Buat Apa Beli Router Mahal?

Summary

The video compares whether an inexpensive router is sufficient or whether a higher-end model offers practical benefits. The reviewers had previously found that adding a separate router can improve Wi-Fi coverage and stability compared with relying only on an ISP’s default router.

Routers Compared

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro — Around Rp8.9 million. This tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router has a quoted combined rate of roughly 11,000 Mbps, a quad-core 2 GHz processor, 1 GB DDR4 RAM, four 1GbE LAN ports, a 2.5GbE port, a 10GbE port, and link aggregation. It also supports beamforming, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and ASUS AiMesh.
• N300 router — Around Rp300,000. This single-band 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 router is rated at 300 Mbps and has Fast Ethernet ports, which cap wired throughput at 100 Mbps.
• Other options mentioned: The ASUS TUF AX4200 costs about Rp2 million, while the RT-AX53U and RT-AX1800 HP cost around Rp1 million. These dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers are presented as more affordable choices for faster internet connections.

Tests and Findings

Testing took place at the Jagat office at night using a 250 Mbps internet connection. Both routers were set up with default settings, except for the Wi-Fi name and password.

• Single-device internet speed: The N300 could not reach 100 Mbps, partly because of its Fast Ethernet limit. The GT-AX11000 Pro reached roughly 250 Mbps in a speed test and performed better during Steam downloads.
• Multiple devices: During simultaneous speed tests, the N300 struggled to distribute bandwidth consistently. Streaming could also feel less smooth in everyday-use simulations. The GT-AX11000 Pro handled simultaneous use more comfortably, including 4K streaming while a download continued.
• File transfers over Wi-Fi: Copying files between laptops was very slow on the N300. The GT-AX11000 Pro was much faster, with the video describing transfer speeds as approaching 1 GB/s. It also experienced less disruption when another user was downloading.

The reviewers attribute the difference not only to Wi-Fi standards, but also to the more capable processors and memory in higher-end routers, which help them handle multiple connections. They note that results depend on the testing location and conditions.

Takeaway

“Cheap” and “expensive” are relative to what a router enables. A low-cost router may be poor value if it prevents users from getting the full speed they pay for or slows tasks such as frequent large-file transfers. For users with more modest needs, a mid-range Wi-Fi 6 router may be a better fit than either the N300 or the top-end model.

Speakers and Sources

• Dedy Irvan — Host and presenter.
• Jagat Review — Testing and review source. ASUS lent the routers used in the video.