The XIAOMI MI Router 4A Gigabit Edition

We will have a closer look at the XIAOMI MI Router 4A Gigabit Edition and test the switch performance, router performance and the Wi-Fi performance. Furthermore we will have a look at the stock firmware and see if the device phones home and if there are any data protection issues or privacy concerns. In the second part we flash OpenWrt on the device and compare the performance to the original firmware.

00:00 Intro TLDR TLDW
00:39 The XIAOMI Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition
01:57 first installation stock firmware
03:10 The web GUI
03:30 getting shell access
04:30 switch performance
05:30 routing performance
06:18 Wi-Fi performance
07:29 Observations
09:40 Is the device phoning home ?
10:22 how does the app access the router?
12:33 Data Protection?
13:29 more remarks
14:14 call to action
15:05 backup the firmware
17:10 let's flash OpenWrt
19:14 switch performance with OpenWrt
19:46 routing performance with OpenWrt
20:34 Wi-Fi performance with OpenWrt
21:24 Summary and Conclusion

Commands and description are on the github server because some characters are not allowed in the description:

[calinriley]

I am into security and privacy and I love this video 23mins worth it! More videos similar to these and probably home automation or home servers please! Clear and well explained 😎

[markohh]

Very informative and in-depth review with crystal clear explanations. You earned a sub my guy!

[dleivam]

Really well made and explained video. The quality is far beyond the average youtube channel and you really deserve more views/subscribers. Thanks.

[bongbongdalazybum]

Without you I might've never known my router's performance could be that smooth and stable. Thank you very much!

[wallieshere]

Last year, before your video I asked the same question about all my IoT devices. Your videos explain a lot of how to overcome this issue on the home network. Thanks.

[mistamal]

Marc your channel is purely amazing. Your explanations are crystal clear even for neophytes like myself while managing not to sacrifice too much in depth technical detail.
Excellent video as usual. I am myself definitely reluctant to have my devices dependant on a cloud service, ad have been trying to get home assistant running at home.
Cheers!

[jamess]

I was in the network security field; worked for an outfit many years ago. I've always been against cloud control since the early days. I'm a network engineer now, so for me it's first/second-nature.
I use locally controlled everything, with knockd to only open ports to specific /32 addresses as long as the knock sequence is complete (which prune every 24 hours). I follow this by a limit for the knock and dummy ports to lock the system (like honeypot).
I also have some "cloud", that I've stuck behind another firewall and don't allow network connectivity out of my home network with strict -J DROP. This makes it a nuisance to try and use IoT apps, but that's fine for me.(TUYA has been replaced by tasmota)
Home network is further secured from non-established connections to these devices to prevent any scanning or future devices being added to this "MZ" network.

[matejnovak]

I just found your channel by accident. You have excellent presentation skills.This is what youtube is/was about... keep up the good work.

[rsupp]

YouTube algorithm recommended your channel and really love the high quality content, got lots to learn. Thank you !

[christianmedina]

Wonderfully thorough and concise video on a budget/affordable solution, my favorite. I am really looking forward to that mesh video as I have already dipped my toe into OpenWRT when I bought the DIR-2640 earlier this year after your previous videos. Thank you for making this so much easier for the laymen like myself and exploring bank for buck territory.

[miguelbelbut]

I am using one of these as an AP. I get peaks of about 400Mbps download over 5GHz 802.11ac, and average between 100 and 300 Mbps, with -40dB RSSI (iperf3). The coverage is good, much improved over my two previous WiFi repeaters (a DLink and a Asus RP-N12), and supports over 16 devices all over my two floors.

[kapurar]

Thank you for such a comprehensive and clear analysis and description of the device. As for your questions, I don't like my routers or firewalls open and accessible from the outside without something like Openvpn. I run openwrt or ddwrt on my wireless devices mostly as dumb access points and a pfsense box as my primary router with various vlans to isolate functions in my network. Great Channel!

[spc]

Also, I forgot to mention: Thank You! So much work and experience in this "review"! I want more!
I would also mention a gigabit switch, attach to this router with OpenWrt, and bam, you can connect your cameras, and more APs, PCs, what the heck you want. :)
Liked, subscribed, turned on the notifications!

[Serdarme]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience and expertise on the home networking. I have been a system engineer for 10 years but i always felt away from the custom firmwares like openwrt. With your tutorial videos, a person can understand the logic behind the networking rather than just following your instructions. Thank you again

[pichonPoP]

22:05 And I agree with you Marc. I'll buy this one, maybe this week to do the same you did here. As always, thanks you for sharing this great insight.

[ciluxt]

Quality, Concise, yet Comprehensive video. I'll give this all my likes if I could, liked and subscribed!

[sokolum]

Your explanation is suberb… the highlighted details, awesome… 👌🏼 (lol watching this 2nd time, recommended video 😂, didn’t notice)

[marioschatzipavlis]

Hello Marc. I have the hardware-wise similar Xiaomi Redmi AC2100 flashed with OpenWRT for a year now, having the same concerns with you. Nevertheless in my eyes a good choice for it's price, if flashed. I am impressed with your knowledge transfer capabilities, couldn't skip a second of your video. Keep up the good work! We will stay tuned :)

[Unspecified-grwe]

Thank you! Your videos are very clear and beautiful. With the help of your video, I easily converted my MI Router 4A Gigabit Edition into an OpenWRT device.

[syamantakpati]

I dont have a Xiaomi router and I wont buy it eityer. Yet I am watching this at 7.30 in the morning hoping to learn something new. Your videos are such informative. Keep up the good work, Marc