ASUS EBG15 Power Consumption and Noise
The power adapter for this is a tiny 18W unit. That feels like a lot.
Normally when we were using this router, 8W would have been a lot. With such low power consumption needs, and without fans, this is a silent running router.
The Idea Behind the ASUS EBG15
At this point, our readers undoubtedly are thinking “I could make my own OPNsense/ pfSense router” or even “why not just install Ubiquiti and be done with it?” I think those are all valid, but here is another perspective. Many folks these days have mobile setups. Think about if you race cars and have a trailer that has cameras and needs WiFi, or you are a vanlife/ RV’er. Perhaps you actually run the example Patrick likes to use of a hot dog stand. Or you have another small space where you want cameras for security, and maybe only 1-2 APs. Maybe your Internet is some kind of WiFi bridge for when that is in range and uses your phone or hotspot as a 5G backup. This packs almost anywhere and provides a good amount of flexibility.
Another, very valid idea, would be to get an integrated WiFi router. ASUS makes some crazy ones on the gaming side, but for business, these look much more mundane like the EBR63. You would need to add PoE injectors, but that is another viable option.
Running a mesh WiFi network is always an option as well.
I think many of us who have setup hundreds or thousands of devices forget that many people build networking by installing something and not touching it for another 5 years. That is really the target audience for this kind of small stack. It is really cool.
Final Words
Sometimes, you just want something easy, and this is that solution. From phone/ web based setup, easy labeled ports, and a small footprint, it is really just easy. If you need a 1Gbps router, or perhaps better said, if you have something like a 100Mbps to 300Mbps connection or two, this is a simple way to get up and running.
For folks that just want something simple and small, this is a neat little option. We test a lot of high-end hardware, and crazy hardware. This EBG15 is just neat because it is small.
Where to Buy
You can find this little EBG15 router, at this Amazon Affiliate link. If you want the matching EBP15, you can find it on Amazon (Affiliate link.)
Why is there no look inside? What is the processor and other components? Where are the performance tests? Are updates guaranteed for 5 years? What is the EOL date?
It is a bit light on performance detail. It looks surprisingly similar to the TP-Link ER605 (even down to the three WAN ports and USB port placement) and the ER605 lists in the specs that it can route at 945 Mbps (although WireGuard only at 120 Mbps). I don’t think the USB port is meant for storage/NAS, I think it’s really there for a 4G/5G USB modem as a WAN backup.
I got the ER605 for a small solar powered remote site because it’s fully supported by OpenWRT, so I was easily able to reflash it and have full control over the routing and VPN connections.
The article says you could use this device for a couple of IP cameras but really you don’t need a router for so few devices, just a normal switch will do.