What the title says. My R7900P project has gone sour, and so I am considering buying a NETGEAR R8000 (not P, just regular). I see it is supported quite easily, and I can't think of any better mid to high-end NETGEAR Router that also looks awesome and has a properly working OpenWRT, flashable OS. I can't seem to find any real issues with the R8000 either, as the only problem so far seems to be some very minor 5GHz issues that are very easily bypassed and fixed.
So my question is that, if anyone can recommend me a Router better than the R8000, that is both high-end, looks sweet, isn't overtly expensive, and can run OpenWRT without any issues really. It should be noted that I am open to taking Routers that require serial connection too, as I have a USB to TTL cable that I could use, so if there is any Router that would work better but requires USB to TTL serial connection, that still is fine with me actually.
Now: Let the recommendations flow in :)!
EDIT: In order to save everyone time, read this:
My requirements are a little specific. First off, design has to be nice and modern, I don't accept 90's/early 2000's designs anymore, we're in 2022 for christ sake. So designs like the R8000 is what I'm after or something equally nice. Next, price. I've set my budget to 250$, anything above would have to be such an insane combo that I couldn't possibly resist it (the R8000 is at that exact price here). Also, I live in South Korea right now, so getting a hold of certain brands is difficult, nigh impossible or outright not an option. Brands like Belkin for example are an absolute no-go here, Zyxel equally so. My last "demand" (need), is the bare minimum of 64MB flash memory. 128MB is absolutely preferred, and 64MB would ONLY be acceptable if there is a USB port to support installing additional packages to a USB device.
The broadcom based r8000 is rather exotic in the context of OpenWrt, I would not recommend it (the SOC isn't that fast either and brcmfmac rather limited), r7800/ xr500 are easier alternatives.
Well it seems to be a rather non-issue really as far as I can tell, and the next issue is that the R7800 first off, looks personally quite outdated and bad at this point (same design as the R7000, which didn't bother me back then but I do now, stuff doesn't need to look super 90's/early 2000's anymore), and the R7800 is more expensive than the R8000 here. So just for mere cost reasons I wouldn't get the R7800 really, when the R8000 seems nicer, has no particular noteworthy issues (compared to the R7900P or R8000P), and is cheaper too.
To add to that, the difference we're talking about is roughly 30$ USD. Not much, but when I can get a Router that looks nicer and more modern, can run OpenWRT without any issues (as opposed to its newer counterparts, the R7900P and R8000P), and is cheaper, why would I buy the lower-end model that seems to have no advantage over the R8000.
The XR500 you've recommended however seems to be my type, however it is just above my budget. I can get the R8000 for roughly 250$, which is where I'd go, but 350-400$ USD (roughly, price here in South Korea), is just outside of my range for using it as a high-end WiFi antenna and repeater.
Now, I would also be willing to give another brand a try, but I want one that both also looks good and modern, and is easily acquired in South Korea. I considered the Belkin RT3200, but it is nigh impossible to get here, so it'll have to be something else.
Here in Korea we got ipTime, Elecom seems to be near exclusively Japan. ipTime I see in the Table of Hardware is also fairly supported, but I never liked ipTime and I would only buy it if I can 100% flash OpenWRT to it. I am currently reading through the ToH.
And checked just to make sure, yeah I can't, Elecom is Japan only.
EDIT: Ok scrap ipTrash, seems like they're only actually kinda supported but no real install instructions are available, and I'm not fussing around again like as I did with the R7900P.
Did you look close enough? The tech data pages link to the git commit adding support for the hardware in question, and those commits are supposed to contain explicit installation instructions, like for the AX2004M.
Good point, I didn't, but I usually don't go into checking the git commits, I use the ToH pages they link to in the wiki. But what it tells me is that usually they aren't well supported or cared for if people cannot even write the initial wiki article, just my 2 cents on it. But even then, I gotta find the best out of those and I don't think any of them is worthy of being in my house
EDIT: Oooof, ok, looked into them, and flash is HEAVILY limited, 16MB flash is exactly the reason why I am going away from my current TP-Link Archer C50, I need more flash memory and 16MB doesn't cut it. And it seems like that the top model that is supported, A8004T, is the one with 16MB flash. I don't wanna know what the rest has in that case
Indeed so, but if I managed to get my model working with my work, I'd write the article. But anyhow, ipTime is out the window regardless as even the top model seems to only have 16MB flash, omega yikes...
And I want to avoid loading packages/modules from a USB device if I can get a Router with 128MB flash. I should've clarified that 128MB flash is the bare minimum I can accept. 64MB if the Router is really good, so strikingly good that the 64MB is the biggest issue and nothing else. Design has to knock me out of my socks (like the R8000), CPU/RAM speed (SoC) has to blow me outta my shoes too, and price as well. If that ends up being the case, 64MB is acceptable IF it has a USB port so that I could use that for loading/installing additional packages.
In order to reflect on all my "needs" accordingly, I'll update the OP so that future readers might be able to assist better.
Not necessarily requiring the R8000 design (but yeah, I do like that upside-down spider actually), but yeah the WAX202 is not my style really, but I do appreciate you recommending it. The WAX206 is the same in terms of design unfortunately, but again, I really appreciate you taking the time to recommend them to me.
And yeah, also no USB ports, so that already disqualifies them based on that alone. But again, thanks a bunch for trying to recommend something to the needy me
To add to that, the WAX206 doesn't seem like a bad choice, and I might consider it if I can get it here in Korea easily, it being cheaper and it getting OpenWRT support basically today hahaha.
EDIT: Checked, WAX202 and 206 are only obtainable via importing, which takes many weeks and the price is near 200$, so I might as well just buy the R8000 for 50$ extra at that point.
Well... The data page requires someone to write it, too. And like I said earlier, commits are required to contain full installation instructions, has been for some time.
Spiders have 8 legs, decapods (as the name implies) have 10, it is insects that have 6 legs, just as the r8000 has 6 antennas. In addition the devices proportions seem more like a true bug (just missing the wings).
Not sure I can actually help this thread along, as the core requirement "nice and modern" look are pretty subjective.
However consider splitting the router duty into a dedicated wired router and an AP, in which case you might get a capable router small enough to hide away and hence can focus on getting an AP with your desired look (you might be able to continue using your TP-Link Archer C50 as AP for some time).
I suppose I failed to properly articulate that this Router will be serving as an inlet, to take WiFi in and send it out again through both LAN and WiFi, a sort of extender. But I prefer Routers working as extenders instead, as they are far more capable than extenders are, and Mesh isn't necessary in my case. And a regular WiFi adapter for my Desktop is not something I'm after because it limits me to using the main Router for firewall and all, and that one is basically only a modem with bare minimum functionality in terms of port-forwarding and such (and laying a cable isn't possible). I've settled on using a Router as an extender, and if I later want to use it as my main device, I can, then I wouldn't need to buy a new Router again, I can just switch mode. That is why I am as picky as I am, btw.
I know you mentioned the WAX206 is currently not supported, would it be possible for me to try to install the mediatek/mt7622/ package or better just wait for official support? Either way I need a replacement router that doesn't look like a spider and this looks very nice.
