Mercusys MR27BE BE3600 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router $112 Delivered @ Amazon AU

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This discount makes it seem pretty darn cheap for a fast Wi-Fi7 router, it has nice 2.5G ports and claims to be mesh compatible. This brand is apparently owned by TP-Link. The model manual is here https://www.mercusys.com/au/product/details/mr27be/ and it may be that as someone said about a different model, that this uses EU radio bands and misses out on some extras that are available in Australia.

Edit: it does seem to have an AP mode according to the manual.

Edit #2: this is not a great deal for reasons discussed below.

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.

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Comments

  • -5

    TP-link is rubbish I wouldn't get this for that price.

    • +14

      TP-Link is terrific

    • Your opinion is rubbish. Care to link to a similarly priced WiFi 7 router available locally?

  • +2

    Might not be a real bargain as per checking in Google Shopping with a few other seller listing at the same price. Wait for further comments from a more technical perspective…

  • +3

    Having a quick look at the reviews, I'm not sure this makes much sense as a product.
    The 2.5gb ports seem to be the biggest advantage.
    But I feel like the Mercusys Mr80x and MR90x might be the more logical choice for most people.
    Given the WiFi7 implementation on this doesn't include the 6Ghz band and is only dual-band, it doesn't really seem like it would benefit from the advantages WiFi7 has to offer.

    • +4

      if its too good to be true its rubbish.

    • +1

      Ah thanks @Rail Rider95. So while I've salvaged several TP-Links over the years and they've all worked fine (in response to @kungfuman), maybe it's still too early days to expect cheap "proper" WiFi-7 from anyone.

      • +1

        I'm happy for someone else to prove me wrong, as I am actually in the market for a decent budget router at the moment.
        But what I wrote above was my quick interpretation of the specs and a review.

        • Look at GL.iNet flint 2 router at a similar price on AliExpress.

    • +2

      But I feel like the Mercusys Mr80x and MR90x might be the more logical choice for most people.

      Very true, also most of the time Wifi7 is of most benefit at distances where ethernet is still viable.
      Plus we know of the unpatched CVE's in all the Mercusys firmware, because to this day, even on latest firmware, we still exploit them on the compatible hardware models to push OpenWRT.

      I love Mercusys PoE switches, and unmanaged switches, but otherwise, I'll stick with AsusWRT or OpenWRT supported routers.

      • Can you shed any light on the WRT stuff you mentioned? If not relevant to the deal, feel free to DM me.
        I believe the MR70x and MR90x from Mercusys both support WRT, but not the MR80X.
        What are the vulnerabilities in Mercusys stuff? And are they also relevant to TP-Link, given they share a lot of core info?

        • +3

          https://app.opencve.io/cve/?vendor=mercusys
          Thats not all of them; but thats a decent chunk.

          OpenWRT is what most routers are actually based on, think of it as the same way Google Android and Samsung phones are based on AOSP.
          Catch is that those versions are usually super old, and filled with closed source 'blobs' (code chunks) to rrun their cheaply aquired chips, so you have no way to audit if those chips, or code, is safe to use.

          Things that support vanilla OpenWRT can have the latest security and bug fixes.
          Their code is fully open source and readable, and its a project thats so popular, that hiding malicious code is massively unlikely.
          It's a slightly harder to use interface (LuCi is the interface name), but it's something most people could feel comfortable in, after an hour or so of tutorials.
          And since it's fully open, if your router has enough space and processing power, you can even install apps (like network wide adblocking).

          AsusWRT is just Asus's version of notably more up-to-date than average firmware, based on OpenWRT.
          Typically it's considered a step up, because MOST of it is open, just that ASUS use Broadcom based SOC's a lot, which aren't open source (but are a big company), so it can't be FULLY open. It's also a little easier to use than vanilla OpenWRT.

          With that said, this is why the gl.Inet Flint was a lukewarm release; but the gl.Inet Flint2, was an absolutely massive homerun.
          Normally cheap and chinese makes people nervous. But good hardware with full vanilla OpwnWRT support? Replace the whole OS!

          • @MasterScythe: Wow, thank you for the very informative run down (somehow still easier to understand than generic googling of the topic).

            Based on that, do you have any product recommendations for a decent OpenWRT supported WiFi router in a similar budget to this deal?

            • +2

              @Rail Rider95: There are several OpenWRT compatible routers at the $100 mark, but it's one of those areas where you get what you pay for.
              You risk it being a little harder to flash the firmware, slower to respond, any 'cool apps' you hear about might be too heavy to run… basically it'd risk putting you off.

              If you're aware of that, you can search the table of hardware for local brands if you'd like.
              https://openwrt.org/toh/start
              This typically includes what hackery you need to do to get the initial reflash (since brands don't WANT you doing this).

              I honestly consider this both the most sensible minimum, and a bloody good, expandable, router.
              https://www.amazon.com.au/GL-iNet-GL-MT6000-Performance-Mult…

              • +1

                @MasterScythe: That's a pretty fair point. I appreciate the warning.

                I have seen that MT6000 recommended a few places, but that might have to be a future goal router given the price. Still, good to know what to keep an eye out for.

                Again, thank you so much for all the info. Really do appreciate it.

                • +2

                  @Rail Rider95: It's things you don't appreciate until you have it.

                  Most ads removed before they even reach your PC?
                  Sufficient cooling on the WiFi chips, so your stream never drops?
                  A feature called SQM? which is the ability to not lag other users, if someone tries to hammer the connection.
                  2.5GbE ports?
                  Running your own VPN to safely use public wifi?

                  The options you get when you have a non-closed router are insane, and genuinely improve the quality of (internet) life.

                  The fact that WiFi is TOTALLY stable, with zero dropouts, and no need to ever reboot the router, is alone, a blessing. Not many models manage pseudo enterprise level stability anymore….

                  • @MasterScythe: Thanks for the informative input here.

                  • @MasterScythe: Yup, I have one for a bit more than a year. Confirm all of those are true, and then some.

                • @Rail Rider95: They are on sale on AliExpress for $113 or so at the moment.

    • I'm confused how they can market it as wifi7?
      I thought wifi7 meant it can utilise all three bands and aggregate them as well?

  • Any suggestions for a decent WiFi router? The main feature I need is parental controls. My current TP-Link router from TPG doesn’t work well. I don’t need it for gaming.

    • https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/895097 - this one has parental controls.

    • Amazon Eero or Google Nest.
      If you're against megacorps tracking you, they're a nightmare.
      If you're happy to use that tracking to filter your families internet then there's no denying their systems work.

      Otherwise, normal WAP's + Pfsense.

  • +1

    The "3600" Mbit is 2×2 5GHz 2880 2.4GHz 688, so in practice* it is going to be exactly the same speed as the Wifi6 model for $56.

    2880 = 160 MHz channel, 4096 QAM

  • +1

    Sorry folks, turns out this is a dud deal and I'd be tempted to remove the listing, but the helpful technical comments above mean I guess it's worth keeping in case someone is researching the router themselves..

    • Just expire it, if you're feeling that way. :) it stays but it stops getting front page mentions.

      • Done, good idea

        • Delete the deal or leave it up. It's not expired yet.

    • +2

      I think it potentially still has a valid use case as a relatively cheap router that has 2x 2.5gbps ethernet ports, which is useful for some people.
      However, there may be others with that around this price, I don't know enough to say one way or the other.

  • lookout for MR47BE deals, usually goes around $175, triband BE9300.
    I have two of them in EasyMesh, very good.

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