Looking at few routers to replace Core in the event its not able to be repurposed. Feedback welcomed please!!
https://www.asus.com/us/Networking-IoT-Servers/WiFi-6/All-series/RT-AX88U/
https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RT2600ac
https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-c5400/
SA
Admins!! Please close this thread as Core is long gone. Thanks.
SA
Indeed! Its available and the cost is within a decent range.
SA
took a look at the c5400. comes with free lifetime internet security and anti-virus called home care.
Another deal spotted!!
https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-c5400x/
On sale here: https://computers.woot.com/offers/tp-link-archer-c5400x-tri-band-wifi-gaming-router?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_pc_9_4
SA
Update for those following the thread: Coupled with a new Norton subscription, Norton Security Ultra, I once again can protect unlimited devices on the new network. Replaced Core this morning with my TP-Link Archer AX21. Setup scenario is the same as with Core, with the exception that ALL wired and wireless devices are on the Archer AX21 router. I feel that the new router can protect what is connected into it better as was with Core, Core and the Archer AX21 both wouldn't protect what is upstream from it. So that practice prevails.
Setup was a breeze. I had pre-configured the new router a few weeks ago off-line. It connected right away without issues. Advanced settings allowed for my use of primary and secondary DNS settings without any of the fuss and muss Core would have given. Device labeling was a breeze, and, automatic detection of device WiFi capabilities was something ( 2.4 / 5ghz ) then the appropriate network assignment was also a feature lacking with Core. Real time monitoring with the Tether app wasn't any of the headache as was with Core. And the #1 feature that stands out the most. WEB BROWSER ACCESS!! #2 is "LOCAL LOGGING" that isn't on the router but instead into a folder of the users choosing.
Wifi is lag free, speed tests show an average of 530 download / 505 upload speeds ( wired devices ) Note: we are directly ethernet to the FIOS ONT into the FIOS Gateway. Paying for 400/400, no complaints there lol!!
Last but not least, is Wifi Detective. ( Tether Lab) on the Android app. Experimental as it may be, it was worth the try. It will scan your WiFi network and identify all the devices connected to it and report anything unusual found. Looking forward to this expanding as TP-Link does their bidding.
Overall: VERY satisfied with the setup, features, access abilities and control. Most especially the performance. Monitoring for anything that stands out as time goes by. Still, I'm deeply ticked that Core is being allowed to BRICK in 35 days. Even more disgusted at the "offer" that was sent, there are NO MONTHLY OR ANNUAL FEES associated with the new protection that is in place on my end anymore. Just my Norton subscription which is money WELL SPENT for the best A/V protection on the market in my view. Hoping you are all finding it a bit easier to move on from Core as well. Share your decisions as you deem fitting. I WILL find a way to repurpose Core as an AP mode router. Its just a matter of time.
SA
SFWIW!! Wanted to drop a note here with what I am seeing with Core the past couple of weeks. At various times WiFi is dropping totally off the network, just WiFi, nothing is dropping on the ethernet side of things. I have the notion that my Core will take a nose dive before the EOL date arrives since I haven't had ANY issues with it in a long time. On a side note, and a truly far fetched one, maybe Norton is tinkering remotely to find a way to disable their firmware for a EOL release. Naah!! The Gods can't be that gracious.
SA
Thanks goes out to all who have shared in the thread. I believe the above suggestion MAY become a possible solution to repurpose Core if the security chip embedded on the Core SOC is disabled. Time will tell. If anyone comes across a working solution or one they want to share please feel free to share it here.
SA
All: Not having tons of free time lately I haven't had the opportunity to do further research on repurposing Core and using DD-WRT firmware. I have a source for installing just that onto routers that have existing firmware already installed. Norton will first have to disable any security hardware on the Core SOC prior to flashing any firmware.
Please note: anyone performing the suggestion in this article are doing so AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Article: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-install-dd-wrt/
Edited - Forgot to add the OpenWRT link: https://openwrt.org/
https://openwrt.org/toh/views/toh_fwdownload?dataflt%5B0%5D=supported%20current%20rel_%3D19.07.8
SA
Just an FYI for anyone going with a TPLINK AX21. I placed it where my Core use to be. Great except for one thing. The microwave now knocks off about half of my devices. 4 out 6 security cameras and 3 Amazon devices. They reconnect though just would not recomend a file backup while cooking. If it’s not one thing it’s another.
I installed a Firewalla Gold router and picked up a Netgear WAC510 AP. As a baseline my Core provides 2.4 Gz thru-put of 68 Mps at a distance of 5ft using speed test. The Friewalla does have a LAN router but requires a WIFI Access Point for WIFI. For my first test of the WAC510 AP I disconnected the Core and plugged AP into the same Ethernet 5e cable, speed test showed 42 Mps at a distance of 5ft. I ran this test 4 times with virtually the same result. I disconnected the AP and plugged the Core back in, reran the speed test and the Core duplicated the 68 Mps.
Next I acquired a TP-Link EAP115; after installing it I ran the tests noted above and the results were worse than the WAC510. I reinstalled the WAC510, defined only one SSID, and activated the Broadcast Enhancement feature. That test improved the thru-put to 52Mbps vs the Cores 68Mbps. I then added a guest SSID VLAN and the results dropped my thru-put to 42Mbps. My guess is the WAC510 does not have the power to keep up the added workload. In all cases using the Firewalla LAN test (strictly tests the LAN from router to the device) showed 68Mbps, vs the Cores 102Mbps on the same cable.
I am sticking with the WAC510, the thru-put at the furthest part of the house drops to 18Mbps, which is acceptable for our use. The Core delivered 38Mbps at the same location. It appear the Core has a more robust radio system, but when the Core ceases to function on 1/1/22 it will deliver 0Mbps.
Note, all these test were run at 2.4ghz, which is what the bulk of my devices run on.
The WAC510 is at the bottom of the WAC5xx family, if I want to increase the thru-put I will need to spend more money on my AP solution.
Thank you very much SA, I had been looking thru review sites had not come across this one. Based on your credentials I am going to go with your choice, it looks really solid.
Some suggestions I found are here on this site. #6 is my personal choice.
SA
SA, Do you, or any body on the form have any recommendations for a good WIFI AP? I tried the Netgear WDC510 and it is very weak. I have 72 Mps from my ISP measured by Speed Test on a LAN based computer, the Core WIFI provides me 68 Mps in the same room as the router, and the WDC510 only provided 38 Mps.
Firewalla does have 2 lower cost man-in-the-middle firewall only units to plug into an existing router. They pretty much have the same protection tools. One is called Red and the other is named Blue. Check those over and see if they are more in line. All of their products gets updated with new Blacklists as threats are known, again no fees and no data sharing.
The company is made up of ex Cisco engineers.
Djwalker. Thanks for the feedback and info. Although a bit pricey for my budget this is an excellent choice others may consider. Its got all the bells and whistles of Core app and then some. "NO MONTHLY FEES" is a definite sell pro as well.
SA
As a suggestion for a Core replacement take a good look at Firewalla Gold. It is a LAN router front-end by a configurable fire wall, that provides Ad Blocking, DNS over HTTPS, VPN support, and many more features. The most common rules are already setup and there is a menu driven rules definition capability to add your own. The LAN ports are configurable into separate VLAN's, or one common LAN, good way to separate IoT devices. For WIFI an AP needs to be added. The product is in a metal case that is on the small side and is rated as a small business appliance.
I have only had mine for about a week and it is impressive; one of the features included is a "upload traffic" monitor warning, now I know how much data Google and Amazon pull up from my devices at night. Go to https://firewalla.com/products/firewalla-gold and check it out. It is a bit pricey at $438 but it has 4GB of memory and a quad core Intel processor managing traffic.
I have used Speed Test to verify that it has not slowed down my Internet speed.
Its official. Core will be allowed to brick although, we own it. No "partnership" offer will be needed for this person going forward. I HAVE my solution "in hand". Those of you out there who haven't found yours. I would do so at your earliest convenience before things stop working or another issue arises where you just cannot use Core at all, being left hanging in the wind.
https://community.norton.com/en/forums/norton-core-end-life-announcement
SA
Found mine at a great price on Amazon. https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-ax21/
SA
In my opinion one of the best. ( For me it's top.)
I have a Fritz!Box 7590 ax and it's wonderful, also combined with a telephone Fritz!Fon C5 or C6, because router also acts as a DECT base, you have HD sound, if supported by ISP, firmware updates for telephone and router via cordless phone GUI, you can disable WLAN via phone, receive emails, internet radio, and REGULAR firmware updates for router and phone. AVM has LTE, cable, fiber and dsl routers. Also WPA3 support and 4 gigabit lan ports, wan port and many more features.
5 years, warranty.
If acquired you will love it, very nice user interface also.
Drawbacks, no ON/OFF switch. Just unplug the adapter from ac outlet, but who cares I have a UPS.