Difference between revisions of "Mesh/New router research"

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* External antennas
* External antennas
* Flashable over TFTP without exploits
* Flashable over TFTP without exploits
* Supported by stable version of OpenWrt


== TP-Link Archer A6 ==
== TP-Link Archer A6 ==
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* Still being made
* Still being made
* Flashable over TFTP without exploits
* Flashable over TFTP without exploits
* Supported by stable version of OpenWrt


= NanoPi R1 or R1S or R2 =
== ASUS RT-ACRH13 ==
 
* [https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RT-ACRH13/ Official link]
* [https://openwrt.org/toh/asus/rt-ac58u OpenWrt link]
* $70 shipped
* Has been ordered: No
 
Upsides:
 
* Qualcomm ipq40xx chipset (really good reputation)
* Supported by stable OpenWrt version
* 5 Gbit ethernet ports
* 4 external antennas
* MU-MIMO support
* USB 3 port
 
Downsides:
 
* Expensive
* Flashing is a multi-step semi-annoying process
* Apparently 128 MB ram is small for a device with two atk10k radios which required special fix to work from OpenWrt
 
== Xiaomi Mi Router A4 ==
 
* [https://www.mi.com/global/mi-router-4a/ Official link]
* [https://openwrt.org/toh/xiaomi/mir3 OpenWrt link for 100 Mbit version]
* [https://openwrt.org/toh/xiaomi/mir3g OpenWrt link for Gigabit version]
* $24 for 100 Mbit version, $30 for gigabit version. Shipped.
* Has been ordered: Yes
 
This really looks to me like it could be a replacement for the My Net N600. These are 802.11 ac so next-generation devices. Everything is a bit better except fewer ethernet ports.
 
Upsides:
 
* Cheap
* 4 external antennas (2x2 mimo)
* 128 MB ram
* 3 ethernet ports
* Gigabit ethernet (only gigabit model)
 
Downsides:
 
* OpenWrt support is very new and not yet stable
* Flashing requires exploit
 
 
== Xiaomi Redmi Router AC2100 ==
 
* [https://openwrt.org/toh/xiaomi/xiaomi_redmi_router_ac2100 OpenWrt link]
* [https://www.mi.com/rm2100 Official link]
* Price: $37 shipped
* Ordered: Yes
 
This is like the fancy bigger sibling of the Xiaomi A4. We might want this for places that we expect to pull a lot of bandwidth. E.g. that youth center close to Internet Archive Richmond.
 
Upsides:
 
* Cheap for what it is
* Very new device (couple of months old as of June 1st 2020? less?)
* 6 external antennas (2x2 mimo)
* Fast dual-core processor
* 128 MB ram
* 128 MB flash
* 4 gigabit ethernet ports
* Can probably realistically handle gigabit speeds on wifi
 
Downsides:
 
* OpenWrt support is very new and not yet stable
* Flashing requires somewhat complicated exploit
* Case design indicates that it runs hotter than we're used to
 
== GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 ==
 
* [https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt300n-v2/ Official link]
* [https://openwrt.org/toh/gl.inet/gl.inet_gl-mt300n_v2 OpenWrt link]
* $20.50 shipped but without USB power adapter (though cable included)
* Has been ordered: No
 
Upsides:
 
* Cheap
* Supported by stable OpenWrt
* Super easy web-based OpenWrt installation
* Manufacturer is OpenWrt friendly
* USB port
* 4 unused GPIO pins and a repurposable two-position switch
 
Downsides:
 
* 2.4 Ghz only
* Internal on-PCB antenna
* 100 Mbit ethernet
 
== NanoPi R1 or R1S or R2 ==


* Not an OpenWrt device
* Not an OpenWrt device
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* [https://www.friendlyarm.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=274 NanoPi R1S]
* [https://www.friendlyarm.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=274 NanoPi R1S]
* $20, $25 or $29 including case, not including required microSD card, power supply and shipping
* $20, $25 or $29 including case, not including required microSD card, power supply and shipping
* Has been ordered: No


These are more like Raspbery Pis than routers. These are probably not great routers since one of the two ethernet ports and possibly also the wifi is attached internally via USB 2. This puts a bunch of extra load on the CPU and is kinda hacky.
These are more like Raspbery Pis than routers. These are probably not great routers since one of the two ethernet ports and possibly also the wifi is attached internally via USB 2. This puts a bunch of extra load on the CPU and is kinda hacky.