New router suggestion

J

jice

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Need some suggestions please, Googled allot but need to come to a conclusion. I need to upgrade from the standard ISP router, which is TpLink Archer C20.
Have a 100/100 fibre line.
Budget around R6k.
Sometimes the current router is struggling while I'm playing games and the wife wants to watch series.
Also want to have the security features on the router, want to get rid of my old pfsense machine, it's also causing some of the speed problems.

Was looking at the Asus rt-ax86u but there is no stock.
 
I’m looking at the unifi dream router. Starting with it then will likely add an access point or two when the 6 lites are available.
 
Rather than spending it all on a single device, consider splitting device roles up- 100 Mbps isnt very taxing on most routers these days.

We've worked with a lot of kit and I find it hard to justify the prices Asus charge for their networking hardware. It's simply not worth it.

Rather invest in one or two really good WiFi6 capable access points. Buy some premade CAT6 cables (unless you can crimp- it is best to go to your local computer Shop and ask them to make something to length) and get a gigabit POE switch and a good standalone router (or even keep using the C20 as your router with its WiFi disabled).

UniFi kit is near impossible to get your hands on at the moment. But Tenda Omada and Reyee are available, well priced and work really well.
 
JasonK said:
I’m looking at the unifi dream router. Starting with it then will likely add an access point or two when the 6 lites are available.
Click to expand...
Amazing box, great performance and wifi- but once again hard to justify the cost of a dream router when their other kit is so much better priced (although rare). Especially if you're adding APs. Ubiquity's soho stuff is aimed directly at Asus, with a price to match. Saw the same thing with their old Amplify setups. Easy to use and great performance- but overall costlier than a USG, cheap poe switch and UniFi APs- especially if you can do your own cable runs.
 
websquadza said:
Amazing box, great performance and wifi- but once again hard to justify the cost of a dream router when their other kit is so much better priced (although rare). Especially if you're adding APs. Ubiquity's soho stuff is aimed directly at Asus, with a price to match. Saw the same thing with their old Amplify setups. Easy to use and great performance- but overall costlier than a USG, cheap poe switch and UniFi APs- especially if you can do your own cable runs.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, I’m not network clueless but when acronyms start dropping, DHCP, MIMO, ABCXYZ… I fold.

The udr to me seems to be simple (ish) plug and play and expand which works for my network knowledge and needs for a smallish home. Eventually will do two cable runs in ceiling spreading AP’s out. But feel like we will only get 6 lite stock in 2 years time.

The udr will be an upgrade from my ASUS ac68 no?
 
I'm using a microtik router and a few TP Link Decos to distribute the WiFi. I don't trust the security of the ancient Dlink I got back in the day and not having mesh WiFi in house is a hack. If you are less paranoid the Decos are can also function as a router
 
websquadza said:
Amazing box, great performance and wifi- but once again hard to justify the cost of a dream router when their other kit is so much better priced (although rare). Especially if you're adding APs. Ubiquity's soho stuff is aimed directly at Asus, with a price to match. Saw the same thing with their old Amplify setups. Easy to use and great performance- but overall costlier than a USG, cheap poe switch and UniFi APs- especially if you can do your own cable runs.
Click to expand...
Except it has a cloud key and storage built in as well so if you start to add up the components it doesnt look that bad. If you add some cameras with protect it is worth the money, and that is exactly who they made the UDR for.
 
A Draytek router is decent, but you are paying a premium.

One of out clients have one, it has an uptime of 2500 hours currently.

I also have one for at home, very stable.

You can view a demo here.

 
Im also looking into this and one of the companies suggested 2 x ubiquity wifi6 APs. Said they offer support via the cloud and I don't need to buy a router.

Does that make sense? Not keen to tie myself into a maintenance contract if that's what they're suggesting :eek:
 
maumau said:
Im also looking into this and one of the companies suggested 2 x ubiquity wifi6 APs. Said they offer support via the cloud and I don't need to buy a router.

Does that make sense? Not keen to tie myself into a maintenance contract if that's what they're suggesting :eek:
Click to expand...
A router will still be needed, the APs only provide WiFi connectivity but something (router) will still need to connect to your ISP. Support via the cloud is possible but you can do that yourself, unifi kit is relatively simple
 
Mzezman said:
A router will still be needed, the APs only provide WiFi connectivity but something (router) will still need to connect to your ISP. Support via the cloud is possible but you can do that yourself, unifi kit is relatively simple
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation.
 
ubercal said:
haibo umlungu above my pay grade !!!!
Click to expand...
Well if you use a Linux vps then the next step is a Linux home router.
Just use wifi access points. Never wifi routers. Sies.
If debian is too hard core try pfsenss/opnsense.
You can even use openwrt. Openwrt is a neat version. Easier than debian...
There is also now this:
raspap.com

Home - The Debian wireless router

The easiest, full-featured wireless router setup for Debian-based devices. Period.
raspap.com raspap.com
Makes is easy for everyone.
 
r00igev@@r said:
Linux routers

The Unifi APs are ok and you can run the controller on debian. It's just damn old versions of the underlying framework. You would think that they'd bump up unfi from java voetsek to Rust or Python.
Click to expand...

Yikes :eek: that sounds complicated. I also hope they update soon.
 
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