Ask HN: Thoughts and experiences on third party router firmware?

2 points

9 years ago

Hi people of HN. I have bin a long time user of different router firmwares Openwrt, Ddwrt, Gargoyle and Tomato. For a list of router fermwairs see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_router_firmware_projects

I am now using a Linksys WRT1900AC AC1900 with Gargoyle on it and i have 2 APs that are TP-LINK Archer C7 flashed with LEDE.

The wrt1900 ac is set up as a router and the c7s are setup as dumb APs.

I would like to know if you use third party firmware and which one? If you don't use third party firmware why not? If you have thaught about flashing your router with third party firmware but haven't I would like to know why not? what stopped you?

I came up with the thought about starting this thread after reading a number of articles about attacks on routers. Like this one: http://arstechnica.co.uk/security/2016/12/home-routers-under-attack-in-ongoing-malvertisement-blitz/

The reason I use Gargoyle on my mane router is for it's really good QOS and family safety features. Gargoyle is built on top of Openwrt witch is Linux baste. It has a plugin system witch lets you install plugins like it's grate addblocker and a ping watch dog. https://www.gargoyle-router.com/index.php Latest Gargoyle builds for the wrt1900 AC can be found here: http://lantisproject.com/gargoyle_mvebu/newgui/

On my APs i use a build of LEDE from here: https://kau.toke.dk/lede/airtime-fairness-builds/ar71xx/generic/

The LEDE build has new airtime-fairness patches for the ath9 and ath10 wifi drivers in it made by the guys over at make wifi fast. https://www.bufferbloat.net/projects/make-wifi-fast/ http://blog.cerowrt.org/post/make-wifi-fast/

I am Hoping to help any one who would like to flash there router out. I am a mod on the Openwrt and Gargoyle forums. I have no vested interest in any project apart from helping people. Thanks for reading and sorry about any spelling mistakes. :)

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