Tag: OpenWRT

  • Activate Vodafone Bridge Mode: Use Your Router as a Modem

    Activate Vodafone Bridge Mode: Use Your Router as a Modem

    Key Takeaways

    1. Switching to Bridge Mode: Before using OpenWRT, the Vodafone router must be set to bridge mode to avoid network issues like double NAT.

    2. Accessing Bridge Mode: Bridge mode cannot be enabled through the local web interface; it must be done via the Vodafone online account.

    3. Homespot Feature: The Homespot feature, which allows sharing of the internet connection, must be disabled to activate bridge mode, and this process can take up to a week.

    4. Testing the New Setup: Ensure that the OpenWRT router is functioning properly before enabling bridge mode by testing it behind the Vodafone Station.

    5. Next Steps: After confirming the new router works, bridge mode can be activated, leading to further network enhancements like adding a switch and a dedicated access point.

    In the last section of this series, I got OpenWRT up and running on an x86 PC, specifically a Zimaboard (the prices are nuts right now: $376 for the Zimaboard 2 over on Amazon).

    Time to Change the Vodafone Router

    Before the new open-source router can take charge, the Vodafone router must stop being a router. If both devices are routing, you’ll face issues like double NAT and other network problems. To prevent that, it’s necessary to switch the Vodafone Station into bridge mode so it can operate solely as a modem.

    Enabling Bridge Mode

    Turning on bridge mode isn’t very complicated, but it can’t be done through the router’s local web interface. Instead, you have to log into your Vodafone online account. Once you’re logged in, head over to the homepage (“My Vodafone”), then:

    Sometimes, you can switch it on right away. If you see the option and it’s clickable, the process might be pretty easy.

    However, in many situations, bridge mode can’t be activated immediately because the Vodafone Homespot is still on. Homespot lets you share a part of your internet connection with other Vodafone users, and in return, you get access to millions of Vodafone hotspots across the globe.

    Understanding the Homespot Issue

    The catch is that Homespot makes the Vodafone Station create a distinct public Wi-Fi network. This feature doesn’t work with bridge mode since a modem-only setup can’t support extra wireless networks.

    To move forward, you’ll need to turn off the Homespot feature. Remember that doing this will cut off access to Vodafone’s hotspot network. Personally, I’ve never used it.

    Disabling Homespot isn’t immediate. Vodafone mentions that the process could take up to a week. After you request the deactivation, keep checking your account. Once Homespot is completely turned off, you should be able to switch on bridge mode.

    Testing Your Setup

    But, it’s essential to only enable bridge mode after confirming that your new router is operating as it should (refer to part 3 of the Unbloated Network series). Before making the change, it’s wise to test your new setup.

    Plug your OpenWRT router behind the Vodafone Station. If everything connects properly in this arrangement, your new router is working as it should and is ready to take over. Only after that should you enable bridge mode.

    In the upcoming part of the series, we’ll check if everything runs smoothly as planned. With bridge mode activated, the new router connected behind the modem, and the PC linked to the router—will the system function well?

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  • Unbloated Network: Switching to OpenWRT Routers (Part 1)

    Unbloated Network: Switching to OpenWRT Routers (Part 1)

    Key Takeaways

    1. Weak Wi-Fi Signal: The current Vodafone router struggles to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal, especially in areas like the kitchen, due to walls and outdated technology (Wi-Fi 5).

    2. Concerns About Router Security and Privacy: The Vodafone router operates as a “black box,” raising concerns about remote updates, potential security risks, and privacy issues regarding browsing habits.

    3. Planned Network Setup Changes: The intention is to separate the modem, router, and Wi-Fi functions into different devices to improve performance and efficiency, using the Vodafone router solely as a modem.

    4. Pros and Cons of Device Separation: While an all-in-one device may seem more energy-efficient, splitting functions can enhance network flexibility and performance, especially for future needs.

    5. Knowledge Gain and Control: Transitioning to a new setup offers valuable learning opportunities about networking and greater control over the home network configuration.

    I put off this issue for quite a while, but now I’m ready to face it. For instance, the Wi-Fi signal from my router barely reaches my kitchen due to two walls in the way; even the room next door has a tough time getting a decent signal—it’s really weak. Plus, the router’s Wi-Fi technology is pretty old now, being Wi-Fi 5 and all.

    Understanding the Vodafone Router

    The Vodafone router feels like a total “black box” to me. I have no idea how often the provider sends updates from afar, which remote maintenance services might be security risks, or what firewall rules might be in place (could there be censorship?). Vodafone might even be able to track my browsing habits (privacy concerns). When the device restarts, everything goes offline—including my phone, which is a single point of failure.

    Rethinking My Network Setup

    My long-standing Vodafone router combines a modem, router, and Wi-Fi access point all in one. Now, I’m planning to divide these roles among different devices. The Vodafone box will simply act as a modem, with its router and Wi-Fi functions turned off. A low-energy mini-PC will take on the role of the new router, while a separate energy-friendly access point will manage the Wi-Fi. I’ll also use a small switch to connect LAN devices (like my PC through Ethernet, an AV receiver, or a home server). The setup will look something like this:

    Wait a second—this means I’ll be introducing three new devices instead of just relying on the single Vodafone unit. Is it really worth switching to a Vodafone modem along with a different router, switch, and access point?

    Weighing the Pros and Cons

    As I mentioned before, provider black boxes come with plenty of downsides. From a technical perspective, splitting these functions is logical for various reasons:

    An all-in-one router can quickly reach its limits, especially if you want to run multiple services, virtual machines, or different network segments in the future.

    Sure, breaking one device into four might seem a bit wasteful. But calculating energy consumption isn’t as simple as it looks, as it largely depends on the hardware you select. Choosing energy-efficient devices is crucial. Here’s a rough idea of how much power each device might use:

    The Vodafone router likely uses about 12-15 W continuously—perhaps even more, since DOCSIS is always active, Wi-Fi is perpetually on, and the internal SoC and switch are consistently running. In the new configuration, the power consumption looks like this:

    Yes, that’s more than before. And I’m honest about that. A single combo device does use a bit less energy. However, the additional power usage is almost insignificant:

    Most importantly—this is probably my biggest personal motivation for this project—you gain a lot of knowledge about networking and configuration, which allows you to fully control your home network.

    The next section will dive into the hardware: what options are out there, what a device needs to transform into an OpenWRT router, and whether you can repurpose just any PC or even a Raspberry Pi.

     

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  • Flint 3 WiFi 7 Router with 5 Ports Now Available for Pre-Order

    Flint 3 WiFi 7 Router with 5 Ports Now Available for Pre-Order

    Key Takeaways

    GL-iNet is well-known for making routers that are both competitive and functional, built on open source software and packed with robust VPN features right from the start. To understand what these routers can do, we examined their earlier model, the Flint 2 (MT6000), in detail.

    User-Friendly OpenWRT

    A big advantage of GL-iNet’s routers is their use of OpenWRT. While their firmware is based on OpenWRT, they have revamped the interface to make it easier to use. Nonetheless, you can still install stock versions of OpenWRT through the built-in update tool without needing to change anything about the router. You’ll still have access to all the great software features, such as Tailscale, AdGuard, Wireguard, OpenVPN, TOR, and a free DDNS service. Flint routers also come with 8 GB of eMMC storage, which lets you install various extra plugins like Docker.

    Exciting Upgrades in Flint 3

    However, the newest model, the Flint 3 (BE9300), takes the excellent software features from the Flint 2 and introduces some major hardware improvements.

    The Flint 3 now supports Wi-Fi 7, boasting a theoretical maximum speed of 5765 Mbps on the 6 GHz band. To handle this increase in wireless capacity, the Flint 3 is equipped with five 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports, up from two in the previous model, allowing network aggregation that can reach up to 10 Gbps.

    Powerful Performance and Pricing

    While the router maintains the same 1 GB DDR4 RAM, it now features an unspecified Qualcomm quad-core processor running at 1.5 GHz. Whether this is an upgrade over the 2.0 GHz quad-core MediaTek chip in the older version is still up for debate.

    Besides the impressive software and hardware, the standout feature of the Flint 3 currently is its pricing. Sadly, the super early bird price of $119 has already been taken, but you can still grab an early bird spot or a pre-order unit for $139 and $159 respectively (with a suggested retail price of $229). This is a great deal, especially when you consider that the Flint 2 is priced at $159 on Amazon, while its closest competitor, the ASUS RT-BE86U (also on Amazon), with several 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 7, costs $269.

    Source:
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  • CheckMag: OpenWRT Router with Tailscale, Docker, and WireGuard

    CheckMag: OpenWRT Router with Tailscale, Docker, and WireGuard

    It’s really frustrating when companies decide to stop supporting hardware that still works well. I guess it’s all about making money, and keeping old devices on the list doesn’t really help their profits. But routers are a key part of anyone’s home network. They connect many devices to the internet and protect you from online threats. If a router stops getting updates, it can become a security risk. So, what should you do when you see that dreaded “end of life” notification?

    Most people will likely just buy a new router. However, there are various custom firmware options for consumer routers that can help extend their lifespan. Some of these include FreshTomato, DD-WRT, and OpenWRT.

    Updating a router with new firmware is not as difficult as it sounds, but it really depends on which router you have. If you don’t follow the instructions precisely, you could end up with a useless device. For my R7000, there seemed to be only one developer providing DD-WRT support, and generally, DD-WRT is seen as quite disorganized. OpenWRT works, but it only allows access to the 2.4 GHz bands because of Broadcom’s closed-source drivers. FreshTomato looked like a good option, but I was worried about breaking the device and losing internet access, which made me look for alternatives.

    This led me to wonder, which router is the best for OpenWRT? I wanted a router that would still be functional, even if the manufacturer stopped supporting it, thanks to the community. I found a helpful Reddit thread with a lot of upvotes, which pointed me to this product:

    The GL-iNet MT6000, also known as Flint 2, is a Wi-Fi 6 router that allows you to flash OpenWRT using the original manufacturer’s update tool. It comes with Wi-Fi 6 radios, two 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports that can be set up in various ways (unlike some brands that only offer 2.5 gigabit on the WAN port), four gigabit Ethernet ports, one USB 3 port, a quad-core MediaTek chip, 1 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a full 8 GB of eMMC storage.

    The hardware specs are impressive, but the real strength of the Flint 2 is its software. GL-iNet offers a modified version of OpenWRT, which supports many features that were previously only available through Docker containers on my home server. This includes AdGuard, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Tor, Tailscale, ZeroTier, a free DDNS service (that doesn’t make me verify my account monthly), parental controls, and network storage, among others.

    While the software looks much better than standard OpenWRT, it does have an older Linux kernel and some outdated packages. You can opt for the beta version that features kernel 6.6, and you can also grab the stock version of OpenWRT from their site. Of course, you can always get it straight from OpenWRT too.

    But wait, there’s more! You might be wondering what a router needs with 8 GB of built-in eMMC. This is where OpenWRT plug-ins come into play.

    The plug-ins section enables you to install nearly any compatible package for the router. This includes Docker, which allows for a ton of additional features. You can even set up Rclone to connect to a cloud storage service like Google Drive and use FreeFileSync in a container to back up or sync any SMB shares on your network or the cloud. Plus, you can use the USB 3.0 port to hook up an external drive and share files across devices. However, since there’s no redundancy, this would be best as a backup target for a NAS, which is totally doable.

    While it’s not the latest router and doesn’t include Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, lacks 10 gigabit Ethernet, and doesn’t look like a mechanical spider ready to invade your home, it’s still a fantastic option. There’s a good chance this model will be replaced by a newer version this year, but at $159 (found on Amazon), it offers great value considering its features, and the OpenWRT support should keep it relevant long after GL-iNet stops updating it.

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    CheckMag: OpenWRT Router with Tailscale, Docker, and WireGuardCheckMag: OpenWRT Router with Tailscale, Docker, and WireGuardCheckMag: OpenWRT Router with Tailscale, Docker, and WireGuardCheckMag: OpenWRT Router with Tailscale, Docker, and WireGuard
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