Which Google OnHub to get

[Yves Leclerc]

I am looking to replace my ASUS RT-N66U. I am looking at the Google OnHub routers / APs. Which model would / should I choose:

1) TP-Link
2) ASUS

 

[thiggins]

Asus performed better. Read the review
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/32889-asus-google-onhub-reviewed

 

[L&LD]

I am looking to replace my ASUS RT-N66U. I am looking at the Google OnHub routers / APs. Which model would / should I choose:

1) TP-Link
2) ASUS

Neither, buy a router that doesn't have spyware built in to it's firmware.

 

[thiggins]

Neither, buy a router that doesn't have spyware built in to it's firmware.

What's the basis for your claim of "spyware"?

 

[L&LD]

What's the basis for your claim of "spyware"?

When you need a google account to setup the router, the two being linked so intimately is the first hint, at least to me.

 

[thiggins]

When you need a google account to setup the router, the two being linked so intimately is the first hint, at least to me.

Spyware doesn't ask you to set up an account.

 

[L&LD]

Spyware doesn't ask you to set up an account.

It does when google is the spyware.

Besides, how else are they going to get you all these future enhancements without spying on how you're using your network.

 

[thiggins]

Besides, how else are they going to get you all these future enhancements without spying on how you're using your network.

Show your evidence, please.

 

[L&LD]

Show your evidence, please.

The Bad The expensive router has many hardware parts that can't currently be used, and it can only support a single wired device. It can't be set up or managed via computer or Web browser. And the router must be registered to at least one Google account and remain connected to Google at all times to work.

http://www.cnet.com/products/google-asus-onhub/

 

[thiggins]

Google explicitly states it collects information and describes what it does with it. Spyware tells the user nothing and doesn't even want the user to know it exists.

Yves: Is any of this discussion helping you?

 

[L&LD]

Google explicitly states it collects information and describes what it does with it. Spyware tells the user nothing and doesn't even want the user to know it exists.

Yves: Is any of this discussion helping you?

Maybe the dictionary definition of 'spyware' is not the word I want to use here then. Thank you for letting me clarify.

But I do not know how else to describe it when we are supposedly buying a hardware device like a router (the effective 'front door and lock' to our data from the rest of the world) with a required connection to google to keep it functioning properly.

Yes, I understand that google has stated what it will do with our data. What I don't understand is how it can protect that data from it's internal (disgruntled) workers or from external hackers that now know this information is available in a single location for a large number of users).

I too hope this is helping Yves in his decision of a new router.

I also hope that we can keep this conversation going in this thread (if Yves indicates so) or a new one if necessary.

 

[System Error Message]

i think what he means is that google is spying on you. It was also known that tp-link had backdoors for china and that nsa installs backdoors in netgear.
I think the question is who do you prefer spying on you.
Some routers such as dlink set up backdoors and remote access on their routers for governments or ISPs that ask them to as it is a business deal for them (ISP gives out their router and they get to sell loads).

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Looks like the ASUS version is discontinued on Google's web site.

 

[thiggins]

Looks like the ASUS version is discontinued on Google's web site.

Link please or screenshot. ASUS is still running ads for it, so would be odd if it were discontinued.

 

[sfx2000]

the TP-Link device is still in brick and mortar stores...

 

[System Error Message]

When you buy any piece of computer hardware you cant be certain it is free of spywares or backdoors. Even laptops can have hardware based spyware/backdoors through chips that may be required for it to function, phones and so on. With many routers or google onhub you cant block it if you know but with configurable routers you can however it requires knowledge about it. Even amazon echo or amazon APs which have voice and other functionality, whats to say they are or arent spyware? Google, apple, amazon use voice feature where for it to function what you speak has to be sent to a remote server to understand it and deal with the request then send it back so its also quite easy to think that they have spyware. Read their terms of agreement/use/privacy. The local device doesnt have the compute power and memory for speech to work properly (not to mention they require internet in order to search).

Normally i'd choose asus but sometimes tp-link can do well too if you dont plan to use their firmware.

 

[thiggins]

Looks like the ASUS version is discontinued on Google's web site.

It is still in the store and ASUS has confirmed the product has not been discontinued.
https://store.google.com/product/onhub_from_asus

You need to scroll to the bottom of the buy page. Looks like TP-LINK is running a promotion.
https://store.google.com/product/on...m_content=Buy_Now_Button&utm_campaign=TP-LINK

 

[System Error Message]

perhaps the rumours of asus discontinuing it was maybe because someone was jealous or just didnt like asus. Companies even consumer usually reply on their sales email so you can always ask to confirm. As long as you dont get a generic answer. Or it could also be a disgruntled employee who worked on it who was fired when it wasnt going anywhere.

The main problem is aside from performance how would you compare them? Is the google onhub basically a router with some firmware running google's API/GUI above it?

 

[sfx2000]

OnHub isn't going away any time soon - it's a very powerful software platform under the hood, and Google has not exposed much of the API level stuff just yet...

As someone mentioned a while back - it's basically ChromeOS without a keyboard/mouse/video...

(edited)

 

[thiggins]

perhaps the rumours of asus discontinuing it was maybe because someone was jealous or just didnt like asus.

More like someone not doing due diligence before posting. At any rate, rumor squashed.