If you were in the market for a new Home Router today, what would you buy?

[SangamonTaylor]

I'm curious - what would you get for home and why? (Not looking to fix or replace current network equipment, just a general discussion of networking tech).

The point was I wanted to know what other people considered important for what's new out there and why. What's important to you, once I understand why, allows me to consider whether or not that might be useful to me someday. If someone tells me they have a Plex Server on their home network (for example), and they like routers that have feature X, that's interesting to me. I don't have a Plex server or any other media server yet. I don't know if I'm ever going to try it. But I like reading what other people have learned about them.

That's why it was open-ended. I'm sure this makes sense to someone out there.

 

[razel]

Google WiFi/onHub. Fast, cheap, smartly designed. Only router I currently recommend for the average Joe. Many of our home devices are WiFi and WiFi routers work best when placed in the open and most look like a dead spider. Additionally security updates are of supreme importance. Google is a software company and schedules updates every 6 weeks. Main negative about it: a Google account is required and many question it's collection of device info. Not Internet traffic, device info. You can also add more to create a MESH network.

If you enjoy tinkering with WiFi settings, you'll hate it. The TP-Link Archer C7/C9 is good choice that our moderators also like.

 

[mnewsham]

For me personally i'd probably set up a PFsense box and grab some wired APs for wireless.

But this would be stupid overkill for 90% of people, so it's not something i'd particularly just recommend to people.

 

[razel]

It does make me wonder then what the point of the OP is. Unless he/she is planning to get into the WiFi router industry.

 

[Engineer]

A decent very low powered PC (buy or buy components to build) with AES-NI and maybe Intel QuickAssist built in. Maybe a couple of dual Intel Gb NICS. Run some sort of Linux based router software (have used pFsense but found iPfire easier so running that). Some sort of wireless access points. Currently using Ubiquiti UAP-AC-Pro and UAP-AC-LR but after hiccups, not convinced 100% that I would do it again.

Would like to get a PC powerful enough to route 10GBits (without encryption).

 

[sdifox]

pfsense + wap

 

[sdifox]

A decent very low powered PC (buy or buy components to build) with AES-NI and maybe Intel QuickAssist built in. Maybe a couple of dual Intel Gb NICS. Run some sort of Linux based router software (have used pFsense but found iPfire easier so running that). Some sort of wireless access points. Currently using Ubiquiti UAP-AC-Pro and UAP-AC-LR but after hiccups, not convinced 100% that I would do it again.

Would like to get a PC powerful enough to route 10GBits (without encryption).

err, who has 10gbps link? or are you talking lan?

 

[SangamonTaylor]

It does make me wonder then what the point of the OP is. Unless he/she is planning to get into the WiFi router industry.

The point was I wanted to know what other people considered important for what's new out there and why. What's important to you, once I understand why, allows me to consider whether or not that might be useful to me someday. If someone tells me they have a Plex Server on their home network (for example), and they like routers that have feature X, that's interesting to me. I don't have a Plex server or any other media server yet. I don't know if I'm ever going to try it. But I like reading what other people have learned about them.

That's why it was open-ended. I'm sure this makes sense to someone out there.

Rest assured, I quickly learned I made a mistake by asking too broad of a question, and got some people irked instead of getting them into a discussion.

 

[sdifox]

The point was I wanted to know what other people considered important for what's new out there and why. What's important to you, once I understand why, allows me to consider whether or not that might be useful to me someday. If someone tells me they have a Plex Server on their home network (for example), and they like routers that have feature X, that's interesting to me. I don't have a Plex server or any other media server yet. I don't know if I'm ever going to try it. But I like reading what other people have learned about them.

That's why it was open-ended. I'm sure this makes sense to someone out there.

Rest assured, I quickly learned I made a mistake by asking too broad of a question, and got some people irked instead of getting them into a discussion.

you don't need to run a beefy firewall for plex, just need to be able to nat a port to lan ip.

 

[mv2devnull]

I have a very tiny closet, so 'small' is important. 'Cool' and 'quiet' too. These restrictions rule out a lot.

Ethernet comes in via Cat6 cable now, but could switch to fiber. If ISP allows a tranceiver in router's SFP slot, then SFP slot is important. If they don't, ... there is no room for their fiber-cat converter in my closet ...

The most important thing about router is that it routes. There is nothing wireless in routing.

A router that hosts configurable DHCP and DNS servers is a big bonus.

 

[Engineer]

err, who has 10gbps link? or are you talking lan?

There are some in other cities. I am talking about future proofing my setup. I should be good for a gigabit right now but my home is already wired Cat6 so should be good for 10Gbps on short runs (all under 100 feet).

 

[sdifox]

There are some in other cities. I am talking about future proofing my setup. I should be good for a gigabit right now but my home is already wired Cat6 so should be good for 10Gbps on short runs (all under 100 feet).

Lulz by the time 10gpbs service roll around, you should be able to get equipment that can route that fast.

 

[Engineer]

Lulz by the time 10gpbs service roll around, you should be able to get equipment that can route that fast.

I don't know...seems that gigabit is rolling out pretty fast right now and the routers aren't doing a great job at keeping up, from what I've seen. I also think it will come out in stages (2Gbps, 3,4....10), especially with Docsis 3.1 rolling out now.

Besides, this is a tech forum and we have a bunch of tech nerds here. Everyone needs to have a hobby, lol!

 

[ch33zw1z]

whats hiccups did you have with the UBNT WAP's?

i run the ER-X and LR without problems for 1.5 years, so im curious.

 

[sdifox]

I don't know...seems that gigabit is rolling out pretty fast right now and the routers aren't doing a great job at keeping up, from what I've seen. I also think it will come out in stages (2Gbps, 3,4....10), especially with Docsis 3.1 rolling out now.

Besides, this is a tech forum and we have a bunch of tech nerds here. Everyone needs to have a hobby, lol!

Really depends on your location. I can't even get fttp yet

 

[Rifter]

pfsense + wap

This

 

[Engineer]

Really depends on your location. I can't even get fttp yet

MetroNet is coming to Lexington, KY starting next year. The mayor was so fed up with Spectrum and Windstream, he and the council explored options and found MetroNet and offered them a strict charter. FTTH install starts in January but I have no ideal how long it will take. I've read that 1Gbps down / 500Mbps up will be between $69 and $89 per month.

 

[Engineer]

whats hiccups did you have with the UBNT WAP's?

i run the ER-X and LR without problems for 1.5 years, so im curious.

I think they have had issues with some of the newer firmware, as evidence on their forums. I turned on Fast Roaming and the speed would randomly drop from my ISP max of 70Mbps to 0.5 Mbps. Required a hard reset to fix. Turning off fast roaming fixed that.

Biggest problem is I, as well as others, can't get near the speed as other access points (RT-AC68U for example). Get 250 - 300Mbps on PC to PC transfers using a wireless bridge. Same bridge connected to other brands gets 800Mbps or more with full 90MByte/sec PC to PC file transfer.

I will say that stability, other than the fast roaming, has been as good as anything I've had since WRT54G running Tomato.

 

[ch33zw1z]

cool, thanks, im always curious to know others experience. i dont visit the forum often all, only if i have a problem and via google search

 

[Ezra. W]

I was once suggested to take a look at Draytek. Most of their routers are aimed at business though, one of my friends had their entry-level models for a few years, and he says it's been the most reliable router he’s ever owned.

 

[simas]

I would have bought a real router device intended for that purpose - something like Mikrotik Hex 3 ($60, gigabit routing, stupid simple to run and very advance if you want to get deep into configs) or unifi security gateway. other alternative is DYU with something like pfsense which I used and liked before.
I would have coupled it with few APs to which gigabit is run it through hard wire ( unifi APs in my case)
I would stayed far aware from all in one junk (router, wifi AP, switch, coffee maker devices)

 

[sdifox]

I would have bought a real router device intended for that purpose - something like Mikrotik Hex 3 ($60, gigabit routing, stupid simple to run and very advance if you want to get deep into configs) or unifi security gateway. other alternative is DYU with something like pfsense which I used and liked before.
I would have coupled it with few APs to which gigabit is run it through hard wire ( unifi APs in my case)
I would stayed far aware from all in one junk (router, wifi AP, switch, coffee maker devices)

Just looked at my pfsense. One of my DSNBL blocked 12M packets over three weeks.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'd probably go with a Netgate like this: https://store.netgate.com/SG-1000.aspx
Wireless AP(s)
Managed switch(es)

Basically what I have now, except the Pfsense box is a 1U server. I think with the Intel and AMD backdoor stuff it may be safer to do ARM, which that Netgate is. (I think)

 

[mnewsham]

I think with the Intel and AMD backdoor stuff it may be safer to do ARM, which that Netgate is. (I think)

You could also just go with an intel CPU that is able to have the intel management engine stuff turned off.

https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner

 

[freeskier93]

I have a very tiny closet, so 'small' is important. 'Cool' and 'quiet' too. These restrictions rule out a lot.

Ethernet comes in via Cat6 cable now, but could switch to fiber. If ISP allows a tranceiver in router's SFP slot, then SFP slot is important. If they don't, ... there is no room for their fiber-cat converter in my closet ...

The most important thing about router is that it routes. There is nothing wireless in routing.

A router that hosts configurable DHCP and DNS servers is a big bonus.

I live in an apartment with one of those little SOHO boxes in the wall of my closet, and my connection is fiber GPON, so fiber to the building then distributed over cat6 to each unit. My setup is a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite and Ubiquiti AP AC Lite. The EdgeRouter, a small 5 port switch, and the POE injector fit nicely in the small box, all nice and out of sight and no noise. I was a bit worried about heat but has shown to be a non issue.

This combo has been rock solid for me for the last couple years, and the Unifi AP has no issue with congested apartment living. The only time I have to touch it is when I remember I should update firmware, which is usually a couple times a year.