What's your favourite cheap LEDE/OpenWrt device?

This:

CPU Model: Rockchip RK3328
Number of Cores: Quad-Core Cortex-A53
Frequency: 4 x Cortex-A53 Up to 1.4GHz
Memory RAM: 1GB DDR4
Storage MicroSD Slot: MicroSD x1 for external storage up to 128GB
Connectivity Ethernet: Gbps Ethernet x1
USB 3.0 to Gbps Ethernet x1
USB USB 2.0 Host x1: USB Type A
MicroUSB x1: Power input(5V/2A) and Slave
Pin-header Serial Debug Port x1: 2.54mm pitch 3pin-header(3.3V TTL)
LED SYS LED(Red) x1
WAN LED(Green) x1
LAN LED(Green) x1
Key User Key x1
Working Temperature -20℃ to 70℃
Power DC 5V/2A

Wiki: http://wiki.friendlyarm.com/wiki/index.php/NanoPi_R2S

Price: 22USD

NanoPi R2S: https://www.friendlyarm.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=282

Interesting device -- in theory. In practice there's no official OpenWrt support, the "FriendlyWrt" sources seem to be hidden behind a few layers of obscurity and involve a weird build process, and ... it's out of stock anyway.

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This is more of a "Eh, it works" than a direct endorsement, but-

I broke down and bought an MT300N-V2 to replace my missing MT300A; it's getting too hard to keep the WNDR-3800s running, despite being more capable (in my opinion). I'm sad to see the SD card bit-bang and external antenna options go away, and it doesn't really seem all that different, otherwise, despite slightly updated hardware.

It's not bad for a simple system; the wrapper around OpenWRT has a simple "Advanced" button to click through for LuCI, and although all externally built/hosted, has the majority of all packages I've come to expect.

The in-house "v3" interface is a bit crazy to those of us used to LuCI, but it's simple to setup, and rarely gets in the way. It has native support for OpenVPN and WireGuard out of the box (untested, but the MT300A I owned worked swimmingly well despite a weak CPU).

I'm having a heck of a time with it having dual guest/lan bridging and running a 6-in-4 tunnel; it keeps patching it onto the disabled guest network, and I'm not sure why- this is the only build I've had it do this to.

I've tried contacting support@gl-inet.com, and haven't heard back for weeks, but being that we're in an international pandemic, I don't 'really expect to.

It's nowhere near as fast as thoroughput is/was on my WNDR-3800, but in a pinch, it's a heck of a lot better than snailmail. For a $20 5v USB powered router, it's well worth throwing into the emergency kit.

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Meanwhile the NanoPi R2S it's out of stock from FriendlyElec store, It can be also bought from AliExpress: (link removed due to was flagged as SPAM by the community).

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found:

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A post was split to a new topic: Which device to buy

Compared to the Pi 4, this chip seems to support AES, which I believe its an issue for OpenWRT if is missing.

How can we get support for this chip and this device?

At that price, donating a couple is feasible.

Please use this topic only for recommendations.
For questions like "how do we get this device supported" please open a new topic.

Thanks!

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Ive just setup a TP-link Archer A7 to my brother, seems like a cheap AP/router to me. I really liked that I could make a physical antenna port by myself so that he can use his old 2,4 GHz antenna :grinning: Just had to buy an RP-SMA to uFL 20 cm cable and attach it to the "motherboard" and attach it to the case after using a small saw for plastic :ok_hand:

Next time I need a cheap AP/router device I will probably buy a TP-link Archer C7 due to the fact that it is cheaper and it has 2 USB-ports :thinking:

A post was split to a new topic: Cheap router wanted with GigabitEthernet + AC wifi

please, provide link.

TL-WR740 works on 19.07. See this forum thread (OpenWrt 19.07.1 ath79 tiny LuCI) for an unofficial build for many 4/32 devices. I'm personally using WR841 using this build for a week now.

3 posts were split to a new topic: New router for 700Mbit / $25

Thank you for your recommendation. After reading the post related with aht79 tiny, it seems to be a good alternative to re-purpose unused old hardware for range extension (not routing).

If you plan to buy a new device, the wiki documentation discourages to buy 4/32MB devices (as @tmomas had already pointed out).

Someone else is looking for a replacement for those old and trusty tplink tl-wdr4300 tl-wdr3600 and tl-wdr3500 (this last one without gigabit ethernet ports)? For a small router, Netgear WNDR3700v4 (whenever a used unit it might be available) and TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 seem to be valid alternatives, gigabit ethernet 1xWAN, 4xLAN, and decent amounts of memory for the firmware and RAM.

I've got microuter one. It has 18x firmware version but i dont know how to compile newer one. They don't support it, you have to compile your own software.

PL-WR300-H1 is cheap one.
it sold as bare board.
MT7620N chipset 8MB flash DDR2 64MB RAM
US $7.50 Shipping: US $3.14 or Free shipping (region limited)
Seek keyword as 'openwrt flash 8MB ddr2 64MB mt7620N' in aliexpress
I'm running firmware bin [Zbtlink ZBT-WA05] OpenWrt 19.07.3 r11063-85e04e9f46

UART
MT7620N'pin
37 Rx R54
113 Tx R137
uboot 115200
linux 57600
you can telnet login as :
login: root
pass: root0734

As power supp. 5V is ok, from USB P.S.
I modified SPIROM to socket but its optional.

But considering the case and power supply, maybe something else is better... :wink:
like [CHANEVE Wireless Repeater] or [CHANEVE 300Mbps Wireless Repeater Router MT7628KN]

memo: sold 37:3 @ 2020.07.12

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Two points:
The MT7628KN System-on-Chip includes 8MB ram. The Mediatek MT7628 spec sheet indicates that a DDR(1) ram chip can optionally be added

https://www.mediatek.com/products/homeNetworking/mt7628k-n-a

Chaneve is a reseller. The CHANEVE 300Mbps Wireless Repeater Router MT7628KN is also sold as a Kuwifi and I believe is manufactured by ZBT. The same case can contain a Realtek based board.

I bought a Mediatek one and it did not contain a separate flash chip. The web interface is impressive from a minimalist standpoint. Only 2 options for wifi encryption - open vs WPA2(personal). It also is very energy efficient. The serial interface had a u-boot loader but did not run Linux.

Neither will ever run OpenWrt. The Mediatek one has 2mb flash/8ram and Realtek one is, well, Realtek.

In the Mediatek family, I use this one:


Works on a HLK-7688A wifi module and comes preloaded with OpenWrt 14.07 but it is easy to install version 19.07

Pro are:

  • Ram DDR2 128 MB
  • Flash 32 MB
  • Cpu frequency 580 MHz
  • 5 ethernet ports (wan + 4 lan)
  • 2 serial ports

Con:

  • wifi only 2,4 GHz
  • ethernet only 10/100 Mbps
  • no usb port

Very stable, I use it with a VPN and AdBlock for four months

If you add a plastic box, you would have a router with unique software and hardware for 15,50 + 4,45 €

Box1

The MT7688AN as 2 pins labeled USB_DP and USB_DM . Does any one know if it is possible to add a usb connector?

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Hello,

If you check the alipage you will see the two USB-pins you mentioned.
But if you check usb-pinout specs, you will notice that USB has four pins. The two on the soc are the two data pins, the other two pins needed are +5V and GND. So you can feel free to take +5V and GND directly from the power supply/its connector afaik.

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All WIFI products with only B/G/N not AC ( AX ) are obsolete

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