Least expensive wired-only gigabit router? (TP-Link Festa FR205? Others?)

[Bill_Stewart]

I use a separate VLAN and network ID for the LAN side of my DSL modem. (Why? Because assigning the LAN side of the DSL modem an address on my "main" network does not work: The LAN side of the DSL modem is not pingable and results in weird connectivity problems. The fix was to put the LAN side of the DSL router on a separate VLAN and network ID. The DSL modem is in transparent bridge mode.)

Currently I use an old TP-Link TL-R402M wired router to route between my "main" network and the network on the LAN side of the DSL modem, but I want to replace it because A) It's way past end-of-life and B) it's not gigabit (it's a potential future bottleneck).

TLDR: I'm looking for the least expensive wired-only gigabit router that accepts static IP addresses on both the WAN and LAN interfaces.

From a quick bit of research, it looks like the TP-Link Festa FR205 will meet this requirement.

Questions:

1) Has anyone used the FR205 that can comment on it?

2) Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Tech9]

1) Has anyone used the FR205 that can comment on it?

This is a brand new line of products not available to purchase yet in many countries. Based on description seems like Omada with cloud controller and more user friendly UI.

 

[tgl]

TP-Link do not have a reputation for long-lived device support. If "it's way past EOL" is a top-of-mind concern for you, I'd suggest shopping elsewhere.
Omada is the same company, but it's their business-focused division, and that product line has better street cred on this point.
Other brands to think about: Ubiquiti, Zyxel, MikroTik. Or you could buy a generic mini-PC and run pfSense or opnSense on it.

 

[Tech9]

TP-Link do not have a reputation for long-lived device support.

This new product is from business series. Perhaps closer to Omada support and development cycle than to consumer Archer/Deco. I’m personally interested. One more alternative at least.

 

[coxhaus]

I would run pfsense but not on a miniPC as they are too small and generate too much heat and slow down. Use an older PC so you can run an Intel NIC in it, being physically larger works better for cooling.

 

[Bill_Stewart]

I should specify that I have very limited space. A multi-homed mini PC would work but way overkill for what I need. I think the little TP-Link FR205 box will work for what I need...

 

[TheLostSwede]

Most likely the Brume 2 from GL.inet

GL-MT2500 / Brume 2

Brume 2 (GL-MT2500/GL-MT2500A) is an industrial security gateway for a network to run add-on programs and act as a VPN client or server before data is transmitted out of the network premise.

www.gl-inet.com

They have a couple of cheaper ones, but the hardware is a bit meh.

 

[Tech9]

I actually have one Brume 2, played with it a bit, has nice UI and features, but ports situation is really weird. Single 2.5GbE port is going nowhere and can’t do Dual WAN with 2x ports only. I’d rather get Omada ER605 for $60. @Bill_Stewart, check this model as well. Very similar to what you are looking at and available.

 

[microchip]

I moved away from consumer-based AIO routers to a seperate router + AP solution. For router I chose MikroTik (their products are on the cheaper side) and TP-Link Omada for APs. Couldn't be more happier. My MikroTik RB3011 with 10 1-gigabit ports + SFP, was only 120 Euros.

 

[Tech9]

Couldn't be more happier.

You can’t show any fast speed test results though. Who cares about quality?

 

[tiddlywink]

..

 

[microchip]

You can’t show any fast speed test results though. Who cares about quality?

Speeds are just fine, slightly higher than on my previous NG RAX43 system. Browsing also feels much faster now. On the RAX43 sometimes it'll take up to 1 second to open a link. Now it's almost instantaneous.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I actually have one Brume 2, played with it a bit, has nice UI and features, but ports situation is really weird. Single 2.5GbE port is going nowhere and can’t do Dual WAN with 2x ports only. I’d rather get Omada ER605 for $60. @Bill_Stewart, check this model as well. Very similar to what you are looking at and available.

It meets the OP's requirements though.

 

[Tech9]

I can’t really recommend Brume 2 because of the design quirks. For basic needs ER605 is perhaps better fit. I had one for tests, but earlier version when it was called TL-R605. Omada integrated router, but with own WebUI. Newer versions have USB, WireGuard, etc. extra features. The best thing - available everywhere and around $60.

 

[TheLostSwede]

available everywhere and around $60.

Yeah, no, that thing is like $90 here. It's got the old MTK dual core MIPS SoC, so no wonder it's being sold at a cheap price, as it has cheap hardware in it. Not saying that was bad router chip, but it's what, 6-7 years old now?

 

[Tech9]

Cheaper routers use cheap SoC usually, not latest and greatest. TP-Link ER605 is similar to Ubiquiti ER-X and MikroTik hEX. All entry-level, all under $100. Asus has one new EBG15 with SoC from 2017. Good ARMv8 though, runs skinned Asuswrt, needs Trend Micro data sharing for main features as usual, about $100.

 

[Bill_Stewart]

Thanks for the suggestions! The Linksys wifi gigabit router would work (provided I can disable the wifi), but it's physically too big. The wired router dosen't need to support VLANs (the old TL-R402M I'm replacing doesn't support VLANs). It has no Internet route and sits only on the inside of the network. The requirement is small, inexpensive, and the ability to route (layer 3) from one network ID to another using static IPs on both of its interfaces.

 

[Bill_Stewart]

I went ahead and installed the FR205 (small and under $50 USD) in place of the TL-R402M. Works exactly as needed and expected. Thanks for the responses and suggestions.

 

[sfx2000]

Yeah, no, that thing is like $90 here. It's got the old MTK dual core MIPS SoC, so no wonder it's being sold at a cheap price, as it has cheap hardware in it. Not saying that was bad router chip, but it's what, 6-7 years old now?

Yeah - and this might be a market oppty - but not a big one...

There are core chipsets from both MediaTek and Qualcomm that would meet this requirement - so spending some time/effort to design one is one thing...

How to justify the production costs is another discussion perhaps...

 

[TheLostSwede]

Yeah - and this might be a market oppty - but not a big one...

There are core chipsets from both MediaTek and Qualcomm that would meet this requirement - so spending some time/effort to design one is one thing...

How to justify the production costs is another discussion perhaps...

Got the cash? I got the connections to get it done.