REVIEW: The best yet most affordable network switch (TPLink WR902AC)

[keithc]

I haven't' gone down the rabbit hole further with the 3.3v hack, LifePO4 supply, or tried different 5v battery packs. Those days are behind me!

Amen brother. I have a slew of TPLink carcasses here from my failed attempts before I got it to work... but hey, at $30 a nut I just keep cracking them open...

 

[seeteeyou]

However, access point mode seems to bring more significant improvement on WR802N model.

Just wondering if you're happy to provide both Firmware Version and Hardware Version as shown below?

https://www.tp-link.com/us/user-gui...r-6-configure-the-router-in-access-point-mode

Much easier to replicate the results if we're following everything to the letter, many thanks.

 

[Exocer]

Keith,

I've tried some of these experiments, and can summarize my findings as follows. First, let's define additional scenarios:

E) Home network wifi / wifi to TPLink+Anker -> Taiko Router -> Taiko Switch -> Olympus server
F) Home router -> Olympus Server

My findings:
D >> (i.e. much better than) F — pretty amazing improvement over a straight connection for a sub-$100 solution!
A >> D — the Taiko stack brings different, and more substantial enhancements than the travel router's
E > (i.e. better than) A — the travel router adds SQ on top of the Taiko stack
B < (i.e. not as good as) E — removing the Taiko switch still has a negative impact on SQ

I personally have settled on E (full Taiko stack preceded by battery-powered travel router) as my preferred configuration for my Olympus.

I haven't' gone down the rabbit hole further with the 3.3v hack, LifePO4 supply, or tried different 5v battery packs. Those days are behind me!

I do not have the Taiko stack but I do have a diy clock modded ubiquiti edgerouter 4 and pf clock modded buffalo switch.

Air gapping my PF Ultra modded Buffalo Bs GS2016 with the Tp-link902 AC, connecting the tp-link to my home Wifi (also connected to the modded Edgerouter 4) sounds significantly better than the wired connection (edgerouter connected directly to buffalo).

I opted for the smaller Anker 313 because it comes with a pair and I have two travel routers. One will come out of the edgerouter in wireless ap mode, the other connecting to it in client mode, with output to the buffalo (i am going to conduct this test later, only using one presently).

I intend to use the 2nd Anker to try using my existing subnet isolated network with an air gap. So I would be connecting two Tp-Link902s.

It will be easier to confirm if power to the source wireless AP is impactful to SQ with two equivalent batteries.

In the interim, I have tried tp-link902 directly to server and have come to the same conclusion: Incorporating the Buffalo between the wireless AP and server still adds value.

I swapped out the buffalo for a stock QNAP QSW-2104-25-A to determine how impactful the switch quality itself is, and the Buffalo sounded significantly better than the stock QNAP switch here. I am trying a modded Teradak FMC with ocxo(not pink fuan level) with the same power source as used with the Buffalo and QNAP and this also added value when placed between the travel router and server.

Will report back once I test two travel routers on a dedicated separate subnet. If this brings improvements I will most definitely delve a bit deeper into the mods where deemed necessary. I suspect mods to the travel AP closest to the server will be the only one worthwhile to mod and feed premium power.