Reddit reviews Mikrotik hEX RB750Gr3 5-port Ethernet Gigabit Router

I would just buy one of these off amazon. It's actually a real router mikrotik RB750Gr3 has the same features as Cisco, will require some learning.

https://www.amazon.com/Mikrotik-RB750Gr3-5-port-Ethernet-Gigabit/dp/B01MSUMVUB/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502218641&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=miktrok+750gr3

Kudos on thinking ahead on this kind of stuff.

It's a more "advanced" router / firewall but the Mikrotik equipment is very powerful, especially for how much it costs. It's not a router common in a home setting, but lots of ISP's use the higher end models for the backbone of their networks.

This will outperform any off the shelf router you can buy at the stores:
https://www.amazon.com/Mikrotik-RB750Gr3-5-port-Ethernet-Gigabit/dp/B01MSUMVUB/

Since you have a month before the event this would give you time to get familiar with the router and make any changes you need.

The router doesn't have wireless, but my suggestion is to always use a separate AP for wireless anyways. Get a Unifi AP::

https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Unifi-Ap-AC-Lite-UAPACLITEUS/dp/B015PR20GY/

Now your thinking "I said there's going to be 6-8 people, and that router only has 4 lan ports!" Correct, you should use a switch:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Ethernet-Replacement-Unmanaged-TL-SG108/dp/B00A121WN6

The main benefit of running all these things separate from each other is you don't have to have them central to your gaming. The router can stay with the modem and just 1 cable has to run out to the switch.

Now if you are going to do this more often or want higher end gear, let me know and i'll offer up a different set of suggestions.

This suggestion is depending on your skill. I've been very happy with Mikrotiks. Documentation isn't the best but its not bad at all. Plenty of helpful users out there if you have questions.

I will say, this is starting to step into the advanced user sort of platform. You're going to need to read and understand what you are doing. But if you need help, we are here and their forums are very active.

I'm currently using this Mikrotik. There are cheaper versions but this one suited my needs. Here is a non-wireless version in case you wanted to put in your own individual AP: hEX. Of course, this is assuming you have your own modem.

Oh sorry, just saw the bottom of you post where you mention that. You can get a used T-Mobile version (which you should be able to flash to a regular Asus version) for $50 on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/T-Mobile-Personal-CellSpot-Asus-TM-AC1900-Dual-band-Wireless-Router/283554166677?hash=item4205253795:g:~6wAAOSwHjxdMpNN

I’ve also done it on this router ($57): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSUMVUB/ but it’s more advanced and very easy to get confused when configuring it. It’s a router only with no WiFi, so you’d have to plug in your existing router into it but just turn it into a access point.

Edit: here’s a guide on how to convert the tm-ac1900 to a stock rt-ac68u: https://www.bayareatechpros.com/ac1900-to-ac68u/

I think a microtik hexbox might be up your alley. RouterOS is a bit tough on the learning curve though. They are inexpensive and push good rates however.

Well, you definitely don’t need anything that fancy. I would never recommend an ASA, especially for that one.

This guy can easily do gigabit. Though Mikrotik has a bit of a learning curve.

The ERXs can do gigabit as well, and can easily set up a DMZ.

If you have an old computer, you can also install VyOS/pfsense/opnsense. A DMZ is just a fairly straightforward firewall configuration.

MikroTik (Amazon Link)
(Product Details)
Or pfSense, as some have already recommended and you are already familiar with.

If you already have wireless access points and just need a solid router

Get this

https://www.amazon.com/Mikrotik-RB750Gr3-5-port-gigabit-microSD/dp/B01MSUMVUB

Solid , won't fail you, doesn't have wifi if you don't need it

They are awesome

Edit: if you want wifi from the router , get the HAP AC mentioned below

Depends on your ISP and your infrastructure. Internet generally travels over either Fiber Optics or via Cat5 or Cat6 UTP or TP (stands for Twister Pair, with U meaning they can be unshielded).

​

A cat5 or cat6 is going to be the type of cable that you see go into your PC. Cat5 has a bandwidth limit of 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) while cat6 has a limit of 10 Gbps. Speeds up to 1000 Mbps can be achieved only up to 100 meters or so after which you get unstable connections due to signal degradation which is fine for internal networks. However your provider will likely need to provide more bandwidth to your building as they might be servicing other clients, not just you. That's where Fibre Optics come in as they can be laid down in stretches of over 200 meters at lower bandwidths and if you stick to 100 meters, then you can go up as high as 100 Gbps.

​

So your ISP generally needs to have fibre optics come into your building to be able to provide a 1 Gbps service. However in order for you to be able to utilize that service you also need a router that is capable of working with that traffic (like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSUMVUB/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_.qehDb9M55J0V)

​

Generally the ISP charges quite a bit more for a gigabit connection so keep that in mind.

Looks like a routing issue. Make sure you turn off all routing on Wifi Router 2 and 3 and turn them into simple AP's and let Wifi Router 1 habdle all the IP addressing and routing. That by itself might fix your issue.

If that doesnt work, you could just replace Router 1 with something with a lil more umph, preferably this cheap Mikrotik hEX ($60) router. Or if gigabit speed is not a concern, then you can go with this 100Mbps Mikrotik hEX lite ($40)

That being said, what really separates consumer wifi from enterprise stuff, is the amount of clients the can serve and can still achieve decent speeds. Look into the ubiquity stuff for AP's. Id still recommend the Mikrotik for the routing though.

Small but performs well, is an actual router, and is only $51 -> https://www.amazon.com/Mikrotik-RB750Gr3-5-port-Ethernet-Gigabit/dp/B01MSUMVUB/

If you want to be even cheaper than that, get rid of gigabit and it's only $38 -> https://www.amazon.com/Mikrotik-RouterBOARD-lite-ports-router/dp/B00ZPTW8T2/

UPnP is like locking the door and leaving the key in the keyhole. Not being paranoid, and 99.9% of the time nothing will happen, but looking at the router logs, I get about 1000-1500 attempts per 24hr cycle from various IPs to connect to my NAS which is on the network, I rather not open everything to everyone, because there is a chance that one might get through to some new vulnerability detected a day ago.

That aside, good routers with good default security will scan packets regardless and will allow traffic in/out just fine without even setting port triggers/port forwards, with a bit more decent security profile so UPnP isn't required.

The market is just flooded with the basic routers/switch combos and people don't know they can buy ISP grade routers for half the price, compared to those home toy routers.

Example for $111

This is a better router/switch combo as anything on the consumer market, requires some basic understanding.

Example #2 $51

Cheap quality full featured, gigabit router, without WiFi.
People just don't know that those things exist, and perform way better as any Linksys, NETgear, Asus or other "toy" routers. If you want latest greatest WiFi, don't buy a router, buy a module which will work on any network, others B/G/N is enough for most home use and gaming.

Thank you for the information. I came across this post when looking at mikrotik and windscribe.

From the post it seems like I could get this router then install open wrt?

​

I was going to use this little guy. He’s pretty capable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSUMVUB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jEtYAbQ3NJ7W9

Who's your fiber provider? If it's Centurylink, beware Pfsense (pppoe limited to single threaded in FreeBSD) and, to an extent, Ubiquiti routers (had really weird pppoe bugs a few years ago, may be fixed now). I've been on Centurylink gigabit fiber for 3 years now with this simple Mikrotik Routerboard and it's been chugging along great.

I think finding a router that has gigabit throughput at that price may be a challenge.
My personal preference would be pfSense on an older i5 Desktop.
One thing is to check out Mikrotik hEX



When I first got gigabit I found this review helpful


EDIT:Spelling and fixing links