[GTALUG] router upgrade; cheap WRT1200ac

[o1bigtenor]

On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 11:30 AM, Lennart Sorensen via talk <talk at gtalug.org
> wrote:

> On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 11:49:31AM -0400, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk
> wrote:
> > | From: o1bigtenor via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
> >
> > | I've been running an Asus rt-n16 router, using dd-wrt, for about 6.5
> years
> > | now. On the second one for about 1.5 years and no longer have a spare
> for
> > | the next time the router craters.
> >
> > It depends on what firmware you wish to run.
> >
> > It is always easiest to run stock firmware but there are
> > disadvantages.  Here's one:
> > <https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/06/advanced-cia-
> firmware-turns-home-routers-into-covert-listening-posts/>
> > One simple thing that this highlights: disable UPnP!
> > If you are going to run stock, you should pick a router with decent
> > firmware and a prospect of long-term support.
> >
> > I dislike the politics/governance of dd-wrt and prefer OpenWRT / LEDE.
> > This is theoretical: I don't have a first-hand basis for comparing
> > them.
> >
> > If you pick dd-wrt, I understand that Broadcom-based units are
> > (Brainslayer has NDAs with Broadcom, a useful but worrying thing).  I
> > think that dd-wrt lists preferred hardware.
> >
> > If you pick OpenWRT, you can google to find out what OpenWRT people seem
> > to like.  They are not as clear as one would hope.  It used to be that
> > Atheros chipsets were preferred (open drivers) but I'm not sure about the
> > 802.11ac world.
> >
> > One advertised-to-be-open choice is the Linksys WRT AC series
> > <https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt1x00ac_series>
> >
> > Newegg.ca is currently selling a refurb WRT1200AC for $67.99 +
> > shipping + tax.  That would seem to be a good price.
> > <https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=
> 9SIABAK48X8230&AID=10657534>
> > <https://www.linksys.com/ca/p/P-WRT1200AC/>
> >
> > I paid $150 + tax for a refurb WRT1900ACS and consider it a good deal.
> > The hardware seems to be the same except for the radio side.  I'm
> > currently only using mine as an access point, with stock firmware so I
> > cannot give a useful review.  It does have a lot of hardware resources,
> > including USB 3 and ESATA, lots of RAM, and lots of flash.
>
> It would seem that the difference between the 1200 and 1900 really is just
> that the 1200 is 2x2:2, and the 1900 is 4x4:3.
>
> I must admit most clients can't use more than 2 streams at the moment,
> so likely in use you wouldn't notice a difference.
>

Greetings

Where 'would' you notice the difference?

Dee
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