so I already have a mt6000 but I need an additional piece of hardware that wirelessly connects to the main router & provides wired access to a vlan + main lan. I'm assuming I can just get a cheap openwrt capable router and use it in dumb ap mode & configure br-lan for the specific vlans?
What is the cheapest easy to flash device I can get away with that supports 5ghz?
depends on where you live, geographically, all devices aren't available everywhere.
Main point I gathered here is that you're talking wireless repeater, not a bridged / "dumb ap" mode. This is more complicated than running a cable IMO. You may want to investigate tri-radio or "tri band" equipment, or running a cable.
I would liken this to a "how long is a piece of string" question. Define your budget, cheapest is probably something you pick up out of an e-waste bin for free =P IMO mt7621 platform gets you cheap DSA dual band. Just make sure you get one with enough flash and ram. But there are numerous others it depends. I think others have recommended qualcomm platforms such as netgear r7800.
powerline adapters might also be an option?
I read more and I feel like you're definitely right.. I might just go the cable route. Also, I have a pretty good memory and you helped me the last time I was here hahaha. Thanks again, brother.
Just for the sake of learning.. I assume there's a reason you can't just create a vlan20 interface on the main router & then connect a second AP to the main router & also assign it a vlan20 interface? Or at least a reason you shouldn't LOL..
On a wired network and the second AP being a bridge, at a high level that's pretty much it.
Main issue is with dsa hardware and bridges, doing the migration to bridge vlan filtering over a non vlan enabled bridge.
The issue becomes if you are doing a wireless repeater. You need to do a tunnel or something that can handle vlans like batman, or with wds and multiple networks.
Yeah powerline, MoCA are also options. I'm unsure if powerline/moca gear can pass vlans though =P But a wired tunnel would beat a wireless tunnel.
There's lots of options for slim/square conduit/trunking, under carpet/over carpet covers, running fibre through your LV conduit....