OpenWRT compatible router in 2022

[halfbytecode]

I am looking for a new router that is OpenWRT compatible and has good WiFi range. Initially I was considering TP-Link Archer A7, but it has a single core CPU and also seems outdated being launched a number of years ago.

Now Archer A6 V3 also seems to supported by OpenWRT now. It is dual core, but is more like an entry level router.

I also looked a Asus routers, but ASUS 58U does not really seem to be available now.

Are there any other routers that I can consider, which are OpenWRT compatible and have a good WiFi range?

 

[shirishag75]

@halfbytecode Can you tell me what is Luci and can you share links about instructions for compiling the build ??? I am planning to buy the Archer v6 3 or 3.2 depending on what I can get. Looking forward to know more.

 

[WieldyBinkie]

I do not have access to internet beyond 100 Mbps to test this out with.

You can do an iperf test.

 

[WieldyBinkie]

@shirishag75 LuCI is the web interface

 

[nishantt6969]

How can I use adblock on openwrt? My router is A6 v3. @WieldyBinkie, Im on openwrt.

 

[halfbytecode]

@halfbytecode Can you tell me what is Luci and can you share links about instructions for compiling the build ??? I am planning to buy the Archer v6 3 or 3.2 depending on what I can get. Looking forward to know more.

Please try the OpenWrt 22.03 rc1 build instead. It is newer than the snapshot I am using.

You can do an iperf test.

I tried testing using iperf3, with an instance running directly as server on the router through OpenWrt, and another instance running as client on my Android device.

The max I got out of it over 5 GHz WiFi was 366 Mbps in one of the tests.

The results seem good, considering I am running iperf3 as a server directly on the router which really is not designed for these tests. Seeing this, full bandwidth can likely be achieved, if this test is performed with iperf3 running as a server on another device, instead of directly the router.

 

[WieldyBinkie]

@nishantt6969 I don't know how much memory is available on a6. Openwrt has packages for adguardhome, adblock, adbyby plus. Ad blocking

 

[Aashish.007]

It is not possible to run adguard home on A6/C6 but you can use the adblock from software page.
Just install luci-app-adblock and tcpdump.

 

[iamaap]

GL-AX1800 / Flint

An Ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6 VPN Encrypted Router that runs on OpenWrt operating system, offering fast, secure and reliable network connection.

www.gl-inet.com

 

[shirishag75]

@iamaap, any idea on pricing, seems to be a chinese product ???

 

[halfbytecode]

Flint uses modified OpenWrt based firmware, which is also very outdated. Kernel is also very old (v4.4). Some people seem to have managed to compile vanilla OpenWrt builds, but are highly experimental and not for daily usage. Outdated kernel seems to be an issue as well.

I had considered this router in January as well, when it was available on pre-order. However, I dropped the idea after finding it ran modified OpenWrt firmware that is outdated.

Netgear R6350 may be a good choice, as mentioned by @igloo earlier. It has similar hardware as TP-Link Archer A6 v3, but more flash storage (128 MB I think).