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Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

jahed.dev

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Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#61

Post by 3np »

gruez wrote: post #51
3np wrote: post #39

A bit of a tangent, but I recently discovered GL.iNet[0] and ordered a couple of routers and hotspots. HK vendor for network devices running forked OpenWRT with a bunch of extras and customization. I haven't had the time to dive deep enough into all of the code yet, but so far I'm very optimistic. Not perfect; some of the more interesting functionality (like site-to-site VPN) is tied to a proprietary closed SaaS with…

>[0]: https://www.gl-inet.com/ I just checked out their site and their offerings look underwhelming. Their top of the range home router costs $90 and supports 802.11ax... but only at 1200Mb/s. You could buy a mid-range 802.11ac router with similar speeds, made by ASUS years ago, on sale. I guess you could argue "Openwrt" is worth the premium, but ASUS routers have asus-merlin for open firmware.

Horses for courses, I guess. For my purposes, Asus-Merlin does not even come close to cutting it - and I have ran it before on a couple of different devices.

Asus routers are what's underwhelming in my experience - very unreliable and if you buy anything that's been on the market for YMMV but the GL-AP1300 improved throughput, coverage and reliability significantly compared to my old RT-AC66U (which is one of the Asus devices that can actually run OpenWRT without jumping through hoops).

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#62

Post by foxrider »

mhitza wrote: post #12

This type of whackery is (the primary reason) why I try to buy computing devices on which I can flash a clean OS (OpenWrt/DD-WRT for routers)[1]. It sucks because it limits my choices down to a few, but at the same time I feel like I don't throw out money at abandonware. [1] don't even get me started on TP-Link releasing routers with the same name but v2/v3/2020/2021 update where it's hard to even know if I'm buying…

I used to do that and I suggest you look into OPNsense

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#63

Post by tibu »

submeta wrote: post #48

I aggree that the situation the author describes is unacceptable. But I am wondering why the author does not value his personal time. I can‘t help but think of opportunity costs. He spends a lot of time writing this article, reverse engineering backups and whatnot instead of shelling a hundred dollars to get a new device? I see this pattern so often in the tech world.

Maybe he wants to make other aware of the strange things TP-Link does. Which is a huge help, now I won't buy any TP-Link device either unless I can reflash it with OpenWRT

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#64

Post by SavantIdiot »

treesknees wrote: post #54
SavantIdiot wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't follow your reasoning at all. It sounds like you are claiming public 802.11 hotspots are more noisy that everyone running their own routers. You do realize it is the same spectrum, right? It is literally the same impact, except with a larger BSSID you can route traffic more effectively. Sharing more stations across phy APS in the same BSSID would be less overall traffic because it can be evenly distributed. M…

No, that is not what I am claiming. If you read the article, the author claims that the 2 unused networks are a source of interference. I'm simply claiming that a busy or utilized hotspot will be a much larger source of potential interference than an unused network doing nothing but broadcasting a few beacon frames every few ms. Your power calculation is only based on the power of the broadcasting signal, not evaluat…

Gotcha. Makes way more sense now. Thanks!

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#65

Post by adamauckland »

submeta wrote: post #60
subhro wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But I am wondering why the author does not value his personal time. Maybe, because it is fun reverse engineering stuff?

I agree. I like tinkering myself. But then why mention avoiding spending a hundred dollars for a new device, but spending a couple of hours as if those hours are worth less than said amount of money.

I'm not sure if you're trying to be funny for jokes, but we all know you don't get paid for hours which you can't bill, so...

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#66

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

submeta wrote: post #60
subhro wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But I am wondering why the author does not value his personal time. Maybe, because it is fun reverse engineering stuff?

I agree. I like tinkering myself. But then why mention avoiding spending a hundred dollars for a new device, but spending a couple of hours as if those hours are worth less than said amount of money.

"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#67

Post by rgj »

submeta wrote: post #60
subhro wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But I am wondering why the author does not value his personal time. Maybe, because it is fun reverse engineering stuff?

I agree. I like tinkering myself. But then why mention avoiding spending a hundred dollars for a new device, but spending a couple of hours as if those hours are worth less than said amount of money.

Out of principle maybe?

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#68

Post by m-p-3 »

3np wrote: post #39

A bit of a tangent, but I recently discovered GL.iNet[0] and ordered a couple of routers and hotspots. HK vendor for network devices running forked OpenWRT with a bunch of extras and customization. I haven't had the time to dive deep enough into all of the code yet, but so far I'm very optimistic. Not perfect; some of the more interesting functionality (like site-to-site VPN) is tied to a proprietary closed SaaS with…

Oof, I was about to order a Velica ($109) and they charge $47 for shipping to Canada.

No thanks.

Re: Hidden Networks in TP-Link Routers

#69

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

radicaldreamer wrote: post #49

Eero seems like a company which makes simple, plug and play mesh routers and doesn't seem to pull anything funny with their equipment.

Eero is owned by Amazon now, so I'm not sure how far I'd trust that. Like, I trust them to be technically competent, but not to act in my interests.
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