[colug-432] DD-WRT

[Larry Howell]

Thomas W. cranston wrote:
> I am considering converting a WRT54G to DD-WRT. My initial consideration 
> was to boost the output signal. I now realize I need to improve the 
> antenna. Actually, it came w/Linksys 7dBi Hig Gain Antenna.
> 
> What are the other benefits of converting to DD-WRT?
> 
> Tom
>

DD-WRT is based on the released Linksys code.  Linksys outsourced the 
development of the code and it was rather poorly done, with serious 
security deficiencies.  The DD-WRT developers rewrote significant 
sections of the original code to correct the security issues and add a 
number of features.  The FCC power limit is 250 mW, but the Linksys 
default is 28 mW.  With DD-WRT you can increase the power up to the 250 
mW limit, but that _will_ fry the Broadcom CPU unless you add an 
appropriate heatsink.  I used DD-WRT on my WRT54GS v2.1 and GL v1.0 to 
ran at 100 mW for years without adding a heatsink and didn't have any 
issues.

FWIW, I switched to using OpenWRT a little over a year ago, which was 
developed from scratch and IMO is higher quality code.

Larry