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I was using an N300 Netgear WNDR3700v2 since 2010. One of the best wireless routers ever made. Unfortunately, mine started to die a couple of weeks ago.
I don't have any 802.11ac devices (and don't plan on buying any in the near future) so I decided to forego the cost of an AC router and stayed with the previous N generation.
The highest-reviewed router I could find was the N900 Asus NT-R66U. There are alternate firmwares available that are supported by the Small Net Builder community. HIGHLY configurable but probably not geared towards a non-techie. A LOT of configuration options that should probably never be touched.
However, the 3-antenna setup was VERY touchy - just a half-inch here or there and the signal could move considerably. It took me a long time to get it right where I wanted it coverage-wise.
And then the packet loss started. I ended up having to RMA it. After thinking about it, I had such good luck with my previous router (I've been a Netgear consumer beta tester for 4 years) that I just went ahead and got another Netgear. When I bought the 3700, it was cutting edge and had a few bugs but the performance was top-of-the-line.
So I ended up getting a new AC1900 Netgear R7000 yesterday. Right out of the box, I noticed a huge improvement over both the Asus and the old Netgear in terms of signal quality and strength. The 2.4Ghz radio is about 10% stronger and the 5Ghz radio is a good 20% stronger. I can actually get a 5Ghz signal in my office at the the far end of the house now (with the router centrally located).
The only issue with the R7000 is that it will run you around $200.
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