Routers, mesh systems, and networking gear, including the setup that runs my flat and travel routers.
The Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Tri-Band Router launched in August 2017 at S$399. Not Linksys's flagship, that's still the EA9500, it succeeds the EA9200 from two years prior. Yet its 1.8GHz quad-core CPU makes it the most powerful.
Google Wifi launched in Singapore on 31st August 2017 via a StarHub partnership, the first in Southeast Asia. You can get a three-pack bundle at S$15 a month over 24 months on selected StarHub plans, with no upfront cost.
The Aztech AIR-706P is Aztech's first mesh router, launched July 2017 at S$269. This budget router extends range by adding a second AIR-706P rather than an extender, though it's not a true mesh.
Google Wifi is now officially available in Singapore through a StarHub partnership, the first Southeast Asian launch. From 31st August 2017, a three-pack bundle costs S$15 a month over 24 months on selected StarHub plans.
The Linksys Velop is Linksys's first Wi-Fi mesh system, launched in Singapore on 12th April 2017, the second after Netgear Orbi. Like the eero I've used since January, mesh lets your whole home share a single SSID.
The Synology Router RT2600ac launched in Singapore on 12th January 2017 at S$365, Synology's second router after the RT1900ac. It upgrades to a 1.7GHz dual-core CPU, 512MB RAM, and 4x4 802.11ac wave 2 Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO and beamforming.
eero is a home Wi-Fi system built on a wireless mesh network. It isn't cheap: a single unit costs US$199, a 2-pack US$349, and a 3-pack US$499, but it promises uninterrupted whole-home coverage.
The Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router has been available in Singapore since August 2016 at S$539. It's the flagship of the Max-Stream family, above the mid-range EA8500 I reviewed, featuring 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO.
The Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900 Wi-Fi Range Extender has been available in Singapore since August 2016 at S$199. This AC1900 dual-band extender adds a Gigabit Ethernet port and is the first range extender to combine MU-MIMO with Seamless Roaming.
The Linksys WUSB6100M Max-Stream AC600 USB Adapter is billed as the world's first MU-MIMO-enabled adapter, launched in Singapore in August 2016 at S$129. It connects a PC to wireless-AC and MU-MIMO networks, though there's no Mac driver available.
The D-Link DAP-1860 AC Wi-Fi Range Extender launched in Singapore at S$189. It runs concurrent dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz with four external MIMO antennas, supporting MU-MIMO and 802.11ac Wave II for speeds up to 2,532Mbps.
I bought the TP-Link 300Mbps Wireless N Nano Router (TL-WR802N) from Hachi.tech, Challenger's online marketplace, for S$45 after a rebate. I needed a tiny router to cover a small dead zone in my master bedroom, hidden out of sight.
I bought the TP-Link 8-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch (TL-SG108) from Challenger VivoCity for S$43, my first TP-Link product, for my new house. I'd weighed it against D-Link's metal-cased DGS-108 at S$55 but chose the cheaper TP-Link.
The Synology DS216+, launched on 28th January 2016, succeeds the DS215+ and retails in Singapore for S$499. This high-performance 2-bay NAS for small offices and home users features a dual-core Intel CPU, AES-NI encryption, Btrfs support, and 4K transcoding.
Disclosure: I was gifted an ExpressVPN subscription for this guest post by Guy Miller. After Netflix launched in 130 more countries in January 2016, becoming a near-global service, ExpressVPN helps users unblock the larger US Netflix library.
The Synology Router RT1900ac is Synology's first router, aimed at the mid-range market at roughly S$234. It went on sale in Singapore on 6th October 2015. For the unaware, this brings Synology's polished software experience to home networking.
The ASUS RT-AC88U launched at SITEX 2015, Singapore's last major IT event of the year, held at Singapore Expo from 26th to 29th November. The much-awaited router retails for S$429, packing eight Gigabit LAN ports and strong wireless performance.
The Linksys EA8500 Max-Stream AC2600 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router launched on 4th August 2015, exclusively at Challenger before reaching most electronics stores, at S$399. Despite the lower model number, it isn't really a step down from the EA9200.
The WeMo Switch + Motion sells at Funan's Challenger for S$109, or S$89 for members, while the plain WeMo Switch is S$79, or S$71.10. For just S$18 more as a member, the motion sensor was worth it.
The D-Link DSP-W215 WiFi Smart Plug connects to your wireless network to make any device plugged into it smart. Running on 802.11n and retailing for S$69, it lets you switch the connected device on and off through the mydlink app.
The D-Link DIR-890L AC3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Cloud Router launched in Singapore in February 2015 at S$399, matching the Linksys EA9200 AC3200. I do wonder about router names these days, as each maker seems to cram in ever more keywords.
I'd been using StrongVPN's PPTP plan at US$55 a year, but didn't renew once my contract ended, feeling its server-switch quota too limiting despite never hitting it. Last week, VyprVPN reached out, so I switched over.