The Top 5 Wireless Network AC Routers for SMB’s

It all comes down to the basics. Without the right wireless router, your network will be unreliable, slow, and spotty at best. People often get too comfortable with their routers, assuming that a router is a once size fits all soft of product. However, there are a number of factors that need to be considered if you’re going to find the perfect wireless set up for your organization. For example, its often assumed that your cable company-provided router will work just fine. It might for some cases such as a small home office setup. If you’re looking to provide speedy internet to an entire office floor plan, that router’s just not going to cut it.

We’re now living in an age where its considered the norm to have both a tablet, smartphone, desktop, and laptop, all running off the same wi-fi. If you’re going to be able to support this sort of traffic, you’re going to need to do your research. Companies such as Netgear, Linksys, and TP-Link have all started to keep their eyes on the future, providing extremely powerful routers that get the job done through all the areas of the budget spectrum.

Below we’ve collected some of the most popular and reliable routers for small to medium sized businesses. These routers are noted for their security, scalability, and reliability. Take a look!

TP-Link AC1200

Functions:

• Upgrades networks to powerful 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology
• Smooth HD streaming and online gaming with high-performance AC1200 Wi-Fi over 5GHz (867Mbps) and 2.4GHz (300Mbps) bands
• Superior, far-reaching Wi-Fi coverage with two high-quality dual band antennas
• Fast wired connections using four Ethernet Ports
• Share files, photos, music, and video across your network using the USB port

From Around the Web:

“So far so good. I used this to replace my Linksys AC1200+ because it was a huge hunk of garbage (it was brand new and almost $100). This router is perfect for a two bedroom apartment for myself and my roommates (2 others), we are able to get blazing speed through the 5ghz wifi. Our download speeds are around 90mb/s compared to the 2.4ghz wifi which its download speeds are around 23mb/s.” – Kevy Kev on Amazon

“The TP-Link Archer C5 is a splendid product that is extremely suitable for basic routing needs. It offers decent range and data transfer rates, making it a suitable device for basic and advanced users alike.” – HomeNetworkAdmin.com

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Linksys MaxStream AC5400 Router

Ideal for busy households and home offices, the Linksys Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router (EA9500) delivers Next-Gen AC Wi-Fi for lag-free productivity and entertainment. MU-MIMO delivers Wi-Fi to multiple devices—4K TVs, streaming media players, game consoles, laptops, tablets, and smartphones—at the same time and same speed, treating multiple devices as if each has its own dedicated router.

Features:

• Speeds up to 5.3 Gbps for faster downloads, seamless HD streaming and uninterrupted VOIP calls
• Tri-Band Wi-Fi offers a third, dedicated high-speed band to eliminate buffering and lag
• 8 Gigabit ports for wired speeds 10x faster than standard Ethernet for your printers, consoles, and Smart TVs
• Enable Seamless Roaming by pairing Max-Stream Routers with Max-Stream Range Extenders. Your device will automatically switch to the strongest Wi-Fi signal as you move around your house
• Backed by 3-Year Warranty and Tech Support
• Advanced Security features WPA/WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall help keep your network safely connected

From Around the Web:

“The Linksys EA9500 has a whopping eight Gigabit LAN ports and stellar Wi-Fi performance and supports seamless roaming, which is useful if you need to extend your network The router’s Parental Control feature can block https websites.” – CNET

“There aren’t many 5.3Gbps routers on the market right now, and the Linksys EA9500 offers more power than all of them. It matches or exceeds the similarly priced Netgear Nighthawk X8 and the ASUS RT-AC5300 spec for spec, and does so while being easy to set up and use.”  – Best Buy

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NETGEAR Orbi High-Performance AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi System (RBK50)

Orbi by Netgear is the simplest and smartest way to enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi in every corner of your home. The orbi Wi-Fi system easily covers 4,000 square Feet of your home with strong Wi-Fi signals. Because orbi uses tri-band Wi-Fi, your Internet runs at max speeds no matter how many devices connect.

Features:

• Orbi home Wi-Fi system includes an orbi Wi-Fi router and Satellite that delivers a stronger, faster Wi-Fi signal throughout your home
• Two orbi cover up to 4,000 square feet with high-performance Wi-Fi
• Tri-band Wi-Fi creates a dedicated wireless connection between the orbi router and Satellite delivering the fastest internet speeds similar to a wired connection
• Easy setup with a single and secure Wi-Fi network, comes preconfigured out of the box

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NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900

Accelerate your WiFi with net gear Nighthawk! enjoy the fastest WiFi currently available, with speeds up to 1900 Mbps and a powerful dual Core 1GHz processor for extreme performance. High-powered amplifiers, external antennas and beamforming+ improve range and reliability for up to 100% more wireless coverage. Features like downstream and upstream QoS prioritize streaming and gaming, creating a blazing-fast, lag-free WiFi experience.. provides an extensible design that enables Service prioritization for data. Design that delivers high availability, scalability, and for maximum flexibility and price/performance.

Functions:

• Two-in-One DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + WiFi Router delivers AC1900 WiFi and up to 960Mbps modem speed
• Required for fastest Internet speed tiers offered by XFINITY from Comcast, Time Warner MAXX and Cox Premier & Ultimate
• Certified to work with Cable Internet Providers like XFINITY from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Cablevision, Bright House Networks, & More (Not Compatible with Cable Bundled Voice Services)
• ELIMINATE MONTHLY CABLE MODEM RENTAL FEES – Approximately $120/year savings
• 24×8 channel bonding enables up to 960 Mbps download speeds

From Around the Web:

“Netgear’s Nighthawk 802.11ac router boasts a strong feature set, delivers exceptional range, and is reasonably priced. It’s the best Wi-Fi router on the market, at least for now.” – Tech Hive

“The all-new Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Smart Wi-Fi Routeroffers stellar performance on the 5GHz band, and an excellent set of features. It’s also relatively affordable for a top-notch home networking device. It’s another testament to the success of the Broadcom BCM4709 Wi-Fi chip, which helps bring great Wi-Fi experience to both new and older Wi-Fi clients.” – CNET

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 TP-Link Archer C9 AC1900 Wireless AC Gigabit Router

The Archer C9 creates a reliable, blazing-fast network using 802.11ac, the latest, most powerful Wi-Fi technology. Stream 4K Ultra HD video and game online without lag over a clear 5GHz band while using the 2.4GHz band for everyday tasks like checking email and web browsing. The C9’s dual USB ports make it easy to share files, photos, and music across your network, and beamforming technology helps the router strengthen its connections to Wi-Fi devices.

Functions:

• Wireless AC1900 WiFi. Supports 802.11ac, the next generation of Wi-Fi
• Stream 4K Ultra HD video and game online without lag over a clear 5GHz band while using the 2.4GHz band for everyday tasks
• Simultaneous dual band networks, 2.4GHz (600Mbps) and 5GHz (1300Mbps)
• 3 detachable high performance antennas for maximum wireless coverage and reliability
• Beamforming technology locates wireless devices to create a stronger connection
• Powerful 1GHz dual-core processor handles simultaneous wired and wireless connections without interruption
• USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports to easily share printers, files, and media across your network
• TP-LINK Live 24/7 technical support for assistance with setup and configuration

From Around the Web:

“It may not have as much range or stream reliability as some of the other contenders here, but what it lacks in signal strength it more than makes up for in raw, unadulterated speed. The Archer C9 is a perfect router for gaming, 4K streaming, or just light web browsing.” – Gadget Review

“This router is amazing. I get over 550 mbps wireless transfer speeds in my apartment from our cable provider!!! And on my desktop it passes through over a gigabyte per second to my desktop. You won’t have any speed issues with this router.”                          – Pixelmanca on Amazon 

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