Upgrading my Router

I need to upgrade my home network. The tech I am using is just too old. I am getting ready to purchase a router. I would like to run IVPN at the router level. After doing a bit of research it seems to me that I would need to flash a more modern router with open source firmware. I don't have to have a router with DD-WRT, Tomato etc. If I could find a router that is comparable to the Netgear Nighthawk AC 1900 for about $150 USD that allows an outbound VPN connection to IVPN I would be happy. I have a bunch of cheap routers, but I need the best performance I can possibly get within my stated budget hence my choice of Nighthawk. Any creative ideas guys?

I am thinking of buying:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0DD0I6/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Thank you ...

 

Just a smidge over your budget but I really like my Linksys EA7500.
https://www.pcmag.com/review/343601/linksys-ea7500-max-stream-ac1900-mu-mimo-gigabit-router

 

Wish they'd make routers like this for cable internet.

 

Huh? Routers don't care if cable or DSL. I have Cox Cable. Routers connect to modems. It is the modem that must support Cable or DSL.

 

@MisterB I recall uses a group of very cheap routers with Tomato.

Also, see this thread:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/thr...n-source-router-for-pfsense-or-dd-wrt.392034/

Personally, I use a pfsense router with wifi distinct from the router (and connected via VLANs). The smallest pfsense appliance is $149, don't know comparative performance.

 

Hi Bill:

I downloaded the manual for Linsys ac1900 you mention and cannot tell if it is capable of connecting an outbound VPN to a service such as IVPN?? If I can avoid flashing a $150 router I want to. It doesn't, however, mean I wont as an outbound VPN is essential to me. Thanks ...

 

Yeah, just don't want to run a Router through a modem....

 

What? Of course you do! Using a router to create a LAN (even if just 1 computer) to run through a modem is exactly how it has been done for decades.

Sorry, Infected, but PLEASE do some simple homework as it is obvious you don't understand the roles of routers and modems. See this image of a typical home or small office network: http://www.techbout.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/typical-home-network-setting.png

@RollingThunder - The Linksys router does support VLAN directly. And it allows VPN tunnels using IPSec, L2TP or PPTP protocols to pass through the router. There are many tutorials for setting up a VPN with the EA7500 as seen here.

 

What are you talking about? I have a Xfinity router that the cable runs into. No secondary modem. That's what I'm talking about...I understand exactly what you are saying..I was just saying, I'd like to have a better router to replace the Xfinity router that I have...

 

You do NOT have an Xfinity "router". What you have is an Xfinity Gateway! They are NOT the same thing!

A "residential gateway" device is 4-way "integrated" network device consisting of a router, a Ethernet switch (typically 4-port), a WAP (wireless access point) and a modem. These are 4 discrete (separate) network devices that just happen to share the same box, same PCB (printed circuit board) and same power supply. Some gateway devices include a 5th device for VoIP. Five discrete devices sharing a case.

A router has just 1 input and 1 output and is used to connect or isolate 2 networks. In your case, it is connecting your LAN via the integrated 4-port Ethernet switch and your ISP's network via the modem.

And for the record, you can even connect another router to one of your Ethernet ports if you want, to hang yet another isolated network off your current network!

As far as you replacing just the router side of your "residential gateway", you may not be able to - depending on the menu system and the contract with your ISP. If allowed, I highly recommend you go with a separate modem and a "wireless router" (which is just a marketing term for device integrating a router, WAP and switch).

 

Hi Bill:

It seems to me Linksys like Netgear requires that you flash the firmware with open source software to go out to a VPN service like IVPN. I reviewed the actual manual put out by Linksys on the router you are suggesting and watched a few of the youtube videos you suggested and while you can hook two or more remote devices together going out to a vpn breakout to the internet (such as IVPN) doesn't appear to be supported. If I am missing something I am open to being educated because I really do not want to flash the router I purchase with open source firmware.

@RollingThunder - The Linksys router does support VLAN directly. And it allows VPN tunnels using IPSec, L2TP or PPTP protocols to pass through the router. There are many tutorials for setting up a VPN with the EA7500 as seen here.[/QUOTE]

 

I currently use two daisy chained Linksys routers with Shibby Tomato Firmware. That gives me a total of 4 vpn clients + TOR over one VPN on different VLANs each with it's own wifi SSID. The routers are supplemented by a Raspberry pi acting as a lan appliance and local DNS server. To make it all work, I've had to write custom scripts and iptables rules.

I used the Linksys EA6500 for a while but it keeps an image of the factory firmware stored internally and will automatically restore it under certain nvram error conditions and after that happened a couple of times, I downgraded back to an E3200 which is less powerful but more stable. When I flash a router, I want the flashed firmware to be the only firmware. The EA6500 is similar to the EA7500, just one rung down the spec ladder. It cost me less than $50 refurbished direct from Linksys.

I've thought about setting up a PFsense box. For a basic setup, you need a MiniPC with two LAN ports. These can be had pretty inexpensively and most come with wifi as well. The main reason I don't is that the router setup works so well and a low end mini PC won't have the power for some of the more advanced PFsense capabilities.

 

IVPN dropped L2TP support so you have to use OpenVPN (even if it was supported, L2TP is not secure when publicly available key is used.), but Netgear AC1900 seems to use OpenVPN so I think it will probably be compatible with IVPN. But there are many evidences that Netgear's implementation for OpenVPN is generally poor, insecure, or outdated. e.g. https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/VPN-Configuration-Files/td-p/486524
So if I were you I will flash the router.

[EDIT] Sorry, it seems AC1900 only works as VPN server.

 

I am not sure you are going to find what you want within your budget.

 

As I need it now for connectivity I am probably going to purchase out of a need to have something in the house now. I have been threatening to get a cheap desktop and install pfsense. Looks like it is time to get off my collective lazy *** and do it

 

It's just $147.99 at Amazon.

 

My link goes to Amazon where it clearly shows $155.40.

 

Are you a Prime member? If not, that is the difference.

 

True. That is exactly what happened. If you don't mind a refurbished you can get one for $69 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B079...rds=ea7500&dpPl=1&dpID=41u9+ozjFtL&ref=plSrch

 

Thanks for that Camel cubed link!

 

I thought some ASUS routers support OpenVPN client functionality by default, and within $150.