Router for Home

[Danp]

I'm starting to look around at replacements for my home router. It's a TP-Link Archer VR200 which I've been really happy with for a few years but recently the wifi plays up (ethernet fine), or I can't RDP back to my home machine etc (static IP). Restart the router and it's fine again for a couple of weeks. I might just continue doing this, but I don't want to risk it going off one day and not coming back online. My wife is going to be working/teaching from home until September (university) so need it working all the time. Plusnet dsl connection.

 

Any recommendations?

Edited February 25, 2021 by Danp

[Chaniel]

I've been using an Archer A7 router with a Huawei HG612 modem for a little over a year now and haven't had any issues (unlike when I was using the Plusnet router).

 

Something else you can try is flashing OpenWRT onto your VR200 to see if that improves its reliability at all - https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/vr200v - bit of a faff though.

Edited February 25, 2021 by Chaniel

[Danp]

I've been using an Archer A7 router with a Huawei HG612 modem for a little over a year now and haven't had any issues (unlike when I was using the Plusnet router).

 

Something else you can try is flashing OpenWRT onto your VR200 to see if that improves its reliability at all - https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/vr200v - bit of a faff though.

 

Tempting, but I don't want to risk borking it in the process

[jmak]

How much have you got to lose?

 

Option 1) Don't try dd-wrt > definitely buy a new router

Option 2) Try dd-wrt > maybe but a new router

 

I was nervous the first time, but it was in school not looking after I'd started so it wouldn't have been a good look. I went for it on that basis though - they weren't for for purpose as they were, so I didn't have loads to lose.

 

At home you could use your phone as a hotspot or some random router sitting in a cupboard (most of us have at least one of those, or is it just me?) for the day it takes for a replacement to arrive...

[Danp]

How much have you got to lose?

 

Option 1) Don't try dd-wrt > definitely buy a new router

Option 2) Try dd-wrt > maybe but a new router

 

I was nervous the first time, but it was in school not looking after I'd started so it wouldn't have been a good look. I went for it on that basis though - they weren't for for purpose as they were, so I didn't have loads to lose.

 

At home you could use your phone as a hotspot or some random router sitting in a cupboard (most of us have at least one of those, or is it just me?) for the day it takes for a replacement to arrive...

 

True although I don't have any spares anymore, made a huge point of having a massive clear out over the past year or so.

[MatthewL]

I personally use pfSense, currently on an old PC but will be replacing with a Netgate SG-1100 or similar, then a Unifi AP.

[Andrew_C]

having a massive clear out over the past year or so.

There's you problem right there!

Some years ago I did the open source thing, worked OK. Then something died, and I couldn't find one in a hurry that was flashable. Haven't thought about it until recently when I found out that the current Virgin hub won't let me kill individuals access at night. (Sorta-dortas squealing at Minecraft at 2am is beyond annoying)

 

Might revisit the idea.

[Danp]

There's you problem right there!

Some years ago I did the open source thing, worked OK. Then something died, and I couldn't find one in a hurry that was flashable. Haven't thought about it until recently when I found out that the current Virgin hub won't let me kill individuals access at night. (Sorta-dortas squealing at Minecraft at 2am is beyond annoying)

 

Might revisit the idea.

 

Yes, agree, having a clear out is my downfall

[Danp]

Ordered one of these while they were on offer over the weekend, down to £30 inc delivery

 

https://consumer.huawei.com/uk/smart-home/ax3-quad-core/buy/

 

I'll keep my current router, turn off wifi on that and just use this.

[Andrew_C]

Don't you know??!! The Chinese govt will steal all your secrets if you use that...

[Danp]

Don't you know??!! The Chinese govt will steal all your secrets if you use that...

 

Yup, but they get most of it via my phone anyway