Alternative to TL-WR703N with multiple ethernet ports

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parsley

59 posts

Master Geek

#133556 26-Oct-2013 13:55

I bought three TL-WR703N, installed OpenWRT on them and use them round the house and garden to provide good Wifi coverage. But since I've only got a single ethernet cable running to them it means I have to unplug them if I want to use the cable for something else.

Can anyone recommend an alternative (but still cheap and easy to setup) that has more than one ethernet port? I suppose the alternative would be to buy a cheap hub...

Thanks.

gstarkey

78 posts

Master Geek

#922042 26-Oct-2013 14:18

Get a switch (or hub). Cheaper, no config.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

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#922044 26-Oct-2013 14:23

Buying a 5 port switch is going to be the cheapest option. If you're not running the AP's using passive PoE you could also split the cat5e giving you another jack at each location which would be even cheaper again but is a bit of a hack.

Any standard Ethernet router is going to give you switched ports + wifi providing you disable the DHCP and statically assign the LAN IP.

ferg_nz

175 posts

Master Geek

#922085 26-Oct-2013 15:35

as other have said a switch would be the best but another option i have just come across is the Air Router from Ubiquiti

they come in 2 versions and does not have to be used as a router. you can configure it in a bridge mode and then it is a AP with a 5 port switch

very easy to setup ad use. one thing it does lack is WPS but for me that is not a deal breaker

take a look here at the details but at $75 gst for the standard and 99+ for the High Power model i think it is good value

http://www.gowifi.co.nz/product-search.html?keyword=airrouter&search=search

chevrolux

4962 posts

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#922138 26-Oct-2013 18:28

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=254585

richms

28175 posts

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#922143 26-Oct-2013 18:38

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190804366641

can add openwrt, has USB, and the switch seems to handle multiple vlans fine which others do not.

edit: here is the page on openwrt: wiki.openwrt.org/toh/widemac/sl-r7205

Richard rich.ms