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[Request] Internet Routers
(aussie.zone)
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this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2025
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I've been using Linksys E4200's with (Fresh)Tomato firmware for about 10 years now. Recently one failed and I think, due to all the claims about new wifi "versions", the more modern devices should provide better performance, so I've been reading some stuff every now and then and looking for a new setup.
People with knowledge (tm) who I semi-trust all seem to point at different devices for the wired and wireless part. Some even say you should split the router from the switch (so you can do a managed switch with vlans and stuff) but I will never use any of that and even my E4200's can handle vlans just fine. I do get that using dedicated access points has its advantages but it does get quite a bit more expensive.
On the other end, a lot of brand names are now using Chinese chips in their routers and devices like the GL.iNet MT6000 seem to be one of the current favorites on the openwrt forums (and seems to be a very powerful device). I think I'm still going to go for a separated setup but I've got no clue which devices yet.
Fwiw, Louis Rossmann recommends some things.
Huge shout out to Louis Rossmans's guide. wiki.futo.org
Taking the plunge into pfsense or opnsense is very much worth it if you are as done with home/consumer router BS as I am. I got committed after even my ubiquiti router began acting up even after being reset. I followed that guide and am now running pfsense and by far the happiest I have ever been with a "home router."
I am by no means an expert at tech stuff, i have basic working knolwedge which is plenty if following a guide like this one. It's intimidating at first but definitely doable!
I didn't have a spare PC floating around and didn't have time to build one out so I bought a used Intel n5105 based mini-pc with dual gig ethernet ports. Its less modular than I'd like, but it's apparently easy to port a saved config over to a new machine. I was a little worried about performance before I got it, but its plenty fast. More than enough for my network with 30+ devices and it hosts OpenVPN for my phone when not home.
I recommend hardwiring as much as possible, or at least hardwiring to wireless APs and not using crappy WiFi repeaters. I picked up some used ubiquiti APs a while back that are still working well and are very reliable.
I like the idea of modularity. If I'm going open source, I may as well make everything modular and upgradable. Even if the whole system won't last for life, I won't be throwing out an entire device to upgrade just one part.
Thanks for the link. I haven't seen anything quite so detailed and helpful before.