TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND Ultimate Wireless N300 Gigabit Router w/ USB Port & DD-WRT Support $25 after $20 rebate + Free Shipping

Update: Ships within 2 to 5 weeks.


Amazon has TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND Ultimate Wireless N300 Gigabit Router w/ USB Port, DD-WRT Support, Detachable Antennas for $45 - $20 rebate = $25 with free shipping. Thanks iRabbitt

Price Research: Our research indicates that TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND Ultimate Wireless N300 Gigabit Router is $20 lower (44% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices ranging from $45 to $80. - yuugotserved

I have one for around 1 and 1/2 years. I installed DD-WRT right away, but my experience was not good -- dropped wireless connections, problem with b+g mode. Recently, I installed OpenWRT and am happy with the performance. For me, DD-WRT interface was more intuitive, OpenWRT is not. I will need to spend some time to learn about it.

does this support ipv6

Quote from mma123 : I have one for around 1 and 1/2 years. I installed DD-WRT right away, but my experience was not good -- dropped wireless connections, problem with b+g mode. Recently, I installed OpenWRT and am happy with the performance. For me, DD-WRT interface was more intuitive, OpenWRT is not. I will need to spend some time to learn about it.

how reliable is the router and how are the speeds? and does it suport ipv6?

Quote from mma123 : I have one for around 1 and 1/2 years. I installed DD-WRT right away, but my experience was not good -- dropped wireless connections, problem with b+g mode. Recently, I installed OpenWRT and am happy with the performance. For me, DD-WRT interface was more intuitive, OpenWRT is not. I will need to spend some time to learn about it.

I too had a problem with a different TP-Link router dropping signal or needing to be reset. It mainly happened when I was running 2 xbox's at the same time but one was on N and the other on G. It seems a lot of N routers don't like this and so I would recommend basically what this guy [amazon.com] (scroll up after clicking) is explaining in his post.

I didn't do it exactly the same way. Mine is set up so I know which router/access point I am connecting to but same general idea. Ever since then I haven't had problems or had to reset the routers and it has been smooth sailing since.

can you run it as wireless client bridge? since it allows for DD-WRT?

Not a bad price AR if you're ok with rebates, although I've never done one through rapid-rebates.com before. This sells for about $40 on eBay. Detachable/upgradeable antennas, but relatively low specs compared to the current, main, $50-80 price range. Still, it's got your modern household basics, can take alt firmware, and as long as you don't brick it, you can resell and make your money back in the next couple months to give you time to try it out. Or just return to Amazon for a couple bucks shipping (or free w/ Prime) within 30 days.

I've only ever used 1 TP-Link device, and the stock firmware worked fine for basic g-wifi and 100Mbit LAN but that one did feel warmer than any other home router I've ever used. Still had good uptime on that one though, better than some of the Netgear *refurbs* I've tried (not a good comparison, I admit).

Quote from iafzal3 : can you run it as wireless client bridge? since it allows for DD-WRT?

If you want an answer from someone with actual experience with this specific router, you might want to spam all the reviewers on Amazon to see if anyone's done it, or do a search on the wider web, if you aren't doing that already. (edit: or skim through the past SD threads on this model, "bridge" pops up here and there)

Also, try this ddwrt thread [dd-wrt.com]. Inactive since August, but sounds like ddwrt works after a headache setup but gargoyle might be easier. Not sure how successful you'd be trying to bump that thread.

Personally, I think you'd need to be really desperate in need for a wireless repeater to link up two access points to put up with the configuration hassle (the first time, then again for troubleshooting later, and for any firmware updates as security measure). Considering the range and halved throughput already on a limited-throughput wireless link, you might as well just run a cable. Definitely for indoors, where there's already enough RF interference, maybe even outdoors if you can keep it neat and safe.

BTW, the ddwrt thread was for wireless repeater, to extend the wireless range. If you really just wanted a wireless client bridge, it'd be a bit simpler setup.

If you really did want client bridge, here's one of a few ddwrt threads [dd-wrt.com] with some tips regarding this particular model. To clarify, with wr1043nd as client bridge, the wr1043nd would connect to the rest of the network wirelessly, but devices connected to the wr1043nd would need to be wired (and would end up sharing the wireless bandwidth between the wr1043nd and the rest of the network).

ddwrt has a more general article [dd-wrt.com] on other methods to link routers too.

Isn't this a staple router in the dd-wrt community? It has great loyal support and seems like a great deal?

Quote from iafzal3 : can you run it as wireless client bridge? since it allows for DD-WRT?

Yes. I am using it as CB with WDR3600 as main.

wonderful price

Guys, how does this compare to the NE frontpage deal for the TL-WDR3600 N600 yesterday for $39?? Specs seem almost the same except for the Dual band, which most of us don't care about anyways.

how does this compare to the FP deal of yesterday ?

EDIT : On a quick look , this seems to be an older model and has 1 usb port compared to 2 on yesterday's deal.