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Wi-fi router recommendations please.
Hello all,
I currently have a: TP-LINK N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Model No. TL-WDR3600 (as reported from its admin page) and have had it for a few years. It has always had a problem with locking up every two weeks or so, where the wi-fi would stop working, then the wired connections would pack up. A quick 30 second on & off sorted it. Not ideal, but live-withable. Apparently it is a known bug, but there have been no firmware updates for 5 years or so. Recently the issues have become more frequent. Sometimes the wi-fi will pack up but the wired connections are fine for days, something I only noticed after I was out of range of the mains connected wi-fi extender I have to service the garage with signal. It does one thing which has proven to be very useful: the USB ports can be used to host a network folder, and to serve films for the media players, etc. I would like this feature in a new router. Other than that, no special requirements. Can anyone recommend a make / model, or recommend a make / to to absolutely avoid? Are current routers a mature sort of technology where an older model will do fine? TP-LINK is the current make, are these any better now than they were when I bought my existing router? Should I be looking at a different selection of equipment to do what I want, i.e. a "bog standard" wi-fi router with a Raspberry Pi to act as the network folder / media server? Thank you all in advance for any help, it is very much appreciated. I know next to nothing about networking. David Paste. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Friday, September 11, 2020 at 1:18:31 PM UTC+2, wrote:
Hello all, I currently have a: TP-LINK N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Model No. TL-WDR3600 (as reported from its admin page) and have had it for a few years. It has always had a problem with locking up every two weeks or so, where the wi-fi would stop working, then the wired connections would pack up. A quick 30 second on & off sorted it. Not ideal, but live-withable. Apparently it is a known bug, but there have been no firmware updates for 5 years or so. Recently the issues have become more frequent. Sometimes the wi-fi will pack up but the wired connections are fine for days, something I only noticed after I was out of range of the mains connected wi-fi extender I have to service the garage with signal. It does one thing which has proven to be very useful: the USB ports can be used to host a network folder, and to serve films for the media players, etc. I would like this feature in a new router. Other than that, no special requirements. Can anyone recommend a make / model, or recommend a make / to to absolutely avoid? Are current routers a mature sort of technology where an older model will do fine? TP-LINK is the current make, are these any better now than they were when I bought my existing router? Should I be looking at a different selection of equipment to do what I want, i.e. a "bog standard" wi-fi router with a Raspberry Pi to act as the network folder / media server? Thank you all in advance for any help, it is very much appreciated. I know next to nothing about networking. David Paste. If you are sufficiently 'techie', you might wish to try putting OpenWrt on it. https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600 The most recent OpenWrt firmware update was a couple of days ago (Version 19.07.4) , and the OpenWrt firmware often resolves issues not dealt with by the original manufacturer. I will not try to provide simplified instructions. Careful reading of the web-page above and the link to the installation instructions for a related device ( https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr4300#installation ) should be sufficient. Sid. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On 11/09/2020 12:18, David Paste wrote:
Hello all, I currently have a: TP-LINK N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Model No. TL-WDR3600 (as reported from its admin page) and have had it for a few years. It has always had a problem with locking up every two weeks or so, where the wi-fi would stop working, then the wired connections would pack up. A quick 30 second on & off sorted it. Not ideal, but live-withable. Apparently it is a known bug, but there have been no firmware updates for 5 years or so. Recently the issues have become more frequent. Sometimes the wi-fi will pack up but the wired connections are fine for days, something I only noticed after I was out of range of the mains connected wi-fi extender I have to service the garage with signal. I've never had any problem with my TP-Link TD-W9970 N300: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5728882 £34.99. It does one thing which has proven to be very useful: the USB ports can be used to host a network folder, and to serve films for the media players, etc. I would like this feature in a new router. Other than that, no special requirements. I don't know whether it does that. You can download the manual from the Argos site if you want. -- Max Demian |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On 11/09/2020 12:44, Sidney Endon-Lee wrote:
If you are sufficiently 'techie', you might wish to try putting OpenWrt on it. https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600 The most recent OpenWrt firmware update was a couple of days ago (Version 19.07.4) , and the OpenWrt firmware often resolves issues not dealt with by the original manufacturer. I will not try to provide simplified instructions. Careful reading of the web-page above and the link to the installation instructions for a related device ( https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr4300#installation ) should be sufficient. Sid. Open source router firmware can be brilliant. As well as OpenWRT, there is also Tomato, mature, very stable. AIUI Tomato is slightly more user friendly than OpenWRT. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
In message ,
David Paste writes Can anyone recommend a make / model, or recommend a make / to to absolutely avoid? I am using a Fritzbox 7530 with Repeater (large, old house with solid granite walls) and am very pleased with both. The 7530 has a USB socket into which is plugged a 4TB external hard drive as NAS, allowing sharing of films or whatever with the family, via wi-fi. No stuttering or lag. See recent threads here which helped me set everything up, although as you already have a similar setup, you probably won't need help. -- Graeme |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
Sidney Endon-Lee formulated on Friday :
If you are sufficiently 'techie', you might wish to try putting OpenWrt on it. https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600 Seconded... I have that on my main router, which is ex-BT and it is absolutely rock stable. It remains connected for years without issue, but it is quite easy to add a line of code to have it reboot once per day/week. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Friday, 11 September 2020 12:44:22 UTC+1, Sidney Endon-Lee wrote:
If you are sufficiently 'techie', I'm not! you might wish to try putting OpenWrt on it. I'm going to do it anyway! Wish me luck. Stupid question time: Is this third-party firmware OK to use with banking websites, online purchases, etc? Thanks. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
David Paste wrote:
Is this third-party firmware OK to use with banking websites, online purchases, etc? yes, security for websites happens between e.g. your browser and the bank's server, the router doesn't enter into it ... |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Friday, 11 September 2020 20:52:55 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
yes, security for websites happens between e.g. your browser and the bank's server, the router doesn't enter into it ... Thank you very much! |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Friday, 11 September 2020 12:44:22 UTC+1, Sidney Endon-Lee wrote:
If you are sufficiently 'techie', you might wish to try putting OpenWrt on it. UPDATE: I have braved the murky waters and installed it. Seems to work, who'd have thought it! Just got to let it work for a while now, see if the failing issues have gone. Thanks for your input! |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On 11/09/2020 12:18, David Paste wrote:
Hello all, I currently have a: TP-LINK N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Model No. TL-WDR3600 (as reported from its admin page) and have had it for a few years. It has always had a problem with locking up every two weeks or so, where the wi-fi would stop working, then the wired connections would pack up. A quick 30 second on & off sorted it. Not ideal, but live-withable. Apparently it is a known bug, but there have been no firmware updates for 5 years or so. Recently the issues have become more frequent. Sometimes the wi-fi will pack up but the wired connections are fine for days, something I only noticed after I was out of range of the mains connected wi-fi extender I have to service the garage with signal. It does one thing which has proven to be very useful: the USB ports can be used to host a network folder, and to serve films for the media players, etc. I would like this feature in a new router. Other than that, no special requirements. Can anyone recommend a make / model, or recommend a make / to to absolutely avoid? Are current routers a mature sort of technology where an older model will do fine? TP-LINK is the current make, are these any better now than they were when I bought my existing router? Should I be looking at a different selection of equipment to do what I want, i.e. a "bog standard" wi-fi router with a Raspberry Pi to act as the network folder / media server? Thank you all in advance for any help, it is very much appreciated. I know next to nothing about networking. David Paste. I am running with a Draytek Vigor 2762 - sort of /top of the range domestic/entry level SOHO/ type stuff. Everything it says it does that I have tested, it does. It has not missed a beat. It is ADSL and FTTP/cable capable, and has two phone ports for VOIP It is not cheap however. https://www.amazon.co.uk/DrayTek-Vig.../dp/B07C4WN9GG -- New Socialism consists essentially in being seen to have your heart in the right place whilst your head is in the clouds and your hand is in someone else's pocket. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Saturday, 12 September 2020 09:34:47 UTC+1, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
I am running with a Draytek Vigor 2762 - sort of /top of the range domestic/entry level SOHO/ type stuff. Everything it says it does that I have tested, it does. It has not missed a beat. It is ADSL and FTTP/cable capable, and has two phone ports for VOIP It is not cheap however. https://www.amazon.co.uk/DrayTek-Vig.../dp/B07C4WN9GG Thank you. This OpenWRT firmware seems OK so far, but the facilities for FTP and media serving is an effing nightmare. |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
One day I will run a proper ethernet cable out to the garage.
On Saturday, 12 September 2020 08:41:18 UTC+1, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote Those mains plug in devices, besides being probably illegal under the wireless telegraphy act for interference, have been known to upset devices running from the mains due to the high levels of RF coming in via the mains itself. Sometimes you can cure this by a ferrite on the mains cabling of the appliance. There are a lot of routers around just now which offer the facilities you want, Mine is fine, but I'd suggest not using an older one if your internet speed is over a few megs, since they cannot cope with the input from your isps router in modem mode very well, causing weird lock ups and the like. Brian |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Friday, 11 September 2020 12:44:22 UTC+1, Sidney Endon-Lee wrote:
On Friday, September 11, 2020 at 1:18:31 PM UTC+2, wrote: Hello all, I currently have a: TP-LINK N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Model No. TL-WDR3600 (as reported from its admin page) and have had it for a few years. It has always had a problem with locking up every two weeks or so, where the wi-fi would stop working, then the wired connections would pack up. A quick 30 second on & off sorted it. Not ideal, but live-withable. Apparently it is a known bug, but there have been no firmware updates for 5 years or so. Recently the issues have become more frequent. Sometimes the wi-fi will pack up but the wired connections are fine for days, something I only noticed after I was out of range of the mains connected wi-fi extender I have to service the garage with signal. It does one thing which has proven to be very useful: the USB ports can be used to host a network folder, and to serve films for the media players, etc. I would like this feature in a new router. Other than that, no special requirements. Can anyone recommend a make / model, or recommend a make / to to absolutely avoid? Are current routers a mature sort of technology where an older model will do fine? TP-LINK is the current make, are these any better now than they were when I bought my existing router? Should I be looking at a different selection of equipment to do what I want, i.e. a "bog standard" wi-fi router with a Raspberry Pi to act as the network folder / media server? Thank you all in advance for any help, it is very much appreciated. I know next to nothing about networking. David Paste. If you are sufficiently 'techie', you might wish to try putting OpenWrt on it. https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600 The most recent OpenWrt firmware update was a couple of days ago (Version 19.07.4) , and the OpenWrt firmware often resolves issues not dealt with by the original manufacturer. I will not try to provide simplified instructions. Careful reading of the web-page above and the link to the installation instructions for a related device ( https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr4300#installation ) should be sufficient. Sid. The OpenWRT firmware is doing well so far but the add-ons for FTP and media serving are useless for me, I am nowhere near competent enough to make it happen. I have tried following various instructions, installing usb drivers, NTFS things, to no avail. It really isn't user-friendly for the average chump, beyond putting the basic firmware on the router. (I am not complaining to you, these are just my experiences!) I will try to get a simple GUI driven rasperry pi answer to the FTP and media serving (if such a thing exists). |
Wi-fi router recommendations please.
On Sunday, 13 September 2020 15:46:11 UTC+1, David Paste wrote:
Thank you. This OpenWRT firmware seems OK so far, but the facilities for FTP and media serving is an effing nightmare. Further update to this story: I decided to remove the FTP and DLNA facilities from the OpenWRT firmware and just have it as a regular wifi router. It performed admirably for several weeks when the WAN port crapped out. I don't know why. I tested the cat5 cables, etc, hoping it was that. Ah well, can't win them all. |
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