This is a review about my ervaringingen with both versions, so both V1 if V2!
Pros
- Price
- Robust housing(particularly V2)
- Range
- Stability
- OpenWRT is available
- Suspension
- Gigabit ports
Cons
- V1 went after about 3 years of broken
- Stock firmware allows for instability with multiple AP’s
Final conclusion
Score: 5Per criterion
Reliability
Score: 4
My first experience with these routers was already some time ago, but now I have both at home and at friends already have multiple instances installed.
It all started with 1 V1 instance in connection with the dramatic wi-fi and routing performance of the Ubee modems of Ziggo. This I have not very long in my possession. Although the range dramatically was improved was the instability still not resolved. Therefore, I have in the shop, the router exchanged, but later found out this was due to the positioning of the equipment in the cupboard(DECT, Ziggo modem and router). After this to have addressed this V1 done well.
That time, I have also decided to have 2 routers in place, and to use this as AP. Of time was the V2 just become commonplace, so these 2 routers were both the V2 variant.
In my setup I have chosen to 1 V2 as a router, to places not too far from the meter come from, and from there wired to the V1 and the other V2 to connect to it then AP has to configure. This seemed to be pretty good to go, but the instability remained. However, very less than before.
From that moment on, I am going to make use of OpenWRT. The Barrier Breaker(but later also the Chaos Calmer) version of this firmware solved in 1x all the problems with instability. I’ve listed a maximum of 1x per year to reset, but this might have been the fact that slowly but surely the V1 more and more problems.
In the meantime, I still ge lwa xpirimenteerd with multiple SSID’s. For me, in the first instance a challenge because I so with multiple AP’s work. For this I have made use of VLANS and separate interfaces, but for more information you better go to Google or the OpenWRT wiki. This arrangement has always stably rotated.
Ultimately, the V1 may be defective.He works still, more or less, but gives a lot of problems. So I regularly had to rely on 4G because wi-fi sometimes no access to the internet provided via this AP(both SSID’s). Although my wired connected PC can always connect loved shit the speed regularly to up to 50Mbit. This while I always use the full speed of our 120Mbit internetpakket have been able to exploit. Recently, I have this router replaced by an Asus RT-AC66u with DD-WRT firmware), but here I will soon have another review to write about it.
I have no concrete measurements done/kept but want this review to deliver a “big lines” opinion.
What little information about the situation at my home. I live in a converted farm that is now almost 100 years old(but thoroughly renovated). Although there is not a lot of concrete used, is compared with newer homes, the renovation quite a lot of use. Wooden floors might give a somewhat rosy picture of the performance, but also by stone or concrete, the signal best aaardig through(especially the V2). Next to the house is an annexe building with a computer room. Here is a cable back pulled and was the V1. On the other side of the house(the main router is fine at 1 side of the house), once again connected by means of and cable, the other V2.
The result is that I have 3 of these routers on almost 2000m2 of land have wi-fi. That is a great achievement, especially when you consider that the equipment in total, only 145 euro cost has.
Compared to newer and more expensive routers seem my figures are a bit exaggerated. The review I to the various aspects gave are certainly with the low price in mind. The price/quality ratio is excellent! Certainly a must for many homes. Sure if 5Ghz is not required!