Networking

Gallery: $60 router + DD-WRT = high-end wireless router

By // February 22, 2008, 5:48 AM PST

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  • This is the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router that sells for as little as $60 at all the local electronics stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, and Fry's or it can be ordered online. The WHR-G54 sells for as little as $50 and is virtually identical except for the fact that the WHR-HP-G54 has a receive side amplifier which helps the router hear faint laptops coming in on long-range connections. This particular router can run DD-WRT using this specific upgrade procedure. DD-WRT can turn this cheap device in to an enterprise class product with enterprise features normally found in devices costing hundreds of dollars more.

  • This is the basic configuration page for DD-WRT.

  • DDNS (DynamicDNS) support makes it possible for you to have a name on the Internet that's accessible from anywhere on the Internet.  See this tutorial on how to set it up.

  • DD-WRT has some high-end routing protocols like OSPF and BGP.

  • DD-WRT can give you managed switch capability in the 4-port switch built-in to your router.

  • DD-WRT can act as an Access Point, a Wireless ISP client, a Wireless bridge, or Adhoc network.

  • DD-WRT can support a variety of Wireless LAN security. What I really like is the fact that it can support WPA-PSK and WPA enterprise mode with RADIUS at the same time.

  • DD-WRT can allow you to jack up the radio transmit power to 251mW which allows the signal to carry far. Note that in order for the client to transmit back, you'll need a very large antenna to hear the faint signal of the laptop. But for long-range AP to AP applications, the higher power becomes very useful.

  • DD-WRT will support WDS (Wireless Distribution System) for easy bridged networking.

  • Standard port forwarding or port redirecting is supported.

  • uPnP (Universal Plug and Play) works very well with Windows Vista or XP. Ports are automatically opened and configured.

  • QoS or (Quality of Service) can prioritize latency sensitive applications like Internet gaming or VoIP applications.

  • Extensive management features are supported in DD-WRT.

  • Even features like IPv6 and Wake On LAN is supported in DD-WRT. Overclocking is also supported but it may cause problems if it's over done and proper cooling isn't implemented.

  • DD-WRT can be used as a hotspot provider.

  • More services like PPTP Server and Client are supported. This allows you to build a site-to-site VPN tunnel.

  • Management features like SNMP and Syslog are supported.

  • The router can monitor critical services and restart itself at a specified time to flush the memory clean if necessary.

  • Logging is supported in DD-WRT.

  • Command line interface can be accessed from web interface.

  • WOL (Wake On LAN) allows the router to wake up sleeping and suspended devices on the LAN.

  • Extensive status reports are available to monitor every aspect of the router.

This is the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router that sells for as little as $60 at all the local electronics stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, and Fry's or it can be ordered online. The WHR-G54 sells for as little as $50 and is virtually identical except for the fact that the WHR-HP-G54 has a receive side amplifier which helps the router hear faint laptops coming in on long-range connections. This particular router can run DD-WRT using this specific upgrade procedure. DD-WRT can turn this cheap device in to an enterprise class product with enterprise features normally found in devices costing hundreds of dollars more.

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