Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2025 Poal.co

524
  1. Open-WRT or Asuswrt-Merlin compatible.
  2. 50+ devices
  3. At least 500MB of ram.
  4. Good range or mesh satellites

Right now I am using a Nighthawk with two satellites. Works good but the UI is terrible and it tries to phone home all too often. Because of that I use the Nighthawk in AP mode behind an Asus AC-1900. The Asus is nice and all, but it's getting kind of outdated and doesn't have much onboard ram. Looking to upgrade so I can get rid of the extra hardware. Any suggestions?

1. Open-WRT or Asuswrt-Merlin compatible. 2. 50+ devices 3. At least 500MB of ram. 4. Good range or mesh satellites Right now I am using a Nighthawk with two satellites. Works good but the UI is terrible and it tries to phone home all too often. Because of that I use the Nighthawk in AP mode behind an Asus AC-1900. The Asus is nice and all, but it's getting kind of outdated and doesn't have much onboard ram. Looking to upgrade so I can get rid of the extra hardware. Any suggestions?

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts

If it isn't broken, don't fix it. I have an old Asus router that's probably getting close to 10 years old now. I've updated the firmware a few times, but that's it. I'm going to keep using it until it stops working.

[–] • 4 pts

Same philosophy here. Running an ancient Mikrotik (they still update w/major security fixes) and it's been going strong for 11 years now.

It's just now getting to the point where I could replace it because incoming speed is outstripping it's ability to serve.

[–] • 4 pts

Microtik is teh win

[–] • 1 pt

It's like juggling running chainsaws to set up, but once I got it in the correct state it's been 24/7/365 since it was turned on, save power outages and network maintenance.

[–] • 2 pts

I've updated the firmware a few times

First thing I do is put OpenWRT/DD-WRT on it. The manufacturer will abandon old models while you can still get updated *-WRT builds with more modern features. Also gives all your routers the same UI.

[–] • 2 pts

Crap, I came here to recommend porter cable.

[–] • 1 pt

I was thinking: "Nice, another poaler doing home CNC stuff!"

[–] • 1 pt

I have done my own router with a FreedomBox Debian server. Very little configuration (once installed), reliable, and is manageable from the internet side. Recommended.

This provides routing, name service, dhcp, firewall, and a variety of proxy options.

Preinstalled options are available.

[–] • 0 pt

What do you use for wifi in a setup like this? I've done this on a pi, but that was purely for the fun of it.

[–] • 0 pt

I use access points connected by powerline ethernet. internet -> cable modem -> freedombox -> powerline ethernet -> ap -> clients

[–] • 0 pt

You can easily install a wireless card in your Linux machine.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

Here's what I have experience with: 1)Using a Linux machine for routing and firewalling. Good results, uses power, but advantage is you can also use it for other functions at the same time (e.g. simultaneously run a DNS resolver, file server, even use it for desktop, while it does its routing job in the background). 2) Mikrotik routers. Their routerOS system is very straightforward, and updates to latest version even on older models. Also not too costly. They have many models, from home versions with wireless AP's to enterprise commercial applications. I have no problem recommending them. 3) Had an Adtran router once, back when I had a T1 line. Not so easy to configure, expensive, though highly reliable. 4)"Consumer" grade routers (Linksys WRT, Netgear, Arris, et. al.)... all pretty crappy.

[–] • 0 pt

I have been using Cisco and Meraki professionally for years and Meraki at home. The power and flexibility in traffic shaping and security is amazing. The learning curve on the Meraki isn't steep and they now make a Meraki go with out the need to pay for licensing.

[–] • 0 pt

I’d avoid Wi-Fi if at all possible, kept to a minimum or not at all, it’s too early to know long term exposure effects, we’re a foolish species that used to bathe in DEET, brush our teeth with radioactive toothpaste, the list is damn near endless. Try not to be a Guinea Pig.

I wired my house up, wall fishing is not hard at all, and Wi-Fi is turned on when we have guests or need it for Internet while working on things outside.

[–] • 0 pt

Edgerouter or pfsense and just get a AP if you know what you are doing.

[–] • 0 pt

I know what I'm doing just not sure what I want. The router end is whatever, I can build a pfsense box or a freedombox. Easy. What I really don't know about is APs. I don't want an access point that performs any function other than being an access point. I also don't want it phoning home every minute (like netgear). I can not use an internal card. I need external APs. Know of any good APs?

[–] • 1 pt

Ubiquiti UniFi 6 Lite Access Point or MikroTik MikroTik hAP ax2 would be decents ones.