Which router do you use?

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Following the Is your computer's internet connection wired or wireless? (Poll) I thought it might be an idea to have an accompany thread on routers :icon_biggrin:

  1. Are there any routers you’d recommend? Are you happy with the one you’ve got?

  2. Do you use custom firmware like Merlin? (If so why? If not, any particular reason why?)

If your recommended router excels in any of the below that could be worth mentioning:

  • Security and privacy (some routers dial home/spy on you)
  • Low power consumption modes
  • Eco modes for lower antenna strength (lower radiation)
  • VPN suitability (like Wireguard)
  • Anything else worth mentioning/considering?
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I use a very old no-name brand router flashed with OpenWRT for internet connectivity, and a dumb 10GB switch for LAN. If I ever consider looking for a new router, compatibility with OpenWRT + availability on the market will be decisive factors.

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I’m on an ASUS RT-AX88U Pro. Just about the only non-chinese option around. Has a ton of VPNs, wireguard included, lower antenna strength, a bazillion configuration options that might be quite useful. I have a home server on the 2.5Gpbs port for backups of my home devices and media systems, intranet speed is perfect. Haven’t tried Merlin though I’ve consider it in order to install a tracking blocker. Otherwise, absolutely happy, has lasted already a few years of excellent behaviour.

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Somebody mentioned this on EF that you might find interesting:

And they have a new one coming out soon which looks very nice! I’ll definitely be keeping a look out for it :icon_cool:

I’ve heard that is a great router - it gets recommended quite a bit! Are you getting good/your full speed wirelessly? Have you tried Wireguard on it?

Is that via the Eco setting? I found it drastically reduced speed when I tried it (wirelessly anyway).

Thought I read somewhere the newer Asus routers let you install ad/tracking blockers? Merlin is great from what I’ve heard. Or you could always wait for this:

Looks like it will be pretty wild! 2.6GHz quad-core CPU, 4GB RAM and 32GB Flash!

Expected to retail at around $800 tho :icon_eek:

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Saw that Turris and got me very curious. Perhaps for the next router, could look it up. For now the Asus is behaving wonderfully and should last a super long time.

Full speed wirelessly, I pretty much believe so, though to be honest my main two machines are on cable. Other devices haven’t complained though. Wireguard, always, every single public wifi and even when travelling to faraway countries, never disappointed :slight_smile:

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Have you got a fast internet connection at home then? I’m curious because I’ve been thinking about doing the same.

You also reminded me we didn’t have a speed thread here, posted now:

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How fast is your internet connection? - #3 by NelsonVides :slight_smile:

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What do you think the minimum upload speed would be for using it as a VPN?

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500Mbps works fine, it’s usually just my own device and with less heavy demand :thinking:

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But also, no self-promotion intended, I have my own personal website, and that of a friend of mine, deployed behind this very router (static IP address here). Also works all just fine :slight_smile:

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Nice! Is it this one: https://videsnelson.com - it loads just like any other site here!

Might be worth doing a blog post on how you’ve set it all up? What hardware you’re running it off, software used, etc :icon_biggrin:

That’s part of the issue here - most ISPs don’t give you a static IP unless you go for a business package.

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Yeap, that one. My friend is https://frleon.com/. It’s on the same phoenix server, in an old laptop turned-linux-server behind the Asus, the phoenix router is basically:

  scope "/", MeWeb, host: ["videsnelson.com"] do
    pipe_through :videsnelson
    get "/", VidesNelsonController, :home
    ...
  end

  scope "/", MeWeb, host: ["frleon.com"] do
    pipe_through :frleon
    get "/", FrLeonController, :home
    ...
  end

The static IP address was an extra 10PLN, so ~2.5EUR, and set :ok_hand:

Publishing a blog post, could be, only thing I don’t have a blog per-se running right now, first some phoenix work will be needed to create that space in my page. But that’s a topic for another day, thanks for the motivation though :smiley:

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