What router should I buy for a 1,700-square-foot home?
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MellowCedar42
My Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 has reached end of life, and I've been notified that it will no longer receive official firmware support. I'm considering spending around $300 on a replacement and am currently comparing the TP-Link BE9700, eero Pro 6, Nighthawk RS300, Deco AXE5400, TP-Link BE3600, and Deco BE5000. I'm leaning toward a single router rather than a mesh system. The home is about 1,700 square feet on one floor, and there aren't any additional Ethernet wall ports. Would one centrally placed router be enough, or would mesh provide a meaningful advantage?
Answers
An end-of-support notice doesn’t mean the current router suddenly stops working; it generally means the manufacturer won’t provide future firmware updates. You could continue using it for now, but replacing it is sensible if you want newer security support and Wi-Fi features. Alternative firmware such as Tomato or DD-WRT may work on some older models, but compatibility must be checked carefully before attempting an installation.
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The lack of Ethernet ports makes a wired mesh setup less appealing, since wireless nodes have to communicate with each other. I’d start with a single router and only add mesh hardware if you actually find dead spots. From the listed options, the BE9700 or Deco XE75-class hardware would be reasonable choices, though the best pick depends on your internet speed and the devices you use.
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For a 1,700-square-foot single-floor home, one good router should usually be sufficient if you can place it somewhere fairly central. Mesh is more useful when the home is spread out, has difficult walls, or already has Ethernet for wired access points. I wouldn’t feel obligated to spend the full $300—reliable Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 equipment can still be plenty fast for normal household use.
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MellowCedar42: I’ve had the current router for about eight years, so I’m comfortable replacing it even if it still works. I’m mainly trying to avoid buying more equipment than I need.