[ShadowAce]

[rarestia]

This was posted a few weeks ago, IIRC.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Some new (since July) Ubiquiti gear has firmware that prohibits flashing with OpenWRT. You can go back to an older firmware and flash. PITA.

[GraceG]

[ For example, if you want to use your router to repeat and extend the range of an existing wireless network, rather than create a new network, you could spend lots of money on a device marketed specifically to do that. Or you could download dd-wrt for free and repurpose an old router as a wireless repeater. ]

Sounds like Cronyism!

What’s next?

It would be like Horse trailer makers banning the use of stock racks on pickup trucks. Or the mini-van lobby wanting the DOT to ban those cargo pods you see on the top of cars.....

[roamer_1]

meh. If it is flash-able, it can be modded.

[Dacula]

Can someone help the networking challenged?

We have AT&T internet and are using a Pace 5031nv router.

How can we enhance our security and what basic steps should we be following?

Thank you in advance.

What is DDRT and can we take advantage of it’s usefulness?

[Svartalfiar]

Fortunately, the FCC rules don't explicitly prevent users from modifying router firmware or require device manufacturers to make such modifications impossible. The potential danger for open source firmware fans is that device manufacturers will decide that banning firmware modifications is the easiest way to enforce the FCC's new policy.

Many smartphone manufacturers do this. And yet, tons of people still root their device and reflash a new, custom ROM on it.

There are other solutions to this problem that could be mutually beneficial to both manufacturers and users. One would be to start shipping routers with more advanced configuration features to allow users to do the things that are currently possible in many cases only by using open source firmware. Companies that do so would enjoy an edge in the market not only among the relatively small number of power users who want to configure their routers in unusual ways, but also resellers and service providers who need easily modifiable devices for their business.

Sigh. Companies already do this. It's called the next model up, and it costs even more.