrete.

But to answer your questions:

3-4 devices I would say?
As mentioned, 2000sqft, but I would like it to cover that competently, so ideally not degraded speeds at the edge (and keep in mind there are walls and the like), which I had even with my current mid-high end N-router.
All sorts of media, and while probably not larger than 1080p for now, it would be nice for it to be able to go beyond, in part because I imagine it could do anything lesser faster and more efficiently too.

Also, since the other fellow in this thread seemed way too troubled to actually talk further about anything, I was still curious how/why many reviews point out that the lower end Asus models seem to be stronger performers than it's newer ones?

Also, and again this is for anyone who actually is interested in being constructive, what is on the horizon (after all, most of the new AC stuff out there is pretty first gen still)? All I know is about the D-links stuff that got announced recently.
 
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We're here to help you learn, not to proverbially do your homework. You're still receiving help from us and you're going to be picky because you don't want technical speak on a technical forum - especially when you're considering high-end products. Most people that would have use for such a high-end router would actually understand or be willing to learn a bit about them.

Go back to asking questions on Amazon and leave it to the casuals to give you a casual answer. I'm sure whatever they tell you will be good enough for you (and I don't even mean that in a sarcastic way). Not sure what you've been doing on this forum if you don't want to get technical.

Also, you can say what you want about what you think of my personality, but I'm the one actually helping people here.
 
We're here to help you learn, not to proverbially do your homework. You're still receiving help from us and you're going to be picky because you don't want technical speak on a technical forum. Whine more, buddy.

Go back to asking questions on Amazon and leave it to the casuals to give you a casual answer. I'm sure whatever they tell you will be good enough for you (and I don't even mean that in a sarcastic way).


Good way to come across/sound like a know it all dick though. :rolleyes: Either answer his question or just don't bother posting, how bout that?
 
Good way to come across/sound like a know it all dick though. :rolleyes: Either answer his question or just don't bother posting, how bout that?

I gave him an answer and he disregarded it saying he didn't understand it. He didn't bother to take 30 seconds to use Google and he didn't ask for clarification. Just disregarded it. Even told me so - he took the time to tell me, 'yeah, your answer is not up to my standards' instead of copying and pasting 2 things into a search engine which would've taken him less time. Why ask for help if you're just going to disregard it? Like I said, we're here to HELP, not to do his thinking for him. Disregarding and insulting people trying to help because you don't want to think about their answer is not the proper way to use a technical forum like this. And yeah, I'm getting snarky now because people like OP annoy me.
 
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Good way to come across/sound like a know it all dick though. :rolleyes: Either answer his question or just don't bother posting, how bout that?

Yeah, I'm thinking dragon may have forgotten what the whole damn point of this place is if he keeps evoking google and amazon in an ignoramic attempt to have me post about router stuff there. Gee, sorry I was taking up space in his private little home for conceitedness.

Anyway, dragon, you are not helping, I as well as another user has pointed that out to you, in fact it's been pointed out that instead of helping you persist in staying and being rude, so how about go be "helpful" somewhere else? Your immediately touchy reaction to me merely stating I dont know much about particular router firmware in a question more about router hardware as if "anyone here should know better" (again, perfect opportunity to ask here and talk to a real person), makes me keen on asking just about anyone else other than yourself about it, and frankly now feels as if I have a troll trying to derail the thread so I can't actually talk to more level headed informed people.

If you want to play nice, stay and play nice, if you want to continue to harp on this, go do it elsewhere, I hear craigslist has a nice rants section that no one ever reads?
 
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Anyway, dragon, you are not helping, I as well as another user has pointed that out to you, in fact it's been pointed out that instead of helping you persist in staying and being rude, so how about go be "helpful" somewhere else? I'd rather ask just about anyone questions about this at this point.

Yeah, I don't care. Have another reply free of charge.

I started off helpful and nice. Disrespect those spending their time helping you and hey, you might offend them enough that they don't mind wasting YOUR time with posts like this one.
 
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Since you seem to be willfully trolling the thread at this point, I will gladly report your childish need to do so "free of charge" too. If you're trying to save face from your initial tantrum over this, it's not helping, just saying.

Funny, my response was not disrespectful at all, it was your reaction that was, and other people can see that too. But thanks for further advertising that you're trolling, I'm sure that's where you get your air of entitlement and need for undeserved respect from?

Since you seem so hung up on how people take YOUR advice, you'd think you'd have the ability to listen to not just myself but others in saying if you're not going to be helpful to just go away? Or are you just desperate to prove you shouldn't have been listened to in the first place?
 
Go ahead and report me. They'll probably delete the posts. Doesn't bother me though. In the meantime, another reply for you. See, all this time wasted and you could have tried to simply appreciate that someone was trying to help you in the first place. You're willing to spend plenty of effort replying to me now even when you gain nothing from it. Disrespect me and I have no issue with disrespecting your thread. Repeatedly. Anyone complaining about my attitude hasn't given 10% of the advice I have on this forum, and most people that ask questions are appreciative of any help and receive no snark.
 
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After your first response you were a complete dick for no reason Dan. OP is researching and trying to figure out what is best for him so he doesn't have to dick around with it again for a while.

That said, I am very happy with my Asus routers. I used to use DD-WRT, but I actually prefer the Asus firmware. It's a breeze to maneuver, ever easier than DD-WRT in my experience. I have an N56 with a N65 as an AP. Works perfect and never a hiccup.
 
Yeah I think someone pee'd in his oatmeal or something, since he's disproving his own point that he really has anything worth saying or listening to, and will seemingly troll until his posts are deleted and he is penalized... I guess that proves someone's point, just not his. I've also encouraged the mods to further discipline him beyond just post deletion, perhaps he will feel like a proper big man then? I mean, that WAS why he posted in the first place...wasn't it? Hard to tell now.

So you have a somewhat older Asus from the looks of it Heavens? So none of the AC ones? The Asus interface looks fine to me, honestly I've never had a problem with any of them and I imagine whether it be Netgear, Asus, or even D-link, that setting up and even light tweaks will be fine, I just want the one that will perform best (and I have to imagine anttennae and how much they pack into it have an effect as well?). Not very clear on what the tech that the nighthawk uses (MIMO?) does for you, sounds like you need compatible devices for it to matter at all?
 
I've also encouraged the mods to further discipline him beyond just post deletion

Uh huh... and why do you think you can tell the mods what to do? They will almost definitely delete my posts, but now you're also going to disrespect them by telling them how to do their job? Do you think that every single person on this site owes you so much that you call the shots? If they ban me, I will move on to another forum where I will continue to be extremely helpful to people who do not believe the entire board owes them the exact answer they are looking for, even without providing any useful information whatsoever.

After your first response you were a complete dick

You might be right about that.
 
Uh huh... and why do you think you can tell the mods what to do? They will almost definitely delete my posts, but now you're also going to disrespect them by telling them how to do their job?

You'd be surprised what poking a mod by freely flaunting the forum rules will do, especially when you continue to harass other users in light of it.

Also, I find it amusing that when you once seemed to care so much about your stance and knowledge, that you're now parading your rudeness and ignorance all over the place. It also allows my thread to have visibility so other people can come in and clean up the mess. So feel free to continue proving my point by being childish, you were asked to leave a while ago and instead you're choosing to stay to make yourself look worse, and yeah, I guess get penalized for it.
 
See, the mod is going to come in here and look at my posts and shake his head in annoyance. And then he's going to see that you are contributing 50% to the conversation you are asking him to delete and shake his head at you, as well. In any case, I make no claim that my followup posts in here are helping you. But I will repeat that when you disrespect and disregard people when they do help you and then tell them to go away, what kind of help do you expect to get?

I just think it's funny that you keep responding. I'll tell you a secret: I would've stopped long ago if you'd stop responding to me ;) but I think it's funny that you don't.
 
See, the mod is going to come in here and look at my posts and shake his head in annoyance. And then he's going to see that you are contributing 50% to the conversation you are asking him to delete and shake his head at you, as well. In any case, I make no claim that my followup posts in here are helping you. But I will repeat that when you disrespect and disregard people when they do help you and then tell them to go away, what kind of help do you expect to get?

I just think it's funny that you keep responding. I'll tell you a secret: I would've stopped long ago if you'd stop responding to me ;) but I think it's funny that you don't.

I told you to go away once you started flaming/trolling and being rude, your continued interest in doing so proves no point except you shouldnt be trying to give advice when you dont understand how to have a constructive and non-dismissive conversation about it. You're in the wrong, and others are not on your side on this, your attempt to save face by causing a scene also helps no one.

It's called "trolling" for a reason, a mod knows what that is, maybe you do not? I am trying to maintain order in the thread I made to get answers (from people more capable of doing so than yourself, it would seem).

You also seem intent on responding any other users pointing out your immature behavior, really use any reason you would like to defend why you're still here, as if you're accomplishing a point beyond parading how bad your attitude is, I think you just feel embarrassed that you threw a tantrum over your adivce giving skills and now dont want to leave without trying to get a last dig in. Maybe, because not only myself but many other users are saying so, you should just go?
 
Let the hatred flow. It is great to be lectured by people who can't handle a conversation like this and need to cry for someone to save them.

All the while it was you that killed your own thread.

Mods will be annoyed with both of us.

I am making zero attempts to 'save face,' though. I am willing to piss off a few disrespectful people among the majority that appreciate those that help them. If I wanted you to like me, i would have stopped. Yet here we are.
 
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ANY-way, hopefully now we can get back to business with an adults only thread without anyone "crying" about anything (trolling a conversation is not a high ground or means to show you can handle anything btw, let that be a lesson kids), @heavenscloud, I still want to know if you've had any experience with the newer AC stuff.
 
No, but unless you have AC devises it won't matter. I only have B/G/N so I haven't needed to upgrade yet. When I do I'm going to keep my entire network ecosystem Asus. Love their interface, and I am not an Asus fan due to their poor treatment of customers.
 
Ah, but the thing is that I don't mind if you insult me for something i am doing on purpose. However you are doing the same thing.

To everyone but OP, sorry for wasting your time.
 
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No, but unless you have AC devises it won't matter. I only have B/G/N so I haven't needed to upgrade yet. When I do I'm going to keep my entire network ecosystem Asus. Love their interface, and I am not an Asus fan due to their poor treatment of customers.

I hear you on that, but I was sure that the AC routers did still have benefits for legacy devices? I mean, while the AC standard has higher range, I thought that some of what these newer routers have between more attenae and newer tech is better range/throughput for all involved? I mean, I didn't even really get anywhere near the theoretical top N speeds on my current router, and a lot of my devices at least no have N tech in them. So yeah, part of me felt that even with only possibly one AC device in my possession, that this could still be a sizable upgrade in performance from what I have.

I have had bad experiences with Asus CS too, but that was a long time ago, and they do seem to have become a little more accessible in that regard, but yeah I still have some doubts.

Oh, also thanks for being an adult heavenscloud, it's much easier to talk and respond to people who aren't looking to pick fights and troll threads almost right out of the gate because they apparently don't know anything else. I think that's far more convincing of a likely ongoing behavioral issue than anything else in this thread (no psychiatry needed, when someone tries to convince themselves multiple times what is "most likely" over and over outloud, it kind of screams insecurity, that and trolling out of wounded pride), so as a result I'm happy to further prove what's already been proven in that regard.
 
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Sounds like we've got an internet psychiatrist in here. Woot. A hypocritical one too! The best kind. If you're so intent on discussing my mind, I will gladly oblige you with more responses. I won't even whine about it to the mods. How about that?
 
My thought process is that I don't have an AC device so I'm not paying the $50-150 premium to get a router that has it. I don't think there will be a noticeable difference to the other bands by having AC. Now if you want to future proof that is up to you. Are you building a new PC soon that you can throw an AC card in that you can't hard-wire - then maybe it's worth it. Also remember that routers hold their value pretty well for the first year or two after they are released so you could get an ASUS RT-N66U for $120 new right now and sell for $80+ easily if you want to upgrade soon after.
 
Thank you Crosshairs! That needless bit of babysitting went on WAY too long. Very glad not to be "obliged" with more unhelpful responses. Also thankful that one trouble maker didn't "ruin" the thread after all ^_^ .

I'd also like to take this moment to remind future helpful and well meaning users that I don't necessarily need a router RIGHT NOW. My current one isn't performing as well as it was but it's serviceable for the time being (also curious if anyone has theories on router wireless deterioration).

As mentioned CES unvelieved these new D-links, and I assume other brands have newer updates in the pipe to followup on their first editions (which yes, I am particularly surprised regarding Netgear's Nighthawks being so underwhelming).

Also, I keep seeing evidence of higher end routers being outperformed by lower end AC ones in the same line (Asus and Netgear seem to have this issue), why is that? I would assume that it could be poor firmware in the higher models, but it feels like something else might also be going on there.
 
My thought process is that I don't have an AC device so I'm not paying the $50-150 premium to get a router that has it. I don't think there will be a noticeable difference to the other bands by having AC. Now if you want to future proof that is up to you. Are you building a new PC soon that you can throw an AC card in that you can't hard-wire - then maybe it's worth it. Also remember that routers hold their value pretty well for the first year or two after they are released so you could get an ASUS RT-N66U for $120 new right now and sell for $80+ easily if you want to upgrade soon after.

Future proofing, definite yes. Also I do have "a" AC device already. I am also still somewhat convinced that the newest stuff out there also has stronger legacy support all the same, given more processing, more attenae, and more range "overall"(some even advertise gimmicks to squeeze out more performance out of non-AC devices specifically) but just out of curiosity, what makes you feel it doesnt?

And yes, a new PC is also coming down the pipe at some point...heaven forbid Steam actually comes out with those steam machines (yes I know I could piece together a DIY one right now, I just dont want to).
 
In that case if I were to buy now I would get the RT-AC87U. If I could wait for Q3 or Q4 then I would go for the Asus RT-AC3200. There's always the custom, more advanced route if you wanted to set up your own computer router then use Ubiquiti UniFi® AP-AC, I don't know enough to set those up though.
 
In that case if I were to buy now I would get the RT-AC87U. If I could wait for Q3 or Q4 then I would go for the Asus RT-AC3200. There's always the custom, more advanced route if you wanted to set up your own computer router then use Ubiquiti UniFi® AP-AC, I don't know enough to set those up though.

Yeah, I read some reviews of the 87u though and was surprised that many of the seemed to imply that the 66 was actually better? Still confused about that. The Netgear Nighthawks seem to have the same issue if not even worse (their middle of the road one that was less new than what came after appeared to be their best performer).

Also though to mention, I am being particularly fussy because I don't like having to change out my router too often, so I'm trying to just get the best one (to be fair it seems like I could hardly really go wrong whatever I do), as I don't plan on changing it again after this again for a while. Heck, I'm perturbed that my older Netgear N one isn't doing it for me, but I never felt it could get near my top internet speed even over wireless (who knows why, sub par wireless interference, less processing power/antennae, ect. , I am hopping I will see better performance with one of these AC's regardless).
 
I've owned an Asus RT-AC66u and didn't care for it. I had all sorts of problems and bridge mode NEVER worked. I now own 2 Nighthawk r7000s, 1 as a router and 1 as a bridge. Zero issues with Netgear. The Netgear config software is also easier to use and the genie phone app is insanely good.

I've also owned the Netgear r6300, r6300v2. I guess I'm a router junky but I think I'm good for a few years with the r7000.
 
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