Next Gen Router

[freakdiablo]

I honestly might be getting a little ahead of myself here, but I might be in the market for a WiFi 7/ BE / whatever router.

Right now I'm using a TP-Link Archer AX50. Which has been...ok. Only needs mild kicking, prodding, and pushing with the stock firmware. Plays nice with a local pihole.

The thing is now, most of my devices play with next-gen wifi.

My phone and my desktop can play with WPA 3, and my laptop is full on WIFI 7 compliant. WPA 3 is a full on plus for me because, well, I'm in an apartment complex - any bit of security helps. (Well, my phone has massive connectivity issues with the router so ignore it.)

So here's kinda what I'm asking. What's a new, BE router that is a "drop in" for the AX50. Topping out at $250, only needs to cover maybe 1400sqf. WPA3 and plays nice with a local pihole are a must.

 

[EarthDog]

I love bigger numbers and have a fancy Asus 6E router (because of review). But realized that even my GbE internet speeds can't saturate that pipe. 6E, was faster than 6, but range is also less... not sure if 7 works that way too. Things to potentially keep in mind.

Last I looked, Wi-Fi 7 routers were expensive AF... like not under $250, but maybe that's changed. I BELIEVE W11 now supports it (didn't as of February) so you're set there.

I guess all this is suggesting to go 6E for now, lol.

 

[infinitevalence]

Consumer routers/wireless is crap. Roll your own and install a real Access Point!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805995358102.html?

OPNsense® is an open source, feature rich firewall and routing platform, offering cutting-edge network protection. - OPNsense

We’ve made digital security accessible to everyone. With our free OPNsense® platform, you get all the features of expensive commercial firewalls and more. Enjoy open and verifiable sources in a product developed with and for a large user community.

opnsense.org

pfSense® - World's Most Trusted Open Source Firewall

pfSense is a free and open source firewall and router that also features unified threat management, load balancing, multi WAN, and more

www.pfsense.org

Use a Pro-Sumer/Small Office solution:

Omada 3-in-1 Gigabit VPN Gateway

ER7212PC is TP-Link's first 3-in-1 box supporting gateway, controller ability, and PoE+ output functions simultaneously with 110W PoE budget. It can centrally manage up to 2 switches, and 10 EAPs with compact and fanless design. With dual-core CPU, ER7212PC is equipped with 4× WAN ports and...

www.tp-link.com

This tp-link has built in POE so you can connect cameras, and access points with a single CAT5/CAT6 cable.

 

[don256us]

Consumer routers/wireless is crap. Roll your own and install a real Access Point!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805995358102.html?

OPNsense® is an open source, feature rich firewall and routing platform, offering cutting-edge network protection. - OPNsense

We’ve made digital security accessible to everyone. With our free OPNsense® platform, you get all the features of expensive commercial firewalls and more. Enjoy open and verifiable sources in a product developed with and for a large user community.

opnsense.org

pfSense® - World's Most Trusted Open Source Firewall

pfSense is a free and open source firewall and router that also features unified threat management, load balancing, multi WAN, and more

www.pfsense.org

Use a Pro-Sumer/Small Office solution:

Omada 3-in-1 Gigabit VPN Gateway

ER7212PC is TP-Link's first 3-in-1 box supporting gateway, controller ability, and PoE+ output functions simultaneously with 110W PoE budget. It can centrally manage up to 2 switches, and 10 EAPs with compact and fanless design. With dual-core CPU, ER7212PC is equipped with 4× WAN ports and...

www.tp-link.com

This tp-link has built in POE so you can connect cameras, and access points with a single CAT5/CAT6 cable.

I have pfsense. My son bought me a cheap(er) Celeron based fanless PC with 5 2.5 Gb connectors. pfsense does not include wireless but as a separate item, I can install and replace WAPs as needed/desired. My WAPs and switches are Ubiquiti but costs have me looking at managed network equipment from other companies like TPLink going forward.

Something like this for a pfsense router. (Note: The link is just for reference. It may or may not be what you would want.) You'll need laptop RAM and a SSD in either SATA or NVMe. I had to purchase an HDMI dummy plug as the machine will not boot in a "Headless" configuration. With the dummy plug, it boots up just fine and I remote into it from any other computer in the house. Too many features for my needs but you can get as granular as you want.

 

[Railgun]

Likewise, I use OPNsense as a VM and the underlying network is UI. Recently picked up a U7 Pro Max AP and it's...not really great. 6GHz on this thing is buggy at best and only giving my phone less than 100Mb DL (15 pro). Something odd with it.

It doesn't apparently use MLO that WiFi7 provides, and though prompts to join both 6 and 5GHz channels, my phone is trying to join a 5GHz channel with a different SSID than the one configured. It did something once to get 1+Gb throughput, but couldn't repeat it.

I have a love/hate with UI. Incomplete features, bugs, unexpected behavior...the list goes on. But for probably 99% of users and their requirements, it's probably fine.

Consumer routers/wireless is crap. Roll your own and install a real Access Point!

Agreed...but then you link this?

Omada 3-in-1 Gigabit VPN Gateway

ER7212PC is TP-Link's first 3-in-1 box supporting gateway, controller ability, and PoE+ output functions simultaneously with 110W PoE budget. It can centrally manage up to 2 switches, and 10 EAPs with compact and fanless design. With dual-core CPU, ER7212PC is equipped with 4× WAN ports and...

www.tp-link.com

That thing is terrible.

 

[infinitevalence]

Likewise, I use OPNsense as a VM and the underlying network is UI. Recently picked up a U7 Pro Max AP and it's...not really great. 6GHz on this thing is buggy at best and only giving my phone less than 100Mb DL (15 pro). Something odd with it.

It doesn't apparently use MLO that WiFi7 provides, and though prompts to join both 6 and 5GHz channels, my phone is trying to join a 5GHz channel with a different SSID than the one configured. It did something once to get 1+Gb throughput, but couldn't repeat it.

I have a love/hate with UI. Incomplete features, bugs, unexpected behavior...the list goes on. But for probably 99% of users and their requirements, it's probably fine.



Agreed...but then you link this?

Omada 3-in-1 Gigabit VPN Gateway

ER7212PC is TP-Link's first 3-in-1 box supporting gateway, controller ability, and PoE+ output functions simultaneously with 110W PoE budget. It can centrally manage up to 2 switches, and 10 EAPs with compact and fanless design. With dual-core CPU, ER7212PC is equipped with 4× WAN ports and...

www.tp-link.com

That thing is terrible.

I said OR, and its better than a Unifi Dream Machine because its NOT Unifi.

I like TP-Link AP's and some of the switches, and being able to self host a containerized controller is a huge plus. Have not really tested their gateways.