Best price per antenna I could find, $16.7 per antenna!
Mercusys is TP-Link budget brand.
It has MU-MIMO 4x4 and 1 x 2.5G port and 3 x Gigabit ports.
Cheers!
CamelCamelCamel.
if only it had 10
Needs 16gb for future proof
Good price for 8 antennas…
Is it me or does anyone else think if you get one of these, I'm concerned that something that looks like a dead spider is giving you access to the web?
Is it a trap?
I've only got four, would eight solve all my problems?
half of
I got 44.5 problems and wifi ain't one of them
I've got 45.397236 problems and Wife-i is the main one!
Just got Flint 2 for $170 to replace the Tplink. Pay a bit more to avoid unstable network
Pay a bit more and get a ASUS
Anecdotally I have had a way better experience with my flint 2 than my rt-ac5300
Merlin firmware may have improved your experience with ASUS
@captainboggle: The Flint 2 is significantly newer — by almost eight years — compared to the ASUS RT-AC5300. I would expect a vast improvement - nothing anecdotally about it.
@freeb1e4me: Very good point, it didn't occur to me just how it has been… Despite that though, I don't just mean better with regards to processing/wan speed, but reliability. The rt-ac5300 would drop out randomly with no useful logs, and a couple years down the line the 5ghz radio essentially died entirely, meanwhile our old nighthawk r7000 has been chugging along with no issues for 10 years now. Firmware-wise I also find openwrt + LuCI to be much nicer than the merlin.
Do you think the RT-AX86U Pro would be better than a flint 2 (especially considering the flint 2 is ~$30 cheaper)?
@captainboggle: Given the price difference it’s a no brainer to go RT-AX86U Pro. Just the fact it has extra support for mesh, low latency gaming mode, and VLAN…
I did but got ZSUS
Looks like you got the upgraded sister version of ASUS. The reviews on the “Zero Security, Usually Suspect” looks wild
Asus has shocking wifi..the flint is better
The wifi on my Asus was great, the wifi on my Flint 2 is phenomenal.
Why????. I moved from Asus to Flint 2 saved a lot of money and am very happy with my purchase.
how easy is it to setup fkint2
for a router noob?
I have this Mercusys router and the range and speed is awesome. Get 550-750mbps on my phone in the same room as it. Never been unstable for me, even 2-3 rooms away the speed is still okay get at least 200mbps.
I used to have 2 wifi points and so I bought 2 of these from an eBay deal but the range was much better than my old one so I sold the 2nd Mercusys one to a friend.
Somehow, if you buy a couple of cheap $9 light bulbs and stack the $5 off by using a Visa
You can get it down to $108.93 by stacking the 10% off if you Buy 2 and %15 off if you Buy 3 vouchers?
Use the Amazon app to get another $10 off with this deal https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/921830
Pretty good for $98.92 https://imgur.com/a/JttNgMh
Respect. I will never be that good (sigh).
But I'll kick ur ass in Counter Strike :)
Got one, thanks ozbargainer legend!
Great share. If I am using NBN network, can this router replace my current modem (Archer VR1600)?
I asked AI and it says I still need my current modem to be a bridge between my NBN box and the new router (Mercusys MR90X).
Which NBN? [FTTP, FTTN, FTTC, HFC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite]
Pick one
I just use this website www.nbnco.com.au to find out which NBN is in my apartment. It says FTTP (Available technology nbn Fibre to the Premises (FTTP))
Thanks.
Do you have a separate NTD box before Archer? Does it connect to Archer via Ethernet?
@nuker: Yes, there is a white box (NBN box) in a cabinet. I use a Ethernet wire to connect it to my Archar modem (WAN port).
can this router replace my current modem (Archer VR1600)?
I use a Ethernet wire to connect NBN box to my Archar modem (WAN port).
Yes, this one replaces Archer :)
Do you know if you are on FTTN? Or, are you on HFC (have a black box) or FTTP (have a white box, likely in your garage)
If you are on HFC or FTTP, then Your archer VR1600 has been acting as a router all this time (although it does have modem capabilities). Yes, you can do a drop in
I think I am using FTTP, yes there is a white box in a cabinet.
Sorry I don't understand very well, do you mean that I still need to use my current Archar modem even I buy the new Mercusys MR90X?
Thanks
This will replace Archer
If you own a VR1600 and require it to act as the modem can you disable the wireless capabilities and instead connect this modem to act as an improved wireless network?
yes this is what the AI told me, but I prefer one device if it works.
This or the Flint 2 for the best WiFi coverage?
I can see this has lots of antennas…but I'm sure that isn't the whole story.
Most time a pair of mesh with wired backbone in between will be a better solution for wireless reception issue.
I can see this has lots of antennas…but I'm sure that isn't the whole story.
The whole story is the antennas are more gimmicky than anything substantial. I personally wouldn’t go cheap on home network security.
I personally wouldn’t go cheap on home network security.
This has WPA3… Anything specific? Consumer grade routers are all in the same bin, insecure, google "busybox CVE" :) Want security? Go Mikrotik or OPNsense way. Hardcore is vanilla OpenBSD box.
antennas are more gimmicky than anything substantial.
Number of antennas helps with range/speed, more wires to pump the RF power out, I think :)
Consumer grade routers are all in the same bin, insecure, google "busybox CVE" :) Want security? Go Mikrotik or OPNsense way. Hardcore is vanilla OpenBSD box.
As long as you’re not using the stock firmware then you should be fine. I would consider open-wrt firmware secure enough
WiFi coverage, specs wise, they are about the same (according to Google Gemini, but can't rule out that's AI hallucination). CPU chipset, Flint 2 has a slightly faster chipset. Both are based on Mediatek Filogic 830.
However, MR90X does more cost cutting. Only a single 2.5Gbps port (for WAN), despite the CPU used is capable of supporting 2 of them (1 for WAN and 1 for LAN). Also, the USB port support is not implemented. Price is a big factor if you decide to buy a Mercusys router. You really want to try to get one at all time low price. Another possible reason for choosing this is if you want to use mesh and you already have other Mercusys or TP-Link router(s).
Someone says WIFI 8 is coming …
Sounds mysterious. What else did they say?
2028
I thought that tp link was a budget brand already
Does anyone know of a router that includes a telephone port to replace the Telstra Smart Modem? I need this for my alarm system. Thanks.
You might be better off buying a sparate Internet Phone Adapter from Amazon or other retailers. I've just installed one.
Pretty sure you connect a LAN cable from this into the WAN port of your Telstra modem and it should work. The telephone port on your Telstra router is the only way to get a phone line because they don't give you the VoIP server & credentials on Telstra, their modem auto configures it.
I know that, but I don’t want to use multiple routers/modems. I’m just looking for an all-in-one solution.
All in one solutions are only going to be from Telstra unless you pay another VoIP provider for phone and set that up.
Here's the latest Telstra router, I haven't actually seen these in person I guess they are only sold on the store right now rather than being something they send out. Probably still have a huge stock of older ones they need to get through.
https://www.telstra.com.au/accessories/modems/telstra/smart-…
Is there a particular reason you are trying to move from your existing Telstra one? I've found the newer smart modems with Wifi6 are pretty good.
@Agret: Ah, I know this new Smart Modem. I’m just waiting for one to be listed on marketplace for $50 😄 then I’ll grab it. It’s not worth $240.
The reason I want to change to a new modem is that the Telstra one isn’t fast and strong enough for my big house. Someone upstairs gets a very weak wifi signal. I know Telstra also offers wifi boosters, but I’d prefer to try more reliable brands like Netgear or DLink…
Kinda crazy when a budget brand has a budget brand
Felt the same way when I found out Uniqlo has a budget brand, GU
Wavlink routers known to previously have backdoors and other security vulnerabilities so just be aware you get what you pay for
Great router imo, runs Openwrt
Hey, I've bricked my router while trying to install Openwrt (stuck in a bootloop), and tried to install OEM firmware.. says installation successful but back to the bootloop after restarting….. Any tips??
I've been looking at the WAVLINK AX6000. It looks like a pretty decent cheap ax6000 router to me but I have no idea on quality.
This looks like it has 1 less lan port but is there any advantage this router has over the WAVLINK AX6000?
Mercusys router supports Easymesh. You can mesh it with TP-Link or any other router that supports Easymesh.
The WAVLINK appears to have the core of the EasyMesh functionality missing from their firmware image. (Ie. The scripts are just missing)
Other than that, they share most of the same hardware in terms of SoC, 2.5gbit chip (Maxlinear GPY211), wireless radios, etc.
Board design/quality I can't comment on as I don't think there are board images for both available.
The Mercusys has an OpenWrt image, while the WAVLINK does not.
In theory the WAVLINK should support one, but someone would have to do the work to port the image.
Thanks, that's a good breakdown. The OpenWrt support is certainly appealing.
Apt username
The number of aerials is mostly a marketing ploy.
If you want to reach a decent distance, you need those parabolic aerials and a booster device.
This is an excellent router both on range and signal quality. The router is on the garage near the NBN box and family is able to watch 4k streaming on the far end of the house with no issues. Openwrt is installed with QOS enabled, managed to get an 'A' rating bufferbloat. I got mine on marketplace for $60.
Does openwrt have an app to connect to the router?
No
Not officially anyway.
There's this one I've been keeping an eye on:
https://github.com/cogwheel0/luci-mobile
However I believe it's not of much use in terms of use for configuration (you'll still require the web interface for the most part), more so for an overview.
@Namidairo: The app is basically just a monitor of the router, good for viewing clients and connectivity status.
I am saving up for eero. Should I get this instead?
(I just upgraded to FTTP, and my Telstra smart modem 2 now at the front part if my house instead middle part of the house)
I got eero 6+ from superloop, very bad range for single storey home. The wifi bars show full signal but no internet at all.
Thanks Op. bought 1
I think the real bargain is to get off the consumer brand router/modem bandwagon, which requires a new router every 4-5 years once the firmware updates are no longer available/supported.
Instead, get a mini pc and install an open source router software and save loads of money over time!
Personally I love the idea of doing this but by the time wireless access points are factored in I'm not sure loads of money will be saved over time. The wirelesss access points will still need to be upgraded even when the mini pc is retained.
If for some reason you need a separate wireless AP for your needs because the mini pc wireless card is not enough then note:
mini pc wireless card on Linux/BSD will be awfully slow compared to AP. Drivers suck, I tried.
I wish I knew enough about how to do these things to do these things.
Just in time for the swooping season
There is also Tri-Band Wifi 7 model, MR47BE, with same promotions as @Fire Chicken used. Came down from $223 to $180 adding a couple of USB Wifi dongles.
Need 6GHz for Quest 3. No OpenWRT firmware though, but I use it as access point and block it from internet.
What speeds can I expect to get if I'm right next to this router? On gigabit fttp, my current telstra modem only gets 450-500 mbps on wifi currently.
if you are too close to 5Ghz router it will give you COVID
Only if you are nonuple vaccinated
I was told last week that apparently we need a pretty modern router to make actual use of the newer high speeds. I have a google home wifi network but it's not the most modern version. I've been told to do more speed tests but I will likely need to upgrade once my speed changes from 250mbps to 750mbps in a couple of weeks.
FFS I told them more aerials. Still not enough aerials.
The entire front is void of aerials.
And don't even get me started on the bottom and top!
Managed to get the AX6000 + 2 x TP Link bulbs for $93, just now
Discounted $53.47
TP-Link Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb x 2
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08BX5FBV1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_f…
AX6000
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BQV3KQ1F?smid=ANEGB3WVEVKZB&t…
ELEC15 (can't remember the end but it's listed on the the AX6000 page)
VISAFIVE - at checkout
The new SHOPAPP10 code didn't work for me.
Just set mine up can confirm its a great router, I can get ~950Mbps on it.
I still don't have my router.. delays occuring :( was supposed to be delivered 11 September….
Good price for 8 antennas…