Easy Router or Fancy Router?
Added 2020-07-07 06:59:59 +0000 UTCWhich do you prefer? Are you team easy router or team hard router?
Comments
I use a Palo Alto firewall. Team hard!
Squozen
2024-01-02 08:12:06 +0000 UTCI also have a Ubiquiti Edgrouter-X and I don't find it too complicated. The main difference between setting it up vs a consumer router is that you need to assign a static 192.168.XXX IP to a device and connect to its 1st port in order to get to its config page on 192.168.1.1. From there it provides you a simple setup tutorial that gets you 99% of the way there. It'll ask you to configure an admin username and password, ask you if you wish to enable dhcp, and that's about it. Though, getting into Wifi is where you can end up in the weeds. I learned a lot about PoE by frying both my first Edge Router and a basic Ubi AP with a 45w POE injector. Turns out, that shit doesn't self regulate. If it says it does 45, that's what its getting shot down the wire. 🤷♂️But now I know better! It does make me want to get one of their switches that supports 802.3at Type 2 (aka POE+). Would allow me to power the EdgeRouterX, as well as my AP Pro with the correct amount of power, and get rid of my POE injector.
Paradox
2020-07-30 16:25:36 +0000 UTCI like to start easy but have options to go deeper if I really need to. My Ubiquiti EdgeRouter was... sort of easy? But only after a firmware update that brought in more wizards. As it is, with my setup being a few years old now, I'm a bit worried that if anything broke my memory would be shot as far as bringing it all (Ubiquiti EdgeRouter and AP, and Pi-Hole) back up again. At the same time, I feel like the Ubiquiti stuff has saved me from having to buy a new off the shelf wireless router every couple of years just from radios blowing out and taking the whole network down.
SkadusX
2020-07-13 13:42:54 +0000 UTCI loved Apple’s Time Capsules when they existed. Ended up switching to an Orbi because it allowed for vlan tagging, which allows me to skip the provided hardware with a fiber connection. Overall, it’s easier than something like a Ubiquiti, but the software is still a bit of a kludge when compared to the Airport.
Justin Paluch
2020-07-08 14:04:09 +0000 UTCIt’s „easy“ for me. I would like to use ubiquity, but I don‘t like their edge router. But I‘m really tempted to get something I’m used to from work, like a smaller Fortigate FG-60.
Norbert Kowallik
2020-07-08 06:31:43 +0000 UTC"Simple" consumer-level tools have become really powerful with great GUI's. Setups using enterprise equipment can easily be mis-configured and leave open a big vulnerability without realizing. Hard does not necessarily mean more secure!
Mark R
2020-07-07 22:23:58 +0000 UTCI really want to say "hard," but the truth is that I've begun to enjoy easy tech in my old age. I don't want to spend hours fiddling with settings anymore, I want things to just work so I can go on to do more useful things with my time.
Grant Henninger
2020-07-07 17:04:13 +0000 UTCJust got a Amplifi HD by Ubiquiti. It is more on the easy side via app setup but does have some tweaks available.
Brian Hoyt
2020-07-07 16:56:27 +0000 UTCI've been using the edge router in combo with an AP unit. It took a day of learning and config, since then I've had 99% uptime for nearly 5 years. I dont think I will ever go back.
Cole Hamilton
2020-07-07 15:38:54 +0000 UTCI use "hard" routers every day, I dont want something that loud. I like the Amplifi that I have, though its not as nice as I would like. I really like having more than one wifi network though.
Aaron Zander
2020-07-07 15:35:09 +0000 UTCI set up a pfsense machine and it was one of the best networking decisions I ever made - I have segmented networks for untrusted IoT devices / trusted workstations and in-depth monitoring so I can prove Comcast is screwing me over when I drop work-related video calls. I also have a personal OpenVPN endpoint set up so I can use it whenever I'm on a public Wifi network.
Travis Roesner
2020-07-07 15:06:36 +0000 UTCEasy! Something reliable and functional no one has to think about
Steve Haack
2020-07-07 13:55:54 +0000 UTCI'd prefer easy, but there is no free lunch when you need more control. Pfsense here.
Josh Stortz
2020-07-07 13:52:55 +0000 UTCHard Router for me personally but I recommend normal SOHO equipment to people who I know have no interest in getting into the weeds and aren't doing anything like what a small business might do at home. "Prosumer' equipment can be less secure if setup incorrectly.
TwinkleTwinkie
2020-07-07 12:14:48 +0000 UTCedgerouter x + two AP Lites from ubiquiti
Jerry Coleman
2020-07-07 11:21:15 +0000 UTCPfsense user here.
James Curbo
2020-07-07 11:08:39 +0000 UTCI use Google Wifi which seems to work well, but I wish it had a log that I could access.
Stuart Peters
2020-07-07 10:51:01 +0000 UTCI like good easy defaults, but enough customability to get most things done if needed. I have used Asus routers for years, and I just got two Asus Lyra to get mesh networking. It can be set up very easily with an app, but there is a web interface to do some good things. It has dynamic dns and a VPN server built in, so I can reach my home network from anywhere easily.
Joni Paananen
2020-07-07 09:22:25 +0000 UTCIf I lived along and didn't have to make it easy on my wife and daughter I would go for the crazy routers. But for now I just use Google.
David A Cameron
2020-07-07 08:58:46 +0000 UTCAs long as it has secure defaults (no WPS enabled unless activated or a key pressed, no default WAN management port open, locked down uPnP and guaranteed software updates for 3-4 years.
Tom
2020-07-07 08:08:41 +0000 UTCI got a set of eero pro routers and it's wonderful how little I need to think about it.
Cory Woodrum
2020-07-07 08:05:15 +0000 UTCIt’s the happy medium! 👍
sw0rdfish
2020-07-07 07:54:17 +0000 UTCSo does Unifi USG count as 'easy' or 'hard'...? 🤔
itgrrl
2020-07-07 07:48:22 +0000 UTCMerlin on a netgear R7000 here. No complaints.
David Sarten
2020-07-07 07:43:44 +0000 UTCEdgerouter Lite here! Bit of a faff to get set up but it's been rock solid ever since!
Xed
2020-07-07 07:30:03 +0000 UTCI use Merlin on an ASUS AC3200. Very little fuss or config. IMO, the easier the better.
Richard Runswick Jr.
2020-07-07 07:05:00 +0000 UTC
