Looking for router recommendation

PeterPan420

PeterPan420

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I'm thinking of replacing my crappy d-link router with something more capable. I'm okay spending up to R2k.
What's some good options?
 
What is your networking experience, and what features are you looking for? R2000 isn't a lot for a decent router
 
SAguy said:
What do you want to use USB for?

I'm a Unifi convert... it just works, and some great guest features too.
Click to expand...
I plug in a flash drive or hard drive, and share it using smb. Then I can use kodi or other tool to download my movies durectlyonto that USB drive. Saves me copying stuff around the network when I want to watch a movie on my TV.
 
SAguy said:
What do you want to use USB for?

I'm a Unifi convert... it just works, and some great guest features too.
Click to expand...
It doesn't just work. Its terrible actually. It works for Basic stuff but once you try to do more than add a PPPoE session and a DHCP server it becomes a pain to work with properly. Besides that, it costs more than R2000 for just a USG then another R1200 (?) for a Cloud Key. Its very expensive for what you get.
 
When you say "router" what exactly do you mean?

Does is need to be a modem too (for DSL)? I assume you want something with wifi too?
 
Genisys said:
It doesn't just work. Its terrible actually. It works for Basic stuff but once you try to do more than add a PPPoE session and a DHCP server it becomes a pain to work with properly. Besides that, it costs more than R2000 for just a USG then another R1200 (?) for a Cloud Key. Its very expensive for what you get.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty happy with mine, put just a Unifi AP in at my in laws place with a cheap router. No USG or cloudkey, been working well for such a basic setup.

At my place I have 4 AP's, 3 different SSID's and different firewall rules between SSID's for communication between wireless networks. Different vlans assigned to different switch ports. Probably not complex stuff, but since I've set it all up I haven't had to touch anything or restart anything. aWhat doesn't work well though is IDS/IPS of my older USG, just not powerful enough. Also don't know if I can run an openvpn server on the unifi USG easily.

Anyhow, as for OPs request - the need for USB rules out a cheap'ish Unifi setup.
 
Genisys said:
It doesn't just work. Its terrible actually. It works for Basic stuff but once you try to do more than add a PPPoE session and a DHCP server it becomes a pain to work with properly. Besides that, it costs more than R2000 for just a USG then another R1200 (?) for a Cloud Key. Its very expensive for what you get.
Click to expand...

The routing (USG line) stuff is overpriced and lacking features, totally agree. For most people though it would work fine if you wanted everything in the same ecosystem and don't mind overspending. I don't use a CloudKey, just have the software running in a Docker container on my network.

The wireless APs are really nice, their switches are alright.
 
SAguy said:
I'm pretty happy with mine, put just a Unifi AP in at my in laws place with a cheap router. No USG or cloudkey, been working well for such a basic setup.

At my place I have 4 AP's, 3 different SSID's and different firewall rules between SSID's for communication between wireless networks. Different vlans assigned to different switch ports. Probably not complex stuff, but since I've set it all up I haven't had to touch anything or restart anything. aWhat doesn't work well though is IDS/IPS of my older USG, just not powerful enough. Also don't know if I can run an openvpn server on the unifi USG easily.

Anyhow, as for OPs request - the need for USB rules out a cheap'ish Unifi setup.
Click to expand...
I'm not the OP. I was just making a suggestion
 
backstreetboy said:
Just get Plex.
Click to expand...
Have got plex and kodi. The one thing that remains on for me always is the router. So plonking some storage on there has been what worked for me. Can be used by any dnla server I decide to use, or I can access, the files directly
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
When you say "router" what exactly do you mean?

Does is need to be a modem too (for DSL)? I assume you want something with wifi too?
Click to expand...
I have fibre so just for WiFi and managing devices on the network. I was planning on the moving the current one somewhere across the house and use it as an AP.
Eric said:
More capable?
We don't know what you have and can't compare apples with apples.
Click to expand...
I have a d link DIR-825 from Afrihost and it has started to struggle with multiple devices on 200 meg line. Keeps dropping the wifi network.
Genisys said:
What is your networking experience, and what features are you looking for? R2000 isn't a lot for a decent router
Click to expand...
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
The routing (USG line) stuff is overpriced and lacking features, totally agree. For most people though it would work fine if you wanted everything in the same ecosystem and don't mind overspending. I don't use a CloudKey, just have the software running in a Docker container on my network.

The wireless APs are really nice, their switches are alright.
Click to expand...
Unifi reminds me of the Apple ecosystem:

Can you get better for the price? Definitely
Is it good for people who like to tinker and modify fine details? Not really
Does the ecosystem play well together? Very much so
Is it easy to fall into the ecosystem rabbit hole and replace everything just to have it all look/feel/work the same? Definitely
Is it worth it? Very relative... but yes for me.
 
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