I finally decided to replace my cable modem after my provider updated their supported models to include some better equipment. That meant that I also needed a wireless router. I already had a couple of Amped APs because they were some of the first to support true dual-band, meaning I could use both 2.4 and 5 GHz radios at the same time to support all of my devices. Those had performed well, so I chose Amped for the router. That was a mistake.
The setup is similar to my other Amped products. One of the options is to set the DNS servers. I prefer to set this to the Google public DNS servers so my devices have consistent DNS service, but that is not how the option works here. Evidently, this only sets the DNS servers the router uses for forwarding. The router acts as the DNS server for the local network, which is a poor design. I'm not sure how practical poisoning a router DNS would be as an attack vector, but one of the reasons I use Google DNS is because I trust their servers. I don't have faith in this DNS code, either for security or performance. Performance is certainly where this router fails. My devices regularly suffer DNS resolution problems, which require router reboots to resolve - at least daily, if not several times a day.
The release notes for a firmware update claim that it resolves the DNS issue. Whether it fixes the DNS performance or allows the router to issue public DNS servers in the DHCP response is unclear because I cannot apply the update. I contacted customer service, and after 45 minutes on hold, was walked through applying the firmware update again, a process which fails on my router. We tried the previous firmware, which also failed to update. The rep said the device was faulty and I would need to replace the unit.
Amped does not do cross-ship or advance replacement of their products. They require you to purchase a new router from them, pay for shipping, and then wait for the replacement. So I have had another week of router problems while I wait on ground shipping. Then I can process an RMA for the new router, send the broken one back, and get a credit for the new one. But no credit for the shipping costs. Hopefully the new router works, at least long enough for some other products to become more readily available and I can just scrap my entire Amped infrastructure for a better product.
Edit - Update
The new router arrived a week later and still came with the old defective firmware, but I was able to update the firmware. That solved the DNS resolution errors, but the router still acts as a DNS server with no option to change that. Next it took me weeks to get an RMA. Customer Service never responded to voicemails. After an hour of hold time between customer service and tech support I was able to get the RMA process started. The response I got after submitting the form was an address and instructions that I was responsible for shipping. So I have to pay to send your defective product back to you. This is the last Amped product I will own and I will not recommend them when family and friends ask my advice.
| Wireless Type | 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency |
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