What Prompts You To Replace A Router?

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Do you replace a router strictly by how long it has been on the market, or by how long it has been since firmware was released, or how long you have had it in service? It seems like a lot of the advice on the web advises to replace routers every three to five years.

I have two routers that were released  in 2015. The last firmware update for both was 3/2022. Neither router is listed on the Asus End-of-life product list page. I only have two devices that can use Wi-Fi 6 or higher, so the older Wi-Fi 5/AC routers I have still meet my needs. Is there any other consideration I am missing ?

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Firmware updates are one of the big things that make your Router safe.
A good gauage of when to update them is when their updates run out.

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kc27, JohnW

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My 1Gb fiber router was installed by my ISP which also is responsible for firmware updates (if any).
The ISP won’t support 3rd party routers.

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F A Kramer

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Mine does not either but I still use one.

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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I guess if the router is not designated as an end-of-life by the manufacturer, it will get firmware updates.

Alex5723 wrote:

My 1Gb fiber router was installed by my ISP which also is responsible for firmware updates (if any). The ISP won’t support 3rd party routers.

That’s surprising. You would think a big segment of fiber’s potential customer base would be technology gear heads who are attracted to the speed fiber offers, and they would find the lack of third party router support a deal breaker.

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My ISP provides both digital internet and digital telephone service on the same fiber optical line. Their router (Gateway?) “translates” the digital telephone service coming into the router into analog telephone service out of the router that the home telephone devices can use. I do not see how a third party router can replace the provided router. Of course, the ISP also gets to “rent” the router so they have an additional reason for not allowing a substitution. I can use a second router down line from theirs for my wireless computer, tablet, and printer as I understand some do.

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My Fios service has a separate router and ONT (Optical network terminal). The ONT connects to the old POTS wires and has an Ethernet connection to the router.

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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F A Kramer wrote:

I can use a second router down line from theirs for my wireless computer, tablet, and printer as I understand some do.

That is probably how Alex5723’s fiber service works, too.  You have to use their router for connectivity to the internet, but if you are technically motivated, you can implement your own router to distribute that connectivity in your home.

Spectrum cable in my area does not offer the same high speeds as AT&T fiber (up to 5 Mbps), but if you want to use your own router,it is just a simple connection from the cable modem to the router, no backend configuration needed.

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PKCano wrote:

A good gauge of when to update them is when their updates run out.

Thanks – I guess this makes the most sense -and whether the manufacturer has declared the router is at end-of-life would be the way to determine whether firmware updates have run out.

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wavy wrote:

Mine does not either but I still use one.

From past experience when there was a network problem my ISP sent me to the router’s manufacturer not even bothering to check the connection .

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