Google OnHub Router Support Ending In 2022 (9to5google.com) 29
Before Google Wifi was announced alongside the original Pixel phone, Google a year earlier released OnHub-branded routers from Asus and TP-Link. In late 2022, Google will end support for OnHub routers that will be seven years old at that time. 9to5Google reports: At six years old, currently, Google said "a lot has changed" in the router landscape, and that it will end support for them on December 19, 2022. This is according to emails that customers (via Droid-Life) have been receiving and a new support document. Until that date, "your OnHub router will continue to work as normal," but without security updates for new software features. The last combined OnHub and Google Wifi update came in October of 2019, while Google and Nest Wifi have had several OTAs since then. That said, a year later, the Google Home app added support for managing OnHub hardware ahead of the Google Wifi companion client getting deprecated.
Google recommends you "upgrade to a new Wi-Fi setup today" and emailed a 40% off Nest Wifi offer to existing OnHub router users that will be available until March 31, 2022. After December 19 next year, the OnHub router will continue to "provide a Wi-Fi signal" but no longer be manageable through the Google Home app, which is the downside of routers that are entirely managed via the cloud/companion app and do not offer local controls. While OnHub routers will continue to work and not disrupt existing networks, Google's decision to remove the ability to change basic settings is quite aggressive. Hopefully, the 2016 Google Wifi will see a longer support period.
Google recommends you "upgrade to a new Wi-Fi setup today" and emailed a 40% off Nest Wifi offer to existing OnHub router users that will be available until March 31, 2022. After December 19 next year, the OnHub router will continue to "provide a Wi-Fi signal" but no longer be manageable through the Google Home app, which is the downside of routers that are entirely managed via the cloud/companion app and do not offer local controls. While OnHub routers will continue to work and not disrupt existing networks, Google's decision to remove the ability to change basic settings is quite aggressive. Hopefully, the 2016 Google Wifi will see a longer support period.
Just say no... (Score:5, Insightful)
...To cloud only devices.
Nothing good comes of it in the long run.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not a cloud device. It's a home router.
Google released it to support their fibre internet offering, because at the time many routers were too slow to actually route 2 Gbps, and usually had really rubbish wifi.
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Google’s insistence on cloud-based controls for its networking products has occasionally caused issues, even though it was supposed to make life with OnHub routers simple. Now it will be a reason pushing anyone still using the OnHub to find a replacement by the end of next year when Google’s apps stop allowing owners to change the settings on their devices. An email went out to users, and a support page revealed the changeover is scheduled for December 19th, 2022 (via Droid-Life).
After December 19, 2022
Your OnHub router will still provide a Wi-Fi signal, but you’ll no longer be able to manage it with the Google Home app.
You won’t be able to update things like Wi-Fi network settings, add additional Wifi devices, or run speed tests.
Google Assistant features like “Hey Google, pause my Wi-Fi” will stop working.
OnHub performance can’t be guaranteed.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not a cloud device. It's a home router.
Google released it to support their fibre internet offering, because at the time many routers were too slow to actually route 2 Gbps, and usually had really rubbish wifi.
Yeah. it is cloud CONTROLLED. So when the vendor goes out of business or decides to stop supporting it, You're also done whether your hardware is still functional or not.
Linksys did this about a decade ago. They introduced their "Smart Routers". It required a cloud account to access some of the features. And you HAD to register it to configure it. Within 6 months they depreciated several features/functions. Really ticked off a bunch of customers that purchased a router that had advertised features X, Y, and
Re: (Score:2)
Except it is a cloud device that is a home router. Hence after support ends:
"features would be disabled like updating the Wi-Fi network settings, adding additional Wi-Fi devices"
The only way to configure an OnHub local router is through a Google cloud service. Which can be questionable enough for a lot of online cloud devices, but utterly insane for a router. This is how Google's strategy is for all their devices, that you may only use it as they bother to support services.
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Huh. I knew someone who had one years ago, I don't recall that but you are right. What a pile of shit.
Really? (Score:3)
Google OnHub Router Support Ending In 2022
That's pretty brutal. I set up a trio of those Google Wifi things at my parents' house back in 2019, they were expensive as hell and a bitch to configure. That said they do a good job of providing connectivity. If Google bricks these things in the hope of forcing me into a fiscal quarter enhancing upgrade cycle they've got another thing coming. I'm never going to buy a Google product again.
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I'm sure that Google cares deeply.
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I'm sure that Google cares deeply.
They should, I'm not their only customer who'll react badly to having a product they bought two years ago essentially bricked. Google cannot yet afford pull stunts like this since they haven't yet achieved the necessary omnipresent Google monopoly in this market space. There are still viable players in the router market that Google hasn't successfully exterminated.
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Until the amount of people deciding they dislike the Big Company reaches a critical mass, and the company fails/ gets smacked something awful.
At that point, it's too late for them to reverse course on the whole 'we're too big to care" mindset.
Re: (Score:2)
This isn't Google Wifi -- OnHub was the thing before it, and the devices in question date from late 2015 into 2016.
Re: (Score:2)
This isn't Google Wifi -- OnHub was the thing before it, and the devices in question date from late 2015 into 2016.
The Google OnHub (a.k.a this thing): Released in the US in August 2015 and October 2015.
The Google Wifi (1st Gen): Released in the United States on December 5, 2016.
It does not seem that unreasonable to worry that the Google Wifi 1st gen, will be bricked next year.
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It's not going to brick them, just no longer allow configuration, or am I reading that right? Still pretty shitty but for most users won't be an issue.
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No configuration, *including* "adding additional Wi-Fi devices". Sems like most Google devices, this depends heavily upon Google internet services to manage local operation, and once untethered it 'coasts'. I also wager they haven't tested long term offline operation and it might work even worse in 2023.
Re: (Score:2)
You might be thinking of a different device. There were not on sale in 2019, they had been replaced by newer models. They were never called Google Wifi either, that is a different product entirely.
7 years support is good for a router. Not many companies offer that much, although to be fair a few did step up recently when some very old issues were found with IIRC the Linux kernel. Sadly it doesn't seem to be supported by DD-WRT or any other alternate firmware. That said, there is no reason to stop using it r
google wifi lacks features (Score:3)
Nest Wifi does not have USB ports out (which is useful for powering network devices near the hub)
NestWifi does not support Eddystone which would be useful to signal mobile devices automatons when entering a room
NestWifi still do not have support for thread networks (you have to use developer mode and insert the already commissioned thread ID)
if google would finally enable thread support to the tp link OnHub devices (as promised on the packaging) and allow it to be used as a plain bridge that would be useful...
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I have 3 google wifi hubs that are all unpluged since they didn't give me the access I needed (changing ports and other settings.)
That said, I am going to need a new router when I upgrade to the 2 gig plan.
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NestWifi like OnHub will probably get dropped and demand you pay to replace it when it's no longer worth it to keep supporting your device in their business plan.
Should be a law (Score:5, Interesting)
In cases like this, the company has to open source the last firmware release so if someone wants to pick up development and support duties, they can. Or at least release the necessary documentation so that OpenWRT developers could add support for it..
Re: Should be a law (Score:5, Insightful)
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> provide wrt / full code / ability to load OS / *up front at release*
I've been using these GL.Inet [amzn.to] devices specifically for this reason. Check their Twitter for sales.
But it's beyond reason to expect every consumer to understand the OS on every one of their appliances. Heck, I forget which IC my washing machine uses even though I repaired it once.
Right-to-repair is important in a world where chartered corporations are allowed to exist.
Re: (Score:2)
But it's beyond reason to expect every consumer to understand the OS on every one of their appliances.
Those customers will most likely not be installing custom router OSs on their routers.
Should be a crime (Score:4, Interesting)
Google should be forced to either opensource the project and hire a maintainer or continue to support the product for as long as users are still using them. I hate to mandate a private company do the right thing with legal proceedings but Google should have taken this into consideration when making a device that can only be managed by a cloud service. Come up with a viable exit plan instead of giving people the middle finger for buying your product.
Re: (Score:3)
I disagree that they should be forced to support a product forever.
That said, customers should see this as a warning and not buy from google.