Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022 • Hacker News Board

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#151

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 3:54 AM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #130

whatever1 wrote: post #67

Btw Onhub does not even have a browser accessible interface like every router has. The only way to manage it is through the app (that they will decommission). Reviewers and experts called this out at the time, but Google reassured that onhub will not face any issues since they will commit to long term support of the device. As a testament to that they highlighted the overspecification of the device (it had enormous r…

Onhub does not even have a browser accessible interface like every router has I know some people who didn't jump onto Airports because of this. If this is important to you, avoid Amazon's eero line, as well.

[deleted]

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#152

Post by mrkstu » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 3:56 AM UTC

robocat wrote: post #115

cube00 wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Make sure you check out some of the other "pro-sumer" lines first. I moved from a flaky consumer router which dropped Wifi all the time to a Ubiquiti which has been rock solid. I'm not recommending Ubiquiti specifically given recent events but just using it as an example of a prosumer brand, even a few years old now and it still gets firmware updates, where as my old consumer router would be lucky to get any updates…

> Make sure you check out some of the other "pro-sumer" lines first Unless you enjoy networking as a hobby, I would worry with that strategy that there is a sizeable risk of wasting your time with unreliable devices, with ongoing maintenance work, or having to rework your network in a few years. My current solution is to buy Unifi UAP-AC-LR (~120USD) and configure it as an access point using the “Unifi Network” app f…

Yep, Unifi + bridge mode for the win. Make wireless as dead simple as possible and move your intelligence to your router/firewall.

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#153

Post by trhway » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 3:58 AM UTC

waych wrote: post #128

ineedasername wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The crazy thing is that they don't even need to actually support a 6 year old product: you're not getting much in the way of updates from a random netgear router that old. But Netgear isn't going to brick your device so you can't make changes and reconfigure it. All google has to do it not block it in the Home app.

The problem is that, as a product, it's just not built to be sustainable with zero effort. The phone apps end up having to keep up with the underlying android+ios stacks' ever changing details, but even worse are the cloud services that help make the app -> router connection seamless, with the need to keep up with the ever-ongoing churn required to run binaries on Google's servers (aka "in Production"). To give an id…

>the cloud services that help make the app -> router connection seamless

an idea - "Cloud free" label for hardware similar to "GMO free" for food

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#154

Post by chias » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:04 AM UTC

whatever1 wrote: post #67

Btw Onhub does not even have a browser accessible interface like every router has. The only way to manage it is through the app (that they will decommission). Reviewers and experts called this out at the time, but Google reassured that onhub will not face any issues since they will commit to long term support of the device. As a testament to that they highlighted the overspecification of the device (it had enormous r…

Same with Google Wifi and Google Home Nest. Also, fun fact, during an internet outage some time ago I learned that your Google Wifi can't even route locally if you don't have a live connection to the internet. That is, my Desktop could not connect to my NAS -- both wired via Ethernet to my Google Wifi network -- because there was no Internet access.

This is a "feature", and is working as intended: https://twitter.com/madebygoogle/status/1294819896019189761

Don't buy Google home networking equipment.

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#155

Post by nirav72 » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:06 AM UTC

I've been doing my best to stay away google hardware for this exact reason. I mean I get that hardware can get old and be out of standards. But some of their decisions are just questionable from a consumer standpoint. I have a pixel 4a and a few 1st gen Google homes. The pixel 4a was just my way of compromising about not wanting to spend $1000 on a latest Samsung device every 2-3 years. It cost me a fraction of what I would've paid for if I had bought a Samsung android device. I'm not too worried once it stops receiving updates in couple of years. Regarding the Google Home pucks and display - most of them were either free or heavily discounted during holiday season couple years ago. But for networking, there are better consumer grade routers that will last for a long time. If anything - lot of devices allow for flashing open source firmware like tomato or DDWRT/OpenWRT to extend support long after the manufacturer has stopped providing updates.

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#156

Post by bubblethink » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:06 AM UTC

whatever1 wrote: post #67

Btw Onhub does not even have a browser accessible interface like every router has. The only way to manage it is through the app (that they will decommission). Reviewers and experts called this out at the time, but Google reassured that onhub will not face any issues since they will commit to long term support of the device. As a testament to that they highlighted the overspecification of the device (it had enormous r…

Google routers are much worse than other products like chromebooks or pixels because there is no community for flashing, say, openwrt, on these devices. This may be due to the blob situation for APs, which tends to be pretty garbage in general irrespective of vendors.

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#157

Post by bubblethink » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:11 AM UTC

qq4 wrote: post #120

zbrozek wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ditto; I only buy wireless hardware that can run openwrt on the day that I buy it. I may not flash it on that day, but I like to know that I can. My router is an x86 machine running opnsense.

What machine do you recommend? I've thought about having a custom router but I have wondered both if it is worth it and what machine I should use.

Get a mini x86 device as a wired router on which you can run any number of OSes (openwrt, debian, *sense etc.) and a separate AP (ruckus unleashed devices work well).

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#158

Post by gkfasdfasdf » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:15 AM UTC

TwoNineFive wrote: post #87

yegle wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A quick search suggest there's no WRT firmware for the device. That's a pity, OnHub has 1G ram and I can imaging a lot of creative usages if WRT firmware is available.

If anyone is reading this and has an OnHub they want to donate, just hit up the OpenWRT dev mailing list and offer it to existing devs. The OnHub is an ipq806x device and should be easy to support.

They can be had for 10-20 bucks on fb marketplace

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#159

Post by charcircuit » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:19 AM UTC

chias wrote: post #154

whatever1 wrote: post #67

Btw Onhub does not even have a browser accessible interface like every router has. The only way to manage it is through the app (that they will decommission). Reviewers and experts called this out at the time, but Google reassured that onhub will not face any issues since they will commit to long term support of the device. As a testament to that they highlighted the overspecification of the device (it had enormous r…

Same with Google Wifi and Google Home Nest. Also, fun fact, during an internet outage some time ago I learned that your Google Wifi can't even route locally if you don't have a live connection to the internet. That is, my Desktop could not connect to my NAS -- both wired via Ethernet to my Google Wifi network -- because there was no Internet access. This is a "feature", and is working as intended: https://twitter.com…

Don't misrepresent them. It's a limitation. Not a feature.

Re: Google to end support for OnHub routers in 2022

#160

Post by jakogut » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:21 AM UTC

greatgib wrote: post #50

> Looking at that, I'm wondering who is stupid enough to buy a new device from them like this. It is like 'bite me once, bite me again please.'. 'eh, we just self destroyed your device, because, fuck you, but here is a coupon to buy a new one from us that we will also kill in a few years' ...

> Looking at that, I'm wondering who is stupid enough to buy a new device from them like this

It seems this is more common than it should be. Apple users who complain of new products lacking features older products had, but who continue to buy those products come to mind.