TRENDnet TEW-811DRU AC1200 router (DD-WRT/Broadcom) $19.99 FS AC @ Newegg

[saraz]

Thank you OP for posting this one very nice router for the price.

 

[MisterE]

That's only an issue if your ISP connection is faster than 90Mbit/sec or so. Otherwise, it works fine. Good luck getting much more than 100Mbit/sec real throughput over 2.4Ghz N anyways.

No, it is also a potential issue if you do a lot of data transfer between networked devices on the LAN in question. It could affect network performance if you backup your computers to a central server/NAS, for example.

Not dd-wrt related, but this past week I had a real-world experience backing up 30+ GB of data from an old 100Mbps-only laptop and then restoring to a new Gigabit-capable laptop. 100Mbps was comparatively slow.

 

[VirtualLarry]

No, it is also a potential issue if you do a lot of data transfer between networked devices on the LAN in question. It could affect network performance if you backup your computers to a central server/NAS, for example.

Not dd-wrt related, but this past week I had a real-world experience backing up 30+ GB of data from an old 100Mbps-only laptop and then restoring to a new Gigabit-capable laptop. 100Mbps was comparatively slow.

Over wireless N?

Edit: LOL, I wasn't suggesting at all that you make the "core" of your network 10/100. With my suggested configuration, the core of the network can still be gigabit, and use the RT12/D1 as your internet router and 2.4Ghz AP. Which, as I pointed out, is hardly limiting, unless your internet bandwidth is above 90Mbit/sec.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You could move wired devices to the Gigabit ports on the AP, but you would then limit data transfers between your 802.11n wireless clients and the rest of your network to 100Mbps.

That's exactly what I was suggesting.

And I currently have my 2.4Ghz wireless on the same AP as my 5GHz AC wireless, connected to gigabit. But I've never seen 100Mbit/sec or more throughput over regular wireless N, so I don't see that as a real-world limitation. Remember, even with a link speed of 230MBit/sec or whatever, actual throughput is less than half that, which is easily handled by a 100Mbit/sec *full-duplex* wired connection.

 

[MisterE]

Larry, your best case configuration example limits all of the 802.11n 300Mbps (theoretical) clients to a single 100Mbps link to the rest of the LAN. That's poor network design, even if it won't be a real-world detriment to many users.

With that said, of course this is a hot deal at $20 for a dd-wrt compatible dual-band router with 802.11ac wireless and Gigabit Ethernet ports, and Trendnet makes OK quality networking equipment. But dd-wrt use is (apparently) semi broken until they fix their bugs.

I would get one for my work laptop bag, but switched from dd-wrt to (Shibby) Tomato a couple of years ago as my primary 3rd-party router firmware. I've got a Linksys E2000 in the bag right now that does what I need. The same with replacing my main home router. I currently use a Linksys E3200 as my main router, with the 2.4GHz radio for client connections and the 5GHz radio for client bridge connections. I use the PPTP server and OpenVPN server in Shibby Tomato on the E3200, could never get OpenVPN to work on dd-wrt. I could add 802.11ac to my network with one of these Trendnet routers/APs, but will probably wait and pick up a cheap used/refurbished Asus router and do all of my core networking in one device. Many of the Asus routers are supported by Shibby plus Asus' "AsusWRT" firmware already has PPTP and OpenVPN built-in. I got my first 802.11ac client device last week, an LG/Google Nexus 5 phone.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Larry, your best case configuration example limits all of the 802.11n 300Mbps (theoretical) clients to a single 100Mbps link to the rest of the LAN. That's poor network design, even if it won't be a real-world detriment to many users.

LOL. I would phrase it as "network design for the poor", and not "poor network design". That was the $40 solution. The $115 solution would have everything on gigabit.

And you do know, both Netgear and TrendNet, sell not just N, but AC routers, with only 10/100 ports on them, right? I've never considered 10/100 ports to be any sort of a real-world bottleneck on N300 routers. Mostly, because you would be hard-pressed to actually max out N300 on any real-world device.

Edit: Remember, N300 is theoretical best-case, where actual throughput is half that, and the 10/100 ethernet port is full-duplex, whereas the N300 is half-duplex.

 

[soccerballtux]

That's only an issue if your ISP connection is faster than 90Mbit/sec or so. Otherwise, it works fine. Good luck getting much more than 100Mbit/sec real throughput over 2.4Ghz N anyways.

he's talking about intra-network file transfers

anyways, AC is pretty new, probably wise to wait a bit for radio hardware and transmission modelling to mature...I've been burned on new tech too much lately for it to be worth the risk...

 

[soccerballtux]

No, it is also a potential issue if you do a lot of data transfer between networked devices on the LAN in question. It could affect network performance if you backup your computers to a central server/NAS, for example.

Not dd-wrt related, but this past week I had a real-world experience backing up 30+ GB of data from an old 100Mbps-only laptop and then restoring to a new Gigabit-capable laptop. 100Mbps was comparatively slow.

when you're doing a serious backup, you leave it on the desk and move on with life.

that said, I went ahead and just purchased one of these.

For those interested, I no longer plug my phone in to sync files with computer. I use FolderSync (android app) and Filezilla FTP Server (free) on desktop to mirror the folders I care about on my phone to the Box folder on my PC that syncs to cloud (in case harddrive crash...).

Over wireless on 11n, from my room, this runs about 1MBps.
Over wireless on 11n, from the hallway above the router, runs about 3MBps.

The majority of delay in this setup comes from the 1MBps on larger files and from FolderSync serializing the syncing. So, for lots of small files like pictures, each file takes at least 3-7 seconds, when it should only take 1. As a part of the serialization it walks the folders while is syncs each folder, as opposed to walking all of them and asynchronously queuing and syncing the files, which would be ideal.

So adding AC will help on both fronts, but mostly with the larger files like video. Having the untapped speed will also serve as motivation for me to submit a patch to UltimateSync, or write my own sync program to perform transfer queuing to reduce the FTP transfer setup and destruction delays.

My point: it's a significant quality of life improvement to have both wireless syncing and wireless charging, and in a year when everyone is on AC I expect the biggest reasons not to will be managed, and I would recommend others who don't, to look into doing so, as well.

 

[soccerballtux]

Nope, doesn't slow down much.

for the most serious gamers, an extra 5ms of latency is undesirable

 

[VirtualLarry]

for the most serious gamers, an extra 5ms of latency is undesirable

A switch doesn't slow your LAN down by 5ms.

 

[soccerballtux]

A switch doesn't slow your LAN down by 5ms.

yes. go calculate the transmission delay of a 1k TCP packet yourself through a 100mbit LAN connection. I went to a better school than you and this was one of my test questions. I was surprised.

 

[PliotronX]

yes. go calculate the transmission delay of a 1k TCP packet yourself through a 100mbit LAN connection. I went to a better school than you and this was one of my test questions. I was surprised.

Hate to break it to you, but your school failed you. Switches typically operate on layer 2 of the OSI model; they do not handle packets, they deal in frames.

 

[razel]

Purchased one, returning today. With both the stock firmware and latest DD-WRT v3 build, 2.4G rates were worse than my Belkin from 2005. It uses no amplifier for 2.4G and shares it with the 5G antennas which were probably designed for 5G. It also runs hot and even underclocking with DD-WRT doesn't work/help.

That's the bad news though, the rest is great for $20.

- Cheapest AC 1200 router
- two 5Ghz amplified antennas that are push pin replacable, definitely replace.
- live DD-WRT support which enables implicit/explicit beamforming at 5ghz. Explicit for AC. Implicit for all N 5Ghz devices. Pretty damn cool. Thanks DD-WRT!

It's a great toy at $20 and as a wireless N/AC 5Ghz access point for those stuck with DSL/cable modem/wireless router combos that are 2.4Ghz. For me, I already enough of these toys, so it's going back.

 

[soccerballtux]

beamforming looks pretty complicated. I'd give it 2 years before it's trustworthy.


I wouldn't have bought this if it were rebate. but no rebate? 802.11AC for $20? a steal.

 

[soccerballtux]

Purchased one, returning today. With both the stock firmware and latest DD-WRT v3 build, 2.4G rates were worse than my Belkin from 2005. It uses no amplifier for 2.4G and shares it with the 5G antennas which were probably designed for 5G. It also runs hot and even underclocking with DD-WRT doesn't work/help.

That's the bad news though, the rest is great for $20.

- Cheapest AC 1200 router
- two 5Ghz amplified antennas that are push pin replacable, definitely replace.
- live DD-WRT support which enables implicit/explicit beamforming at 5ghz. Explicit for AC. Implicit for all N 5Ghz devices. Pretty damn cool. Thanks DD-WRT!

It's a great toy at $20 and as a wireless N/AC 5Ghz access point for those stuck with DSL/cable modem/wireless router combos that are 2.4Ghz. For me, I already enough of these toys, so it's going back.

you must need N for a laptop or something. All phones from the last few years support AC. ?

 

[soccerballtux]

ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2015/

anything fancy for flashing these? or just the usual restore to defaults, then load the bin?

edit: straight to the bin.

no temp problems for me, 75C on the shelf, and about 83 in the closet with the other stuff.

 

[mrrman]

I don't consider DDWRT worth the effort. Far too unstable, requiring reboots on a weekly basis...TomotaUSB is where it's at for a normal lifestyle

so I will be waiting to move to AC routers until I can find a good deal on one supported by TomatoUSB.

Can someone explain TomatoUSB to me....

 

[mrrman]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156451

Extra savings w/ promo code EMCAVKR49, ends 7/20

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=881111

Edit: 2015-08-04 - new code EMCAWAR46

DD-WRT v3 beta avail:
ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2015/

Latest promo code doesnt work???

 

[GTFan]

This is a 10-year diamond member? Really?

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=TomatoUSB

First link.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Latest promo code doesnt work???

Sorry, deal probably dead by now if the promo code isn't showing up on the product page.

 

[mrrman]

This is a 10-year diamond member? Really?

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=TomatoUSB

First link.

I am not a network person and I can use google. Just wanted a simple explanation as to what this is...gee

 

[soccerballtux]

Can someone explain TomatoUSB to me....

smaller subset of routers supported, but much more stable

I haven't had any issues on this running the latest v3, FWIW, so I may redact my statement.

However, I had no end of trouble with stability on the Netgear Share N300 with DD-WRT, regularly needing manual reboots, going down on its own, etc. Shibby's TomatoUSB has been up for like the last month at least. Almost never ever goes down.