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802.11ac WiFi Router Round-Up Tests Broadcom XStream Platform Performance (hothardware.com)
MojoKid writes: Wireless routers are going through somewhat of a renaissance right now, thanks to the arrival of the 802.11ac standard that is "three times as fast as wireless-N" and the proliferation of Internet-connected devices in our homes and pockets. AC is backward compatible with all previous standards, and whereas 802.11n was only able to pump out 450Mb/s of total bandwidth, 802.11ac is capable of transmitting at up to 1,300Mbps on a 5GHz channel. AC capability is only available on the 5GHz channel, which has fewer devices on it than a typical 2.4GHz channel. The trade-off is that 5GHz signals typically don't travel as far as those on the 2.4GHz channel.
However, 802.11ac makes up for it with a technology named Beamforming, which allows it to figure out where devices are located and amplify the signal in their direction instead of just broadcasting in all directions like 802.11n. Also, while 802.11n supports only four streams of data, 802.11ac supports up to eight streams on channels that are twice as wide. HotHardware's AC Router round-up takes a look at four flagship AC routers from ASUS, TRENDnet, D-Link and Netgear. All are AC3200 routers that use the new Broadcom XStream 5G platform. Netgear's Nighthawk X6 tends to offer the best balance of performance in various use cases. However, all models performed similarly, with subtle variances in design, features and pricing left to differentiate them from one another.
However, 802.11ac makes up for it with a technology named Beamforming, which allows it to figure out where devices are located and amplify the signal in their direction instead of just broadcasting in all directions like 802.11n. Also, while 802.11n supports only four streams of data, 802.11ac supports up to eight streams on channels that are twice as wide. HotHardware's AC Router round-up takes a look at four flagship AC routers from ASUS, TRENDnet, D-Link and Netgear. All are AC3200 routers that use the new Broadcom XStream 5G platform. Netgear's Nighthawk X6 tends to offer the best balance of performance in various use cases. However, all models performed similarly, with subtle variances in design, features and pricing left to differentiate them from one another.
Yes, but why should I pay for all that routing functionality when I will turn it off anyway?
You don't have any other alternatives, at least when we're talking about home-network class hardware. The market for plain ACs is so thin, that it's much easier and cheaper to actually buy a wireless router.
...or buy one supported by https://openwrt.org/
Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
The Ubiquiti UAP Access Points I would consider home-network through to enterprise class. A three pack is cheaper than all but the Trendnet router. Coupled with a Security Gateway and you have a bloody easy setup that is fairly price competitive and easy to maintain.
https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/uni...
I guess my feeling of what home-network class may be out of the norm but I found the ubiquity gear easier to setup and configure than the Fritzbox given to me by my ISP.
No mention of Apple products. Apple has been using 802.11ac for years. I have one of their wifi routers: easy to use, just works, etc. and it has 802.11ac.
That's because it's really a Broadcom Xstream Chipset Router Roundup, not an 802.11ac Router Roundup. I wanted to see how they compared to my Draytek, but all they've reviewed is multiple tweaks of the same reference design from Broadcom. They even say they're reviewing "top-shelf units" (first time I've heard D-Link and Trendnet described as top-shelf), but then totally omit what I'd consider actual top-shelf units, maybe an Aironet 3600, a Draytek 2860, and an Airport Extreme.