Re: Getting along without a keyboard

On 17/09/2024 20:39, Chris Green wrote:

bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

>
I've played with the idea of getting an open-wrt-compatible router in the
past, but dropped the idea after finding nothing suitable at the local
thrift store. Perhaps I should look again.
>

I am using Asus routers now which, by default, run a version of OpenWrt
called AsusWrt.  However, even better, is asuswrt-merlin which is easy
to install instead of Asuswrt and gives you all sorts of customisation
if you want.

I'll second that. Great WiFi strength, powerful multi-core CPUs and lots of RAM, unlike some other makes.

Not all Asus routers can run Asuswrt-Merlin but there's a fair number
that can and many of them are available at very reasonable prices
secondhand on eBay or from such as CEX.

I've picked up my last couple from e-bay, as ASUS routers are popular with gamers, and they must absolutely have the latest model to save 0.5us of latency, so you can find some almost new routers going very cheap. I just upgraded my primary one to an RT-AX86U from an RT-AC86U also from e-bay.
My original 10 year old RT-AC68U is still going strong, now used as a WiFi relay for the Pi's in the shed at the bottom of the garden - it gives 5GHz connection where the Pi's struggle with 2.4GHz.

The user interface GUI is really nice (though quite complex because
there is so much that can be configured).

All very useful stuff, when you work out what it all does!
It's also got good monitoring faculties, and all my remote Pi's are connected via it's built-in VPN.
---druck