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Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

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Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#111

Post by TwoNineFive »

wtallis wrote: post #89
zhan_eg wrote: post #2

For now, by my research the best candidates are - TP-Link Archer C7 (supported by both DD-WRT and OpenWRT, and recommended by the latter) - Linksys WRT1200AC/1900AC (supported by both DD-WRT and OpenWRT) - Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LITE/LR/PRO (OpenWRT, diffrent models depending how much speed/range do you need. No routing here, just access points.) For any models discussed, please keep in mind that depending on the hardware v…

Software support for the Marvell platform used by those Linksys routers is nowhere near as mature as for Qualcomm-Atheros hardware. It's improving, but definitely hasn't seen the kind of thorough widespread testing that QCA platforms get.

This comment is correct. Atheros was a long-time Linux/OSS friendly-ish vendor, where Marvell isn't. Marvell has been making some positive moves, but they are still GPL violators and don't work with the community like QCA does. That being said, some Marvell-based routers are pretty well supported now, like the Linksys AC1900.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#112

Post by TwoNineFive »

ac29 wrote: post #94
mavrc wrote: post #70

I know others have recommended this already, but I would also say that your best bet is to buy some Ubiquiti hardware. An EdgeRouter X + UniFI Pro dual-band AP is on the order of $200 from Amazon and has way, way better functionality than SOHO hardware of same price point, with the principal issue that it is enterprise hardware, and is very much not point-and-click to set up. I think the tradeoff in functionality and…

One huge plus of the EdgeRouters and EdgeOS (a Vyatta fork) is that they have a Debian base. Just about any package you need is an `apt install` away. There really isn't any competition that lets you do that on a $50-100 platform that runs on a few watts. >the only thing I can't do with it that I could do with pfSense is create a standalone OpenVPN endpoint Pretty sure you can do this, check the forums.

+1 Not just a Debian base. When you SSH into them, they drop you right into a bash shell! Surprisingly open in that respect. I hear there have been some GPL disputes when it comes to source code though.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#113

Post by randombit »

zhan_eg wrote: post #39
randombit wrote: post #30

This is not quite what you ask for and a little more expensive that some options, but I use a PC Engines APU2 running Alpine as my router+wifi access. Great little machine that is much more functional than typical home router hardware, and it boots using coreboot. A good option if you like setting up everything by hand. More about APU2 at http://www.pcengines.ch/apu2b4.htm

Thanks for the option - are you using an Wi-Fi card on PCI, or you have access point connected by the LAN ports? If it is the first option - there are two recommended Wi-Fi cards - which one you are using and how many client devices does it manage?

It has WLE200NX a/b/g/n PCIe with antennas (all from PC Engines), plus an Alfa g/n 2000mW adaptor at the end of a long USB cable, positioned for better reception in another building ~150 feet away (n devices are mostly fine without it but especially old b/g devices had a hard time). Before that, wifi had been managed by an RT-N66U, and a repeater had been required to reach the other building. For my setup the APU2 actually replaced 3 devices which had previously been required: Erlite-3 router, RT-N66U, plus repeater. And more to the point, replaced 3 key network infrastructure devices, all running different commercial/closed software, with a single device running a security focused Linux distro and open source boot firmware.

As to load, it manages just a household's worth of machines, maybe ~10 wireless clients and ~10 more devices on the LAN side. The load on the machine is effectively zero. I would personally be confident building such a setup for even 100 clients. The 2 PCI + 2 USB3 offers many expansion options and the SoC itself is tens of times faster than most home routers.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#114

Post by Gruselbauer »

floatboth wrote: post #50
Gruselbauer wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am running an Archer C7 v2 on OpenWRT. Works flawlessly. Some notes though: - 5ghz only worked after manually inserting the latest firmware blob for the qca9880 chip and setup only works via shell for it, setting any options for it from the web interface breaks stuff - it's fast enough... I'm running a freeradius2 server on it, SMB shares on two 32gb USB pendrives, miniDLNA, DHCP for ~50 physical and virtual client…

I didn't even have to install any blobs, 5GHz just worked. I think mine is a v2 as well.

If 5ghz works it's a v2 I think. Install is a while in the past, so if it worked out of the box for you all the better :)

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#115

Post by nerform »

douche wrote: post #3
zhan_eg wrote: post #2

For now, by my research the best candidates are - TP-Link Archer C7 (supported by both DD-WRT and OpenWRT, and recommended by the latter) - Linksys WRT1200AC/1900AC (supported by both DD-WRT and OpenWRT) - Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LITE/LR/PRO (OpenWRT, diffrent models depending how much speed/range do you need. No routing here, just access points.) For any models discussed, please keep in mind that depending on the hardware v…

I'll second the recommendation on the TP-Link Archer C7. It's a really nice, not too expensive, piece of kit. Bought one for my folks to replace a cheap old Walmart-grade LinkSys, and it was night and day better - now my dad can pick up usable signal in his garage, 500 yards away from the router.

I got Linksys WRT1900ACS at home. The router works very well with original firmware but as you expect is very limited in terms of features compared to opernwrt(and others open source alternatives). I was running openwrt for almost 6 months. Even that it said even on the box it works with openwrt the wifi support is complete shit! The wifi driver is performing so bad it will turn your life in to living hell. Expect disconnects and low bandwidth when using wifi (for both 5G and 2.4G). Recently I restored the original firmware and the wifi is performing great but is just a wifi router now. Nothing more. I lost all the additional features that motivated me to buy it. I want to throw it out the window!! Imo stay away from linksys if you want open source firmware and advanced features.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#116

Post by mrbill »

I'm currently using a Ubiquiti Edgerouter X (previously an ERLite) for routing/NAT and a UAP-AC-LR for WiFi (along with an OnHub in bridge mode, for AB testing).

Previously, I used a UAP-LR reflashed with "normal" OpenWRT as I hated their controller/config software, but now there's Android and iOS apps for basic AP configuration.

EdgeOS (a Vyatta fork) isn't as user friendly as other "consumer" routers, but every tech friend who owns one has fallen in love with the price/performance and feature set.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#117

Post by thom_nic »

thom_nic wrote: post #49

In the past two years, I've bought... - TP-Link Archer C7. This supports our office of ~30 ppl and has been bullet-proof since day 1. - TP-Link N600. Cheaper but still 5GHz. Also super stable, I use it as a wifi bridge daily. - I just bought a Netgear R6300v2 which will go in my home. Have not used it much yet but for the price it's an ARM core with a lot of Flash & RAM so I'm excited. Caveats: I don't know if in pra…

Heads up! If you're quick, the TMo-branded ASUS AC68 is on sale for $60 after coupon WIFI40. http://www.t-mobile.com/accessories/t-mobile-wi-fi-cellspot-...

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#118

Post by skrowl »

mavrc wrote: post #70

I know others have recommended this already, but I would also say that your best bet is to buy some Ubiquiti hardware. An EdgeRouter X + UniFI Pro dual-band AP is on the order of $200 from Amazon and has way, way better functionality than SOHO hardware of same price point, with the principal issue that it is enterprise hardware, and is very much not point-and-click to set up. I think the tradeoff in functionality and…

Don't leave out Mikrotik hardware from the mix. Mikrotik routers are much better than consumer-grade things you buy at Best Buy and provide advanced features.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#119

Post by mox1 »

jaskerr wrote: post #108
mox1 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like it was a Gigabyte GB-BXBT-2807[1] I added a 32gb ssd drive and a USB Ethernet dongle as well (for 2nd interface). The box has wifi, but no driver support from FreeBSD. My WIFI is supplied via a UniFI AC LITE. 1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164...

Thanks. I've looked at the AC Lite and the AC PRO also, but haven't narrowed the search for a small box to run the router. Seems the box you linked to has only 1 ethernet port. How do you connect to both WAN and AP?

I added a USB ethernet adapter. I didn't love the idea , but I researched a bit and bought a FreeBSD supported one (Linksys).

Have had 0 problems with it so far.

Re: Ask HN: Best current model routers for OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, etc.?

#120

Post by alimbada »

wtallis wrote: post #83
alimbada wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, having competing standards isn't always a good thing but we're not talking about a standard here. It's a new router firmware distribution and I think having more of them is a good thing as it gives people more choice. The major problem that I do see here is that LEDE has been forked from OpenWRT, but has nowhere near the level of device support that OpenWRT has. I have a TP-Link WDR4300 which I bought specifica…

> However, LEDE doesn't list this router amongst its supported devices (though there are newer WDRXXXX devices listed). What list are you looking at? LEDE does builds for the WDR4300, and given that it's an ath9k router, it is and will continue to be very well supported. The only caveat is that I don't know whether they've added the necessary signature to allow the firmware to be accepted as a valid upgrade by recent…

I was looking at this page: https://lede-project.org/toh/views/toh_available_864

But I see now that my device is listed under the "non-ideal" table of hardware page.

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