The results so far are disappointing... I was hoping that the broad knowledge of the OpenWrt community could identify several router models that could provide a great introduction for newcomers.
Lots of recommendations came in. I know many of those devices are terrific, but only two of them meet all the criteria - they're listed here.
| Model | For Newcomers... | ToH link |
|---|---|---|
| Netgear R7800 | ~$129 on Amazon; $50-100 on eBay | ToH |
| Netgear XR500 | ~$129 on Amazon, $50-100 on eBay | Same as R7800 |
Many responses were for devices that don't meet one or more of the criteria. (See the original post...) Those posts have been removed because they are off-topic.
| Model | Reason to reject |
|---|---|
| WAX206 | Price above $100 ($197) |
| GL-MT300 (Mango) | Only one Ethernet port |
| Archer C6 | Has warnings in the Table of Hardware (ToH) |
| Dynalink DL-WRX36 | Warnings in ToH, complicated installation |
| Mercusys MR90X | Difficult install |
| Linksys E8450 or Belkin RT3200 | Complicated installation (special installer) |
| GL-MT6000 | Price above $100 ($159); also requires SNAPSHOT |
| Asus AX4200 | Two-step (but simple) install; Price above $100? |
| GL-MT3000 | Good installation; $109 on Amazon; no SQM information |
| Zyxel WSM20 | Slightly tricky install: requires two installers |
My question: Is it true that we don't have any other sub-$100 routers that will "just work" with OpenWrt? To repeat the characteristics: (NB These have been somewhat edited from the original criteria, but retain the same spirit.)
- Supports official STABLE OpenWrt 23.05.x. No snapshot builds
- Clear installation instructions without warnings in the Table of Hardware. Provide link to Device Page
- Mass market device with case, power supply, and "standard" network connections: a WAN port, one or more LAN ports, Wi-Fi. No assembly required
- Price point below US$100 or equivalent in your currency. It must be available today (Amazon, eBay, etc.) not promised at some indeterminate date. Provide link to source
- Able to handle 300mbps with SQM enabled. Provide link to citation or personal experience
If you know of a router not listed here (or if I misunderstood your earlier response), please post information about a router that hits the important points (#1-6 above). Thanks.