I have one of these space invaders style things which looks utterly scary. Why did Apple have the beautiful Apple Airport Extreme which was perfectly crafted but we're forced to use these monstrosities?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How Old Is Your Main Router?
- Thread starter drrich2
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That's a good point. If Apple starts putting cellular chips in their MacBooks, I suspect this segment will take off a bit. And people on a tight budget could in theory use their smartphone as a hotspot, if their needs were modest.
I don't know, but NAS (network attached storage) devices often have RAID arrays and it's a recommended good practice to have them on a UPS so sudden outages don't stop their internal processes at delicate times (also a concern if you use SSD for read/write caching from/to HDDs, IIRC). I would think a good UPS designed to give the NAS plenty of time to complete its tasks before shutting down could keep a router and modem going awhile.
One thing I haven't heard until researching NAS options but it made sense once someone pointed it out - UPS devices use an internal battery, and batteries wear out, so factor in the cost of periodic replacements.
Oh, have you got one of these 'alien death spider' looking things, too? My TP-Link AXE75 looks kinda like that (I eventually won the power struggle with my wife, who wanted it behind the dresser and on the floor out of sight. It now sits out ready to pounce).
If I were buying today, I'd consider choosing a single unit 'node' from a mesh router system. For whatever reason, mesh router vendors think they need style and purposefully stand alone (even if 'mesh-able') can still look like alien bugs. I don't know why.
HiVolt
macrumors 68020
My main router is an Asus AC68U, running tomato firmware. much leaner, more stable than stock or merlin. I also doesn't use the wifi, I've long switched to unifi access points. The router keeps up with 1G symmetrical fiber just fine. I don't need faster speeds, so why fix what ain't broke. I have a spare i got for free a few years ago just in case it craps out.
I think it's over 11 years old now, i got it sometime in 2015.
I think it's over 11 years old now, i got it sometime in 2015.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
IDK. I came to Apple late (2003). So when I bought my first network gear, it was D-Link. I got this ASUS router because I was upgrading my home network from Fast Ethernet to Gig-E. Since I primarily use wired connections, the router had to handle Gig-E, plus have 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz WiFi.
Nowhere in my mind did I ever consider Airport – Extreme or otherwise. The only reason I have AE now (as slaved routers to the ASUS) is because I snagged one at the Goodwill. Then, I got two more in a box of old Mac Minis as part of a deal for the Minis. I wasn't expecting them.
Totally understand your perspective; but when it comes to my network gear, I have a different outlook.
I picked up an Airport Extreme Gen 6 off ebay many years ago but the thing only last six months before dying. I can't recall what the problem was but it was a tall cylinder you aren't concerned that the cat will chew on. Space invader style routers being attacked by the cat is a thing. The Gen 6 would be too slow nowadays but it just makes me sad how embarrassing these routers look nowadays.
ErneX
macrumors regular
Had an EdgeRouter Lite 3 from 2016 until 2024. Replaced it with an EdgeRouter 4 and a few months ago replaced that with a Unifi Cloud Gateway Fiber.
I have that and for WiFi Unifi access points.
I have that and for WiFi Unifi access points.
Lots of complaints about processors being slow in routers or not having enough ram or software updates being infrequent. High time we got a new generation time capsule with A series cpu. Could be a nice sideline if Apple could do one with the new WiFi chip and maybe even a cellular backup.
racerhomie
macrumors 6502a
Yeah it’s working well. But my internet is around 50mbps so Wi-Fi 4 is enough for me. Plus my apartment is not that large
twisted panties
macrumors member
I replaced my Time Capsule (final gen, Wi-Fi 5) with a 2026 TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 model this year, mainly for WPA3 and more recent security updates. Got both of those, but...
Latency went up, connection speeds from my Wi-Fi 5 devices fell from 1300Mbps to 866Mbs and the QoS on it is broken (literally adding 10 seconds or more latency when enabled, no that is not a typo). The management interface is a mess , the app not covering all settings so you have to use the web interface too.
Considering reverting to using it as an Access Point, with the routing/firewall achieved with my trusty Mikrotik HeX 750Gr3. That gave wire-speed switching and (using "cake" for QoS) zero additional latency on routing. Also Mikrotik have been providing updates for it for seemingly ever, like a decade at least. Whereas I believe TP-link give up after a few years.
Those old Time Capsules / Airport Extremes were so good. And if you are wavering for a replacement, consider a Mikrotik. Either Wi-Fi router or one of their cheap firewall/routers like the HeX and running some newer cheap wi-fi devices as access points. Mikrotik is not as hard to configure as the internet might have you believe. They do offer EVERY option for advanced or even ISP-level users, but they work out of the box for most home environments.
Latency went up, connection speeds from my Wi-Fi 5 devices fell from 1300Mbps to 866Mbs and the QoS on it is broken (literally adding 10 seconds or more latency when enabled, no that is not a typo). The management interface is a mess , the app not covering all settings so you have to use the web interface too.
Considering reverting to using it as an Access Point, with the routing/firewall achieved with my trusty Mikrotik HeX 750Gr3. That gave wire-speed switching and (using "cake" for QoS) zero additional latency on routing. Also Mikrotik have been providing updates for it for seemingly ever, like a decade at least. Whereas I believe TP-link give up after a few years.
Those old Time Capsules / Airport Extremes were so good. And if you are wavering for a replacement, consider a Mikrotik. Either Wi-Fi router or one of their cheap firewall/routers like the HeX and running some newer cheap wi-fi devices as access points. Mikrotik is not as hard to configure as the internet might have you believe. They do offer EVERY option for advanced or even ISP-level users, but they work out of the box for most home environments.
For the Eero Pro 6 that I had for 2-3 years, it was actually pretty set-and forget. When the Max 7 (and pro 6e) came out with 6ghz, devices stick too hard to the 6ghz band and actually get worse performance than 5ghz because they try to hold on too long to it. There would also be times I wanted a device to be locked to a specific AP but you can't do that.
I never owned one back then, but a great example now is a playstation portal. I only want my playstation portal to connect to a wired access point. But with Eero, it might connect to a meshed point because it thinks thats a better signal, but that's undesirable from a cloud gaming perspective because you've just added another wireless "hop".
Also, I didn't like that they changed their subscription to a 10 dollar a month plan with all this stuff that I didn't need, but only about 1-2 features in it I wanted. So I was paying 120 bucks a year for simple stuff like data usage and radio analytics.
I wanted an Eero system that you could disable 6ghz on a specific SSID, lock a device to a certain AP, and the subscription model to be a bit different.
With my Unifi system, my main wifi that everyone uses is 2.4/5 combined on one SSID. Then there's a high performance SSID that's 5/6ghz only for those few devices that really benefit like gaming laptops for 200gb call of duty downloads. I don't need my iPhone connecting at 6ghz and getting 1.5 gigabit downloads but low range. I'd rather take the 5ghz 500 megabit with much nicer signal quality.
Eero is still a good system, it just is a bit "too" set and forget for some specific use cases. But it's reliable. A lot of consumer mesh devices like from Asus or linksys/tp link that I tried needed resets every week and the software felt very "cheap".
Unifi is reliable and has nice software, but it often feels unfinished because they are often adding new features.
Last edited:
If you find out why the TP-Link is problematic, please post in this thread and let us know. The brand is so popular I can't imagine that is typical behavior. Also, please let us know what specific model that is; I'd be curious to see what reviewers on Amazon have to say about their experience.
Thanks for explaining a bit about Mikrotik. I've been seeing that name recently, know practically nothing about them and wondered why that is. Why doesn't Mikrotik have the brand recognition of TP-Link, ASUS, Netgear or Eero.? So I Googled and from their site:
Mikrotik
From their website:
"ENHANCE YOUR NETWORK
WITH HARDWARE THAT WORKS HARDER
MikroTik offers routers, switches, and wireless systems for every type of network – from home offices and small businesses to carrier-grade ISP infrastructure. Whether you're building a setup for a few users or thousands, there's a MikroTik device that fits your needs and your budget."Interesting that they start at the low end mentioning home offices, not home/family use. A little quick Googling suggests their gear aims more to the enthusiast/power user/professional set. Like a product that'd compete with Ubiquiti rather than Netgear?
splifingate
Contributor
My Edgerouter 4 is still going strong after six (or seven) years of service. I specifically hackedconfigured it to help me get rid of the Arris unit that AT and T supplied for my 1Gbps fiber line. The Cavium CN7130 Octeon III CPU easily delivers consistent 930+Mbps symmetric throughput.
Connected to this I have two NanoHD WIFI APs attached to a US-8-60W switch, all controlled by a UCK-G2 Cloud Key.
I also have a NIB ER4 as a backup if it ever gives-up the ghost.
Connected to this I have two NanoHD WIFI APs attached to a US-8-60W switch, all controlled by a UCK-G2 Cloud Key.
I also have a NIB ER4 as a backup if it ever gives-up the ghost.
Maybe I'm missing something here, but what would be the purpose of a special function for this when you could just keep the modem and router plugged into generic UPS power outlets?
twisted panties
macrumors member
The TP-Link model is "Archer BE220" and was running the latest firmware at the time of testing. Unlike Mikrotik (and some other routers) the QoS is quite basic. Just "on/off", with configurable upload and download limits and (if you wish) priority levels for named devices. It was, as noted, terrible. Which is a shame, as if ever a router needed a good QoS implementation it would be a Wi-Fi 7 one that has all wired ports limited to 1Gbps 🙄.
As to your final point, I agree they don't have the brand recognition among consumers. Mikrotik is a tiny company relative to the usual names, and mainly served the professional market, ISPs and SIs. They use a traditional dealer model rather than fighting it out on price and volume on Amazon.
They are somewhat unusual in that even their low-end routers ship with their full (proprietary) RouterOS, no different to their pro gear in functionality. This has led to a perception of difficulty, as no home user needs a full BGP implementation for example. But the web management interface is now much improved (with a "quick setup" main screen that would work for 99% of home users) and there is a mobile app too. Both are in addition to the Windows and MacOS dedicated management application.
While I would hesitate to recommend to the truly tech-phobic, anyone reading this kind of forum would be able to manage it I am sure. And due to their large pro footprint and use by large ISPs, there is a lot of information and "how tos" on the internet for those that want to get in deeper. Their documentation is actually good, and they ship an update (you can choose stable or dev branches) frequently. My HeX router must be at least 10 years old and has more recent (like 2 weeks ago) firmware and OS than my 2026 TP-Link, whose latest update is actually from late last year.
Anyway, worth a look I think. Mikrotik makes Wi-Fi routers but even a simply HeX router (no Wi-fi onboard) is under $100, and you can use that for the firewall/DHCP/QoS gateway. Just plug in any modern and cheap Wi-Fi "router" as access points where you need them. Keeps all the important stuff away from the ever-changing wi-fi standards stuff and simplifies management, even if you mix brands of access point. Plus Mikrotik QoS includes "cake" (as well as many other protocols) which in my experience is both fantastically effective, as well as simple to set up.
Mr_Ed
macrumors 65816
Great advice. The reality is most consumers rarely need more than the bare bones networking configurations (such as single network + possibly guest network, maybe some lightweight server functionality for an attached drive or printer) offered by consumer-oriented routers.
Those of us who have taken the plunge with 3rd party firmware or appliances tend to have additional requirements that basic consumer options either don't support at all, or do so poorly. I wanted separate VLANs for our household computers/mobile devices, IoT devices, NAS, security cams, guest network, and administration, each with their own level of access to the others and to the internet. I saw no clean way to get anywhere near that with typical consumer-oriented options.
Nice write-up, BTW!
The problem with WiFi in printers is that usually printers are used for a very long time but the WiFi chip in them can’t be upgraded to use any of the new encryption standards. There is a workaround, which is to get an Ethernet to WiFi bridge adapter, essentially a WiFi card for devices that take Ethernet. This will allow any printer with Ethernet to work with a up-to-date network.
I just replaced my failing five-year-old Netgear Orbi Pro with Ubiquiti's UDR7 and UX7. Since I'm using wireless mesh, it's unfortunately slower than the Orbi (though still fast enough for my purposes). However, the incredibly powerful UniFi Cloud software is truly amazing.
Good point; I bought my old Brother 2540DW multi-function printer way back in Sept. 2015, and it was on sale for around $100 then, so I'm guessing an older model at the time.
It's not just printers. At some point I was setting up a router and discovered a problem; I wanted to go with WPA 3 rather than 2, but the old Roomba 960 we were using at the time only supported WPA 2. My point isn't so much about older Roomba models as Internet-of-Things devices generally.
Is this an issue with older smart bulbs, smart plugs, garage door openers, etc?
If so, I predict a future where people use inferior security measures not because their routers don't support the current standard, but because the prospect of replacing old gear that otherwise works fine is objectionable.
Some site called ReUse Computers has an article on this. Smart Device Wi-Fi Problems: Fixing WPA3 and Dual-Band Issues with Alexa, Smart Bulbs, and iPads
This is where UniFi software shines! UniFi allows you to set up multiple VLANs with segment isolation. So I've put my older IoT devices that only work on WPA2 and 2.4Ghz on their own isolated VLAN. I have a similar isolated VLAN that only supports 5 GHz and WPA2. (My 2019 Samsung TV does best on that.)
My WiFi 7 capable equipment, like my iPhone 16 PM, are on their own trusted VLAN that supports WPA3 and not WPA2.
josehill
macrumors regular
MikroTik's focus is on professional environments, not on consumers, even though motivated individuals sometimes can buy their products through resellers. In addition to serving Internet Service Providers, MikroTik has a strong presence in the small and mid-sized business (SMB) market. Here in the USA, you'll often find MikroTik products in SMBs that outsource their IT functions to external managed service providers (MSPs), with the MSPs offering MikroTik devices as standard products.
josehill
macrumors regular
Yes, it's a real issue. It's one reason that I avoid "Internet of Things" devices in my home. On those occasions when I do use IoT devices or devices with potentially out-of-date security, I segregate them on their own network and configure them with accounts that do not otherwise have access to sensitive data. For example, I have an independent AppleID set aside solely for that purpose. If I cannot segregate these devices, they go to the recycler.
splifingate
Contributor
I love the idea of intentional selectivity within unified infrastructure...that being said, a dedicated UPS for just my modem/router, AND a dedicated router (as opposed to a {forbidden} virtualised routing install) has been satisfyingly-successful here.
IvyKing
macrumors 6502a
Most UPS's are designed to provide enough power to keep a server or workstation going long enough to be able to shut down cleanly. In order to get enough watt hours to keep the GPON and router going for a few hours, the inverters will likely be sized to supply close to a kVA and would likely waste more power than an inverter sized to handle the demands of the GPON and router.
What would make even more sense is to have GPON's and routers get their power from a USB-C compatible power delivery port and then the "UPS" would combine supplying low voltage DC power from the AC lines and on board battery for when the AC power drops out.
The main goal is to have internet connectivity for the laptops, tablets (e.g. iPads) and phones during a blackout.
VineRider
macrumors 68000
I'm interested in this configuration....what kind of slowdown are you seeing? In other words, what are you getting as far as wired speed on the UDR7 versus wifi speed on the UX7 mesh?