re: What router should I buy?

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budget

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Mac

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Router/Modem/Client Knowledge Drop

Here's a detailed look at how to determine what you need. Your wireless user experience will be affected by 4 main factors (ISP, Modem, Router, Client Device). Each one of these will have limitations that can affect your bandwidth and ultimately your throughput.

ISP - Cox, Verizon, AT&T, etc. sets limits for download/upload bandwith. For example, in Baton Rouge Cox's Preferred Internet Package is capped at 25 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload. Regardless of your modem, router, and client device, you will never surpass the limits set by your ISP. So, even though my Moto X supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, it will never get past 25 Mbps download speeds when connected to Cox internet.

Modem - Your modem will also have limits set for download and upload. This will be based on the DOCSIS and the number of downstream/upstream channels. In America, DOCSIS throughput is limited to 42.88 Mbps downstream. DOCSIS 2.0 saw an increase in upstream from 10.24 to 30.72 Mbps. DOCSIS 3.0 introduced multiple channel bonding to improve throughput both downstream and upstream. For example, the Motorola Surfboard SB6141 is DOCSIS 3.0 with 8 channels for downstream and 4 for upstream. This provides an increase up to 343.04 downstream and 122.88 upstream Mbps. But again, my modem will not reach these speeds because the ISP is limiting them to 25 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up.

Router - Your wireless router will have capabilities to work over multiple wireless standards. 802.11a/b/g/n/ac are multiple standards that you've probably seen. In addition to increasing throughput, the range has improved from a->b->g->n, etc. 802.11ac also improves by doubling the number of streams from 4 to 8. Your router will allow 2 different types of data transfers:

1. From the Internet to your Client (Internet - > ISP -> Modem -> Router -> Tablet). The throughput from your client to the internet will be limited by your ISP, Modem, Router, and Client.

2. From one Client to another Client when both are attached to the same router. The throughput from your client to the other client will be limited by Client #1, Router, and Client #2.

This distinction will be important in picking a router.

Client - Your device (Computer, tablet, phone, etc.) most likely has at least 802.11n capabilities. If you've bought a device this year it might have 802.11ac.

*****TLDR*****

If you are moving data from one client to another client wirelessly, having the fastest router that your client devices support can help with throughput. For instance, if you are copying from a new Macbook Air with 802.11ac to your Galaxy S5 with 802.11ac through your WIFI, having a router with 802.11ac will increase your speeds.

But, you will never approach anywhere close to 802.11ac speeds from the internet for 2 reasons:
1. Your ISP is limiting your throughput to 25 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up with the above plan from Cox.
2. Your modem (the SB6141) is limited to a max of 343.04 downstream and 122.88 upstream Mbps.

Unless you wirelessly send throughput from client to client, don't worry about getting a crazy ac router because you will likely not see a benefit from it at all.

People are recommending 1200-1900 Mbps capable routers to someone that won't approach 500Mbps from their ISP for 5 years. And if the ISP did, the DOCSIS 3.0 modem they have wont support it.

They are the ones confusing people.

Chromecast only supports Wireless N.

Probably both. Explain to me how a Chromecast will work better on an AC1700 router than a N900 router?

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Explain to me how a Chromecast will work better on an AC1700 router than a N900 router?

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If I send something from my PC to my XBox..For example...I want it to get there as quickly as possible....A faster wireless router will make that happen...If I want to stream to my Chromecast, the same would hold true..I want it to get there as fast as possible..I understand that while I am transferring at 300, I am only going to get 25 from my internet..

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you will only get 900 Mbps to your chromecast

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I understand this..Your previous argument though makes it sound like you're only going to get 25 from Cox, so why not just have B/G

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So, you will only get 900 Mbps to your chromecast,

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So much nope here. First of all, N900 means 450mbps PER BAND (5ghz and 2.4ghz), so it's 450mbps MAX on a single device. Secondly, that 450mbps can only be achieved with the appropriate number of spatial streams. Wireless N standard dictates ~150mbps per spatial stream. Most standard 802.11N adapters in laptops will have 2 antennae (2 spatial streams) allowing theoretical throughput of 300mbps on a single band, even on N900 routers, AC routers, etc. Some better equipped laptops will have 3, allowing 450.

Cell phones allow one spatial stream. That's 150mbps with an 802.11N adapter.

Chromecast? Also one spatial stream.


I am going to write a router guide.

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most routers sold today are overkill.

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This I agree with 100%

My mind's kind of fried from the day, but yeah, I think I can get something written in the next few weeks or so (which is what I said about the PC guide, but it ended up being a several-month endeavor and 10 times longer than I intended).

What are some of the basic topics I should cover?

2.4ghz/5ghz and the pros, cons, and capabilities of each
IEEE 802.11 standards
MIMO/Spatial streaming
Client adapter specs explained
Basic features other than wifi (10/100/1000 ports, USB ports)
Selection guide based on general criteria (network usage, type/number of clients, size of house)

What else?

I don't want to get into the weeds on it though. Mainly just want something to offer as an alternative to the mindless "get an AC router" comments.