My networking hardware is pretty dated. I’m curious about what others are using. Tell us about your network hardware and setups!
What speed internet package do you choose with your ISP, and what are your average download speeds when tested?
Do you game hardwired or wireless?
Do you lease a modem from your ISP or do you buy your own hardware?
If you buy your own stuff, did you opt for a modem/router combo or did you go for a separate modem and router?
What specific modem, router, and wifi adapter are you using?
*Bonus nerd points for including model numbers and not just giving a brand name, which tells us nothing.
Docsis 3.1 and Wifi 6 – important or no?
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ISP: Frontier @ both locations (work/rental)
Frontier ditch the requirement for having a modem so we are just using routers. If we plug in, I get pretty close to the advertise speed but on Wifi 300Mbps is the average.
Work: Forgot the exact model of the TP Link Router but it is just used as a switch for the most part. The TP Link Deco M5 Mesh does the heavy lifting as Access Point. On strictly WiFi I get anywhere between 200-400. Rarely do I hit the 500 advertise speed on wifi.
Rental: Similar situation except using the M9 model for everything including router. I average 300 here since I am closer to the puck except our neighborhood is much more congested here.
No plans on switching to Wifi6 even though I think 90% of our devices are Wifi6 compatible.
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ISP: Charter/Spectrum
I have the 450Mbps package (they go up to 1Gpbs but can’t afford it yet). I get near advertised speeds. Though, I’ve experimented with Windows registry tweaks and router settings to squeeze out a little more.
Do you game hardwired or wireless?
I’m on Wireless-AC
My modem is rented but the router is my own. I prefer choosing my own router for custom firmware support and having far more features in general. I use Spectrum’s ET2251 modem (DOCSIS 3.1) and Asus RT-AC68P router.
Docsis 3.1 and Wifi 6 – important or no?
It’s mainly important for speed/bandwidth reasons.
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ISP: 2degrees fibre broadband. 1000/500 Mbps. ~$60 USD per month.
Modem: Fritzbox 7560. ISP-provided. It’s basically only doing DHCP and firewall stuff, so not much for needs here.
Wireless AP: Unifi U6-Pro. Mounted centrally on a hallway ceiling.
Server: Dell PowerEdge R720. Dual Xeon E5-2650 v2 chips + 128 GB DDR3-1866 RAM.
My server runs a dozen or so services in Docker containers. I’m hosting websites, game servers, internal services, Discord bots, etc. For internal networking things, it runs Pihole, a NAS, my Unifi Controller, and WireGuard for external access.
Desktop: My desktop is virtually always connected via Ethernet. We’ve installed Ethernet into the walls, so even the TV gets a wired connection. My desktop has two integrated Ethernet adapters for 1 GbE and 2.5 GbE. The former is an Intel I211 and the latter is a Realtek RTL8125-CG. I’m using my Intel adapter at the moment since the Realtek one has an annoying issue where it will infrequently drop connection (maybe a couple of times per week). I may diagnose this when I upgrade the entire internal network at some point. Still thinking on what I want to do for that though.
My desktop also has a WiFi 6 adapter with an Intel AX200, which was one of my requirements - but I primarily use this for Bluetooth haha.
Laptop+Phone: My laptop and phone are both often connected via WiFi, but the laptop is connected via Ethernet when docked. Both devices get 800+ Mbps over WiFi, with low single-digit latency.
Depends on use. WiFi 6 was a nice improvement for me, though whether it’s actually good value is debatable. I mainly got a new AP since we wanted to mount something that wouldn’t need to be touched for quite a while. 
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Spectrum internet 500/20 (wtb high split)
vilo mesh wifi with pc hardwired to base
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I didn’t realize Spectrum upped the tier package at some point. I’ll have to do another speed test when I get a moment. 
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1Gb connection with my ISPs box to a TP-LINK 16port switch, 2 jacks in every room other then the living/tv room with 4. The ISP box does the wireless as well and covers pretty well the whole house.
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spectrum 300Mbps down and 20Mbps up, tested and operates at those speeds
wireless and have for years although I used to hardwire my Rokus and other PCs but nowadays most wi-fi clients are good enough
used to own but nowadays most places just build the rental into their fee so you can’t pull it out
always a separate modem and router in case one fails, I’m not losing both
Router - Asus AC86U running merlin, covers the whole house and the throughput on the 2.4ghz signal is excellent. Modem - Cisco DPC3216 wi-fi adapter - used to be an Asus AC1200 internal card with external antenna but now I just use the adapter that came with the mobo, MSI Tomahawk Z690
DOCSIS is important if you approaching speeds of 1Gbps down and/or 100Mbps up. Wi-Fi 6 biggest impact is any wi-fi 6 client on the 2.4Ghz signal with a Wi-FI 6 router and actual speeds that can use the throughput.
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