Hey, I am looking for a router to use as a mesh device behind a Fritzbox.
In the future I may use it as the main device.
I am looking for something good, open, Wifi 6 or higher, with good support.
Break it into multiple devices. Get a router upstream and then get a switch and some APs. If you can’t run cables look into mesh.
For WiFi 6 devices look here: https://openwrt.org/toh/views/toh_available_16128_ax-wifi
To be honest with you wifi 6 doesn’t offer that big of leap from WiFi 5. It is a little faster but devices need to support it.
I don’t like to give you an answer in the negative because it might not be categorically true, but I looked earlier this year and couldn’t find such a device. The driver support doesn’t seem to be there.
Turris seems to be the answer
A bit on the expensive side but it is based on openwrt with a bit of custom software on top by Turris (which is a daughter company of czech domain registrar CZ.NIC)
Very cool! I could find nowhere how long they are supported though.
I’ve had mine since 2018 and it’s still going strong! I’ve recently upgraded it to WiFi6 but otherwise it’s the same device.
Really cool!
From: https://docs.turris.cz/#updates
We are committed to providing long-term support for our devices for as long as the Linux kernel continues to support them. For instance, our initial router, Turris 1.X, which was a part of the Turris security research program launched in 2013, is still supported after a decade.
I guess it’s something along “we will try to support your device for as long as humanly possible” ? My ~three years old omnia is still getting updates (just like a regular linux box would), actually seems I have one pending right now:)
They have 10 year old powerPC omnias that still get updates.
They have issues with Rust or Go compilers not supporting old hardware anymore, which is pretty damn funny.
Poorly the ARMv7 is way less secure than v8a on my Pixel phone, or even the newer v9 on modern Pixels with hardware memory tagging etc.
Nice! The webshop from czechia is broken kind of, poorly. May need to buy from Amazon 🫣
Thanks a lot for that tip!
I bought one, the hardware is a bit very old, poorly I got it a bit early (they are a bit late, the MOX already uses ARMv8 and they still dont have m.2) but it is AWESOME!
this thing is absolute geek material and the powerful hardware allows for way more features. Their openWRT is highly modified and extended, their updates are likely better, they have packages you can add etc.
Really really great.
Already got DNSSEC running, and will add a 2TB SSD for a nextcloud server.
Already started modding, as the mPCIe slots are similar to what my Thinkpas T430 has.
Yeah geek material is probably the best tag and category for Turris, and I feel you with that old hardware, wish I had the same thing with just a bit better/modern soc and more ram.
I loved GL.iNet series, both the full size, but especially the travel size. OpenWRT based, quite cost effective, nicely built.
I use a second hand x86 mini pc and I am very happy with it.
I think so too? Isnt linux just made for that? All these routers are just weak PCs.
But I wonder how well antennas work here.
That’s going to depend on the wifi hardware you use, their is probably some good usb 3 or pcie wifi adapter.
Wifi is not very important in my setup so I can’t recommend anything.
But it is certainly an option to explore because these routers can be quite expensive.
