Routers

ASE001

ASE001

ASE001

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Joined
2 Jan 2007
Posts
277
Location
Stoke-on-trent
I'm after a router, currently looking at the TP-Link Archer c3150, possibly ASUS RT-AC87U. Anyone got one of these devices?

TP-Link, ASUS and Netgear reviews on the Web all suggest poor customer support, with TP-Link having fewer negative reviews. Anyone had to contact customer support for these companies and also reported is that once you get through to customer support you do so on a premium line, £££££££££
 
If it helps, I've got the TP-LINK Archer C2600.

  • It's reliable
  • I love the guest network feature
  • The USB3.0 (what I wanted it for) file transfer over wireless is super-quick compared to the old USB2.0 I was using
  • Easy to use web based portal
  • Easy to use file sharing from said USB hard disk

The only downsides for me is:

  • No third party firmware for it (DD-WRT)
  • No VPN Server (I thought I saw that it could do it, but it only supports pass-through)

I haven't had to talk to customer support yet, so I can't comment on that.
 
Steveocee said:
What features do you want from your router?
Click to expand...

Mainly for streaming movies, SD, HD and maybe 4K sometime in the future. I need to setup static routes for work related testing and QoS.

A bonus would be if it supported VLANs or at least pass through VLAN traffic, but I've only seen this on more expensive routers or routers install with dd-wrt.
 
There are cheaper routerboards that'll do the job, but yes you'll need a separate modem if using *DSL. Happy to offer any RB advice- I'm a mikrotik certified consultant.
 
Steveocee said:
https://routerboard.com/RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN
or
https://routerboard.com/RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT

?

Although you haven't mentioned if it needs to be a DSL modem or not, MikroTik currently don't do anything DSL oriented.
Click to expand...

Both of those looking interesting, I will have a closer look today. I have Sky Fiber, as you know all the cool features are turned off and not accessible. So the plan is to switch off the WiFi and DHCP on the Sky router and setup a DMZ zone from the Shy router to the new router. Effectively turning the Sky router into a basic modem, if my plans work, but I've still to test it though?

Behind my new router I will have segregated subnet security zones (VLANs) connected by a pfsense Firewall (Virtual Machine). Currently I have a layer 2 switch which I use in combination with an old Linksys WiFi router.

What I have currently

Sky->Linksys-> pfsence-> Layer 2 switch-> Multiple VLANS

|​
--> Wifi --> TV's, mobile phone, Laptops etc.​

In essence I'm upgrading the Linksys router.



P.S many thanks for those that have responded:)
 
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ov_sjo said:
There are cheaper routerboards that'll do the job, but yes you'll need a separate modem if using *DSL. Happy to offer any RB advice- I'm a mikrotik certified consultant.
Click to expand...

No triband solution though and no 11ac?

Also a real pity that manufacturers still lock power levels according to country. be far better to SET the power level with legal information but leave it open to be altered by the customer should they choose.
 
ov_sjo said:
Mikrotik make 802.11ac devices now and you're free to tweak the power settings.
Click to expand...

Do you have any model numbers or links because when I looked at their site, I couldn't find any.

Also, just wondering why consumers / review magazines seem to never heard of this company. Are they business routers primarily?
 
ASE001 said:
Both of those looking interesting, I will have a closer look today. I have Sky Fiber, as you know all the cool features are turned off and not accessible. So the plan is to switch off the WiFi and DHCP on the Sky router and setup a DMZ zone from the Shy router to the new router. Effectively turning the Sky router into a basic modem, if my plans work, but I've still to test it though?

Behind my new router I will have segregated subnet security zones (VLANs) connected by a pfsense Firewall (Virtual Machine). Currently I have a layer 2 switch which I use in combination with an old Linksys WiFi router.

What I have currently

Sky->Linksys-> pfsence-> Layer 2 switch-> Multiple VLANS

|​
--> Wifi --> TV's, mobile phone, Laptops etc.​

In essence I'm upgrading the Linksys router.



P.S many thanks for those that have responded:)
Click to expand...

If you're using pfsense and LAyer 2 switches then I'm guessing you know your way around a network.

I don't really know pfsense but can it do most of the duties of a router and do them well? In which case you could create a another VLAN for the TV, mobile phone branch and then just effectively replace the Linksys with a really good wireless Access Point? Something like a Ubiquiti Unifi APAC Pro? The nature of it being PoE and its shape lend it to being more easily located somewhere that gives great coverage compared to a desk based router serving up the wireless.
 
Alsone said:
Do you have any model numbers or links because when I looked at their site, I couldn't find any.

Also, just wondering why consumers / review magazines seem to never heard of this company. Are they business routers primarily?
Click to expand...

The 'hap AC' is a recent model for SOHO usage. Yes, not really consumer devices and are more for advanced users.



Curious what this 'triband' is you speak of.
 
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ov_sjo said:
The 'hap AC' is a recent model for SOHO usage. Yes, not really consumer devices and are more for advanced users.



Curious what this 'triband' is you speak of.
Click to expand...

11.ac - 2 x 5ghz channels + 2.4ghz x 1 = 1,750mbs speeds over wireless.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/160837-what-is-802-11ac-and-how-much-faster-than-802-11n-is-it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11ac

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-rt-ac5300-wireless-ac5300-tri-band-gigabit-router-nw-098-as.html

Of course you could skip it and go straight to supporting the 11ax standard instead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11ax
 
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