3rd party firmware (i.e. tomato/DDWRT) on home use routers

[xaeniac]

Are you still able to upload another firmware to routers today? Read that the FCC messed with the law in 2016, though I've been away from this subject matter for a while. Looking for a new home router any recommendations.

 

[razel]

Yes, you can. It depends on the router. If you have updated it post FCC firmware compliance then your router could be locked after updating the firmware. My Linksys EA6500 got locked. Trying to change it to Tomato or DD-WRT just results in an error. My Asus RT-AC56 apparently is locked from the web ui, but maybe possible through the emergency update routine. I haven't bothered to flash it with ASUS firmware and have stuck to Merlin's. I have no need past what Merlin provides anyhow and Merlin sticks to ASUS firmware as a base, minus the FCC lock. I know for a fact that the DLinks also use a tftp emergency update routine on bootup so those may still be possible to update to 3rd party firmware.

They aren't always clear with the release notes, but I'm sure you can read between the lines.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

TP-Link blocks third party entirely. Netgear, Asus, and Linksys (WRT only) still allows it, with some restrictions. Others I'm not sure of.

 

[Rifter]

Its slowly being blocked on more and more routers. I think over time it will be blocked by most.

It was a contributing factor when i decided to just buy dedicated hardware and running pfsense for a router.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Bit the bullet and installed DD-WRT x86 in a VM.
Handles gigabit WAN routing with ease.

 

[NesuD]

Just went to a dedicated pfsense box and a couple waps. no fuss no ftc interference.

 

[Red Squirrel]

PFsense is great, it's what I run at home too. One of these days I want to build a 1U short length Atom box though, right now I'm using a core2duo 1U server box and it's WAY overkill. 😛 An Atom based system in a small form factor motherboard would use way less power.

 

[NesuD]

I'm running Pfsense on a celeron 1037u in a little mini itx board with dual nics. was a cpu board combo. Dropped a 4g stick of ram in there and a 32 gig ssd. Its been a champ. No idea what its max uptimes are never had to reboot it except for the times I update pfsense. did it back in 2014. If i were to build another today i would absolutely go atom. In fact I would probably just grab this.
https://www.amazon.com/Firewall-Mic...e=UTF8&qid=1492599564&sr=8-4&keywords=pfsense

Add ram and storage and its ready for pfsense.

There are 4 nic versions of this device as well if someone were to need it.