Which brand do you think has the best wi-fi strength and long lasting? I'm hoping that the firmware will include traffic shaping/QoS. My last router was a TP-Link but it only lasted 2 years and went dead yesterday. I'm currently using the stock router that came with the package but the wi-fi signal is horrible.
It doesn't matter. All routers are good unless you have a very bad cable. It's not about the modem, it's about the quality of the cable.
Generally, all brands of router are almost similar in terms of reliability and generally the amount of features and signal strength increases as we move up the price range. Almost all the brands offer the same terms and conditions for warranties. Routers with similar specifications and features are similarly priced by all the brands. So, in my opinion, it entirely depends upon your experience with a particular brand.
The brand of the modem should not matter. Most modems and routers support around 100mbs and that speed is rarely achieved in the US unless you have google fiber in which case they will provide you with a router. The problem is most likely the source of you internet. Either the cables are really old or the ISP is not giving you good connection in your area. Do a speed test plugged in to just your modem and then do a speed test plugged into your router and unplugged. If the results are similar then the router is not your problem
Yes the stock router provided by the ISP is well-known to have horrible wi-fi strength so it's not the internet. Everything was working fine before my custom router malfunctioned so I know. The first thing I did was switching to a cable and it's the same thing.