How Old Is Your Main Router?

[drrich2]

In the recent thread US bans foreign routers - reason enough for a new Airport? we've been discussing various aspects of router security, and that discussion turned up some interesting tangents - things like how long (and if) a given brand commits to offer firmware updates after a given model goes off sale, and a PC Magazine article today reported on Spectrum e-mailing users of 23 older TP-Link routers deemed vulnerable to exploitation by Russian hackers (all end-of-service models), with the recommendation that if your router is over 5 years old (I'm guessing they're just referring to those 23? Not sure), 'consider replacing it.'

I'm not suggesting that should generalize to all routers. And there are other factors to consider; does the more recent router get automatic firmware updates, if you model still sold, when does it reach End-Of-Service, does the maker commit to support it how many years afterward, etc.

But it might be interesting to get some idea what range of router pages MacRumors members willing to participate in those poll use. For now I'll skip the issue of brand or EOS status, year released, which version of WiFi, etc., and just ask roughly how old your main home router is. If enough people find this interesting, maybe a poll about another factor can be done. I'll set the poll to run 8 weeks.

I bought my TP-Link AXE75 in July, 2023, so I'm 3.).

 

[BotchQue]

My router was approximately 10 years old, bought it when I got my '15 iMac. It worked mostly fine, although the last few years my print jobs (via WIFI) would fail about a quarter of the time. No idea if it kept itself up-to-date; it never sent me any "update" requests.
End of February this year, I finally got a fiber optic connection, and before they showed up they sent me a list of suggested requirements for my router, which mine didn't meet much at all. Like you I got a "TP-Link" router, around $100, and left it wrapped until I could show both units to the installer. He said my original router would probably work but suggested he install the newer one, so he did. He configurated it for me (I'm a dummy with that stuff) with all my old codes and passwords, and most of my WIFI items saw it immediately and just worked (had to futz with my Apple TV for a couple minutes, and one of my two amazoid Echo thingies still won't connect (they're identical, so its not just me)).

The cool thing is my Brother laser printer prints reliably at 100%, for the last two months; so I'm glad I used the new one (and purchased it before the import ban was enacted).

 

[WebHead]

As it happens my four-year-old Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 recently became unsupported for updates. I remember waiting months for it to come back in stock post-pandemic.

Previously I'd used a Time Capsule for over a decade. I miss some of the Apple optimisations, eg I can't (easily) use the Nighthawk with Time Machine.

^ And speaking of Brother, it doesn't play nice with our MFC. The only way we can maintain a reliable connection is using WPS with no password.

 

[torana355]

Still running my Netgear Nighthawk r7000. Unfortunately its starting to have some issues after 12. years of service.

 

[IvyKing]

My current router is an Asus RT-BE82U that was bought 9 months in order to get a router with 2.5G Ethernet ports. This replaced a similar Asus router bought a bit over two years before. The router before that was a Linksys LRT214 which died when the power went down. The Asus routers have been satisfactory, and they can be set up without an internet connection - copied most of the settings from the old one before making the switch. One complaint is the DNS configuration is not easy to change. The old one then replaced a Netgear router set up as a wireless access point, it had a 100M Ethernet port and was the bottleneck for WiFi data transfer.

 

[Nermal]

I thought I'd had mine for about 18 months but I just found the receipt: May 2022. How time flies!

 

[elvisimprsntr]

The ban is on consumer router and MESH systems. If you use enterprise level equipment you are safe.

I run open source enterprise class pfSense firewall software on a Protectli mini-PC firewall appliance, and enterprise class access points from Engenius. None of which are subject to the ban.

 

[bapegg]

The ban is on consumer router and MESH systems. If you use enterprise level equipment you are safe.

The issue is that most people are not going to spend the money for enterprise grade network equipment. The average person is going to buy what ever is the cheapest and still meets all of their needs from Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart.

And the average person is not going to build their own routers or use third party firmware, such as Open-WRT or pfSence firewall.

We see examples even in this thread where the average person buys a consumer grade router and runs it well past the 3-5 years of support.

 

[throAU]

Mine is about 3 years old (Netgate 2100) but it is still on sale.

 

[dmr727]

We have an eero mesh at the house, and it's been easy and reliable. It updates itself periodically in the middle of the night, which is about all I can hope for on the security front.

 

[Tyler.Schmaltz]

Over the last 2 years I have switched my whole network setup in my apartment to 100% Unifi gear. Unifi cloud gateway fiber being the router.

 

[drrich2]

The issue is that most people are not going to spend the money for enterprise grade network equipment.

IIRC, in another thread the question came up as to what's 'better' (more secure) about business-grade routers, etc., and somebody opined a lot of it gets down to the user - enterprise-grade network equipment is likely to operate in the context of a business overseen by an I.T. department, administered by people with some degree of networking expertise.

So if, for sake of argument, a large segment of home users decide to circumvent the ban by buying enterprise-grade routers, and even if those routers are user-friendly enough for the average unsophisticated home user to set up (which at least many years ago Ubiquiti seemed to have a rep. for being being), I have to ask...will they be much more secure than 'home user' grade equipment?

 

[jrgl050]

I'm using a netgear r6400 that came out in 2015 that I got used from goodwill in 2019 for $15. Still going strong, meets my needs. I'll use it till it dies or when netgear finally stops firmware updates.... then I have a netgear r7450 waiting in the wings which I also got from goodwill a few years ago new in a sealed box.....yes, I like to fine deals whenever possible.

 

[uacd]

23 older TP-Link routers deemed vulnerable to exploitation by Russian hackers (all end-of-service models), with the recommendation that if your router is over 5 years old

The ironic part of this is that TP-Links rarely live to 4 years old and just start randomly annoying owners with random resets or WiFi dropouts. The coverage area of their routers is a pure joke.

As for me I have Tenda. It was a good router for the last 5 years but recently it started doing weird things like network dropouts, so I am currently looking for a new router, maybe Tenda as well. Routers are kind of single-use items that don’t last long

 

[Abydos]

my router dates from pre 2016, don't remember the year, but I've got an even older linksys router in a drawer someplace

 

[bapegg]

So if, for sake of argument, a large segment of home users decide to circumvent the ban by buying enterprise-grade routers, and even if those routers are user-friendly enough for the average unsophisticated home user to set up (which at least many years ago Ubiquiti seemed to have a rep. for being being), I have to ask...will they be much more secure than 'home user' grade equipment?

I have to say that average consumers using enterprise grade routers will not be more secure unless they stay on top of firmware and security updates. Too many buy a router only to set and forget until the router starts having issues.

 

[avkills]

My setup is weird, but it is the way it is because it is easier for me to simulate work conditions on show site. My DSL modem basically drives my wired network. I have an EERO router for the wireless stuff. My DSL modem hands out specific IP address based off of MAC hardware addresses for all my machines; and if I need to change one to static for show site stuff I can and everything still works right.

This also allows me to setup our graphic computer kits and just plug in and not have to worry; those machines have static IP addresses for file syncing between them. The on site router is the same subnet as my DSL router.

I really like the EERO router; it is also what we use on show site.

If I ever get lucky enough to have Fiber come to my Condo, then I will switch everything over to the EERO router.

 

[VisceralRealist]

I'm one of those losers using the rented router/modem from Xfinity 🙁