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Contest For a Better Open-WRT Wireless Router GUI

Posted by kdawson on from the doing-well-by-doing-good dept.

Reader RoundSparrow sends word of a contest, with big cash prizes, being mounted by a commercial vender of open source Open-WRT routers. You have 10 months to come up with "the most impressive User Interface/Firmware for Ubiquiti's newly released open-source embedded wireless platform, the RouterStation." Entries are required to have open source licensing and will all be released. First prize is $160,000, with four runners-up receiving $10,000. RoundSparrow adds: "Could be built on top of existing X-WRT or LuCI OpenWRT web interfaces. OpenWRT Kamikaze 8.09 was just released. Now is perfect timing for OpenWRT to get some kick-ass interface and usability ideas. I'm not affiliated with the contest vendor."

1 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. Modern Linux hackable routers, 802.11n support by RoundSparrow · · Score: 5, Informative

    Other OpenWRT news. The newest Atheros 9xxx radio chips is available in a number of OpenWRT supported routers now. I have been working to help organize new 802.11n support in OpenWRT. I have compiled a list of consumer routers that work with Linux ath9k driver and ar71xx CPU. In order of current recommendation:

    Planex (PCI) MZK-W04NU, 32MB RAM and 8MB flash, USB port, 10/100 Ethernet
    Trendnet TEW-652BRP, 32MB RAM and 4MB flash, 10/100 Ethernet
    Trendnet TEW-632BRP, 32MB RAM and 4MB flash, 10/100 Ethernet
    D-Link DIR-615 revision C1 (ONLY!), 32MB of RAM and 4MB flash, 10/100 Ethernet
    TP-Link TL-WR941N WR941ND, 32MB RAM and 4MB flash, 10/100 Ethernet

    OpenWRT team is pretty close also on the Netgear WNR2000.

    These listed above all come from a common Atheros AP81 reference platform. see http://wiki.openwrt.org/AtherosAR9100

    In USA and Japan, the Planex is available on Amazon.com for $59.99 with free shipping... it has more flash and USB port. 3 removable antennas, is a nice hacker system. In the USA, the Trendnet routers have been on sale from Newegg, Fry's, buy.com for only $25 a few times. I will try to post on Reddit / my Slashdot journal when I see them on sale for $25 next time.

    The ath9k driver for Linux is not yet mature but is moving along... in 2 to 3 months I expect we have a very nice platform... and the router interface and ease of use of OpenWRT is getting attention with this contest! Now is an exciting time for OpenWRT and Linux routers - finally moving to some new N devices.