AX router recommendations?

[TopGun]

Think if getting new. Better check if router is certified or not.

That depends if the manufacturer decides to send it for testing. Maybe over time more manufacturers will do so but currently you don't see brands like Cisco or Aruba certified either.

 

[cscs3]

That depends if the manufacturer decides to send it for testing. Maybe over time more manufacturers will do so but currently you don't see brands like Cisco or Aruba certified either.

Is mandatory by next year if the router is to sell in retail store. Also must take note which level is been certified.

 

[TopGun]

Is mandatory by next year if the router is to sell in retail store. Also must take note which level is been certified.

Maybe that's why the UDM is not sold on unifi SG site yet. Could be pending certification.

But the UDM Pro is a standalone enterprise grade router wo WiFi so it's probably not subject to the current deadline.

 

[xiaofan]

Best wifi 6 router list from DongKnows.
Some of the models are not available in Singapore but majorities are available in Singapore.

The very best Wi-Fi 6 routers: The shortlist
Synology RT6600ax: The best router for Gigabit Internet (up to Gig+ broadband)
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Router: The best router for a sub-Gigabit Internet (and local network)
Asus GT-AX6000: The best router for entry-level Multi-Gig Internet — up to 2.5Gbps
Asus RT-AX89X: The best router for top-tier Multi-Gig Internet — up to (sort of) 10Gbps

Best high end router
Asus RT-AX86U: That former best dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router
TP-Link Archer AX6000: A well-rounded Wi-Fi 6 router
Asus RT-AX88U: The much better clone of the Wi-Fi 5 version
Netgear RAX120: The best-looking Wi-Fi 6 router with awesome NAS performance

Best mid-range router
Asus TUF AX5400: And an easy recommendation for gamers
Asus GS-AX5400: An excellent gaming router
Asus RT-AX82U: Possibly the coolest gaming router to date
Netgear Nighthawk RAX50: The just-right Wi-Fi 6 router

URL:
https://dongknows.com/best-wi-fi-6-routers/

 

[xiaofan]

Two S$59 Wifi 6 router (price from Challenger). The simple review shows that you get what you pay for and the performance is not good. Looks like Xiaomi AX3000 is still the better one below S$100 (around S$89).

1) D-Link R15 AX1500 Eagle Pro AI Router
Simple review:
https://www.canbuyornot.com/reviews/d-link-r15-eagle-pro-ai-ax1500-smart-router-review-price/
2) Mercusys MR70X AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router (by TP-Link)
Simple review:
https://www.canbuyornot.com/reviews/mercusys-ax1800-dual-band-wi-fi-6-router-review-price/

 

[xiaofan]

The following is specific recommendation for Singtel unbridged ONR users (1Gbps/2Gbps plan).

But there is also nothing wrong to go with powerful wireless router like RT-AX86U either, you can go with Double NAT (setting the RT-AX86U in router mode to keep many of its FW features) in that case and you will get very good Wifi performance, beating all the recommendations below in a single router configuration.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/singtel-1-gbps-fibre.5930834/page-150#post-144198255

Even though personally I do not recommend Singtel ONR but I guess many people have already signed up with Singtel 1Gbps/2Gbps and get the unbridged ONR.

Many of the users do not worry about the limited features of the ONR, their main concern is wireless performance. In this case, it is good to ditch the old Singtel Wifi 5 routers (especially Singtel AC Plus which is very bad in terms of wireless performance) or the Wifi 5 dual band mesh solution (okay with Ethernet backhaul but bad with wireless backhaul).

Good low cost APs to go with Singtel ONR:
1) Very low cost -- Singtel Mesh Router (AC1900, plug and play replacement for the Singtel AC Plus), at around S$10 to S$20 from Carousell. Singtel Mesh Extender (AC2600) can be another option as well if you find good low cost listings, usually the price is around S$50 and dual pack can be below S$100.

2) Low cost Wifi 6 router -- better to configure as AP mode.

a) Singtel Wifi 6 Mesh Extender (Arcadyan or Askey, AX5400) -- price is dropping so you may want to wait for a while. They will only work in AP mode as far as I know. They can form mesh if you get two units.
b) TP-Link Archer AX72 (AX5400) dumped by M1 user
c) Xiaomi AX3000 or Xiaomi AX3200 local version -- you can use Mesh as well if you get two or more units.
d) Linksys E9450 from Carousell dumped by Singtel users, around S$180. It supports Singtel TV box connected to the E9450, which is quite a unique feature if you need this feature. Usually for ONR and 3rd party routers, you have to connect Singtel TV box to the ONR. Exception as of now is Netgear Orbi and Linksys E9450.

3) Low cost dedicated mesh solution if you can use Ethernet backhaul
a) TP-Link Deco X20/X50/X55/X60/etc -- the mesh works in AP mode
b) Asus Zenwifi XD4 -- AImesh works in AP mode
c) Netgear Orbi RBK353 -- Orbi mesh works in AP mode and support Singtel TV connected to Orbi

4) You can also go with Double NAT and use Asus routers like RT-AX56U/RT-AX58U/RT-AX82U. Some of the features may be lost and you may need to use port-forward on both the Asus router and Singtel ONR for some features to work properly. But it may be tricky to get Asus AImesh Ethernet backhaul to work depending on your network configuration, if you choose to go with Double NAT (Asus router in router mode and not AP mode).

 

[derpboy]

Hi experts what would be a good upgrade path to the AC68U?
Main considerations are signal strength and coverage since I do not meddle much with router settings
TIV

 

[xiaofan]

Hi experts what would be a good upgrade path to the AC68U?
Main considerations are signal strength and coverage since I do not meddle much with router settings
TIV

You can upgrade to Asus RT-AX56U/58U/82U/86U/88U or GT-AX6000 depending on your budget.

The best value will be GT-AX6000 from Carousell (dumped by M1 customers) if your budget is on the high side.

 

[derpboy]

You can upgrade to Asus RT-AX56U/58U/82U/86U/88U or GT-AX6000 depending on your budget.

The best value will be GT-AX6000 from Carousell (dumped by M1 customers) if your budget is on the high side.

Does your recommendation still stand if I do not have any brand preference?
I'm open to other brands if the price/perf ratio is good

 

[xiaofan]

Does your recommendation still stand if I do not have any brand preference?
I'm open to other brands if the price/perf ratio is good

Yes. Asus is the better brand out there for consumer routers. I am using RT-AX82U myself.

 

[kashix]

Does your recommendation still stand if I do not have any brand preference?
I'm open to other brands if the price/perf ratio is good

+1 to Asus, so far best to me, using AX86!

 

[phayze]

Any one know why some AX router with 4x4 stream advertise as 2400Mbps while some is at 4800Mbps for 5GHz?

 

[xonix]

Any one know why some AX router with 4x4 stream advertise as 2400Mbps while some is at 4800Mbps for 5GHz?

80 mhz VS 160 mhz channels

 

[phayze]

80 mhz VS 160 mhz channels

I saw 5GHz only have 2, 160MHz band that can be use. How do they get 4800Mbps with 4x4 when there is only 2, 160MHz band to use?

 

[xonix]

I saw 5GHz only have 2, 160MHz band that can be use. How do they get 4800Mbps with 4x4 when there is only 2, 160MHz band to use?

There are a lot software/hardware techniques to achieve it, I wouldn't be too concerned about these theoretical speeds. Mostly just for marketing. It would be already very good if you can achieve real world 1000 Mbps speeds.

 

[amazingone]

Is the Asus RT-AX53U a good upgrade from the Asus RT-AC1200G+? Looking to upgrade to wifi 6 router..

 

[xiaofan]

Is the Asus RT-AX53U a good upgrade from the Asus RT-AC1200G+? Looking to upgrade to wifi 6 router..

It is much better to go with RT-AX55 (dumped by M1 users) from Carousell, at about S$100, with faster CPU and AImesh support.

 

[amazingone]

It is much better to go with RT-AX55 (dumped by M1 users) from Carousell, at about S$100, with faster CPU and AImesh support.

I read a bit on both AX53U and AX55 are both similar but AX53 is on MTK platform while AX55 is on Broadcom platform. But I will be using it as an AP (connected to Singtel ONR), does a faster CPU matters?

 

[xiaofan]

I read a bit on both AX53U and AX55 are both similar but AX53 is on MTK platform while AX55 is on Broadcom platform. But I will be using it as an AP (connected to Singtel ONR), does a faster CPU matters?

Yes it may not matter much but I do not see a point of buying the RT-AX53U at all since the price is basically the same as RT-AX55.

Just checked and the price of RT-AX55 BNIB has been dropped to S$80 to S$90 now in Carousell.

BTW, looks like RT-AX53U now supports AImesh so it is not that bad now. If you like it, just go ahead.

 

[amazingone]

Yes it may not matter much but I do not see a point of buying the RT-AX53U at all since the price is basically the same as RT-AX55.

Just checked and the price of RT-AX55 BNIB has been dropped to S$80 to S$90 now in Carousell.

BTW, looks like RT-AX53U now supports AImesh so it is not that bad now. If you like it, just go ahead.

Thanks for the info xiaofan! Will look at the AX55 and make my consideration as well.