I want to upgrade my router from tplink archer a5 [1] due to constant connection drops and lack of Gigabit support.<p>I would like to know how do I go about shortlisting a new router for my homelab. The netgear and ubiquiti options seems really expensive. Are there any options under $60?<p>I'll be mostly streaming from my Jellyfin server or accessing files on my NAS over tailscale.<p>[1] https://www.tp-link.com/in/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-a5/
You said router, so I'm going to assume you meant a router and not a router/wireless access point combo.<p>I used the NanoPi R4S for a bit with DD-WRT and it did really well and would saturate a gig link. Note that this is a router, and not a wireless access point.<p><a href="https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=284" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/product...</a><p>PS: If by connection drops you mean wireless, you should investigate the causes of these drops instead of blindly replacing wireless hardware. The TP-Link Archer series is generally considered pretty decent wireless gear for home use.<p>Make sure you're using 5 ghz and not 2.4 ghz. Check the TP-Link's logs. Check your client's logs for drops.
If your switch supports vlans, you can use just about any cheap computer (ARM SBC, or some old desktop off of ebay) as a firewall+router combo. That is, on the switch plug the internet modem into vlan A (access), assign LAN ports to vlan B (access), and use the last port to trunk vlans A & B to the cheap computer. From there, you can use vanilla linux or BSD to firewall & route between the two vlans. Only suggesting this because finding something cheap with more than one NIC is a tall order. Best practices, no. Cheap, yes.<p>If you can get a super-cheap PC, decent gbit nics can be found for under $15, and that would eliminate the vlan nonsense.
This one's $50 at my local Walmart - <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/TP-Link-Archer-AC1900-Dual-Band-Mu-Mimo-Wi-Fi-Router-with-Gigabit-Port/1783141771?fulfillmentIntent=In-store&from=/search" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.walmart.com/ip/TP-Link-Archer-AC1900-Dual-Band-M...</a><p>4 GigE wired ports
Guess: You ruled out the Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X, because it doesn't also do WiFi?<p>(Not to say that's a great product, but you're not going to get "great" on a $60 budget.)