My cable company decided to make some changes and so I was notified that I would need a new modem since the old one would no longer be compatible. I prefer to own my modem rather than rent one from the cable company, so did my due diligence, chose and purchased a modem (Arris Surfboard SB8200) and got that all installed and set up. I did not want a combination modem/router, I prefer to keep the two as separate devices. So then I started thinking about my router, the final generation of Apple's Airport Extreme Base Station, which has served me faithfully for quite a few years now. Upshot was I did some more research and yesterday went to Microcenter (electronics/computer store) and came home with an Amplifi Alien 6 router and I LOVE it! So, so cool looking, so easy and quick to set up and I am more than happy that I have done this.
I am in a 1045 SF condo apartment unit so the one router is all that I need (I had spent some time waffling over whether I should buy the two-unit set, router plus one mesh point, but eventually arrived at the conclusion that it would be overkill here, even though I do have some logistical issues with location of the router. The problem is that the modem is in the master bedroom, which is located in the back section of the condo unit. I do most of my computer activities in the main living area and also in the warm weather I like to sit out on the deck with either my iPad or laptop. So, my solution was that I have a long CAT 6 cable that runs from the main living area back to the bedroom. While it would be possible to have the cable company come in and set up a cable connection in the living room in order to bring the modem out here, at this point it seems like an expensive hassle, as it would involve moving heavy furniture out of the way and undoubtedly would be expensive. Quicker, easier and significantly less expensive to run a CAT 6 cable through the house myself (along hall floor, then elevated and taped over doorways in the bedroom), even though it's not exactly elegant looking.
Years ago when I first got cable, at that time I had a television and a desktop computer both in the master bedroom, so it was logical to have the cabling installed in there, which limits the placement of the modem, of course. This was long before WiFi and wireless became a thing in residential settings. We were all wired with our computers, the modem and an Ethernet cable and that was it. Then along came WiFi..... With earlier routers through the years I used various strategies, including at one time an AEBS paired with an Airport Express to get sufficient signal strength and coverage. The last-generation AEBS had strong enough signal that I could finally dispense of the Airport Express but with the modem and the router both in the bedroom with significant construction elements in between, including the fireplace and its chimney, the plumbing stack, a few walls, etc.) the signal was weaker in the main living area and on the deck and strongest in the bedroom. Just the opposite of what I needed! Since I spend significantly more time in the main living area and on the deck than I do in the master bedroom, I wanted the router to be closer to where most of my devices actually live and are used, so that is when I set up the long CAT 6 cable and that has worked out nicely. Kind of a Rube Goldberg kind of solution but it works.....
Anyway, definitely an improvement in the signal and signal strength with the new Alien over the older AEBS, and because the Alien has WiFi 6 and I currently have two devices which use it (M1 MBP and iPhone 11 Pro) with the anticipation of eventually getting an M2 MBP whenever they are released, it made sense to go with a router which offers WiFi 6 rather than remaining with the older WiFi 5.
I love this thing! It is really nice to be able to look at the small screen on its front and immediately get information about what's going on and to see that all of my devices are happily enjoying the new faster speed and stronger signal. I love being able to control things through the Amplifi app as well. Very slick setup all the way around! I like the way I still have a sort of "Appleness" ambience in this router, too, since one of the people who developed Ubiquiti and Amplifi is a former Apple guy and there are some familiar touches, from the elegant packaging to the overall smooth and easy setup process and the display on the unit's front. The green light around the base of the unit is just too cool for words and definitely gives the router a distinctive "alien" look.....
I am hoping that both my new pieces of networking gear will serve me as well and as reliably and faithfully as the older ones did....