I’ve just had a lot of unexpected expenses lately, so looking to spend like $50 or less.
We have
- 200 mbps fiber internet (so it’s just straight ethernet feeding into the router)
- 2000 sq ft home with same size basement, (just wood in between, no concrete)
- very few wireless devices (like 2-3 most of the time)
- NOBODY GAMING ON WIFI, this is just for my dad to watch videos online with a laptop
- need to be able to limit bandwidth by device
- prefer to be able to flash custom firmware (ddwrt or openwrt or whatever) to make an older router more secure
- would like to block ads on router level (DNS blacklists and IP blacklists)
- need it to be stable and not frustrating and constantly dropping signal or something
Thank you!
I would recommend either a Ubnt ERX or a Mikrotik HeX.
These are both SOHO routers without WiFi for 60USD.
They are supremely stable, lightning fast and have great support. Both can be flashed with OpenWrt (but they’ve been supported for like ever, so no point).
Pair either of them with an old WiFi router to act as the AP, and you’ll be golden.