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Guys please in your privacy journey don't forget the routers (lemmy.ml)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by aprehendedmerlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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before buying expensive routers check OpenWRT's table of hardware and buy one that is supported by the current OpenWRT release and has decent specs. There is a detailed installation guide for each supported device in the wiki too so there are no excuses it's dead simple. Free yourself from stupid hardware manufacturers and their planed obsolescence products.

Edit: also here is the new version of the table of hardware with more details They seem to have buyers guide too in the wiki.
Edit2: seems like GL.iNet devices ship with OpenWRT out of the box with their GUI on top and you still have access to openwrt under the hood if you need it which sounds awesome so look into them if you're interested. Thanks you guys who brought them up.
Edit3: there is firewall sulotion called OPNSense which is not limited to commercial routers like OpenWRT and can be run on any x86 hardware of your choice (like N100 mini pcs) so look into it if you're interested. Many thanks to the guys who contributed in the comments
Edit4: Sorry for the multiple edits but some of you guys suggest some fantastic insights that I had to add. Anyways here is a list of good candidate devices for hassle free installation and yet powerful enough hardware from OpenWRT's Forum
I promise it's gonna be the last Edit. OpenWRT has a official device they made themselves called OpenWRT ONE (I think the second one is also in the works). It hase good specs for home network and you support the project too. Here is the link to official Retailers

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[-] ClownsInSpace2@lemm.ee 7 points 10 months ago

Any recs for a OpenWRT-supported router? The list is pretty deep

[-] aprehendedmerlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 months ago

It comes down to specs and your needs but these are a must in my opinion:

having atleast 128 mb of storage or some way to expand it.
256 mb of memory or more
suppot WiFi 6 or better 6E or 7
Support for mesh protocols if you need it
Decent multi core chipset if you gonna run intensive tasks on it (like VPNs or DNS filtering) etc.. the list goes on but like I said It really comes down to your needs ( on a side note consider read the details and installation guide page before buying some brands and models are easier than others to tinker with for sure)

[-] ClownsInSpace2@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

This is a helpful starting place, thanks!

[-] aprehendedmerlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 10 months ago

You're welcome. Sorry I didn't named some specific devices but that's because device availability and price changes drastically region to region so something maybe a great deal where I live but that may not be the case for you or the other way around.that said Xiaomi and some Hauwei maybe tp-link devices are the best bang for the buck in my corner of the world look into those maybe that's the case for you too. Also Here is the new version of the table of hardware with more details

[-] xela@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago

https://forum.openwrt.org/t/best-newcomer-routers-2024/189050/2 this comes right from their forum and is a good list

[-] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 10 months ago

I'm using a Linksys MX4300 I got from woot for like $20, seems pretty good.

[-] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 10 months ago

Well, GL iNet 's router software is based on OpenWRT, so all of their's. The UI of nicer, so I just leave their version on there; go through the "advanced settings" menu item to get the LuCI interface.

[-] turtle@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

What I did when I was looking for a newer router to run OpenWRT was to look at their supported hardware list, narrow down to the ones with recent WiFi protocol support (in my case, WiFi 6), then compared prices. I was able to buy a used Belkin router for $20 on Ebay that did the trick.

[-] Steamymoomilk@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

I know openwrt actually realised a openwrt router.

I bought a flint 2 from glinet And it works pretty well

[-] sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.today 1 points 10 months ago

One that supports the latest standards, though I'd suggest a Gl.iNet router if you don't know much about networking as OpenWRT is quite confusing.

this post was submitted on 29 May 2025

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