Discussion of why it is difficult to get an off-the-shelf low cost (about US$100) wireless router which can work with OpenWRT (easy installation by new users) and support SQM >= 300Mbps.
https://forum.openwrt.org/t/best-newcomer-routers-2024/189050/36
1. From Rich Brown.
The following routers meet (or are close to) the criteria, and links to their recommendations
Honorable mentions: These seem to be good routers, but don't meet all the criteria for newcomers:
- Netgear WAX206 - Looks easy to flash; similar power as Linksys E8450; may be available under US$100 on eBay
- Cudy WR3000 - Two-step install process is confusing for newcomers; reported to max out at 360-380Mbps with SQM 4; under $60 and otherwise looks interesting
- TP-Link AX23 - £53.99 on Amazon UK, likely can only support SQM at 100Mbps; nice link to the Device Page instructions
Linksys E8450/Belkin RT3200 - lots of power, highly-regarded, but has a confusing two-step install process for newcomers. No longer recommended for newcomers. This topic 6 describes difficulties with flashing/recovering/bricking
2. The post from slh is more in line -- using x86_64 mini PC (like Intel N100) and then dump AP.
Newer WiFi 6 routers may get better support by OpenWRT as well which will do SQM>=300Mbps but the low cost ones may still struggle with SQM>=900Mbps.
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Even the first generation of wifi6 devices (e.g. mt7622bv+mt7915) is getting replaced by the (cost- and feature) optimized second wave (e.g. filogic 820/ 830). What you end up with, are either cheap low-end devices (e.g. mt7621a+mt7915DBDC) which have no chance of meeting your performance requirements - or devices that are simply too new for your 23.05.2 support requirement (and yes, also exceed your price cap and often the ease-of-flashing one as well).
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Btw., the most you may expect from the r7800/ xr500 with sqm/cake would be around 180 MBit/s, less if PPPoE or similar things are involved.
The GL.Inet GL-MT6000 is probably most promising (I have no personal experiences with it, GL.Inet or filogic 820/ 830 in general though), but it's obviously outside of your price range.
The OpenWrt One should come close as well (claiming to meet all of your strict requirements, aside from not being available yet), but the 1+1 ethernet ports are a deterrence for many normal users (including myself, I've made the experience that less than 1+3 or better 1+4 ports on the router does severely limit my options).
Things like the NanoPi r2s/ r4s or a four-port x86_64 system (e.g. alderlake-n/ n100) solve the sqm/cake vs performance issue easily, but obviously lack the wireless capabilites (but maybe the existing/ old router (with its OEM firmware) can be used as dumb-AP, in the worst case in a double-NAT setup).
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