Recommendation - UK Mid Range

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
1

Hello!

Hoping you can please help. The hardware lists are a bit overwhelming and don't really know where to start as far as choosing a router. I am currently using TalkTalk standard modem/router and would like to put that into modem mode and get a router running OpenWRT.

I am looking for -

  • Available in UK
  • I have 65Mbps Fibre
  • Use one Ethernet PC plus WiFi
  • Mesh would be a bonus
  • Might one day set up a media server so some 1080p video transfer speeds may be useful
  • Self flash the latest OpenWRT firmware without too much fiddling
  • Privacy respecting

So pretty basic requirements I think? Would appreciate any pointers!

2

Dynalink DL-WRX36 is £77.99

Belkin RT1800 is £27.48

What's your budget?

3

Thank you! Sub £100 unless I need to pay more to get any of the musts / likes.

4

If you can afford to go for the Dynalink.

5

Thank you. Yes I'm going to go for the Dynalink DL-WRX36. Only problem is that from what I can gather the D-Link DSL-3782 router provided by the ISP doesn't support modem mode. And I assume the Dynalink can't act as a modem? So I need to try to resolve this somehow?

6

You'll be double NATing, or you can set the Dynalink up as an dumb AP

But if you only need the wifi (that would be the dumb AP scenario), I'd go for the RT1800 instead,
since there's no real need for the power of the WRX.

7

Hm thank you. I don't think either of those options are ideal. I'll see if the ISP are able to suggest anything.

Many thanks to you both.

8

This doesn't add up though.
The DSL-3782 is a VDSL modem, and fiber is usually optical.

if you're actually on VDSL, you can replace the modem, with a BT Home Hub 5a, or some other VDSL modem. The BT HH5a can be found cheap on ebay, even with openwrt preinstalled.

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9

Thanks @frollic. Are you in UK? If so forgive me for this explanation. But here they can still call it fibre if it’s only fibre to the street cabinet. From the street cabinet to the home is copper and so ISP modem plugs into phone line.

I’ll take a look at the modems you mentioned and also get on to the ISP and see if they can replace their kit too.

10

ISP are sending a new router with modem mode so DL-WRX36 is on order, thank you!

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13

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