Goals: Find a router with at least 2 2.5gb ports with a long software support (5+ years)

List of Custom firmware's updated & relevant in 2024

1. OpenWrt
2. DD-WRT
3. FreshTomato (Searched compatible HW (https://wiki.freshtomato.org/doku.php/hardware_compatibility), no matches)
4. AUSU only: Asuswrt-Merlin https://asuswrt-merlin.net/ && https://github.com/gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

Good list https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/1gs0qgi/wifi_6_router_options_with_25gbe_ports/

1. GL.iNet GL-MT6000(Flint 2) $159.00 https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNet-GL-MT6000-Multi-Gig-Connectivity-WireGuard/dp/B0CP7S3117 OpenWrt

2. ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Dual 2.5G WAN/LAN Ports, $215 Asuswrt-Merlin

3. ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 $220 Asuswrt-Merlin

4. TP-LINK TL-XTR8488 Turbo AX8400 $254 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807531774383.html OpenWRT's https://openwrt.org/toh/views/toh_available_16128_ax-wifi

5. Sinovoip Banana Pi BPi-R3 Mini $150 + 2.5gb SPF's OpenWRT's recommended list

6. TUF Gaming AX6000 (TUF-AX6000) $200 https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-gaming-routers/tuf-gaming-ax6000/ OpenWRT's recommended list

7. ADTRAN SDG-8632 TA 904 2ND GEN IP GATEWAY ROUTER WIFI 6E MESH 17600073F1S US $299.99 OpenWRT's recommended list

No Third party FW support! (But right specs)

• https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-be700/v1/#overview

2.5gb+

• ROG Rapture GT-BE98 $799.99 gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

• ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 2.5G WAN/LAN port, 1 10Gbps WAN/LAN $599.99

• QNAP QHora-301W $400 2 10Gbps WAN/LAN (Poor reviews about reliability)

• TP-Link Tri-Band BE15000 WiFi 7 Router Archer BE700 $349.99 https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-be700/v1/#overview

• 2. ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 PRO $299.99 1x 2.5 Gbps 1x 10Gbps Asuswrt-Merlin

2.5GB WAN, 1gb LAN's

1. Asus TUF-AX3000_V2 $92.90 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806575492981.html Only 1gb LAN's (RJ45 for 2.5 Gigabits BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for Gigabits BaseT for LAN x 4) FreshTomato & gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng, release date: June 2022 https://techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/ASUS_TUF-AX3000_v2 https://www.digitalcitizen.life/asus-tuf-gaming-ax3000-v2-review/ https://www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-gaming-routers/tuf-gaming-ax3000-v2/

2. OpenWrt One $95.63 aliexpress.us/item/3256807640431354.html Only 1gb LAN (RJ45 for 2.5 Gigabits BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for Gigabits BaseT for LAN x 1) OpenWrt, release date: October 2, 2024

3. ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 2.5G WAN/LAN port or two 1Gbps $299.99

4. RT-AXE7800 $229.99

Skip numbers 5~6

7. RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 $184.00 2.5 Gbps LAN, odd Asuswrt-Merlin

8. TP-Link AX5400 OR TP-Link AX3000 $109.99 https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-WiFi-AX3000-Smart-Router/dp/B0BTD7V93F

9. https://mikrotik.com/product/l009uigs_2haxd_in https://www.balticnetworks.com/products/mikrotik-l009-router-with-2-4-ghz-802-11b-g-n-ax-dual-chain-wireless-l009uigs-2haxd-in $115.95

10. https://mikrotik.com/product/hap_ax3 $139.00

11. https://mikrotik.com/product/chateaulte18_ax $299.00

12. https://mikrotik.com/product/rb4011igs_5hacq2hnd_in $275.00

13. Banana Pi BPI-R4 Wifi 7 Router board with MTK MT7988A design,4G RAM and 8G eMMC onboard https://banana-pi.org/en/bananapi-router/155.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/vkw8ju/budget_25gb_router_for_openwrt_dont_care_about/ If I didn't need wireless: NanoPi R5S-LTS $65.00

Other options

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale--Celeron-N5105-2.5G-LAN.html // A Celeron N5105 powered mini PC from aliexpress with 2.5G ports, $150ish, plus a USB wifi adapter, $30?