# Help me choose a new router. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866 "2012-10-25T20:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/1 "2012-10-25T20:54:45Z")
I have verizon high speed dsl, not FIOS. I’ve been using a sisco router from Wally World for 2 or 3 years. The Xbox360 has a cable connection to the router and we use it for watching netflix and hulu. recently lucked into 2 hd tv’s for free. I ordered a roku box for each, but I’m pretty certain my bottom of the line router won’t be up to the job. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/2 "2012-10-25T22:28:00Z")
I’m using a Netgear [WNDR3700](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122326). It works very well, and is _almost_ perfect (in my experience, no router is ever perfectly functional). ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/3 "2012-10-25T23:03:09Z")
Need more information. What do you currently have exactly (it is printed on the bottom or the back) ? Are you connected the Roku’s wirelessly ? How far away are they from the router & how many walls in that distance ? How many devices do you need to hook up via a wire ? Via wireless ? What makes you think you need a new one ? Honestly, a 2 or 3 year old Cisco/Linksys router might still be fine if it is causing you no issues, especially if you have one of the ever popular WRT-54G or WRT-54GL. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/4 "2012-10-25T23:27:38Z")
WRT320N. The Rokus aren’t here yet, but they will be connected wirelessly. They’ll be on the second floor. One will have just a floor in between. The other will have a wall and a floor in between. The Xbox will likely retain a cable connection since it is only a couple feet from the router. There are also two tablets and a couple-three laptops in the house that connect wirelessly. All this stuff won’t be in use simultaneously. I thought a new router might be advisable as Cisco themselves apparently don’t consider this one to be a good choice for watching streamed video. When I bought it, that was the difference between it and the next model up, and since I still had and watched cable TV in those days, rather than Netflix and Hulu, I went for the cheaper model. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/5 "2012-10-26T00:06:18Z")
Cisco is full of it. Even a $20 Belkin router is enough to watch streaming video. Your internet connection itself (IE, the DSL, Cable, etc) is almost always the limiting factor in home usage scenarios. Your current router is a dual band (5ghz + 2.4ghz) wireless N router, with gigabit wired LAN and should be more than sufficient for everything you want to do with it. Your most likely issues, if you have any, will be: 1. the DSL itself. This will manifest is buffering and occasional stuttering, most often at peak periods (ie fine at 7am, crap at 7pm). 2. wireless signal, but the at the distances you indicate you should be able to solve any issues by moving the router or rokus around a little if there are issues. IE mount router higher up on the wall or ceiling away from obstructions. Non intuitively, sometimes if you turn the router or the rokus on their side or turn them 90 degrees the signal will improve drastically. Also check to make sure your router is on a different channel than your neighbor’s router. There are really only 3 channels 1, 6 and 11 - pick the one not in use, or pick the one without a strong signal on it if all 3 are in use. But I would expect everything to be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/6 "2012-10-26T02:28:08Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I’m using a Netgear [WNDR3700](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122326). It works very well, and is _almost_ perfect (in my experience, no router is ever perfectly functional). Same here. If you go this route and prefer an upgraded one, do not buy the next one up (WNDR3800). It’s junk. Spend more and get a WNDR4000 or better still WNDR4300. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-new-router/638866/7 "2012-10-26T02:59:15Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I have verizon high speed dsl, not FIOS. I’ve been using a sisco router from Wally World for 2 or 3 years. The Xbox360 has a cable connection to the router and we use it for watching netflix and hulu. recently lucked into 2 hd tv’s for free. I ordered a roku box for each, but I’m pretty certain my bottom of the line router won’t be up to the job. Suggestions? I use [this one by Linksys (Cisco).](http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Routers/Linksys-Refurbished-E4200V2-MaximumPerformance-Wirelessn-router_stcVVproductId145289714VVviewprod.htm) Very happy with it b/c the antenna seems much better than my prior one. I buy the reconditioned ones from Cisco b/c I am cheap. They seem to be returns and look pretty much brand new.