this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2023
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Just like the operating system on your computer & cell phone, you can change the software running on your router.

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[–] DrAnthony@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (6 children)

It's awesome to see these projects are still alive and kicking but they feel like a relic of a past era nowadays. Much like how stock ROMs on Android have improved to the point that rooting isn't really beneficial in most cases anymore, the stock firmware on the majority of routers is perfectly serviceable. I'm sure there are still some corner cases where they are as transformative as ever though.

[–] TurnItOff_OnAgain@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

I installed MerlinWRT on my Asus router and it greatly improved the smart steering between 2.4 and 5ghz. Before installing it the router would steer me back and forth very often no matter what I set it too, and I would often drop connection. After Merlin it is rock solid.

[–] CannedTuna@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I agree. Back in the day I used to run DD-WRT on a cheap $75 router to get features you’d only get on $200+ routers, but now a days I think there’s better options. UniFi for example is great if you don’t mind spending a bit extra. Otherwise I’d rather just use PfSense.

[–] Water1053@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Same here! These days I have less time for tinkering and enjoy everything behind the Unifi "pane of glass".

[–] CannedTuna@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

Same. I just don’t have as much time to troubleshoot things when stuff goes wrong these days.

[–] BrianTheFirst@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I run OpenWRT on my Unifi AP :D

[–] CannedTuna@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Chaotic neutral move. Nice.

In all seriousness, how is it?

[–] BrianTheFirst@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago

It makes wifi! I'd say that stability and performance are probably identical. I don't especially mistrust Ubiquiti, but running open source feels nice, and it gives me nerd cred.

[–] BrianTheFirst@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have worked with a gigabit ISP for a number of years, and personally haven't seen that much improvement in stock firmware. If anything, I feel like it's more a matter of hardware improving to the point that the clunky stock firmware can run ok.

[–] DrAnthony@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Maybe I should revise my statement to "consumer routers an informed user would consider buying".

[–] spez_@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I'm using a GL.iNet router which is running off of OpenWrt. The front end looks very modern

[–] a_spooky_specter@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yea I feel like I'd lose features if I tried to do a different firmware on my Amplifi alien