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OtinG · 10-27-2021, 03:42 PM

Okay, not really an Apple question per se, but I know you folks around here and a lot of you have a good technical background. And I do use WiFi with my Apple devices.

I’m currently using the router supplied by Spectrum (Charter), or whatever name they go by this week, and it is an old Netgear R6300 802.11ac router. I looked it up and it was first released in 2012, so nearly a decade old design. I’m guessing it has been updated a few times over the years though. It seems to have these specs:

IEEE 802.11ac 2.0
IEEE 802.11n version 2.0
IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11a 5.0 GHz

It still seems to be fairly stable and reliable and delivers around 220 Mbits speed which is what my plan calls for. But it isn’t WiFi 6 capable, and it is having some issues keeping connected with my security cams which are outside the house and only use 2.4 Ghz. No issue with the one cam that uses 5 Ghz though. It seems okay with my iPads and iPhone and Macs within the house, but they all have 5 Ghz capability which helps as far as speed goes. Most of my TV stuff is using ethernet, including the ATV 4K, Fire TV Cube, and TV.

So I’m trying to decide if it is worth upgrading to a newer router, one I own rather than Spectrum. I only get charged $5/mo for it, but still that adds up over time. I live alone and typically have only a few devices running at any given time, but if I add them up it is a bigger number than what one might think. I have 5 Amazon Echo devices, 1 Fire TV dongle, 1 TV, 2 iPads, 1 iPhone, 1 MacBook Pro, and 1 security cam running WiFi (5 Ghz), plus 3 security cams running WiFi (2.4 Ghz). Additionally I have 1 Mac mini, 1 Fire TV Cube, 1 TV, and 1 ATV 4K running ethernet through the router. The Echos are always on, the iPhone is always on, the Mac mini is always on keeping up with the security cams, the other devices are sometimes on, sometimes asleep.

That is a lot of devices for one person, but that is how it is in the modern world! At any rate, weigh in on whether you think it is time for me to return the old router and get a newer one. I know some of my devices are WiFi 6 capable, but most probably aren’t.

ETA: Oops, I forgot about 5 LED Kasa smartbulbs, 1 Govee LED light strip, and 4 smartplugs.

10-27-2021, 03:42 PM	#1
OtinG Old Gadget Guy Posts: 1,913 Karma: 6854865 Join Date: Jun 2018 Device: Oasis 3, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPad mini 6, iPad Air 2020, Alexa Devices	WiFi Router Question Okay, not really an Apple question per se, but I know you folks around here and a lot of you have a good technical background. And I do use WiFi with my Apple devices. I’m currently using the router supplied by Spectrum (Charter), or whatever name they go by this week, and it is an old Netgear R6300 802.11ac router. I looked it up and it was first released in 2012, so nearly a decade old design. I’m guessing it has been updated a few times over the years though. It seems to have these specs: IEEE 802.11ac 2.0 IEEE 802.11n version 2.0 IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11a 5.0 GHz It still seems to be fairly stable and reliable and delivers around 220 Mbits speed which is what my plan calls for. But it isn’t WiFi 6 capable, and it is having some issues keeping connected with my security cams which are outside the house and only use 2.4 Ghz. No issue with the one cam that uses 5 Ghz though. It seems okay with my iPads and iPhone and Macs within the house, but they all have 5 Ghz capability which helps as far as speed goes. Most of my TV stuff is using ethernet, including the ATV 4K, Fire TV Cube, and TV. So I’m trying to decide if it is worth upgrading to a newer router, one I own rather than Spectrum. I only get charged $5/mo for it, but still that adds up over time. I live alone and typically have only a few devices running at any given time, but if I add them up it is a bigger number than what one might think. I have 5 Amazon Echo devices, 1 Fire TV dongle, 1 TV, 2 iPads, 1 iPhone, 1 MacBook Pro, and 1 security cam running WiFi (5 Ghz), plus 3 security cams running WiFi (2.4 Ghz). Additionally I have 1 Mac mini, 1 Fire TV Cube, 1 TV, and 1 ATV 4K running ethernet through the router. The Echos are always on, the iPhone is always on, the Mac mini is always on keeping up with the security cams, the other devices are sometimes on, sometimes asleep. That is a lot of devices for one person, but that is how it is in the modern world! At any rate, weigh in on whether you think it is time for me to return the old router and get a newer one. I know some of my devices are WiFi 6 capable, but most probably aren’t. ETA: Oops, I forgot about 5 LED Kasa smartbulbs, 1 Govee LED light strip, and 4 smartplugs. Last edited by OtinG; 10-27-2021 at 03:49 PM.