new TPLink TL-WR1043ND v2, should I upgrade the firmware? Options?

I just got my new TPLink TL-WR1043ND v2. I followed the quick setup and everything is well. My knowledge regarding router open firmware is not great but I've read some open firmware like DDWRT etc2.
Should I upgrade to one of these open firmware? or should I stick with the official firmware? If so, which one should I flash with and why?

Here is the current one I have
Firmware Version:
3.15.31 Build 130925 Rel.32445n
Hardware Version:
WR1043 v2 00000000


Thanks!

 

I just got the TP-LINK's Archer D7 AC1750 today, i just looked at the open firmware database but mine is not listed, I would not flash one of those anyway unless i was having a problem and my return/refund time had expired.

My notebook is connecting at 866.5Mbps and i did a download benchmarked at 35Mbps of my 38Mbps fiber/cable connection, so that`s not bad, but i have returned quite a few routers from Netgear, D-link, and Belkin and they were no good, this TP-Link router seems like the best so far.

John.

 

@edwardamin13

As a rule 3rd party firmwares offer more options but usually at a cost of lower performance. Had you really needed a 3rd party firmware you would have known about it - it's not the sort of thing you ask about. So my advice - stick to the most recent TP-Link factory firmware (that are actually good at firmware support) unless you run into some issues ot are in need of more features. If that's the case - ask away, we'll try to figure out the best solution.

While we're talking solutions - your current firmware is not the most recent. There is a more recent one that has been released in June 2014. Changelog: Improved wireless performance and fix some minor problem. Remember not to update firmware via Wi-Fi!

@Tinderbox (UK)

I'm slightly confused - Archer D7 is a ADSL/router combo - what fiber/cable connection are you talking about? Ot is it an Archer C7 which is a router only?

 

I bought the D7 the Adsl Modem Router as i might need a Adsl connection at some time and it`s not much more, I just plug my Fiber modem in to the LAN/WAN port and configured for wireless router mode only which is easy on the TP-Link compared to the D-Link i last had, sorry to confuse you

Also my HP Rove Tablet/Notebook has an "Broadcom BCM4352HMB 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi Adapter" gets an 866.5Mbps connection, though my D7 router goes up to 1300Mbps if i had the right card in my Tablet/Notebook but it`s enough with my 38Mbps Fiber/Cable connection.

I only got 25Mbps with my ISP supplied router, that why i bought my own.

John.

 

Okay, I probably dont need the extra features then. I already upgraded to the newest TP link firmware just like you suggested.
Just curious, what kind of extra features that people need that was offered by these open firmware? Also the USB port in this router, will it function as a kind of cloud storage for my place?

 

You can attach a HDD to the USB port to stream music on movies and run FTP on it. It won't offer good performance though - NTFS volumes are not something Linux based routers like and the CPU in this router is not meant to power a Nas but a router so it's not powerful enough.

As for the features of 3rd party firmware - there are lots of those. Visit DD-WRT website, OpenWRT website (this firmware is too confusing for a novice) and Gargoyle website (this one is based on OpenWRT but a bit more friendly) to check out features. There are simply too many to list them here - from print-servers to traffic monitoring - pretty much everything you can imagine and more.

 

Does anybody else have problems getting on the TP-Link websites,i keep getting "server not found" , i only got on the Uk one late last night, it was down all day for me, also some of the other international ones don't seem to work either, i used an few website down checker and they all say the websites are working OK, what is going on?

Will you try the UK TP-Link below and see if it`s working for you.

Welcome to TP-LINK

EDIT : it seems to be working ok now

John.