Which Freifunk Router?
Which router can be recommended?
Our Freifunk firmware works best with an adapted version of OpenWRT.
If you want a router that is compatible with Freifunk, you will have to choose between these three options:
Fast and low-price, but high technical effort needed
Very slow but a low price
Important:
For Freifunk routers, the exact hardware revision is extremely important. It wasn't only once that a hardware changed immensely from one version to the next and completely different resources were installed or even another CPU was used. Needless to say, that a hardware revision of a router that worked e.g. in version v4.2 is not necessarily compatible to v4.3 or v5.
Please read the instructions for installing the firmware: Instructions: Flashing the Router
Good Freifunk Routers
Unfortunately slightly expensive
Archer C7
The Archer C7 is currently one of the easiest Freifunk routers to set up.
It is one of the few models that provides WiFi on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Our stable release only supports models v2 and v4.
Versions v1 and v3 unfortunately turned out to be incompatible.
There is a beta release for the currently available version 5 (April 2019). It can work but
might also be prone to errors.
Unfortunately, this router is very expensive, costing €70-€100.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including videos in
medium to high quality.
Unfortunately slightly expensive
Archer C7
The Archer C7 is currently one of the easiest Freifunk routers to set up.
It is one of the few models that provides WiFi on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Our stable release only supports models v2 and v4.
Versions v1 and v3 unfortunately turned out to be incompatible.
There is a beta release for the currently available version 5 (April 2019). It can work but
might also be prone to errors.
Unfortunately, this router is very expensive, costing €70-€100.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including videos in
medium to high quality.
Price comparison
Hardware information
Firmware
TP-Link WDR 4300 and WDR 3600
The TP-Link WDR 4300 and the WDR 3600 were very good models for Freifunk.
When the routers were still produced, they only cost approx. €25.
They are among the first models that could transmit WiFi on 2.4 GHz as well as on 5 GHz.
Unfortunately, these routers are no longer available and pop up on the second-hand market for
more than €100.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including videos in medium quality.
Hardware information WDR 4300
Hardware information WDR 3600
Firmware
TP-Link WDR 1043ND
The TP-Link WDR 1043 is also among the better Freifunk routers.
Unfortunately it only transmits the WiFi signal on a 2.4 GHz band which is still something.
Only models v2 to v5 are supported.
Version v1 is to weak and has therefore turned out to be incompatible.
Version v5 has to be flashed via tftp, though.
Unfortunately, with a price between €40 and €80, it is still pricey.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including videos
in low to medium quality.
Price comparison
Hardware information
Firmware
Flash router with TFTP
Ubiquity Nanostation
The Ubiquity Nanostation is also suitable as medium-quality Freifunk router.
Its design as sectorial antenna enables it to transfer the WiFi in a 60-degree angle and
not in all directions.
Unfortunately, it only transmits the WiFi signal on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz - depending on the
hardware model, which is still something.
The Nanostation M2 model transmits on 2.4 GHz, Nanostation M5 model on 5GHz.
Unfortunately, with a price between €40 and €80, it is still pricey, however it is suitable for
directional radio when the correct configuration is set up.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including videos
in low to medium quality.
Price comparison
Hardware information
Firmware
Complex but good Freifunk installations
Relatively complicated but very good, though!
Freifunk Off-loader
Relatively complicated but very good, though!
Freifunk Off-loader
A Freifunk off-loader is a small computer with significantly better resources compared to a Freifunk router that sets up the connection to the Freifunk gateways.
That way an enormously better connection to the Freifunk network can be established, using a bandwidth of usually 80MBit to 120 MBit.
Siemens Futro S550
The Siemens Futro S550 is the most popular off-loader hardware.
Second-hand, you can purchase it for €5-€20.
Using an off-loader, we recommend to implement more professional Freifunk installations
with directional radio or wider WiFi broadcast.
Installing the Freifunk off-loader turned out to need a little more effort, as most hardware
require an installation via serial console and USB drive.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including multiple
parallel videos in very high quality.
Price comparison
Freifunk off-loader
Firmware
PC-Engine-APU
The PC-Engine APU is more or less the professional equipment of a network administrator.
The APU includes a strong hardware and is therefore almost to good to be "only" used as
Freifunk off-loader.
The installation can be done in several ways. You either install a Debian-based OS and then install
the individual Freifunk components manually.
Unfortunately we currently do not have a suitable script that carries these steps out automatically.
However, with some effort, motivations and the right questions from you we will also be motivated
to fix and provide this.
The alternative would be to use the x86 images of our firmware which do of course also
work for the APU.
The Freifunk WiFi is suitable for each Internet traffic possible including multiple
parallel videos in very high quality.
Details
Buy APU
Freifunk components
Firmware
WiFi AccessPoint
For Freifunk installations with an off-loader, basically any WiFi router can be used as WiFi AccessPoint.
We had especially good experiences with the Ubiquity Unify AP-AC-Pro.
It can be managed via a controller.
We gladly help with the installation.
Furthermore, we operate a Unify controller at one of the gateway servers and provide you with an account
there through which you can manage your own hardware.
Recommended Unify APs for installations with an off-loader that are operated via the WiFi controller:
Unify AP-AC-Pro
Unify-AC-Mesh
Cheaper hardware for slower Freifunk
It still works but is very very slow!
It still works but is very very slow!
Freifunk can also be provided with hardware that is less expensive. However, you cannot expect to achieve a Freifunk with a huge bandwidth. The WiFi here is mostly only suitable for writing e-mails or sending text messages. Watching videos or sharing pictures is often prone to long loading and waiting times or the bandwidth isn't even enough.
TP-Link CPE210 / CPE510
NOT RECOMMENDED! DON'T BUY!
The TP-Link CPE is one of the cheapest Freifunk router.
Unfortunately. depending on the hardware it only provides WiFi at on frequency band which is still
something.
The CPE 210 transmits at 2.4 GHz, the CPE 510 at 5 GHz.
Its sectorial antenna design enables it to send the WiFi signal in a 60° angle and not in all directions.
More experienced Freifunk members call it paperweight due to its very heavy hardware and its high
failure proneness.
Only the v1.x model is compatible with Freifunk.
The router costs €25-€50.
However, this router is still suitable for Freifunk, covering most Internet traffic incl. writing e-mails
and sending text messages. Videos and pictures in low quality do have a relatively long loading time
in most cases.
Price comparison CPE210
Price comparison CPE510
Hardware informationen CPE210
Hardware informationen CPE510
Firmware