openwrt on isp hardware

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searius

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#321486 21-Aug-2025 14:24

can anyone share if there's decent local isp router hardware (ie cheap hardware) that will run openwrt without too much hassle? I note the old spark smart modem 2 looks a lot like the telstra https://openwrt.org/toh/arcadyan/astoria/aw1000 so maybe that'd do it.

am after an ax capable wifi router with decent ram/flash storage to run a few things from openwrt. What'd be the best bang for say 100 bucks? I have a smart modem 3 I would happily risk bricking if there was a chance to get that going.

MichaelNZ

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#3406587 22-Aug-2025 19:38

If its techie stuff you want at a reasonable price Mikrotik is the way to go.

We use it in our ISP network and also supply it to clients.

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michaelmurfy

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#3406678 22-Aug-2025 21:09

Question is why? What are you wanting to achieve?

Many routers support the “advanced” things people look for out of the box.

Outside that, I rate the GL-inet routers like the flint: https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-be9300/

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searius

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#3406699 22-Aug-2025 23:21

why? openwrt can give me adguard, tailscale, python3 for copyparty, to start with. I have a gl.inet travel router already, that's maybe prompted me wanting more.
and I am cheap, if there's an option to cheaply do openwrt with local hardware i'm keen to hear it.

if the local isp hardware is all broadcom or qualcomm or other problematic vendors then sure maybe I will go for a banana pi One or something, or a microtik as suggested just keen to hear from others as to best bang for my cheap arse.

I'd like minimum 512meg ram and 256meg flash, as that's my travel router spec - which is actually our main router today, but we plan a trip away and so I need another router while we use the travel router as intended etc.

BarTender

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#3406711 23-Aug-2025 06:19

The problem you will face with many OpenWRT routers is they don’t have the hardware offload support as those are closed source binaries so either you are stuck on a certain kernel version or loose significant performance throughput.

https://forum.openwrt.org/t/so-you-have-500mbps-1gbps-fiber-and-need-a-router-read-this-first/90305

This thread is great.

https://forum.openwrt.org/c/hardware-questions-and-recommendations/13

But I think what you’re actually wanting is a multiple interface raspberry pi style hardware so you can do everything with sufficient CPU and hardware offload.

You are probably looking at a 200-300 device not 100 as the trade off will be a dealbreaker.

mentalinc

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#3406713 23-Aug-2025 06:56

searius:

openwrt can give me adguard, tailscale, python3 for copyparty, to start with.

I'd suggest you look at a raspberry pi or similar SBC and look to run those services on a device other than your router. You can then learn docker or similar tech. or look for a cheap NUC on trademe and use that as the start of a homelab.

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searius

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#3407027 24-Aug-2025 14:27

thanks for the suggestions. I guess I should have asked instead, on what hardware are people running openwrt for their main router?

I have just paid $250 for flint 2 from gl.inet - if my isp is charging $200 for their arcadyan, I figure the extra $50 is more than worth it.