Jetstream router AC1900 $29.99 (Need $35+ for FS) @ Walmart.com

[VirtualLarry]

Jetstream AC1900 Dual Band WiFi Gaming Router, 801.11a/b/g/n/ac - Walmart Exclusive! - Walmart.com

Free 2-day shipping. Buy Jetstream AC1900 Dual Band WiFi Gaming Router, 801.11a/b/g/n/ac - Walmart Exclusive! at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Pretty much the cheapest that this router has ever been.

Granted, I've never seen a firmware update, and there's a new exploit that affects literally BILLIONS of Wifi devices(*), that can render the encryption moot.

(*) After re-reading the article linked below about the exploit, seems that the chipset used by this router is not current affected by this? Yay!

But it IS cheap...

No third-party firmware, either, it uses a cheap-o MediaTek chipset, not Broadcom or Atheros. (There are ports of DD-WRT to MediaTek, but none that I know of for this specific SoC.)

[MIT TR] Wifi encryption useless? New exploit, affecting over a BILLION devices.

https://www.technologyreview.com/f/615285/a-billion-wi-fi-devices-suffer-from-a-newly-discovered-security-flaw/

forums.anandtech.com

Wh00ps:

The vulnerability, dubbed Kr00k by researchers, affects devices with Wi-Fi chips by Broadcom and Cypress—used in a vast range of devices with wireless internet, including Apple, Google, and Samsung phones. But security updates have already been deployed to fix the issue, so the best advice is to make sure your computers, phones, and all internet-connected devices have the latest software and firmware.
Not good, not terrible: In a worst-case scenario, a significant amount of data would be exposed, including the websites you're visiting or messages you are sending. However, a lot of private communication on your Wi-Fi network should still be safe because of encryption used by websites themselves. So keep calm, salute the folks finding these problems, and carry on.

Hmm, perhaps this exploit only affects Broadcom-chipset routers? So, in theory, this Jetstream wouldn't be affected? Hey, good to know.

Did you know? Walmart now has their OWN brand of ROUTERs? ("JetStream")

TL;DR: MediaTek chipset, made in China. 'Nuff said https://www.walmart.com/browse/electronics/jetstream-routers/3944_3951_126297_1690325 This is kind of neat. I wonder who makes them? (Guessing TP-Link or Netgear? Or maybe Walmart went to Chinese ODM/OEMs and had them made specifically for...

forums.anandtech.com

Edit: Mashable writeup:

Jetstream is Walmart's new line of super affordable WiFi routers and the prices are *really* good

You shouldn't have to choose between speed and price.

mashable.com

The AC1900 router goes for $149 (already $30 lower than similar routers, like this one by Netgear for example), but frequently drops down to $99.99.

Whelp, now it's $29.99.

 

[Zim]

A cheap router is like a cheap hard drive is like a cheap pacemaker. Spend a few extra bucks and buy something like the T-Mobile/Asus AC-1900 (<$50) and enjoy ongoing stability and firmware updates.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Spend a few extra bucks and buy something like the T-Mobile/Asus AC-1900 (<$50) and enjoy ongoing stability and firmware updates.

Oh, I agree. 3rd-party firmware FTW. I'm using a Tenda AC18, which is the same hardware platform (supoosedly) as the AC68U, essentially. I got mine for $45 from Newegg,. new. I don't think that you can get the T-Mobile AC1900 for that cheap, not new anyways. BTW, those are tricky to flash, you pretty-much NEED to use 3rd-party firmware, as I understand it, because if you've "tweaked" your T-Mobile variant to accept standard Asus firmware, newer Asus firmware updates will oh-so-helpfully "revert" your router back to T-Mobile firmware.

But in generally, I AM a BIG fan of Asus AC68U/AC1900-family Broadcom-platform hardware. It performs well, and is very versatile.