In truth ... yes there's a huge benefit ... but not always to the average user.
Initially many users flocked to DD-WRT (tomato, openwrt, sveasoft) because it had the ability to unlock the output power for the wireless radio, a software setting for how much power the on board radio would emit. This meant that you didn't have to buy specialized "signal boosters" and could, by simply reloading the firmware (think a hardwares' OS) change a software setting to boost the power and change how far away from your access point/router you could get.
Things that kept people going with DD-WRT (and the others) was the development potential, the added features from a device that before was just limited by what the manufacture said could be done.
Think of the firmware on the router as Ford Motor Company ... telling you you can buy this Mustang, but you can only drive it on Interstate Highways ... and that if you wanted to drive it on side roads, you have to pay more for that same mustang, no modifications to the car physically.. and if that wasn't to your liking, you could buy a different model of Ford..
So users are suddenly given freedom to run a linux based embedded operating system on their router .. they started adding those "expensive" features to their "model T" router
- WDS - Wireless Distribution System, distribute wireless over several houses, several areas, a city..
- Open-VPN & PPTP - normally a dedicated box, or feature cost add on, now running at the router for free
- Multi-SSID - Mulitple Wireless Networks on one radio, different security, different IP's and other features (driven by running scripts)
- Hotspot - you've been to McDonalds, Starbucks, in their day they all cost money for you to use them, or were in partnership with Tmobile, ATT, Verizon, as part of their packages, etc.. Even "ad" based where they would replace ad graphics or show pop-ups once in a while ... now these firmware replacements enable similar services, user authentication & ad revenue (note hotspotsystem counts Wendy's as one of their clients)
- Milkfish - operate SIP/VOIP internally without needing a "Vonage" just to connect inexpensive IP phones in your house or warehouse, or small business, and add the ability to do VOIP with others (SIP) and directed VOIP providers too.
- Advanced Router/routing Features
- larger network? office with multiple buildings? a campus? statically route between network segments, or use a routing protocol (bgp, ospf, rip)
- Bridging
- Adhoc (client to client)
- Gateway
- Access Point
- NAS - Network Attached Storage (router needs to have USB port)
- Access Policies - Time of Day, Day of week, URL filtering (basic)
- Logging and Traffic - beyond simple "bad" traffic, you can even use IPTables (linux firewalling) commands, to log or redirect traffic, etc
many routers now add some of these features ... they were forced to, once the pandoras box was opened .. they could no longer justify making a user pay twice as much to add these "special features" that required "more from" the box.. truth was the router manufacturers could no longer hide behind the "it can't do that" lie.
Some features do take a toll on performance, and other features are bolstered by newer hardware that has faster processors, and more memory ... its a balancing act given what you have, what you need, and what you can afford.
One of the recent issues that having something like DD-WRT or other open firmware has helped with, is UPnP ... older routers didn't support it (unless they ran alternative firmware
) and some of them have a poor implementation of UPnP where they say they support it, but seems they have issues.. etc.. so sometimes running a different firmware shows its not the hardware that's flawed but the firmware/OS that is ... and sometimes manufacturers just aren't that quick to fix something ...
sorry for the long read ... I could've probably posted links to other sites...
For me ... the main features I use now are
- wireless power increase (upped by 20% or so)
- static DHCP (one of my first el-cheapo's didn't have that feature!)
- UPnP - never had a problem and most new routers are starting to fix their implementations, Linksys however still doesn't universally offer a table or list showing what ports have been opened by its UPnP server(! horrible !)
- Open VPN - This has been the killer app for me ... VPN's are not just for businesses the concept is Trusted End points. I trust my PC, I trust my Home Network, if I'm on an open/free wireless connection, I can't trust what might be also connected to that network and listening to "me" ... So I vpn to home, and send all my traffic out from there. That protects my web passwords, my credit card transactions, etc.. I don't have to worry about the average joe logging my packets they are encrypted before they even leave my laptop. (and did I mention free? I didn't pay some vpn provider, and again I know my router, my network, who is that hosted VPN provider?)
- bridge - with watchdog timer to keep the bridged connection up properly
- IPTables - I block outbound SMTP, recently "played" with my sister's Iphone making all her web attempts re-direct her to http://kittenwar.com/ ... god was she pissed at me..
