So netgear R8000 is starting to flake out and I'm wondering best method to replace with minimal headaches. Also looking for opinions on best router for mid-range budget -200ish USD.
I currently have a load of zigbee some zwave and a good bit of wifi devices.
Will I have to reinstall everything or is there a way to copy paste settings for all?
Thanks - Bill
Depends on what you mean by "reinstall." There usually isn't much to "install" other than plugging the router in and doing some basic configuration. If you have reserved IP addresses you will need to configure those on the new router. If you're doing more advanced networking then you may have more work in front of you.
I would think that if there is a period of having both routers in place there would need to be some linking between the two networks? Not sure if that is your plan @bill.whitaker ?
I'm thinking of all of my wifi devices, I guess I'll need to reconfigure each one to the new router? If I name new router same as old with same PW will they link to new or will I have to go piece by piece?
If you use the same SSID and password, and the same network address space, and recreate any DHCP reservations on the new router that existed on the old, there is nothing that you will need to do on the Hubitat or device side at all.
I had to do this a few months back as well. I originally got the new Asus AXE-11000 router so I could incorporate Wifi 6E 6gHz band, now I'm in the process of complicating it more by having a separate Qnap Nas running pFsense only (aside from the 16 port poe switch part of the nas running cameras) as my firewall/router, and use the new ASUS strictly for handling mesh wifi as an access point/mesh node and not doing any routing.
I would also go with an ASUS router in this price range. Out of the box, they have a lot of great features for a consumer level router, and if you’re willing to flash Merlin’s firmware on the device (not hard to do), they’re even better.
Your zigbee and z-wave devices have no connection to your WiFi router, they are connected wirelessly to your Hubitat hub with protocols that are independent from WiFi. So as long as your Hubitat hub is still working, your z devices will be unaffected.
With one small caveat, I suppose. It’s possible for WiFi to interfere with zigbee since they’re both in the 2.4GHz frequency if you’re not careful about which wifi and zigbee channels you use.
Most people recommend setting Hubitat to channel 20. And your WiFi router to channel 1, 6 or 11 for its 2.4GHz radio.
For router Watchguard T15... For wifi use Unifi AP-AC Pro's
That setup is no doubt a good one, but it would require spending quite a bit more than the OP indicated he is looking to spend.
True, but I'm also of the mind you get what you pay for. So I always throw it out as an option 
Unifi Dream Machine Pro
Whatever you do, make sure you can have a dirty-wifi for all this spyware devices that we like to put into our networks
Xiaomi ax3600 is working perfectly with 60 wifi devices and 10 LAN devices with superb range on chinese FW 
To avoid configuration of IPs when router needs to be changed, I use this approach:
This way, its just plug and play with new router. Only setup is wifi (same as previous) and DHCP range.
Thanks for all the replies and great info/advice.
I'll update when I make the move
"Router" is very commonly mis-used in consumer networking. It seems what the OP wants is a new WiFi AP (access point). That's completely different than a router, although the two are often combined into a single box along with services like DHCP, DNS proxy/cache, etc.
It's often possible (depends on device specifics) to upgrade just the AP functionality in a network, by taking a new "router" and disabling all services other that WiFi. Configure the WiFi to match your existing config. Having multiple APs on a network with the same SSID/PSK isn't a problem. You then connect it to the existing network using a LAN port, ignoring the WAN (Internet) port. Disable the WiFi on the old one, but leave it in place for the other services.
As an aside, many (most?) of those consumer "routers" don't even qualify as that - they don't support any routing protocols, and won't even route between networks, but only act as NAT gateways to the Internet. But, marketing.
Since we're being pedantic here, most networking companies and professionals classify NAT as a type of basic routing, which by definition runs on a router. Just saying.
I do understand your point, and most home devices are certainly not a full featured/enterprise class routers.
We've just half an hour ago gone through this. There was a dodgy moment after I disconnected the old one when we went to change the IP address of the new one to what the old one was and realised our entire LAN was no longer working, but a direct cable connection to the new router got us into it.
I would throw into the mix the ability to easily setup a VPN. That will give you a great source for remote access to your local network including your hub and cameras if you have any.
ASUS makes some good routers that play well with Open VPN.
What router did you buy/install?
A great solution but likely not within OP's price point.
TP-Link Archer VR600. Just under ÂŁ80, and already a great improvement on the Hub One we had from our ISP.
Download the Hubitat app
