Which is better: Asus or TP link router. Wi-Fi operating frequency. What to look for when purchasing

Question: Hello, if possible, tell me: 3 rooms. sq. about 60 sq.m., computer, tablet and phone - games, movies, etc... nothing more! There was a Tenda3 router that worked “normally” for 6 months. and died, I read a lot of reviews on different sites, they are so contradictory that I got confused... I settled on 3 models:

• TP-LINK TL-WR 842;
• ZYXEL KEENETIC START;
• ZYXEL KEENETIC LITE 3.

And like Zyxel, but the reviews are confusing that the power supply is whistling. Please tell me, maybe I don’t see obvious - or + in these models? Or maybe option 4 :):):) THANK YOU!

Answer:

Hello. I recently wrote. The article is new, relevant, you can read it if you haven’t read it yet.

I am personally familiar with the TP-LINK TL-WR842N router and ZYXEL KEENETIC START. Worked with them. Both models are good. But, I would still advise you to choose TP-LINK TL-WR842N. It has a USB port and should be enough for your needs. But, ZYXEL KEENETIC LITE 3 also has a USB port.

If out of these three, then buy TL-WR842N, or KEENETIC LITE 3. Which one do you like better in appearance? As for the whistling of the power supply, I didn’t notice it on ZYXEL (but I only had one model), but on TP-LINK, sometimes there is a whistle. But you still need to hear it, and it doesn’t seem to be on all models.

This is my opinion. Specific model I won’t advise, it’s a big responsibility :)

Every home has a computer - this is no longer a luxury, and if you add in smartphones, tablets, game consoles and other gadgets, all this needs to be connected to the Internet, and you only have one cable at home for connection. This issue can be easily resolved using a router.

In this article we will look at 4 similar routers with a speed of 300 megabits. One price category located TL-WR841N, Asus RT-N12, D-Link DIR-615 And ZyXel Keenetic Lite II.

All models are equipped with 2 antennas, except for D-Link DIR-615 - it has a built-in antenna. On TP-Link TL-WR841N and Asus RT-N12 - antenna gain is 5 dBi. On the ZyXel Keenetic Lite II it is slightly less - 3 dBi, and on the D-Link DIR-615 there is no gain.

But this is quite enough for both home and small office. Using 2T2 technology and support for the N standard, the devices allow you to create a network with high speed data transmission, which makes it possible for uninterrupted and high-quality operation of such applications, such as online viewing of high-definition video, IP telephony and games over the network.

On Asus and Tp-link you can unscrew the antennas, on other models this is impossible, but if you decide to let a neighbor use the router, the non-removable antennas fold compactly for easy carrying.

The LED indicators and symbols on all routers are similar.

They are all located on the front end of Asus and Tp-link on the top panel. All models have 4 LAN ports for connecting computers and set-top boxes. And 1 WAN port for Internet connection up to 100 Mbit. The on/off button, as well as the reset button, is located on the rear end.

For those who have forgotten their Wi-Fi connection password and don’t have time to reconfigure it, there is a very useful one that allows you to connect a new device to wireless network.

On Asus RT-N12 and TP-Link TL-WR841N the button is located on the rear end. The ZyXel Keenetic Lite II has it on the top panel, and if you hold this button for a few seconds, it will turn off Wi-Fi. Button turning off wifi TP-Link TL-WR841N is located on the rear end, while Asus does not have such a button.

Now let's look at the features of these routers:

TP-Link TL-WR841N is equipped with a function that will help you use it as a network repeater, thus buying several of these routers, you can expand your network coverage. The Asus RT-N12 also has the same function. When buying an Asus RT-N12, you can say you are purchasing a “4 in 1” device: it can distribute 4 wireless networks at once, both locally and on the Internet. For example, one Wi-Fi is distributed at a high speed for you, and another, with a lower speed, for guests. ZyXel can only distribute 2 Wi-Fi networks: the main and the guest. But its advantage lies in the built-in processor, with a frequency of 580 megahertz and 64 megabytes of RAM. He can also connect to several Internet providers at once. If one Internet connection is disconnected due to debt, it automatically switches to another.

Of the 4 proposed routers, ZyXel is recommended for TVs that support the SMART TV function. And all 4 routers are suitable for IPTV.

ZyXel protects against malicious sites " Yandex DNS ". It also allows you to realize all the most

bold projects: give friends access to files on your computer, install a network camera for remote video surveillance, or even open your own Internet radio station.

It’s very convenient that all 4 routers have a Russian web interface, so you don’t have to look up known words in the dictionary.

For those who want to limit their children from nightly gatherings on the Internet, these routers are equipped with the “ parental control", you can select the tablet, phone or laptop your child is using and make it so that after 21:00 the Internet on the laptop turns off.

Data transfer speed test

• Via torrent, all 4 routers, when downloading at a distance of 3 meters, showed speeds of up to 10 Mb/s.
• Through the wall the speed dropped to 8 megabytes, but through 2 walls the routers showed 6 MB, although ZyXel was 4.5 MB.
• The speed of Wi-Fi distribution to a smartphone at a distance of 3 meters, all devices show a speed of 34-35 megabits. Having gone outside at a distance of approximately 50 meters, the speed reading was 14-15 megabits. At a distance of 100 meters - 8-10 Mb, but at a distance of more than 150-200 the speed dropped to 1 Mb or less.

Such indicators are quite suitable for normal use of the Internet both at home and nearby. By purchasing a device such as a router, you solve several issues at once: you combine several computers into a local network and provide Internet access for each of them, and get rid of a large number of wires.

What can’t a modern person live without? Without water, food and... internet. Having access to the World Wide Web, we search it necessary information, we work, relax, communicate, study, discover new opportunities. And in order not to be tied to a specific place in the house or office where there is an Internet connection cable, you need to use Wi-Fi router.

Manufacturers offer different models, including with designer decoration. But the router must be reliable! This is the only way to ensure uninterrupted and permanent access to the Internet. Therefore, to make your life easier in the future, you need to choose the best Wi-Fi router available in stores today. And we will help you with this.

Top 10 routers of 2018

When choosing these models, we relied on various criteria:

• user recommendations in online stores and review sites;
• prices;
• options;
• functionality;
• common sense (so that the purchase is truly useful).

Why are there no expensive models on our list?

We do not consider this a luxury, since such routers have wide functionality. But the average user will not overpay for appearance or options that are not used.

How should you choose?

To give advice, you need to understand how a common person answers the question: “How to choose a router?” To do this, just read user reviews of the device installed in their home. This is exactly what we did.

Most users named the stability of the device as the main criterion. Regardless of the requirements or operating conditions, this characteristic was the main one. An equally important parameter is the data transfer speed. This is another criterion that was emphasized in the reviews.

We also believe that ease of setup is important too. Especially for the fair sex, who often have to choose and operate equipment on their own. Sometimes you end up with something like this :)

To confirm our findings, we conducted a small survey. Users participated social networks and visitors to our website. In total, about 150 people were interviewed. They were asked one question: “The most important parameters of a Wi-Fi router” and several answer options:

• data transfer speed (36.6%);
• stability (41.6%);
• safety (9.2%);
• range of transmitted frequencies (1.8%);
• ease of setup (2.5%);
• price (3.3%);
• I don’t pay attention to the criteria (5%).

As a result, as we expected, stability and data transfer speed are the main criteria when choosing a Wi-Fi router.

Characteristics

At the same time, there are a few more important characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing a Wi-Fi router.

Data transfer rate

Not the most important parameter, because theoretically even budget options have data transfer speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s over a Wi-Fi channel. It all depends on what speed your provider provides. With an Internet speed of 20-50 Mbit/s, it makes no sense to buy a router with information transfer rates at speeds of 300-1300 Mbit/s.

The most common standard today is the 2.4 GHz frequency. But due to the fact that it is heavily overloaded, this negatively affects the quality of the Wi-Fi signal. The 5 GHz frequency standard is less popular, but not all models support it. Medium and High Devices price segment simultaneously operate at frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz.

Number of antennas

There are models with internal and external antennas. The number of antennas does not increase the propagation range of the Wi-Fi signal, but does affect its stability. The best option today is routers with two external antennas.

Operation stability

This indicator is influenced software router and number of antennas. The device firmware must be constantly updated, so it is better to buy devices from well-known and trusted manufacturers that provide technical support released equipment even after several years.

Wi-Fi network protection

Most models use the following safety standards:

• WEP (minimum reliability);
• WPA (encryption key length up to 128 bits - TKIP technology);
• WPA2 (encryption key length up to 256 bits - AES technology) is the most reliable standard.

The best models for home

Important! Choosing a router for a home or apartment is no different, because modern buildings have the same structural characteristics and are made from the same materials. Therefore, all the models presented in this list are perfect for use in the house and apartment.

The choice of a Wi-Fi router for the home is different in each individual case, because the user is based on his preferences, considerations and requirements. The devices presented below, in our opinion, are optimal choice in terms of quality/stability/price ratio.

Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi mini

The best solution in terms of price/quality/performance ratio. A model that supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac data transfer standard at speeds up to 1167 Mbps, which is a nice addition. The manufacturer offers two firmware options: standard and for developers (has a larger set of functions and access to the router console via ssh). But in both cases it is presented in Chinese.

The USB port is used to connect an external hard drive. Designed to control it minimum set options. But the user, using the built-in utilities for the router, can autonomously download files to an external drive by following links to them.

If you have problems accessing the Internet, you can use the standard connection diagnostic utility.

Advantages

• design;
• affordable price;
• WAN speed 1167 Mbit/s;
• the ability to connect an external drive;
• a large set of settings and capabilities in the firmware.

Flaws

• instructions and interface in Chinese;
• two LAN ports;
• LAN port speed 100 Mbit/s.

TP-LINK TL-WA901ND

An equally good purchase would be the Tp-Link TL-WA901ND model. Her main feature– support for the PoE standard, with which power can be supplied to the router via an Ethernet cable. For this purpose, a special adapter is supplied with the device.

The advantages of the device include three removable antennas, which increase the stability of the device with a signal propagation range in open areas - up to 270 meters.

The main disadvantage of the TP-LINK TL-WA901ND model is the lack of LAN ports for connecting computers and laptops. In addition, as users note, it periodically freezes, which is why the router has to be rebooted.

Advantages

• design;
• three removable antennas;
• ease of setup;
• Wi-Fi network range;
• PoE technology.

Flaws

• lack of LAN ports;
• freezing.

ASUS RT-N56U

At first glance, the model catches your eye because it is made in the original case. At the same time, support for two frequency bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) allows it to work stably even in homes with a lot of interference in the absence external antennas. The data transfer speed via LAN ports is up to 1 Gbit/s, which is very convenient in modern conditions.

The presence of two USB ports increases the functionality of the model, as they allow you to connect an external drive. But the data transfer speed on the HDD is at the level of 14-16 and 10-12 MB/s when reading and writing, so using it to work with large files will be problematic.

The lack of PoE technology limits the mobility of the device, but with such great functionality, the router needs an uninterrupted and powerful power source.

Advantages

• design;
• LAN speed 1000 Mbit/s;
• WAN speed 300 Mbit/s;
• two USB ports;
• ease of setup;
• great functionality.

Flaws

• USB port speed 10-16 MB/s;
• not recommended for use external drives with a capacity of more than 1 TB.

Top 5 routers in the budget segment

In this list, we presented budget segment routers, the cost of which will please any buyer, but in use they showed themselves to be good, working stably, reliably and without any complaints from users.

TP-LINK TL-WR841N

Budget router models are devoid of any frills, so it’s difficult to talk about their advantages and disadvantages. The main difference between the TP-LINK TL-WR841N model and other inexpensive devices is the setup interface. It is almost identical to the top models and has a clear structure. Therefore, setting up the gadget will not be difficult even for an inexperienced user.

But the limited speed of LAN ports (100 Mbit/s) and low data transfer speed Wi-Fi networks will not allow you to use it to the maximum under heavy loads. This means it is not suitable for installation in an office.

Advantages

• low cost;
• easy setup;
• clear interface;
• compact sizes.

Flaws

• low data transfer speed;
• job instability;

D-link DIR-300/A/D1

What immediately catches your eye when examining this router is the speed of data transfer over the wireless network. This should alert any buyer, since today some users have access to the Internet at a speed of 1 Gbit/s, for which this model is completely unsuitable. In addition, it has a short range.

But its main advantage is that it is stylish in a modern way. interesting design and a WPS button placed on the side, making connecting any gadget convenient and easy. Therefore, the optimal place to use this model is at home.

Advantages

• low cost;
• stylish design

Flaws

• low data transfer speed;
• limited scope of use.

Netis WF2419E

Despite the fact that the device is made in China and belongs to the budget price segment, its build quality is very good. Besides factory firmware provides a wide functionality of the device, which is not standard for inexpensive models. Therefore, it is perfect for use both at home and in the office.

The router provides high speed data transfer over wired and wireless networks. Given its low cost, this is a huge advantage. In general, the model has proven itself well, as evidenced by the huge number of positive reviews.

Advantages

• low cost;
• high data transfer speed;
• easy setup;
• stable work;
• functionality.

Flaws

• LAN port speed is 100 Mbit/s (although it’s difficult to call this a disadvantage).

Tenda N301

The compact body of the Tenda N301 model makes it easy to install almost anywhere in the home or office. If we add to this the ease of network setup, the device is perfect for use at home even by inexperienced users.

The inability to wall mount the model may be an obstacle to use in in some cases. But this is not a critical problem. Otherwise, the router is no different from other representatives of the budget segment, operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz and having a Wi-Fi data transfer speed of up to 300 Mbit/s.

Advantages

• low cost;
• ease of setup;
• compact body.

Flaws

• unstable work;
• no wall mounting;
• weak signal.

ZyXEL Keenetic Start

This model is the younger “brother” of the ZyXEL Keenetic and differs from it in a smaller set of available options. In addition, it is difficult for it to cope with a large number of connected devices, so it is not suitable for use in an office or home where there are a huge number of devices with Wi-Fi adapter. This is due to the weak processor used on the model.

The ease of setup will please any user. And the lack of heating and the fact that the router does not “cut” the speed distinguish it from many competitors in its segment. In addition, the affordable price makes ZyXEL Keenetic Start an excellent choice for a small house or one-room apartment.

Advantages

• low cost;
• ease of setup;
• does not overheat.

Flaws

• weak processor;
• weak signal;
• Freezes when connecting a large number of devices.

Mobile routers

If you do not have access to wired Internet, you can use mobile Wi-Fi routers that have a slot for connecting a SIM card. It connects to wireless internet through mobile communications, after which they “distribute” it to other devices. Check price

It’s worth noting right away that the router only works in 2G/3G networks, therefore it is limited in data transfer speed. In addition, it is not included charger, but only a USB cable. But, on the other hand, this made it possible to reduce the cost of the model and make it more accessible to the user. In addition, sometimes the absence of an LCD display, which is equipped with the “older” model M5350, adds inconvenience.

Disadvantages also include the lack of a “modem” function when connected to a computer. But this is a router, so it should not work in this mode. Otherwise the router has good specifications, does not hang, receives the network well. And if you take into account the compact size, high-quality and non-stainable body, you can safely say that the device can be carried with you in your pocket anywhere.

Advantages

• compact dimensions;
• stable work;
• An adapter for SIM cards is included.

Flaws

• no power adapter;
• works in 2G/3G networks;
• no LCD display.

conclusions

As a result, we will try to answer the most frequently asked questions. They will help you finally decide which router to choose.

Why should you buy a router?

For a modern person, a Wi-Fi router is an everyday device that helps you access the Internet without being tied to a specific place. If we take into account the fact that the market mobile devices is growing, and desktop PCs, on the contrary, are decreasing, in the future it will be difficult to do without this device at work or at home.

Is it worth buying a cheap model?

Some users may say that buying a mid- or high-price Wi-Fi router is a waste of money. But, faced with own experience with cheap models, I came to two conclusions.

Firstly, when using them, you will spend a lot of effort and nerves to achieve stable operation.

Secondly, after a while you may need to buy a new router, because the old one will simply stop working for no apparent reason.

Why should I buy exactly the routers described in the article?

We do not force you to buy them, but we recommend that you do so, because all the models described have proven themselves well. And we repeat once again: each person chooses a Wi-Fi router based on their needs and capabilities.

We tried to take into account all the wishes, preferences and main points that buyers pay attention to. And based on this, we presented a list of models that best meet all the requirements.

When we buy a Wi-Fi router, we inevitably face difficulties in choosing, since most of these devices are almost similar in cost and functionality. It is especially difficult to decide which inexpensive but high-quality routers to buy, because leading manufacturers produce many budget models.

For many years now, users have been trying to determine which router is better.

But the most problematic is the choice between the D-Link and TP-Link brands - not only are they similar in name, but they also both offer a decent selection of different routers for the home. Let's figure out what you should look for when buying one of the devices, how to compare them, and what reviews users leave about these manufacturers.

How to compare routers?

When choosing between D-Link and TP-Link for home use or small local networks, be guided by the following criteria:

• External interface (or rather, the location of the antennas). It is these details that determine how well the Wi-Fi signal will pass throughout the house through various interference in the form of walls, furniture, appliances, and other things.
• Maximum speed. There is no point in choosing expensive equipment with unusually high speeds if you only use 20 megabits of internet.
• Availability of communication protocols. As a rule, in good routers There are all current protocols for connection: via a dynamic or static IP address, L2TP, PPPoE and others.
• Safety. To confidently use the Internet, each of us wants to secure our network, so it is necessary to have different ways network access filtering.
• Firmware stability. The router may have good functionality, but if its firmware is “raw,” then problems will arise, which will significantly spoil the process of using the Internet.
• Ease of use. This point means the simplicity and clarity of the router settings interface.

So, let's compare two popular models from the D-Link and TP-Link brands and see what users say about these manufacturers.

Comparison of popular models TP-Link TL-WR741ND and D-Link DIR 300

Let's start with the fact that the TP-Link brand model has a more powerful removable antenna, but a router from another brand does not have a removable antenna. The maximum speed of TP-Link TL-WR741ND is up to 150 Mbit/s, which is quite enough for home use and creation local network. If we talk about D-Link DIR 300, then there is a nuance: in more old version the maximum speed is up to 54 Mbit/s, and the new version of the D-Link DIR 300NRU model already has speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s.

But new configuration D-Link is more expensive, and this also needs to be taken into account. If we talk about the availability of connection protocols, in both routers they are excellent - there are all the necessary formats for connecting to the Internet from different providers.

You don’t have to worry about network security: the models provide filtering by MAC and IP addresses, and WPA/WPA2 password encryption type. However, the TP-Link TL-WR741ND has one nice detail - the presence of a QSS button, pressing which will automatically turn on protection in a matter of seconds, which is quite convenient for the user.

How then do these models differ? network equipment? There are several comments about the D-Link DIR 300 regarding the firmware: in the updated version, the interface looks simple and pleasant, but there is no general window with data on the current work. But all TP-Link devices provide not only a convenient interface, but also a window for the general status of the router.

That is, if you want to find out about the parameters, view your connection data, on D-Link you will have to look for all the information in different menu items.

In addition, D-Link does not provide help with detailed description how to work in the settings menu. But all this is provided in its competitor - the TP-Link TL-WR741ND brand. This is important when you are not very familiar with some configurations.

Further, if we compare the signal strength indicators, then in different tests (checking the speed when the router is located in the same room with the computer, working through two walls and at a maximum distance), the best indicators still belong to the TP-Link TL-WR741ND model.

Therefore, taking into account the presence of an external removable antenna, which can be replaced with a more powerful one, better signal distribution performance, a pleasant and convenient interface and, undoubtedly, a more attractive price, when comparing the TL-WR741ND model and the D-Link DIR 300, the TP brand still wins -Link.

What do customer reviews indicate?

First of all, you should look at what reviews you can find online about using TP-Link routers. Most of them concern the following:

• Some users are reluctant to trust the brand because it is relatively new.
• The low price of the equipment raises suspicions.

But are such reviews negative? More likely no than yes. In general, various comments make it clear that TP-Link routers are stable in operation, they are easy to install and configure, and failures and malfunctions rarely occur during use.

What can you say about D-Link? This company has been on the market for a long time and is known to many who are faced with the choice of network equipment. It offers optimal quality and affordable prices for routers. But there are quite a lot of comments about using them, which relate to the following:

• Firmware instability. Often, routers are supplied with “raw” software. This is one of the reasons why malfunctions often occur in the work, and sometimes the settings are lost.
• Many users report problems with the operation of the wireless module.
• In many routers, the Internet speed is cut off. And because of this, the user overpays for the connection.
• Complex settings interface. It is not always possible to configure the router settings easily and quickly, which is especially important for ordinary users who do not understand network equipment.
• Slightly overpriced compared to TP-Link with a similar set of functions.

Based on the comparison of the two models, it can be said that the TP-Link brand is different best quality than D-Link. Therefore, if you need a reliable router for your home, you should make a choice in its favor. If you take into account customer reviews online (it’s up to you to trust them or not), then TP-Link routers get a few extra points, outperforming their competitor.