Choose a gaming-friendly router with strong parental controls to restrict unwanted content.
Choose a gaming-friendly router with strong parental controls to restrict unwanted content.
I've owned an r7000 Nighthawk for quite some time. It functions well, but lately the 2ghz or 5ghz speeds keep dropping and the device shuts down. This prompted me to explore newer routers for replacement. The r7000 performed admirably with coverage for up to 20-30 devices and parental controls via Circle. It still works solidly, so I’m planning an upgrade for future compatibility. I chose a Netgear RAX54 because the r7000 was reliable, but it’s not meeting expectations. Many people claim Netgear has strayed from its roots, and it might end up being returned. Still, I’m searching for a solid gaming Wi-Fi router—something capable of handling multiple gaming sessions alongside other devices. I need effective content filtering, blocking entire categories rather than just websites, and quality performance. The r7000 offered QoS and proactive connection management, which I appreciate. I’ve checked out Asus, TP-Link, and others, but the options are overwhelming and confusing.
For serious content filtering, a standard home or small office router won’t suffice. A solid choice is a dedicated device like an SBC or SFF PC running PCSense, Firewalla, or Sophos. These options increase setup difficulty significantly, and today’s browsers include advanced security measures such as HSTS, which complicate intercepting legitimate traffic. Relying on your router for protection leaves you dependent on the vendor to deliver updates and stay ahead of evolving threats. I personally use Sophos; even with admin responsibilities, it was a challenging learning process, requiring roughly a week of troubleshooting before it functioned as intended.
Review the Gryphon AX or Tower (AC) options on gryphonconnect.com. It supports strict content filtering. I own a Tower used as a router and three smaller Gryphons linked in mesh mode. AX seems to work only with other AX units for mesh networking. It offers settings for Auto QoS or manual QoS via max internet limits. It doesn’t appear to interfere with the DSCP QoS on my two downstream switches. I’m unsure if this functions as an active router or a passive AP. If it acts as a router, it should work. For pure AP use, configuration seems limited—expect double NAT if you have upstream routing. Overall, it supports port forwarding if needed. As a less experienced network user, I’d prefer more advanced tools but don’t see major gaps for basic or non-file hosting tasks. Edited April 25, 2023 by NobleGamer Added which devices I have