RAVPower FileHub Travel Router AC750 (RP-WD009, OpenWrt-compatible) $55.99 Shipped @ Sunvalley via Amazon Au

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uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 11:57 amazon.com.au (524 clicks)
Last edited 11/02/2021 - 12:16 by 1 other user

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This is a mobile dual-band WiFi router with 6700mAh Battery, a decent competitor to the GL.iNet line of mobile routers. Amazon currently offers a 20% off clip-in coupon.

I've pulled the trigger and will be installing OpenWrt on it. I'm also going to get one of those MT7612U-based dual-band WiFi USB dongles like this (which are presumably well supported by OpenWrt) to couple it with this router as a WAN port. This way I could share a 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz hotel/Airbnb WiFi Internet and still have a dual-band local network for Chromecast etc.

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• 

  drinkin-beer on 11/02/2021 - 12:03

  +2

  Wow, you just opened up my eyes in terms of functionality on devices like this. I never considered you could flash your own firmware and set it up exactly as you please. Forgive my ignorance but with this set up it would mean that you essentially have full control over your own router when away from home?

  • 

    ruprectaus on 11/02/2021 - 12:13

    +1

    I use DD-WRT

    https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/

    Not all routers support being able to be flashed with an Open source router. Configurability brings complexity.to some extent.,

    On another note, I was mortified to discover that no one else uses a guest log in for friends etc who visit there place, even twice removed friends at parties. I was like WTF ! Apparently I am the odd one out that has a guest login that's fairly tightly locked down.

    • 

      drinkin-beer on 11/02/2021 - 12:29

      That's actually pretty funny to me because I would have NEVER in a million years have even considered this. I can see from this you run a tight ship at home when it comes to security, do you change the guest login on a regular basis? I wish I knew more about security, but then again that's my whole point of commenting here, to learn.

    • 

      KangaDrew on 11/02/2021 - 14:07

      +1

      You need new freinds lol

  • 

    uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 13:00

    Glad you like it :) I wouldn't buy a router these days, unless I can flash OpenWrt in it. That's why I like GL.iNet so much, their devices and their mission. Though my main home network router is a little Intel Celeron box, and many folks use Raspberry Pi 4 for that. IMO, OpenWrt Web UI is super-clean and friendly, and the learning curve is really gentle, especially if you're into IT.

    Forgive my ignorance but with this set up it would mean that you essentially have full control over your own router when away from home?

    Yes you can do it. You can run a OpenVPN, WireGuard and/or OpenSSH (I prefer the latter). You can even have a two-form factor authentication and using the same Google or Microsoft Authenticator app you might already be using for other services, check this out.

    • 

      drinkin-beer on 11/02/2021 - 13:16

      Ok this brings up other questions for me. With your celeron box, how to you get it to act as a router? I have just learned that pfsense is a thing but it does not have wireless capabilities. What do you use for wireless devices at home? or do you have two devices - one for wired and one wireless (presumably with OpenWrt)

      Sorry I guess I worded that second part poorly, I already run OpenVPN to access my home network. I meant is the purpose of buying this RAVpower router so you can have a modem that you can fully configure how you want when you are away? what is the benefit of having this router instead of just connecting to the hotel/airbnb wifi directly?

      • 

        uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 13:40

        I recon my setup isn't quite typical :) I've repurposed two Asus RT-AC68U (converted from TM-AC1900 from this old deal) as two dumb WiFi access points, running Merlin firmware. Luckily, the apartment I live in is ethernet-cabled, so I just I connected these APs to my x86 router, which itself sits next to the NBN box. The router itself doesn't have wireless, it just has 3 ethernet ports (WAN1 (nbn), WAN2 (4g) and LAN).

        Now, I've bought this RAVpower only for travelling. I'll only need to connect it once to the hotel/bnb router (via ethernet or wirelessly), plug my Chromecast into the hotel's TV and I'll instantly have my own private local wireless network, with all my family gadgets (phones, ipads, kindle, laptop) supposed to work right away. At least, that's the plan. Might even get a Google Mini with us on the next trip, still got a freebie one laying in the drawer :)

        • 

          drinkin-beer on 11/02/2021 - 13:47

          +1

          @uk3000: Ah I see, thanks for the insight I love learning about these set ups that I never even dreamed was possible. Guessing I cannot do something like this because i have FTTB so I need a modem.

          This all sounds like a pretty convenient travel set up. In theory it seems all too easy! (lol)

          • 

            uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 14:03

            @drinkin-beer:

            Guessing I cannot do something like this because i have FTTB so I need a modem.

            You could still use this mobile router connected to your FTTB modem to share NBN internet via WiFi only, but of course that wouldn't be ideal. Instead, consider GL.iNet GL-MT1300 or GL-B1300. The latter is currently $89.00, what I think is a really good bang for one's buck, for a reliable dual-band home router of such specs.

            • 

              drinkin-beer on 11/02/2021 - 15:22

              +1

              @uk3000: great! thanks for your recommendation :-)

• 

  pbandjace on 11/02/2021 - 12:46

  Does this work/work well as a wifi extender? The file storage and sharing sounds useful but I've also been meaning to buy an extender. the wifi connection in my office is weak so wondering if having something like this will help with better zoom calls/watching vids. Would be great to kill two birds with one stone!

  • 

    uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 13:08

    +1

    I can't speak for the factory firmware, but with OpenWrt, if you have a wired connection, you can use it as dumb hotspot and with the same WiFi network name, so you devices can roam freely between this and you other APs (e.g, the router itself).

    If you want to make it a real extender, like connecting to an existing WiFi network and re-transmit it as another WiFi network on the same IP adress range and without a wired Ethernet port, there's still a way of doing it with OpenWrt called relayd. I myself wouldn't go that route. I'd rather use a pair of cheap Powerline adapters (like Tenda AV1000) to create a virtual Ethernet line, and still use it as a dumb AP. Or get a few of those mesh-capable APs.

• 

  SoylentGreen on 11/02/2021 - 12:58

  Can you recommend Router with 4g lte?

  • 

    uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 13:17

    +1

    As a portable solution, I'd try GL.iNet GL-X750. I haven't tried it myself but heard good things about it.

    For a home-based permanent solution, I myself use NETGEAR 4G LTE modem LB2120-100AUS, it has a bridge mode and I use it as backup WAN modem along with my primary NBN modem, both connected to the same router.

    • 

      SoylentGreen on 11/02/2021 - 13:35

      I was thinking of using GL.iNet GL-X750 to connect 4 wireless IP cameras at home.

    • 

      sk3iron on 11/02/2021 - 20:01

      +1

      For another opinion and my use case it was much cheaper and simpler to purchase a brand new in box Telstra Technicolor DJA0231 for $10 on Facebook Marketplace and follow this Hacking Technicolor Gateways. Has then all the features of your Netgear, the NBN modem and router combined for a much smaller footprint and presumably a much smaller price.

• 

  davemc on 11/02/2021 - 13:00

  +2

  I just got one a few months ago for $70 via amazon. So good price
  Have a samsung 1TB SSD drive for car trips.
  Works well for the kids each to stream a movie or show :)
  Had a Seagate Wifi before that cut out when streaming 3 things and only did MP4
  This works on different formats and no problems.

  Interesting to flash it

  • 

    uk3000 on 11/02/2021 - 13:10

    +1

    This model currently only has OpenWrt snapshot builds, which means you'd need to install Luci UI via SSH/CLI. Otherwise, they're very stable.

• 

  turkz1 on 19/02/2021 - 00:08

  +2

  Now only $48.99

  • 

    uk3000 on 19/02/2021 - 13:20

    Great price. Pity the Ethernet port is only 100Mbps.