Retired the TP Link Archer C5400, replaced with a Asus RT-AX86U

[UsandThem]

I would consider it. The only thing I dislike is that it is not supported by DD-WRT. I think it will be supported in the future though. I'm not familiar with Merlin.

Yeah, using Merlin would be a first for me as well (I've read about it over the years), but that's the extent of it. I did use DD-WRT back a number of years ago on a Buffalo wireless router I had at the time. I think the key is that whatever router a person goes with, make sure there's something you can do if/when the manufacturer stops supporting it. And with the case of TP Link, that's 1-2 years at most for most of their routers that I looked at (or had personal experiences with).

 

[Makaveli]

I would consider it. The only thing I dislike is that it is not supported by DD-WRT. I think it will be supported in the future though. I'm not familiar with Merlin.

Asuswrt-Merlin on Netgear R7000

This post about Asuswrt-Merlin (or XWRT or Cross-WRT) firmware for Netgear R7000 router. At this point I have a working version based on a Asuswrt-Merlin v386.2_4 (new generation AKA NG branch). Firmware is pretty stable. Download links: XWRT for Netgear R7000 v380.70 / v386.2_4 is here...

www.linksysinfo.org

 

[iamgenius]

Asuswrt-Merlin on Netgear R7000

This post about Asuswrt-Merlin (or XWRT or Cross-WRT) firmware for Netgear R7000 router. At this point I have a working version based on a Asuswrt-Merlin v386.2_4 (new generation AKA NG branch). Firmware is pretty stable. Download links: XWRT for Netgear R7000 v380.70 / v386.2_4 is here...

www.linksysinfo.org

Holy smokes !!! That's a 400 pages thread on how to load Merlin into my Netgear R7000. Little I know. I thought Merlin is only meant for asus routers though.

 

[Makaveli]

Holy smokes !!! That's a 400 pages thread on how to load Merlin into my Netgear R7000. Little I know. I thought Merlin is only meant for asus routers though.

That's because this firmware has been out since about 2015 you are late to the party

I was on a R7000 from 2015 to about 2019 and have since moved on. That isn't 400 pages on how to load its 5+ years of people posting. The instructions are on the first page.

 

[aigomorla]

I do not recommend Unifi Dream Machine at all. I am dealing with one at the moment and having a huge regret over the purchase. It is literally a hot mess that phones home. First of all, you cannot begin to use it without a login at UniFi cloud, which is infuriating enough.

The login at cloud is only at the account activation.
After that you should be able to login directly no?

I do not have that issue with my UDM Pro.

You can see u can login directly to my UDM Pro via IP.

And it handles my 1gb Uverse Fiber quite well

I do hate that it keeps nagging me that i have a legacy device and i can not get rid of it, which is my OG AP LR. Its getting replaced with a Wifi-6 unit if Ubiquiti ever decides to mail it out as i have preordered it back in 1-18, and its still processing.

however i would never recommend a UDM Pro to a novice, it takes some learning, not to mention its like throwing a 16yr old keys to Tesla Performance, and expecting things to go well.

 

[CropDuster]

My R7000 has been rock solid since I switched to merlin http://xvtx.ru/xwrt/download.htm

 

[iamgenius]

That's because this firmware has been out since about 2015 you are late to the party

I was on a R7000 from 2015 to about 2019 and have since moved on. That isn't 400 pages on how to load its 5+ years of people posting. The instructions are on the first page.

It is rare to see a thread live this long. The R7000 is really something to have merlin ported to it. Sorry UsandThem ! Hehe

Okay I hate to brick my router so let me make sure I understand what they are explaining.

- If this is your first time loading merlin, then you should pick the file with the extension chk and load it after you reset the router, then do another reset and play with the configuration.

- If you are going from an older merlin firmware you should pick the file with trx extension and load it after you reboot the router (why reboot? is the reboot necessary here? I mean you will just go back to the same GUI)

Is that right?

What exactly are NG builds, are they anything like kali nethunter nightly builds?

 

[iamgenius]

My R7000 has been rock solid since I switched to merlin http://xvtx.ru/xwrt/download.htm

What issues it had? And were they all fixed?

 

[CropDuster]

What issues it had? And were they all fixed?

Mainly flaky connections especially when streaming and video conference on 5ghz. I have gigabit fiber and no neighbors so interference shouldn't have been an issue in my case. When I initially installed from the link I posted above I did the reset to default settings first then installed the new vortex version.

Crazy to realize I've had mine for 7 years now.

 

[iamgenius]

I flashed my R7000 with the latest firmware from netgear yesterday, and so far it is performing good. Will see if that will last. I may postpone loading merlin firmware depending on its performance. Just following "If it ain't broken, don't fix it"

 

[Pohemi]

I upgraded from the TP-Link Archer C1900 that I used for years to get an AX router. Tried the Asus, and even exchanged for a new unit after random timeouts and DCs that I couldn't pin down.
The RT-AX92U is not compatible with the Merlin firmware that works on numerous other models, including the RT-AX86U. The stock OS sucks donkeys.
Went to the TP-Link Archer AX50 and have had no issues with the time-outs or disconnects since.

Just an update comment- I'm sure the issues I experienced with the Asus AX92U were the firmware, as it happened with two brand new units (both bad hardware in exact same way? Not likely).
I wanted to move away from TP-Link just due to changes they're making with their firmware using cloud logins, but...for the time being, this AX50 has worked exactly as expected and intended. Performance for price was good.

 

[fkoehler]

Gotta luv watching 2 super mods discussing the virtues of their choices of routers.

I'm kinda surprised he didn't at least try running a DD or Open-wrt on it, if its available before spending 3 bills on an Asus.
In the old days, someone would comment 'time to hand in your geek card'

I know, I know, we're all 20-30 years older now, and none of us have the luxury of screwing around like the old days.
That said, Michael Horowitz has a great blog on https://routersecurity.org/rsoSiteIndex.php

If you're a geek, and own your own home, the best thing you could do would be to get a couple of Ariba 215's off eBay for $20 which will work in autonomous mode, and simply pull their cable back to your router. If you're router doesn't have PoE, then get a cheap PoE switch, or PoE injectors.
Now you have redundancy for wifi, and if the router ever dies you can replace it and know your wifi is going to be as good as your site survey was originally.
Don't even need to term cable, just measure run and buy with some extra slack length.
Only pain is getting in the attic or the crawlspace. An hour or two of sweat.

 

[UsandThem]

I'm kinda surprised he didn't at least try running a DD or Open-wrt on it, if its available before spending 3 bills on an Asus.
In the old days, someone would comment 'time to hand in your geek card'

I waited (and hoped) for many years that someone out there would find a way to get 3rd party firmware on my particular TP Link model, but every time I checked around, it just never happened.

That said, I'm still really happy with the Asus router. Both my kids do college online now because of Covid restrictions, play their usual PC and Xbox games, stream the shows they watch, and I haven't had one complaint from them about their wifi connection (both in reliability, signal strength, and in speed). Even if we all are using the internet at the same to do our own things, the router has just worked without any hiccups (4k movies, gaming, working from home, etc).

Plus, when Asus finally quits releasing firmware updates, this model supports 3rd party firmware, so as long as the hardware continues to work properly, this router hopefully should last a long time.

 

[fkoehler]

Actually just checked Dongknows review, and that is a pretty impressive piece of hardware there.
Seems pricey at first blush, however thats not you father's Oldsmobile.

If my Rpi project fails and I get tired of sweating the small stuff, I might have to eat my hat and give it a shot.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Merlin Firmware is fantastic! I'm also on an AX-86U and couldn't be any happier. SSH into it and type amtm and set that up. Install Skynet for additional Firewall control and protection enhancement. As of 386.2 Cake is now apart of Merlin Firmware and as I've always felt it's the best Queue a router can have for connection speeds under 300Mbits. It was just better at fq_codel. With 386.2 Cake is now apart of the QoS GUI and easy to use. I say that coming from when it was a standalone and you needed entware to run it. I thought THAT was incredibly simple, now it's even easier and more helpful!