Wi-Fi Router Nearly Gone Kaputt

[Tharthan]

My Wi-Fi router is on its last legs, and I am going to need a replacement.

It's an old Linksys router, and I am wondering what suggestions some might have for a replacement. My main concerns are privacy and security, obviously, but I also need something that wouldn't be so niche as to potentially not work with my setup or that the Internet service provider might refuse to work with (I don't know if something like that actually happens or not, but if something like that could happen, obviously a niche router that might be rejected wouldn't work for me) if one of their technicians had to come in to look at the Wi-Fi setup at some point in the future.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Pentium4User]

Please specify if you already have a modem or not and if that needs to be included.

[Moonchild]

I've used an Asus RT-N66U for years now which has been a very solid and reliable wifi router. It uses a Linux-based OS (I believe an OpenWRT variant). I'd suggest going for something like that to have good control over your router.

[Tharthan]

Please specify if you already have a modem or not and if that needs to be included.

I do have a modem. It is one which was initially provided by my service provider. I have seen no signs that the modem is having any issues, just the router (which was not initially provided by my service provider, but has worked for a good number of years now without too many problems up until less than a year ago).

I've used an Asus RT-N66U for years now which has been a very solid and reliable wifi router. It uses a Linux-based OS (I believe an OpenWRT variant). I'd suggest going for something like that to have good control over your router.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Is it relatively easy to get set up and to have working within no more than a few days upon getting it?

[Moonchild]

Is it relatively easy to get set up and to have working within no more than a few days upon getting it?

It's really easy. You should be up and running in 5 minutes, actually. In a few days you should have it fine-tuned if that is your thing

The interface of mine is really clear, at least, and it has a quick setup wizard (highlighted)

[LuftWafflePilot]

I would look at anything relatively modern that is known to run Openwrt.

[Falna]

I've also had the Asus RT-N66U for years. I used to run the stock firmware, but switched to Merlin, which seemed to overcome a bug with dual WAN support (which most people aren't going to need, and few other routers provide). When I eventually replace it, it's likely to be with whatever the equivalent Asus model is at the time.

[bgstack15]

I'm a ddwrt fan, and the Asus RT-AC56u is a good model for that! I can vouch for its successful operations personally. It was easy to flash with ddrt too.

[LuftWafflePilot]

Has DD-WRT changed a lot in the past five years or so? Because last time I checked, it had a reputation of mother of all bloat.

[bgstack15]

Off-topic:
I have used ddwrt for 8 years now. I only upgraded it in-place maybe twice. With ddwrt, one does not upgrade too often; only certain build numbers are made available to different architectures (model, chip, etc.). I think ddwrt has gotten even more featureful over those 8 years. Releases tend to be categorized as one of several types:
* mini
* mini with vpn
* full
* everything

Or similar. I have found that I need only the mini features. Some of the larger ones, like the "everything" can be too big for smaller firmware capacities. A lot of research is needed on the forums and wiki. I always make sure somebody else reports a specific version number works with a specific model (or similar enough model) router before flashing that version.

[Tharthan]

Asus RT-AC56u

Moonchild recommended the Asus RT-N66U. How do the Asus RT-N66U and the Asus RT-AC56u compare to one another?

And, as I have said, a significant concern in my situation is with regard to how complicated the setup process is. In the past, I had a tech support person come in to set things up.

I am inclined to do the same thing again this time, if only to make sure that the new router and my existing modem work together properly.

Is the Asus RT-AC56u's setup process easy, like Moonchild said the Asus RT-N66U's setup process is?

[leothetechguy]

Is the Asus RT-AC56u's setup process easy, like Moonchild said the Asus RT-N66U's setup process is?

Aren't you overthinking this a bit? From the Website it looks like the interface is the same, so why shouldn't it be as easy?
https://www.asus.com/us/Networking-IoT- ... s/RTAC56U/

[Moonchild]

I think any in the Asus WRT-based line will be very similar. I do not recommend flashing a different firmware on them if you just want to use, not tinker with.
What I recommended is (obviously) an older model, since I've been using it for years. It doesn't have super fast wifi (5GHz was still fairly new at the time) for example. But I gather if you get one in the same line from Asus your experience will be very similar.