Fully supported wifi router for slow (48/48 Mbps) internet?

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
1

I've never installed OpenWRT and I'm looking for a wifi router with the following requirements:

  • Must be fully supported by the current release (OpenWrt 23.05.5)
  • Must support 2.4GHz (there is 5GHz signal interference in my area)
  • Must support Guest Wi-Fi using LuCI (I assume this is a given for the latest OpenWRT release, but just want to make sure)
  • Should have easy install/upgrade process (I'm proficient with Linux but do not want to invest too much time/effort to get a working router)
  • Should have decent range through walls
  • Shouldn't be too expensive, preferably < $120
  • Does not need high bandwidth (my internet plan is only 48/48 Mbps)
  • Does not need to support a VPN
  • This will be a home office router supporting around 1-3 connected devices at once

I've spent a few hours browsing the table of hardware and researching different options, but I'm having difficult finding anything that meets all these requirements. I haven't found an inexpensive router that appears to be fully supported with an easy installation process, which isn't a pocket-size or travel router (I assume these would have poor range and ability to penetrate walls).

I'm thinking my best option may be the GL.iNet GL-MT6000 based on the recommendation from Best "newcomer routers" - 2024. It's definitely higher bandwidth than I actually need and is going for USD132.30.

Does anyone have other recommendations? Am I asking for too much?

2

Is the WRX36 still $60 at Amazon, or the LN1301 ~$20?

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3

Really? Almost any router that is currently supported can handle all of your requirements. This includes many devices that are a bit older but still fully supported - such devices can be found on the used market for pretty cheap.

What specs/requirements are coming up short?

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4

Yes: https://www.amazon.com/Dynalink-DL-WRX36-8-Stream-Wireless-3-6Gbps/dp/B096K9SVCT

Sorry if this is a dumb question (I know nothing about routers), but can this router be used as a stand-alone router that plugs into a modem. It's not just an access point? I'm just surprised because it doesn't have any visible antennae, so I assume it wouldn't have very impressive range or ability to penetrate walls. Am I mistaken?

5

I think I've been dismissing the ones without visible antennae, e.g. this one, because I assume they won't have very good range or penetration through walls. Am I mistaken about this?

6

Many of the best APs don’t have external antenna arrays. In some cases, the antennas you find on various APs are mostly for show.

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7

In Openwrt both modes are supported.

External antennas are also surrounded by plastic?

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8

Can an access point (I assume that's AP) plug directly into my modem? Or do I need a separate router + access point?

9

Yes. But to be clear, a well designed AP is still subject to physics. Penetration through walls will always result in lower signal quality, but the extent to which that degrades depends on the materials of the walls, number of walls, and distances involved.

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10

You can plug it in directly into your modem.

Since it's Amazon, buy it and try it, just don't hook it up to internet, so it'll auto update.

Return it if you don't like it, I'll buy the open box ,)

(I have two WRX36s running as APs at home).

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11

APs running openwrt can be used as routers. If the device only has lan ports per the label on the enclosure, you may need to reassign a port to the wan interface. This is a simple configuration change.

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12

@psherman and @frollic Thank you both for the help! I will likely go with the DL-WRX36. I had previously dismissed it due to two misunderstandings: (1) I thought it might be an access point that would require a separate router and (2) I thought that external antennae were an important requirement. Thanks for clearing up my confusion!

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13

Business WiFi APs usually don't have visible antennae while they are able to maintain a good signal coverage.

14

Start here:
https://openwrt.org/toh/views/toh_available_16128

  • type dot in version field to see currently supported
  • in most common case you get both bands
  • Broadcom is a no-go, best are mt76 and qualcomm for dozen AP-s per radio, DFS is the feature avoiding radar in 5GHz
  • What is easy is relative - read the "device page" whether there is install process from OEM firmware, of you need some usb gadget to install
  • multiple receive/transmit antennas are more or less granted
  • i'd say you keep 50-100 bucks after purchasing decent device
  • 48/48 is totally possible with anything today, think how it would look in 5 years
  • minimal 7621 SoC will do 100Mbps wifi you like it or not
  • Link sharing, aka QoS is the concern with slow line, 48/48 QoS is possible on 7621, but growing bandwidth needs something like filogic

Have you considered wiring up another AP as a range extender in the opposite office corner?

15

To clarify, would you recommend a wifi router for the main office, plus an AP as a range extender in the other part of the house, as opposed to a wired router + two wireless APs?

17

fiogic router will not break their backs even getting to gigabit, switch ports - how you want it - servers, wired workplaces ...

18

Would it be a bad idea to get one of the NanoPi or GL.iNET devices to serve as a wired router, and then hook up two wifi APs in serial? I'm attracted to the easy install instructions for the NanoPi and GL.iNet devices, since it looks like they already support OpenWRT so it's just a one-step upgrade to the latest release?

19

That is a budget choice, AX router with handful of ports is perfectly within your reach, say if you have network switch already, yes, buy a separate router (also look at mikrotik or teltonika for more industrial style builds) and add simple access points.

20

Alright, I'll do some more research before asking further questions. Thanks for the help.