TL : DR - Needing to update my home network. A modest (wired?) router with basic security features for the wiring cabinet at the corner of the house (something like Ubiquity ER-X, ER-4, or even ER-12?), plus a centrally located AP(s) with decent coverage (similar to a used Ruckus 710 for example). The catch is, my current router has died, so I need to pick from what I can actually find in stock (U.S. - California) and is, hopefully, not insanely priced. Normally, I'd educate myself on products and then go looking for stock, but the family isn't going to give me the time to do that. They want their streaming, and they want it NOW
The more detailed version: The last time I did this in 2020 ( https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...recommendations-for-a-home-wifi-router.28762/ ), I'd settled on an Ubiquity ER-X for the wiring cabinet in the corner of the house, and a used Ruckus r710 centrally located (2 story 2500 sq foot mostly open floor plan). My son, lured by claims of amazing gaming presets, convinced me to get an Asus GT-AC2900 instead, and move our existing Asus Lyra pucks to be AI-Mesh nodes spread throughout the house. Since then the Lyras died & were replaced with two RT-AC68Us (reflashed from T-Mobile TM-AC1900), and now the GT-AC2900 has died too. The two RT-AC68Us by themselves are struggling for decent Wifi coverage, and I don't want to be buying my 3rd Asus router in two years to add to the AI-Mesh. Time to do something else!
But, I'm not sure the original 2020 solution (ER-X plus r710) is still the best choice? ER-X seems to be heavily backordered everywhere, and used ones are going for more than MSRP. Plus, seems like some people are having issues with them long term and the newer ER-4 or ER-12 are better choices? But, they seem to be out of stock everywhere too. Used Ruckus prices seem through the roof as well? Looking at Mikrotik reviews, lower end stuff (hEX) may not be enough for my needs, and mid-range stuff (RouterBOARD) seem to be hit and miss depending on the model. On paper, RB450Gx4 seems to be a good fit (MikroTik) , but I can't find much in terms of reviews, and the stories I've been reading about the learning curve for RouterOS are kind of daunting.
I'm still not ready to risk the wife's home office and ESSENTIAL Netflix/HBOMAX to a "roll your own" pf/OPNSense or similar solution. It exposes me to too much blame if there's issues. So, I think a wired router with modest security features seems to be my best bet (with the wiring cabinet in a closet in the corner of the house, a Wifi signal from that location would be poor). The desktops/NAS/ Servers are all wired, but the majority of devices and traffic are Wifi, so a decent AP/APs is/are going to be necessary as well.
The biggest problem seems to be finding suitable stuff that's actually in stock, and not enough time for my standard process of overly exhaustive research followed by a lot of dithering before I buy . The wife, who is more decisive, advocates driving over to Best Buy and throwing money at whatever consumer product they have in stock. Hoping to avoid that too .
The more detailed version: The last time I did this in 2020 ( https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...recommendations-for-a-home-wifi-router.28762/ ), I'd settled on an Ubiquity ER-X for the wiring cabinet in the corner of the house, and a used Ruckus r710 centrally located (2 story 2500 sq foot mostly open floor plan). My son, lured by claims of amazing gaming presets, convinced me to get an Asus GT-AC2900 instead, and move our existing Asus Lyra pucks to be AI-Mesh nodes spread throughout the house. Since then the Lyras died & were replaced with two RT-AC68Us (reflashed from T-Mobile TM-AC1900), and now the GT-AC2900 has died too. The two RT-AC68Us by themselves are struggling for decent Wifi coverage, and I don't want to be buying my 3rd Asus router in two years to add to the AI-Mesh. Time to do something else!
But, I'm not sure the original 2020 solution (ER-X plus r710) is still the best choice? ER-X seems to be heavily backordered everywhere, and used ones are going for more than MSRP. Plus, seems like some people are having issues with them long term and the newer ER-4 or ER-12 are better choices? But, they seem to be out of stock everywhere too. Used Ruckus prices seem through the roof as well? Looking at Mikrotik reviews, lower end stuff (hEX) may not be enough for my needs, and mid-range stuff (RouterBOARD) seem to be hit and miss depending on the model. On paper, RB450Gx4 seems to be a good fit (MikroTik) , but I can't find much in terms of reviews, and the stories I've been reading about the learning curve for RouterOS are kind of daunting.
I'm still not ready to risk the wife's home office and ESSENTIAL Netflix/HBOMAX to a "roll your own" pf/OPNSense or similar solution. It exposes me to too much blame if there's issues. So, I think a wired router with modest security features seems to be my best bet (with the wiring cabinet in a closet in the corner of the house, a Wifi signal from that location would be poor). The desktops/NAS/ Servers are all wired, but the majority of devices and traffic are Wifi, so a decent AP/APs is/are going to be necessary as well.
The biggest problem seems to be finding suitable stuff that's actually in stock, and not enough time for my standard process of overly exhaustive research followed by a lot of dithering before I buy . The wife, who is more decisive, advocates driving over to Best Buy and throwing money at whatever consumer product they have in stock. Hoping to avoid that too .
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