it seems good but i don't think i comes with openwrt, i have xioami 4c router i tried installing openwrt not only it's not easy and i have no idea what i am doing, it doesn't even work once everything is installed i get 100% packet loss and basically no internet.
And i honestly don't wanna risk that again unless it's a very straight forward and easy and there are video guides out there i don't think i am buying it.
Edit: I actually just looked how to install openwrt on for example tp link c7 archer, u just have to upload file to your router like a normal update and it installs, wtf I had to do a bunch of stuff on my xiaomi 4c ( ubuntu virtual machine using terminal and some weird stuff)
if it's as easy and applying an update there is no problem. would u recommend tp link c7 archer ac1750? it has double the memory of Linksys E5480 and about the same price
Do you mean E8450? E5480 is not on the Supported hardware list.
Oops......you are right, I had a typo....
2 posts were merged into an existing topic: Installing and Configuring ZyXEL WSM20
Zyxel WSM20 currently going for only £23 on Amazon.co.uk - can't get much better than that I reckon
Zyxel WSM20
For home router use something more powerful. It is travel router.
Yes, it is good router, make sure, that it has correct hardware revision.
I'm an absolute newbie at this and looking to replace my isp router with this. I see its stated that Openwrt turns anything into a router but there's no internet/broadband port, does this make the wan port on this connect to the phone socket via the rj45 cable or am I missing something - do I need a modem for this to plug in to?
It does not.
The wsm20 is merely a wireless router, it does not integrate a VDSL modem, nor phone- or DECT features. You'd either need an external dedicated VDSL modem in bridge-mode or a different router integrating a lantiq VDSL modem.
Got it, thanks. New to this and getting my head around all the terms!
You could keep using your ISP router to be the modem and just disable all of the bits you don’t need.
I can recommend ASUS TUF- AX6000.
It's a blazing fast and inexpensive router with WiFi 6 and 2 x 2.5Gbps + 4 x 1Gbps.
One of very few wifi ARM routers that can do gigabit SQM.
In fact, it's been confirmed that it can do 2Gbps WAN SQM with software offloading and <50% CPU load, as you can see in the video here:
But I guess you can't really say the TUF-AX6000 a....cheap device? If yes then the recently released GLINET Flint 2 should be even better.
In Europe the Zyxel Multy M1 is almost unbeatable. 3-Pack Available
This is interesting. Why would I need a 3-pack?
I'm looking for a OpenWrt-capable router with high throughput through VPN tunnel.
For example, GLINET Flint 2 seems like a good choice. What about the Multy M1?
Flint 2 is good, but probably the 3-pack M1 together is still cheaper than Flint 2.
It's designed as a mesh kit and it can do the same (and much more) with OpenWrt on them. I use them in different locations as either a mesh system or as main router + dumb APs to increase coverage.
You could also sell the one(s) you don't need or you just keep them until you get another idea what to do with them 
While I use them for VPN, performance is limited by the 40Mbps ISP connection. The mt7621 is not the fastest CPU, I've read reports [1-3] that it can achieve about 150-200Mbps with Wireguard and less than 50Mbps with OpenVPN.
So it depends heavily on the VPN solution used and on your requirements - what is "high throughput"?
[1] Best VPN Performance Router under $100? - #41 by eginnc
[2] Netgear WAX202 WiFi 6 $30 at Amazon - #162 by eginnc
[3] https://www.computerbase.de/forum/threads/wireguard-testversion-von-fritz-os-7-39-fuer-die-fritz-box-7590-ax.2057956/page-10 (German)
ASUS TUF- AX6000 is not by any means a " favourite cheap LEDE/OpenWrt device". It costs around $200!
According to statistics the most downloaded image of OpenWRT is for Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition, which can be had for $30 and can do many things. I use it myself at many places.
All depends on what you are looking for and what your needs are.
The title says: "what's YOUR favourite cheap device".
My answer is "my favorite cheap tiny WIFI6 device with dual 2.5GbE and SQM is..." since it is cheap for the features it offer.
Try to find some other small 2 x 2.5GbE router with Wifi and Gigabit SQM cake, that costs less than $200, and you will understand where I'm heading too... Trying to use a cheap x86 device (with dual 2.5GbE LAN card) and installing the cheapest wifi 6 router will cost you more than that. Not to talk about the electricity bills.
You picked Xiaomi Mi 4A. If you were only looking for a cheap device with no special requests for any performance, then why not going with Linksys WRT54GL instead? 
It can be found for $10.
RK3228 STB (Android TV) is available for less than $10 on Ali. And yes, it can run OpenWrt.
If you wanted to find the favourite device for the past month, then look at the stats provided and I guess we don't need this thread.
Joking aside, everything depends on our point of view.
Hi, all thinking to buy a new device, what will be best between D-Link dir 2640 A1 and Netgear R6350
As they both comes with same SoC, same amount of flash and same wireless chipset
Is 5Ghz connectivity problem with mt7615 got solved now?
Anyone suggest me please