First Mikrotik - RB750GL?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › First Mikrotik - RB750GL?

hashbrown

463 posts

Ultimate Geek

#159826 13-Dec-2014 23:18

After a basic but bulletproof router to plug into my VDSL modem. No wifi required.

Looking at my options a Mikrotik RB750GL seems to fit the bill well for a reasonable price. Anyone have experience with these? Anything else I should be looking at?

michaelmurfy

meow
13260 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1197098 13-Dec-2014 23:47

I personally use the RB951G-2HnD and find this to be an excellent router and even has really good WiFi (but you can turn off the WiFi radio if this is not required).

I think it is about $20 more IIRC but you get a faster CPU and double the ram and mine is currently routing 100mbit UFB with ease. Mikrotiks are a bit of a learning curve but once you get into them (and get used to reading the Mikrotik Wiki) you'll soon have a very powerful and feature-packed router.

Just remember to firewall it correctly - there are many routers on the internet without their firewall rules complete leaving an open router to the world (often with default passwords) - GRC ShieldsUP comes in handy for checking this.

Edit: Also go to http://mikrotik.com/downloads and grab the latest 6.x firmware - to install upload it to files on the Mikrotik using Winbox and reboot, then go into System --> Routerboard and run a bootloader update (hit update and reboot). This is to ensure you get a totally boss router.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

raytaylor

4017 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1197108 14-Dec-2014 01:06

If you are not good at programming routers, mikrotik is a big learning curve.
Its not a basic web interface like a common linksys etc - it uses a windows app called winbox and a programming language to set them up.

Its easy to do once you have learned how to do it - but there is a big learning curve

Ray Taylor

There is no place like localhost

Spreadsheet for Comparing Electricity Plans Here

kiwirock

685 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1197149 14-Dec-2014 08:57

My RB750GL did open a wizard the first time I ran Winbox to tell it how I wanted it set up.

However as mentioned above, they are a learning curve for anything other than the initial setup wizard.

It can be controlled via a web page, but it's still very complex. If you want a real challenge and haven't used Mikrotik before go for it, but have a spare easy to use router on hand while you're learning Mikrotik routers.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1197164 14-Dec-2014 10:28

Yep go for the RB951G-2HnD as you will get a wireless imterface too.

A wizard will run when you first boot it to get you started. The other thing you will want to do is upgrade the software as they never ship with up to date software.

Mikrotik have a great wiki so if you cant do something it is very easy to figure out.

hashbrown

463 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1197650 15-Dec-2014 11:21

Thanks for everyone's feedback. The RB951G-2HnD does look like a good option.