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Hacking the Linksys WRT54G

Posted by timothy on from the go-forth-and-multiply-them dept.

knightrdr writes "Robert X. Cringely has posted an interesting article on the PBS web site about modifying the Linksys WRT54G wireless G broadband router to build a wireless layer on top of the Internet. He argues that with as little as a $70 investment per node, the Sveasoft WRT54G Firmware could be the first in a line of many wireless devices to enable a giant leap forward for the Internet."

7 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. Dupe by tjansen · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's a dupe, was posted on friday. Still one of the better cringely columns...

    1. Re:Dupe by elmegil · · Score: 5, Informative
      Still one of the better cringely columns...

      If you buy his "you can resell your DSL bandwidth" argument which in 90% of cases is not true.

      --
      7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
  2. openwrt by thehosh · · Score: 5, Informative
    back to the roots: openwrt is much more fun!

    only a base system, which can be customized for your needs.

    1. Re:OpenWRT by cnf · · Score: 5, Informative

      It is a core system, very basic. On top of that you can install what you want with ipkg's.

      I have running:
      SSHd
      trafic shaping with iptroute2+tc
      custome firewall script
      no-ip client
      tcpdump
      network syslogd

      It doesn't run a webinterface (yes, to me that is an advantage.)

      Next on the agenda: vpn client to the office. ( so I am always connected from home.)
      serial interface so the nids can give instructions to the WRT.

      This is exactly what I need, from a 12watt machine (the WRT uses 12V DC, 1A) that makes 0 noice (no moving parts)

      And above all, it is a shiny fun geektoy :)

  3. Others by Quixote · · Score: 5, Informative
    Sveasoft isn't the only game in town (though it is one of the top ones). Others include:
    EWRT, from Portless Networks (a fork of Sveasoft)
    Wi-Fi Box

    Ahh... the wonders of OSS and GPL. :-)

  4. Hey, Not only Linksys guys! by zoobab · · Score: 5, Informative

    I would like to say that there is not only Linksys, but all Broadcom based routers (Trendnet TEW-411BRP, Belkin F5D7230, Motorola, Asustek wl300g et wl500g, Buffalo Airstation, Dell Truemobile2300).

    See:

    http://seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/BroadcomRou te rs

    There is also the other APs based on Intersil:

    http://isl3893.sf.net

  5. OpenWRT by cnf · · Score: 5, Informative

    Personally, I run OpenWRT (http://openwrt.ksilebo.net/) on my WRT54G. In my opinion, it is better, and my contact with the developers so far on IRC has been wonderfull.

    Check it out, and a WRT54G (or the WRT54GS) is a nice investment, even if it was just for its geekyness :-)