Recommendations for a new router with Wi-Fi

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[Mike]

Recently I found out that my gateway, which is a router modem combination with Wi-Fi, does not have a dedicated guest account. It’s just merely a named sort of a placebo guest account. Anyway, this offers me absolutely no security from the guest account. So I’m looking for a new router.

I’m not a gamer, I’m just looking something that has:

1. Good security
2. Dedicated Guest account
3. Wi-Fi 6
4. 2.4 and 5 gHz with good TX/RX range
5. Ability to separate out the Wi-Fi channels with different SSID names
6. Decent speeds and bandwidth
7. Good support and updatable firmware
8. Ideally smaller form

Any recommendations would be appreciated. Any particular brand over another? I’d like to stay under 180 bucks.

Mike

• This topic was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by Mike. Reason: More readable
• This topic was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by Mike.

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I bought a Netgear router a couple of years ago that’s still running well. Has been very reliable and Netgear still issues occasional firmware updates. It was $80 at the time, and they are now can be had for $68. There is probably a newer model, but this one is a deal.

It has 4 SSIDs, two for main network and guest @5GHz, and two for main and guest @2.4GHz.

NETGEAR WiFi Router (R6330) – AC1600 Dual Band Wireless Speed (up to 1600 Mbps) | Up to 1200 sq ft Coverage & 20 Devices

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Mike

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Mike wrote:

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

To be honest, *any* recent router is going to meet your requirements.

You mention ‘bucks’ so I guess you live in the US. Why not read US-based reviews of current routers? For example: Best Wi-Fi routers for 2023

IMO AskWoody isn’t a place for specialist router advice.

Hope this helps…

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Mike

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Thanks John and Rick.  Yeah Rick, I’ve read most of the reviews online and many of the “main websites”.  It always amazing that one website author can rate something high and so called “users” on Amazon, rate the same thing as junk.    Just wondering what folks are using and for what (Business, Home, Game).

Mike

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You got me, should have said less than 180. USD.

Thanks John and Rick.  Yeah Rick, I’ve read most of the reviews online and many of the “main websites”.  It always amazing that one website author can rate something high and so called “users” on Amazon, rate the same thing as junk.    Just wondering what folks are using and for what (Business, Home, Game).

Mike

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How do you know the guest account provides no security?
If the guest account exists it must have some use.

cheers, Paul

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Mike

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Using your suggestion https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/wifi-guest-account-security-can-it-be-tested/#post-2520235

Plus, calling T-Mobile support and user forums for the Nokia 5g21 gateway.

If you come up with anything else let me know.

Thanks Paul.

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Mike wrote:

Using your suggestion https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/wifi-guest-account-security-can-it-be-tested/#post-2520235

Plus, calling T-Mobile support and user forums for the Nokia 5g21 gateway.

If you come up with anything else let me know.

Thanks Paul.

Just FYI, using the guest network SSID on my Netgear R6330 router by default provides isolation for those devices.

However all devices on my local network share the same IP address range, 192.168.1.1 – 192.168.1.254.

Using the ping test that Paul T suggested times out in both directions here with 100% loss, using a desktop on my main network and a laptop on the guest network, both with Windows 10 Pro and their networks set to “Private”.

From the Netgear R6330 User Manual:

Allow guests to see each other and access my local network.

By default, WiFi clients that are connected to the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network cannot access WiFi devices or Ethernet devices that are connected to the main WiFi network. To allow access to the main WiFi network, select the Allow guests to see each other and access my local network check box.

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Mike wrote:

If you come up with anything else…

That unit does not seem to be a router or have a guest network. I would stick a proper router between it and your equipment. You can get a decent router for less than $100.

cheers, Paul

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Mike

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That’s what I’m thinking Paul.  Thanks to you and all the folks here for the suggestions and help.

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JohnW wrote:

However all devices on my local network share the same IP address range

This makes sense if the guests are to be given access to the main network – which they shouldn’t IMO. The isolation is done in the router firewall.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

JohnW wrote:

However all devices on my local network share the same IP address range

This makes sense if the guests are to be given access to the main network – which they shouldn’t IMO. The isolation is done in the router firewall.

cheers, Paul

Agree, and that is my understanding. The guest firewall implementation in this router is very opaque, and under the hood. The only related UI element here is the “Allow guests to see each other and access my local network” checkbox, which is off by default.

If one desires more control of their router firewall, then a more advanced router would be recommended. However, this model fully meets my needs and budget.

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