Sticking with the Linksys WRT1900AC

[htismaqe]

Most folks bought the WRT1900ac based on the merits of the factory firmware...

As of the last firmware update, I haven't had any reboots. It's working perfectly for me now and the throughput on 5Ghz is the best I've had on any of the AC1900 routers.

 

[sfx2000]

Hmmm... I'm still uncomfortable with this thread - suggests that something is terribly wrong, and it isn't - and gives folks a reason to return it outside of OpenWRT compatibility...

Acknowledging that Belkin/Linksys attempted to work with the FOSS community, specifically OpenWRT, and for reasons outside of their control - namely Marvell not releasing a GPL compatible driver for the WiFi chipsets...

The is a solid device - and the latest firmware release by Linksys has solved most of the gripes outside of the OpenWRT issue.

For most folks - it's stable and fast... and it's a keeper - I would rate it as a 4 out of 5 stars

sfx

 

[theveterans]

Hmmm... I'm still uncomfortable with this thread - suggests that something is terribly wrong, and it isn't - and gives folks a reason to return it outside of OpenWRT compatibility...

Acknowledging that Belkin/Linksys attempted to work with the FOSS community, specifically OpenWRT, and for reasons outside of their control - namely Marvell not releasing a GPL compatible driver for the WiFi chipsets...

The is a solid device - and the latest firmware release by Linksys has solved most of the gripes outside of the OpenWRT issue.

For most folks - it's stable and fast... and it's a keeper - I would rate it as a 4 out of 5 stars

sfx

Completely agree. This is the only router that NEVER slowed my 802.11ac connection even with the stock firmware. Only 2 quirks that I find are these: find is the delayed reboot (from a couple of minutes to hours) after doing major changes (fixed by immediately performing a reboot on firmware option after all changes are done) and the last thing is that Network Map and DHCP table loses track of the laptop client when the laptop has entered sleep state then wake up after hours of sleep. Basically, even if you disconnect your laptop after waking up from sleep, Network map and DHCP server still show the laptop is still connected to router (fixed by performing a reboot until it happens again). Fortunately, the second issue DOES NOT affect WiFi connectivity, stabily, range and speed of the client so regardless of being connected or not, the only bug is that the Network map and DHCP table is not updating that client status. Other WiFi clients work fine though until they enter sleep state then wake up after a couple of hours. Waking up 5 minutes still works normally (DHCP table and Network Map still update normally for those WiFi client that sleep and wake up after 5 minutes or more)

 

[htismaqe]

Yeah, the network map still has some minor quirks. If you delete or edit a DHCP reservation and then add a new reservation for a new device using the same IP address you just deleted/changed, it stores both devices and creates all kinds of issues in the network map itself. A reboot fixes it but it's an annoyance - the devices themselves have full network connectivity and no issues.

I haven't had a single random reboot in months and I haven't had a GUI-related reboot since the latest firmware was installed.

I'd put this router right up there with the stock AC68U as far as range, performance, and stability. It's far superior to the stock R7000, in pretty much every way except extreme range. Considering I had to reboot the R7000 every 2 days, even after 3 firmware releases (and I've heard it's STILL happening), there just no comparison.

The only saving grace for those 2 is 3rd-party firmware, which it appears the WRT1900AC will never have. Luckily, that doesn't mean anything to me.

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
I got rid of R7000 waiting for R8000 coming(given to me at no cost) Linksys is
main router until then. All in all, Belkin dropped a ball on this. Pushing it into
market in a hurry. I bet marketing guys doing against their engineers' opinion.
I saw marketing trumping over engineering often in my working days. Look at
GM's massive recall going on now. IMO, this is well build box for sure.

 

[theveterans]

How could anyone sing the praises for this overpriced piece of junk? Not to mention that the manufacturer lied to it's customers about 3rd part fw support.

Some people just can't let go of the good 'ole Linksys router days from years past I guess.

I agree with Linksys offering refunds due to the false advertising about openwrt support but I disagree with you that this router is overpriced pice of junk. If you view the wrt1900ac as having basic features that even a $20 router supports then it seems it's overpriced. What you pay for this router is basically the hardware and USB 3.0/esata performance which is untouchable by other AC1900 routers. Heck it's even faster than the Netgear X6 and ASUS RT87R as of this writing.

It's all about one's needs that makes a router overpriced or not IMO.

 

[sfx2000]

True true...

This is about the worst possible outcome for Linksys/Belkin at the end of the day - a fine product, but a botched FOSS effort

In any event, it sounds like Belkin is doing the right thing by offering refunds for folks that bought the WRT1900ac specifically for the OpenSource support, so hats off to them for that.

sfx

 

[fistv]

I decided to stick with the wrt1900ac, it's been running fine and no complaints from the other half and in the end that is what counts. I like the build of the box actually and while it may sound kind of silly the packaging it came it was also impressive, not your typical origami packaging. Stuck one of my now spare 5 port netgear switches behind the cable modem, my ISP will allow 3 devices attached to the modem so it leaves me some room to play. Almost had time to unpack that netgear wnr3500L I picked up last week but the leaking kitchen sink drain shot that all to heck.

 

[htismaqe]

Yeah, "overpriced piece of junk" isn't really accurate.

I could see if you purchased it for OpenWRT support and you're upset because that fell through. Personally, I wouldn't ever buy a consumer electronics device for PROMISED functionality. If it's not present at the time of purchase, I usually assume it won't ever be available. Seen it happen before so I'm just naturally skeptical.

I bought a "piece of junk" prior to the Linksys - it was the Netgear R7000. The device has been out for almost a year, has received several firmware updates, and there's still reports of people losing connectivity between the wired and wireless sides of the switch.

I am glad I changed to the Linksys and so is my family. I finally have a router that I don't have to constantly monitor with ICMP to see if it needs rebooted.

 

[ivanhoek]

Dunno... I have two R7000 and they both run perfect with ddwrt. Don't see the point of stressing how they fail on stock firmware when ddwrt is there and fully functional. I don't care what software my router runs as long as it does what I want.

Turns out I wanted ddwrt anyway due to my use of vlans and trunks to separate networks.

 

[htismaqe]

Some people don't want to deal with DD-WRT. It's perfectly reasonable to expect a product to work as it was originally intended.

In fact, expecting the open source community to pick up the slack is quite unreasonable, if anything.

 

[RMerlin]

Yeah, "overpriced piece of junk" isn't really accurate.

I could see if you purchased it for OpenWRT support and you're upset because that fell through. Personally, I wouldn't ever buy a consumer electronics device for PROMISED functionality. If it's not present at the time of purchase, I usually assume it won't ever be available. Seen it happen before so I'm just naturally skeptical.

I was an early adopter of the Motorola Xoom, since it was the first "real" Android-based tablet. It came with a non-functional SDcard slot, which was promised to be enabled "with a future update".

I think (my memory could be wrong) that it took Motorola nearly a YEAR to implement support for that slot. So yes, not putting too much weight on promised "future features" is a good idea. In the case of the WRT1900AC however some people were mislead, since the router was marketed as being opensource-ready, not as "will eventually get OpenWRT support". A lot of customers who specifically wanted to run OpenWRT or DD-WRT only discovered after their purchase that it wasn't possible yet, and there was no ETA for it either.

Beyond that, now that Linksys seems to have resolved the most serious issues in their firmware, the WRT1900AC is a solid product. It's just a tad bland on the feature-side considering how much they charge for the product.

 

[htismaqe]

I was an early adopter of the Motorola Xoom, since it was the first "real" Android-based tablet. It came with a non-functional SDcard slot, which was promised to be enabled "with a future update".

I think (my memory could be wrong) that it took Motorola nearly a YEAR to implement support for that slot. So yes, not putting too much weight on promised "future features" is a good idea. In the case of the WRT1900AC however some people were mislead, since the router was marketed as being opensource-ready, not as "will eventually get OpenWRT support". A lot of customers who specifically wanted to run OpenWRT or DD-WRT only discovered after their purchase that it wasn't possible yet, and there was no ETA for it either.

Those people have a right to be upset, I'm not refuting that. I'm just saying that if I needed DD-WRT or OpenWRT support, I would purchase a device that actually supports it, not one that says they will in the future, especially given how rapidly the market is evolving. I honestly can't imagine buying consumer electronics at this point based on any future functionality. By the time it's available, 2 or 3 competitors have already put something better on the market.

Beyond that, now that Linksys seems to have resolved the most serious issues in their firmware, the WRT1900AC is a solid product. It's just a tad bland on the feature-side considering how much they charge for the product.

Totally agree that it's a pretty expensive yet vanilla product. For me, the vanilla feel is part of its appeal. I don't want a bunch of bells and whistles. My family appreciates that fact that it doesn't crash or need to be rebooted all the time and I certainly appreciate the fact that I'm getting quite high throughput on the 5Ghz side, about 10% better than what I got with the R7000 or AC68U.

 

[FattysGoneWild]

Stability and reliability over features for me. And this router is just that. I imagine with a few more firmware updates. Performance will even be better. I don't care about 3rd party firmware. Others do and have a right. They did advertise it. I can take mine back for a full refund. But, I have decided to keep it.

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
+1 on that. I just care if any router with any f/w does what I need and want. R7000 was just fine with me. Now waiting for R8000 next week some time. WRT1900 rate of f/w update release seems slow being a new model. Maybe Belkin expected OpenWrt will embrace it with open arms? They themselves not working on f/w update? Or expecting next release when? With puch improvement?

 

[htismaqe]

The WRT1900 doesn't really need any firmware updates. It doesn't have any persistent, glaring issues.

 

[fistv]

The WRT1900 doesn't really need any firmware updates. It doesn't have any persistent, glaring issues.

From my point of view I agree, other than getting inadvertently unplugged a couple of weeks ago while I was putting in the new switch it's been running for the whole time with no reboots, planned or otherwise, no complaints in the house yet.

 

[TonyH]

We have to enjoy robust features with a well built box like WRT1900.(opened it up and look, see inside? I did). If not what is the point of selling one or buying one?
Disappointment is proportional to high expectation when it first showed up.

 

[htismaqe]

We have to enjoy robust features with a well built box like WRT1900.(opened it up and look, see inside? I did). If not what is the point of selling one or buying one?
Disappointment is proportional to high expectation when it first showed up.

My point in buying one is that I first tried the R7000 and AC68U and neither of them were stable enough to satisfy my users.

I had no expectation for the WRT1900 other than I expected it to work and not have to rebooted all the time.

It does that and it outperforms the other two routers in wireless and storage performance as well.

 

[TonyH]

In fact, expecting the open source community to pick up the slack is quite unreasonable, if anything.

Hi,
I speak for myself, I don't agree. I'd say it is reasonable and desired.
Look at how many after market stuffs are around for our cars. I assume
you never fiddle with your car either? That is part of fun playing with our
toys. What the life will be without toy factor? On the wrong side of age
70, I still enjoy playing with toys, LOL! I learn some thing new every day
by playing. Open source community won't exist if there is no demand for it.