Question Ordered new router (did I screw up?)

J

Jimminy

Senior member

May 19, 2020

428

160

116

• Nov 13, 2024

• #1

On impulse I ordered a new router from newegg.

https://www.newegg.com/wavlink-531g3-ieee-802-11ac-ieee-802-11a-b-g-n/p/0E6-009X-00022?Item=9SIA6PF7U20700

I don't know much about networks or the hardware used, so I'm posting here. For the past 20 years or so, I've used a Linksys WRT54GL router. It has been 100% reliable. We only have satellite internet from viasat, so this router was plenty fast enough. If we do get fiber optic, I'm hoping to get better than the 54 mb/s on wifi. I always used ethernet from the router for my main computer, but we have half a dozen tablets, laptops and phones that connect with wifi.

Anyway, we may be getting this fiber optic service, hopefully soon, and I want to be halfway ready. They are digging and laying the cables now, but it's still a work in progress (unless Trump kills it).

 

T

Tech Junky

Diamond Member

Jan 27, 2022

3,825

1,342

106

• Nov 13, 2024

• #2

AC is fine for the update. It's a few generations behind what's out now though as AX/AX-E/BE have surpassed it. AC will max out at about 800mbps where AX can hit about double that and BE doubles it again.

 

Brainonska511

Lifer

Dec 10, 2005

27,223

11,379

136

• Nov 13, 2024

• #3

I'd personally be wary of that router if only because of the unknown brand and only 10/100 LAN/WAN. Hope you don't have an Internet package >100 mbps. And if you do use wired for intranet transfers, you'll really want something that offers 10/100/1000.

 

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Fallen Kell

Diamond Member

Oct 9, 1999

6,135

494

126

• Nov 15, 2024

• #4

Honestly other than supporting newer protocols, that router is probably worse than the WRT54GL that you have. The GL version at least is running a linux variant and is compatible with DD-WRT and OpenWRT third-party firmwares that would let you keep it up to date and patch security holes for all the years that you have owned that WRT54GL....

At a minimum, if you were to upgrade, I would suggest sticking with something that can run DD-WRT or OpenWRT (they won't support the latest/greatest Wifi protocols, as many of those have not wanted to play nice with open source software). I believe you can get a Dynalink DL-WRX36 which OpenWRT supports with DD-WRT having a beta for it (and is WiFi6 with 4x 10/100/1000 and a 10/100/1000/2500 port for the WAN). It is only like $60 on amazon.

 

Brainonska511

Lifer

Dec 10, 2005

27,223

11,379

136

• Nov 15, 2024

• #5

Fallen Kell said:

Honestly other than supporting newer protocols, that router is probably worse than the WRT54GL that you have. The GL version at least is running a linux variant and is compatible with DD-WRT and OpenWRT third-party firmwares that would let you keep it up to date and patch security holes for all the years that you have owned that WRT54GL....

At a minimum, if you were to upgrade, I would suggest sticking with something that can run DD-WRT or OpenWRT (they won't support the latest/greatest Wifi protocols, as many of those have not wanted to play nice with open source software). I believe you can get a Dynalink DL-WRX36 which OpenWRT supports with DD-WRT having a beta for it (and is WiFi6 with 4x 10/100/1000 and a 10/100/1000/2500 port for the WAN). It is only like $60 on amazon.

Click to expand...

DDWRT and whatnot are overrated for the average user. Plenty of decent routers available that use modern protocols and have manufacturer support. I have an RT AX-3000 that still gets firmware updates after 4 years.