[CryptoHodler]

So ive been a long time lurker and user. I noticed sometimes we go weeks without an update and everything seems to work fine. Other times updates are daily. Is it just when someone takes the time to update ?
or are there that many things that break frequently.

[Alozaros]

hmmm updates updates..so many of them
When there is a WIP on Kernel update...then there could be lots of updates ...and now this is happening..going form k4.x to k6.x is not a one day job..
In general, DDWRT is not like OpenWRT or any other 3rd party firmware...The firmware is very complex and contains lots of binaries, that also get their own update over the time...and in DDWRT case, this happens very quickly, quicker than any other firmware provider...consider security updates, functional updates, binary and services updates..and ect.
I have to admit, in order to save space or do the things in a different way, more rational way and ect..very often those are just functional updates and fixes...but, they can also break things so, its a try and err...

But, mostly the firmware is stable for its main purpose...a wifi router..

I tend to upgrade when, there are kernel updates or any other update, that concern those services and binaries i use...but, sometimes i follow the mainstream...and update quite often ...

[dale_gribble39]

Community feedback and upstream patches to packages used in DD-WRT. As sir Alozaros has stated, there has been a push to implement Linux 6.1 kernel instead of 5.x.x or 4.19.x, and it's a WIP. This recent quick-turnaround was related to broken Wireguard for devices already ported to Linux 6.1 kernel. It's a roller-coaster ride. We are just here waiting and watching, sometimes longer than we'd like. It's entirely up to the developer what the frequency of releases is.

[tedm]

I have used DD-wrt since the late 2000's when I started to see WRT54Gs showing up on the shelf at Goodwill, prior to that I did not have the money to drop $150 on a new router then brick it 60 seconds later with a bad flash.

Damn I just looked that router up - how many realize it's been 20 YEARS since that thing dropped? Owww!

Over the years, as the primary developer has derived more and more of his income from dd-wrt, and been able to work on it full time, and as more and more dd-wrt guru's in the project "filter" bug reports and handle support for the project, he's been able to concentrate on development more and community interaction and support less. As a result, the frequency of releases has grown tremendously.

Development has always focused on the most popular routers of the time. First it was the single band 2.4Ghz units then the dual band and then the newer AC band routers. Now, it's AX.

However, there's HUGE money in wifi these days and the elephants pushed Broadcom to create a walled garden that only they can play in - see:

https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=324910

So the only alternative now is the Qualcomm chip that uses this driver:

https://github.com/kvalo/ath11k-firmware

or a router using a MediaTek chip. But I have not seen any support in DD-WRT for MediaTek chips.

Supposedly BrainSlayer did get a donated Netgear RAX120 of which the v2 uses the Qualcomm driver. No word on whether his was v1 or v2 but given the hell that the OpenWRT project went through to develop firmware for that router, it's pretty obvious that BrainSlayer decided to focus on other areas of DD-WRT that needed attention for now. Netgear is now no longer selling that router and is end of lifeing it.

On the bright side of things, AX has forced the price of used Netgear 9000's into the toilet, since all the dummies think replacing their routers or access points is going to speed up their wifi. So we can get lots over very cheap Broadcom AC gear now that runs DD-WRT and wait a few years for the dust to settle. And given the number of routers DD-WRT supports it is a good thing to put some effort into kernel improvements like wireguard stuff, and so on.

I think it's probably a lot faster to make code changes in the kernel than try to port to new hardware so for now I suspect we will see an increased frequency of releases.

Possibly in the future Broadcom may open the SDK for their AX stuff. For now, keeping it closed means their customers - companies like Netgear, etc. - get to keep us out.

[egc]

Now we updated to Kernel 6.1 the road is open to AX routers, BS has this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Dynalink-DL-WRX36-8-Stream-Wireless-3-6Gbps/dp/B096K9SVCT

So have some other DDWRT users including me.

Unbeatable price, my router currently runs OpenWRT without problem but DDWRT might come in the near future.

[tedm]

Holy cow now THAT is why I was able to pick up 2 used Netgear 7000's in the bins in the south central Seattle Goodwill for $10 each 3 weeks ago.

Thank you God! This is going to put so much really good AC gear out into the secondary market.

[kernel-panic69]

[Alozaros]

Im not sure if R7000 will see the k6.x , but R7800 trade very cheap atm ebay/amazon lots of those...
XR500 is reboxed R7800 also decent price...just pray and hope of solid NVRAM with no bad sectors in the begging

Dynalink-DL-WRX36-8-Stream-Wireless-3-6Gbps/dp/B096K9SVCT is decent and seams as a next stop for me...

Just scared of those, as some of those come with faulty radio...going on /off for no reason...and you can read about those complains, that happen on a random basis..sounds like a bad batch...with Dynalik..

But by the specs and price of it, it seams as very decent and capable unit...

Also stock R9000 has OpenWRT by default isn't it...and its on k5.x if im not wrong??

p.s.Asus RT-AX89X

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no idea what is this AI shit but it doesn't trigs me at all