Should I use DD-WRT if it is available?

[ManBearPig]

Apparently my router supports DD-WRT...should i do it? Would there be any benefits speed wise/stability wise, or is it just for advanced users with a lot of experience with routers/networking who like to fine tune their stuff?

 

[stevech]

no, not worth the hassle.

 

[Vincent]

It will take some time to study all of the options, but I think the increased control you will have with dd-wrt will be worth it. I would just give it a try. You can always revert to the original firmware if you don't like dd-wrt.

 

[jrichrds]

I'd only switch if you're having issue with the stock firmware (e.g. a feature not working, or random reboots) or if you want a particular feature of DD-WRT (e.g. repeater or bridge mode).

 

[MobiusPizza]

The main feature general user want is good QoS support
It makes a lot of difference to the quality of the connection if you are a heavy user.
I specifically bought a DD-WRT compatible router to implement this.
(I used the Tomato firmware though)

Another feature is it allows you to boost the WiFi power.
If you encounter signal problems may be worth a try

 

[Ancalagon44]

DD WRT does typically lower throughput but add new features. If you need the features then it is worth it. Its also worth it if you want to be able to say that you run a linux kernel on your router.

 

[George P Burdell]

I had DD-WRT on my Linksys WRT54G for many years. While I loved the extra features, I could never get the QoS to work to my taste.

I tried Tomato (the default one, not TomatoUSB) two months ago, and to my surprise, the QoS works like a charm.

 

[MtnMan]

I found DD-WRT to be much more stable than the original Linksys firmware (usually had to power cycle the router every couple of weeks to revive it). Never had to with DD-WRT.

Loved the features, monitoring bandwidth usage real-time, historical bandwidth logging/graphs.

Just upgraded to a Cisco E4200 and will upgrade it to DD-WRT once they release a normal release (now at WIP, without support for drive connected to the USB port).
I was looking for a dual band, and when I found a 'returned' unit for $100 I picked it up, so far so good, about 3 weeks in and no problems.

 

[Ichinisan]

I found DD-WRT to be much more stable than the original Linksys firmware (usually had to power cycle the router every couple of weeks to revive it). Never had to with DD-WRT.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH.

Truth.

 

[JackMDS]

It depends on the Router.

Some Routers (like few Linksys model) are POS as is but shines with DD-WRT firmware.

In contrast (as an example) few Buffalo Routers are good as is and there is no reason to use DD-WRT unless you need a feature that is not available in the stock firmware.

 

[VirtualLarry]

DD-WRT has always been pretty rock-solid for me. It also has a wonderful array of features, that stock firmware cannot touch.

Client, Client Bridge, WDS, VPN, Hotspot, to name a few options.

 

[CU]

It really depends on your router and what you want to do. I have a TEW-652BRP that am using as a client bridge. It works, but is very unstable. It needs a reboot atleast once a week or more. The recommended version did not work at all as a client bridge, so now I am using the latest version. Hoping the next version fixes my problems.

 

[SunnyD]

I have 2 routers, a Netgear WNDR3300v1 and a Netgear WNR3500L. I ran DD-WRT on the WNDR3300 before we moved into our new house, and it ran okay. Had to reboot the router every once in a while. After we moved, I ran it for a few months, and as more and more houses were built, more and more wifi AP's started popping up, and I started having problems. I updated to the latest "stable" firmware recommended for my router, and things just got worse. Connections would drop on Wifi quite often, and pissed my wife off to no end.

I figured the router was dying, so I flashed up the WNR3500, and things were even worse. Finally a few weeks ago, I got sick of listening to my wife bitch, so I took the WNDR3300 and flashed it back to stock Netgear firmware. I haven't had a single problem since. Wifi is rock solid stable. The only thing I was really using at all out of DD-WRT was the Dynamic DNS updates and static leases. Both of those options happen to be available in stock firmware as well. About the only thing I miss about DD-WRT are the statistics and graphs. No big loss. My wife hasn't bitched about the internet in 3 weeks.

IMHO: At this point until there's an actual STABLE RELEASE of DD-WRT, it's not worth it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

IMHO: At this point until there's an actual STABLE RELEASE of DD-WRT, it's not worth it.

Hmm, the older builds I have flashed to my WNR834Bv2 routers, are pretty-much rock-solid. Sorry to hear that recent builds are flaky.

 

[SunnyD]

Hmm, the older builds I have flashed to my WNR834Bv2 routers, are pretty-much rock-solid. Sorry to hear that recent builds are flaky.

Yeah, granted I've been using the K24 builds which are all pre-release, but they've never been THIS bad. The WNDR3300 was running ~12000 build for a while fairly okay, some bugs in it. The supposed current "best stable" build was 14969 or something of the sort... it was absolutely horrid. The 16000 builds were even worse.

 

[Burner27]

I have it installed on my WRT610N v2 and WRT320N and I have not experienced any issues. I am using it only because there hasn't been any FW updates from the Linksys site since Sept 2010 for the WRT610N and July 2009 for the WRT320N.

 

[MobiusPizza]

to be honest never tried DD-WRT but even running a beta build of Tomato USB my Asus NT-R16 never crashed once in 4 months of continuous operation. QoS is an art but once you get it working it's best thing since sliced bread on a heavily shared network.

 

[mxnerd]

I love the feature set of DD-WRT. But as a owner of asus / buffalo routers I have to admit it's not rock solid stable.

 

[coolVariable]

The main feature general user want is good QoS support
It makes a lot of difference to the quality of the connection if you are a heavy user.
I specifically bought a DD-WRT compatible router to implement this.
(I used the Tomato firmware though)

Another feature is it allows you to boost the WiFi power.
If you encounter signal problems may be worth a try

Ironically, QoS on my router with DD-WRT will crash the router every 12-24 hours even with light to no use.
All connections just stop responding until I reboot the router by removing power and pluging it back in.
So if you ask me: QoS on DD-WRT is buggy as hell and doesn't work.
Otherwise, it does seem to be better/more stable than stock.

 

[paperwastage]

Ironically, QoS on my router with DD-WRT will crash the router every 12-24 hours even with light to no use.
All connections just stop responding until I reboot the router by removing power and pluging it back in.
So if you ask me: QoS on DD-WRT is buggy as hell and doesn't work.
Otherwise, it does seem to be better/more stable than stock.

maybe u didn't flash properly or a not so good rom. try again and see if it changes anything

 

[The-Noid]

maybe u didn't flash properly or a not so good rom. try again and see if it changes anything

I tried to work with QoS and realized with 100mbit internet it was a waste of time. Would there be any reason for me to go back and look into it?

 

[Modelworks]

If your current router works fine then no. It is like people that always search for new bios or firmware, if what you have works leave it alone.

 

[Modelworks]

Its also worth it if you want to be able to say that you run a linux kernel on your router.

99% of all routers run a linux kernel of some sort. Very few have custom non *nix kernels.

 

[Gillbot]

If your current router works fine then no. It is like people that always search for new bios or firmware, if what you have works leave it alone.

This

I've never been a big fan of DD-WRT and see many people brick good routers trying to get it to work when the stock firms are just fine for what they need.

 

[Emulex]

dd-wrt -> buggy atheros (drops to 150mbps)
dd-wrt -> SOC on e4200/wndr -> no fast switchig
dd-wrt -> leaks ram like a sieve -> make sure you have 64gb ram normal or 128+ for utorrent and/or reboot daily.

otherwise it's pretty good buffalo airstation come with it commercially licensed supporting the community (300mbps = 62 amazon 450= 84 ) - support DD-WRT - donate or buy a product that pays dd-wrt