Looking for a new router - Adtran SDG-8733, W1700K, or ASUS ZenWifi BT8?

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
21

After I heard about the AT&T acquisition of Quantum Fiber, I thought this may imply an eventual end of the supply.
However, Quantum Fiber is still installing these. There's even a new hardware revision from Lumen. There are also reports of other product based on the same platform (see 1,2,3,4). So, I am not really sure this is a dead/discontinued target.

22

ATT has attached $150+ non-return fees on all their units. Until that changes, it's dead.

23

Maybe that's the case, but the W1700K has had a steady supply on the secondary market for the past year and half, also at cheap prices. Not sure if the prices are gonna stay low once it's officially supported.

It seems that AIROHA has had some success in securing some ISPs contracts, both in the US and now in Europe. I don't think the platform is dead.

24

What about the Linksys MX8500? Does the WAN port support up to 5G?

25

Yes,

26

Past tense. ATT just slapped $150 return fees on them in the past 30 days. I did not say the platform was dead, but a very specific target. This is OT at this point.

27

Thank you everyone for the feedback and discussion. I am learning a lot!

I have a new question/consideration: What if I was able to obtain/spring for an Adtran SDG-8733?

Please bear with me as I'm still fairly new to learning how everything works -- would this device work well straightaway since it's a supported device? It is listed as supported in the stable release + it is in the ToH...though it doesn't have a dedicated Wiki info/install page (maybe I could help add details if I get one, though!).

For example, would it work roughly as well as an Asus ZenWiFi BT8? Though a lot more obvious testing has been evidently done on that device.

Some more info on this device in one place:

Specifically, it looks like @daniel, @walken, @alvin-chang, @WhiteNoise, and @andrewjlamarche might have hands-on experience with this exact model. Would you be willing to share your thoughts on this device, if it works well for you, and how you'd feel about a tech-enthusiast (but non-developer) buying one to be the main family router? I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get in the CLI, bust it open, etc. I am not a software developer, however.

I would like to consider getting the device and I also want to consider the advice of others who know much more than I do. Thanks again.

28

How would they impose a $150 payment on you if you are no longer a customer?

29

(https://www.quantumfiber.com/on/demandware.static/Sites-QFCC-Site/Sites-QFCC-Library/-/legal/internet-subscriber-agreement.pdf)

(c) Return of Leased Equipment. After you notify Company of your intent to terminate Service, you must promptly
return your Leased Equipment to Company within 30 days after termination. After receiving your intent to terminate
Service, Company will send you an email with return instructions to return the Leased Equipment to Company.
Company will, at its option, either: (1) charge your payment method on file (including bank account, credit card, or debit
card withdrawal) an amount up to the Equipment Charge if Company does not receive the Equipment within 30 days
after termination; (2) charge your payment method on file (including bank account, credit card, or debit card withdrawal)
an amount up to the Equipment Charge upon termination and credit you back for such charge ONLY if Company
receives your Equipment within 30 days following termination; or (3) continue to charge your payment method on file
(including bank account, credit card, or debit card withdrawal) for the Equipment until Company receives the Equipment.
Upon your termination of Fixed Wireless, we may dispatch a technician to uninstall and remove Fixed Wireless
Equipment at no cost to you, or upon notice to you, require you to promptly return the Fixed Wireless Equipment to
Company within 30 days after termination and as described in this section or in our notice to you.
30

Get the SDG-8733. It's the most well-done piece of MediaTek Filogic gear if had my hands on so far. Excellent radio performance, 10G Ethernet (Aquantia, proven stable reference PHY!), and OpenWrt installation is intended rather than a hack. Serial console is exposed on pin headers on the bottom of the device -- you won't even have to crack-open it. It comes with an eMMC (8 GiB), and enough RAM (2 GiB) to run large containers such as HomeAssistance on it.

The ASUS BT8 is also nice, but over-priced for what it is: only 2.5G Ethernet, 128MB SPI-NAND, only 3 CPU cores (this is MT7988D not A). The only real advantage is availability: you can get it on Amazon.

Now, the W1700K is also very very nice, of course. But it's far more experimental code, a much more recent platform -- with just about the same performance like the MT7988A. The true advantage of the Airoha platforms is that they come with built-in support for XGSPON -- which the W1700K doesn't use.

31

Thank you so much for your thoughts, @daniel !!