Need a budget router recommendation

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 5:30am

I recently got 1000Mbps/750Mbps fiber. I get fairly close to those speeds when using the Nokia Beacon 3.1 that came with it. However, when I switch to my Archer AX23 ver 1 (with Openwrt), I get 700-900/500-700 wired, and very poor WI-FI (100-200/100-200). I do have multiple VLANs.

Using CPU vs hardware flow offloading type seem to perform the same.

Is there any budget routers that would perform better that what I have? (~100-200 Canadian)? There seems to be so many options, and not sure which one to choose.

Thanks.

frollic · August 30, 2026, 5:34am

CDN is Canadian dollar?

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 5:41am

Yes. Made it more clear.

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 9:20am

At what range?
Through how many walls?
How many wireless devices (watches, phones, IoT... ...if it has wi-fi) do you have turned on?
Not in use; just on.

Those numbers do not seem attributable to the router unless it is misconfigured or one of those question's answer(s) is extreme.

Your router's wi-fi should be faster than that.

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall

frollic · August 30, 2026, 9:25am

I guess getting one from across Lake America isn't (currently) an option?

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 12:51pm

I know a guy...

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 1:12pm

This is right beside the router (using the home network). The Beacon 3.1 with whatever system OS it came with works well, so I am a bit confused. I still need to modify the firewall rules, as my VLANs are a bit too strict - Can't connect devices to internet on them other than IoT.

As requested:

root@OpenWrt:~# ubus call system board
{
	"kernel": "6.6.104",
	"hostname": "OpenWrt",
	"system": "MediaTek MT7621 ver:1 eco:3",
	"model": "TP-Link Archer AX23 v1",
	"board_name": "tplink,archer-ax23-v1",
	"rootfs_type": "squashfs",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "24.10.3",
		"revision": "r28872-daca7c049b",
		"target": "ramips/mt7621",
		"description": "OpenWrt 24.10.3 r28872-daca7c049b",
		"builddate": "1758316778"
	}
}

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path '1e140000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:02:00.0'
	option band '2g'
	option channel '1'
	option htmode 'HE20'
	option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
	option device 'radio0'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'xxx'
	option hidden '1'
	option encryption 'sae-mixed'
	option key 'yyy'
	option ocv '0'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path '1e140000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:02:00.0+1'
	option band '5g'
	option channel '36'
	option htmode 'HE80'
	option disabled '1'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
	option device 'radio1'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option encryption 'none'

config wifi-iface 'wifi_work'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'xxx'
	option encryption 'sae-mixed'
	option key 'yyy'
	option network 'work'
	option hidden '1'
	option ocv '0'

config wifi-iface 'wifi_guest'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'xxx'
	option encryption 'sae-mixed'
	option key 'yyy'
	option network 'guest'

config wifi-iface 'wifi_iot'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'xxx'
	option encryption 'psk2'
	option key 'yyy'
	option network 'iot'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/dhcp

config dnsmasq
	option domainneeded '1'
	option boguspriv '1'
	option filterwin2k '0'
	option localise_queries '1'
	option rebind_protection '1'
	option rebind_localhost '1'
	option local '/lan/'
	option domain 'lan'
	option expandhosts '1'
	option nonegcache '0'
	option cachesize '1000'
	option authoritative '1'
	option readethers '1'
	option leasefile '/tmp/dhcp.leases'
	option resolvfile '/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
	option nonwildcard '1'
	option localservice '1'
	option ednspacket_max '1232'
	option filter_aaaa '0'
	option filter_a '0'

config dhcp 'lan'
	option interface 'lan'
	option start '100'
	option limit '150'
	option leasetime '12h'
	option dhcpv4 'server'
	option dhcpv6 'server'
	option ra 'server'
	option ra_slaac '1'
	list ra_flags 'managed-config'
	list ra_flags 'other-config'

config dhcp 'wan'
	option interface 'wan'
	option ignore '1'

config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
	option maindhcp '0'
	option leasefile '/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
	option leasetrigger '/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
	option loglevel '4'

config dhcp 'work'
	option interface 'work'
	option start '100'
	option limit '150'
	option leasetime '12h'
	option dhcpv4 'server'

config dhcp 'guest'
	option interface 'guest'
	option start '100'
	option limit '150'
	option leasetime '12h'
	option dhcpv4 'server'

config dhcp 'iot'
	option interface 'iot'
	option start '100'
	option limit '150'
	option leasetime '24h'
	option dhcpv4 'server'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall

config defaults
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	option synflood_protect '1'
	option flow_offloading '1'

config zone
	option name 'lan'
	list network 'lan'
	option input 'ACCEPT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'ACCEPT'

config zone
	option name 'wan'
	list network 'wan'
	list network 'wan6'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	option masq '1'
	option mtu_fix '1'

config forwarding
	option src 'lan'
	option dest 'wan'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-DHCP-Renew'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'udp'
	option dest_port '68'
	option target 'ACCEPT'
	option family 'ipv4'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-Ping'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	option icmp_type 'echo-request'
	option family 'ipv4'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IGMP'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'igmp'
	option family 'ipv4'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-DHCPv6'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'udp'
	option dest_port '546'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-MLD'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	option src_ip 'fe80::/10'
	list icmp_type '130/0'
	list icmp_type '131/0'
	list icmp_type '132/0'
	list icmp_type '143/0'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Input'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	list icmp_type 'echo-request'
	list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
	list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
	list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
	list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
	list icmp_type 'bad-header'
	list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
	list icmp_type 'router-solicitation'
	list icmp_type 'neighbour-solicitation'
	list icmp_type 'router-advertisement'
	list icmp_type 'neighbour-advertisement'
	option limit '1000/sec'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Forward'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest '*'
	option proto 'icmp'
	list icmp_type 'echo-request'
	list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
	list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
	list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
	list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
	list icmp_type 'bad-header'
	list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
	option limit '1000/sec'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IPSec-ESP'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest 'lan'
	option proto 'esp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ISAKMP'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest 'lan'
	option dest_port '500'
	option proto 'udp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config zone
	option name 'work'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	list network 'work'

config forwarding
	option src 'work'
	option dest 'wan'

config zone
	option name 'guest'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	list network 'guest'

config forwarding
	option src 'guest'
	option dest 'wan'

config zone
	option name 'iot'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	list network 'iot'

config forwarding
	option src 'iot'
	option dest 'wan'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IoT-DNS-DHCP'
	option src 'iot'
	option dest_port '53 67 68'
	option proto 'udp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 1:21pm

Lmao. Assuming it's a router issue, then across Lake Murica is fine.

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 1:28pm

While I do not think this is your problem, it usually causes drop outs or flat out unable to connect. Despite it's intent.

You have a lot of VLAN stuff that I'm not going to touch but unless performance is based on vlan chosen; @psherman can look at that and clean it up but I don't see it causing issues either.

Still stand by it is not the hardware.
How many devices in the household or on guest?

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 1:58pm

TV to IoT. Then phone, linux PC, and proxmox server (with two VMs) on home network.

I tried just speed test having only my TV connected to IoT and my linux PC connected to home network. Openspeedtest gives me the same results (wired and wifi).

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 2:11pm

The good wired results or the bad wi-fi results, on both?

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 3:05pm

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

Stock Nokia Beacon 3.1 speeds with whatever OS it has:

Wired: 920-950/700-800
Wireless: 750/600-750

Archer Ax23 with openwrt:
Wired: 680-700/500-600
Wireless: 180/100-120

Tried a variety of ethernet cables.

When looking at the settings in the Nokia beacon, they seem to have both bands combined - 2.4Ghz/5Ghz, with the SSID index of 1,5 through some kind of band steering? So I am guessing if I figure out how to do this on my Archer x23, it may solve the wifi issues.

But there still seems to be a gap for the wired.

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 3:16pm

Wifi6 combines both for throughput.

Turn off the radios on the Nokia and test again.

frollic · August 30, 2026, 3:20pm

Pretty sure the AX23's wifi is capped by SoC, there have been threads about the same issue earlier, 180 is on the low end of the spectrum though.

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 3:21pm

I read that in the Wiki and they said it was fixed with some cli?

I presumed the OP read the Wiki

frollic · August 30, 2026, 3:25pm

I see, haven't been paying attention, my AX23 is on a 100/100 so I'm not really affected.

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 3:26pm

I can't get back into the wiki...

TechFish · August 30, 2026, 3:31pm

Not sure what you mean. Like force 2.4ghz? Does Openwrt not do band steering?

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 3:35pm

Disable them, in other words.

I'm looking for interference and they are using different modes.
...and trying to get back into the wiki to ensure I got it the first time.

LilRedDog · August 30, 2026, 3:47pm

I can't get to the Wiki but I believe I would have noticed that, if mentioned, given the topic.

The SoC is the MT7621; a lot of routers use that soc and are fine.