What exactly is the benefit of custom firmware?

[Cvdasf]

I just purchased the linksys wrt1900ac which on the box says you can add custom firmware. What exactly would be the benefit of doing this? Any links to any good firmware out there and why/why not they are better? Would love some advice with this also if i decide i dont like the new firmware could i put the old one back?

 

[thor220]

Custom firmware usually allows deeper customization and in some cases, better range. It comes with it's fair share of risks as well, like bricking your router. If you don't need extra range or aren't a tweak freak, it's better to just not bother. You can load the old firmware if you have the file.

In case you're interested, here is a link to all the different firmware available

http://securerouter.org/tech-tips/dd-wrt-or-tomato-or-openwrt-or/

 

[Cvdasf]

Custom firmware usually allows deeper customization and in some cases, better range. It comes with it's fair share of risks as well, like bricking your router. If you don't need extra range or aren't a tweak freak, it's better to just not bother. You can load the old firmware if you have the file.

In case you're interested, here is a link to all the different firmware available

http://securerouter.org/tech-tips/dd-wrt-or-tomato-or-openwrt-or/

are you familiar with the router i bought? Do you think thats a decent firmware? From what i can tell it seems like theres not that many options in it.

 

[PsyKhiqZero]

I know dd-wrt firmware allows you to limit bandwidth per IP address. That's something that I have yet to see on any standard router firmware. Also allows for deeper QoS optimization. I haven't fooled with it personally though as I don't really need either feature.

 

[Cvdasf]

I know dd-wrt firmware allows you to limit bandwidth per IP address. That's something that I have yet to see on any standard router firmware. Also allows for deeper QoS optimization. I haven't fooled with it personally though as I don't really need either feature.

I'd love to have these features but as im started to read apparently even though it says u can right on the box they dont support the drivers or something? weird

 

[thor220]

Custom firmware usually allows deeper customization and in some cases, better range. It comes with it's fair share of risks as well, like bricking your router. If you don't need extra range or aren't a tweak freak, it's better to just not bother. You can load the old firmware if you have the file.

In case you're interested, here is a link to all the different firmware available

http://securerouter.org/tech-tips/dd-wrt-or-tomato-or-openwrt-or/

are you familiar with the router i bought? Do you think thats a decent firmware? From what i can tell it seems like theres not that many options in it.

I'm not familiar with it specifically, it's a pretty new and expensive router. Usually it's not wise to spend over $110 on a router, all the higher models will usually only give you useless perks like a usb port, cloud access, or extra pretty leds.

Cisco usually has basic firmware so if you need more options, 3rd party firmware would fix the issue for you.

 

[Cvdasf]

I'm starting to read drivers arent supported for this router -__- thats weird seeing as its said on the box it can

 

[thor220]

I know dd-wrt firmware allows you to limit bandwidth per IP address. That's something that I have yet to see on any standard router firmware. Also allows for deeper QoS optimization. I haven't fooled with it personally though as I don't really need either feature.

I'd love to have these features but as im started to read apparently even though it says u can right on the box they dont support the drivers or something? weird

The router's too new, it's not even on ddwrt's router database yet. It could be awhile before 3rd party firmware support.

 

[Cvdasf]

I know dd-wrt firmware allows you to limit bandwidth per IP address. That's something that I have yet to see on any standard router firmware. Also allows for deeper QoS optimization. I haven't fooled with it personally though as I don't really need either feature.

I'd love to have these features but as im started to read apparently even though it says u can right on the box they dont support the drivers or something? weird

The router's too new, it's not even on ddwrt's router database yet. It could be awhile before 3rd party firmware support.

:/ thanks that kinda sucks lol

 

[thor220]

I know dd-wrt firmware allows you to limit bandwidth per IP address. That's something that I have yet to see on any standard router firmware. Also allows for deeper QoS optimization. I haven't fooled with it personally though as I don't really need either feature.

I'd love to have these features but as im started to read apparently even though it says u can right on the box they dont support the drivers or something? weird

The router's too new, it's not even on ddwrt's router database yet. It could be awhile before 3rd party firmware support.

:/ thanks that kinda sucks lol

Hopefully, they add official firmware that has QoS features. A router in that price range REALLY should have that feature.

 

[bill001g]

Pretty much you are better off figuring out what feature you want in the third party firmware and then looking for a router that supports its. As manufactures add more and more features to their factory images fewer people need the alternate firmware.

Used to be to do things like dual wan or support of USB broadband or even torrent servers you have to load third party firmware. Now some of the high end ASUS and TPLINK routers have features like this in their factory images.

Most times it is people that really need a commercial router but do not want to pay the cost. Things like advanced vlan support or traffic filtering are common reasons. In general unless you have a special need for a feature a third party firmware will not do much more than the factory images