I have just replaced my old home router, which had stopped working, with a Trendnet AC1900 Dual Band Wireless Router, model TEW-818DRU. I need to replace the Trendnet router because I am totally unhappy with it. However, since the Trendnet router was recommended by some sites which I usually trust, like Cnet, I'm reaching out to people who may know something about networking. (I know very little.) Can anyone recommend a router that actually works?
Let's start with the problems with the Trendnet router. Here is the table of connected devices.
Wired Connected Devices
# IP Address MAC Address Host Name
1192.168.10.102C8:1F:66:0B:98:B4Oaklandweather
2192.168.10.10114:DD:A9:7E:4C:52amito
3192.168.10.10388:36:5F:F7:0C:95android-a81a750feb8c4486

  1. What is the device android-a81a750feb8c4486?  There are only two devices connected to the router by wires.  Very odd.
  2. The router has a DNS server in it.  The server doesn't know anything about any of these devices, so I will have to set up /etc/hosts in all of the computers in the local net manually.  Trendnet customer support has informed me that this is not a bug but a feature.
  3. There are issues with the way the router's DHCP sets up the attached computers so that searches aren't referred to higher level servers in my local net.  More devices have to be entered into /etc/hosts by hand.

Does anyone know what's going on here? Can anyone recommend a router that handles networking properly and that puts out a strong signal for my wireless hot spot?

Many Thanks - jon