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story category Cringely Discovers Sveasoft
Custom firmware a telecom revolution?
(old news - 09:34AM Tuesday Jun 01 2004)
tags: wireless · hardware
We have often discussed the use of third party firmware updates for Linksys hardware in order to gain significant functionality - including improved range, traffic shaping, and some additional services you'll find only on much more expensive hardware. PBS's Robert Cringley has apparently discovered the wonderful world of turning your WRT54G into a monster, and gives his thoughts on Sveasoft's firmware in his latest column. Cringley argues the third party firmware, which is slowly spreading to other models, is one of the most "disruptive" (in a good sense) technologies currently being used. Users in our forums have primarily made use of these third party updates, but occasionally users even design their own firmware and seek feedback in our forums. Aside from Sveasoft, Wi-Fi Box and Open WRT are also popular.

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Forums » Cringely Discovers Sveasoft
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technick
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Loganville, GA

The Time Is Now

Im gonna go buy one right now.... which firmware is recommended for runing a wisp?
snowdog888

join:2004-06-03
Neptune, NJ

Re: The Time Is Now

Has anyone posted the latest Sveasoft builds publically for free download? I'd like to try it but I'm not going to pay $20 up front for a GPL product, when anyone has the legal right to redistribute it for free.

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
·Comcast

Cringely got one thing wrong

I agree which practically everything Cringely said, but what he's proposing, reselling your broadband service, violates the TOS of most cable companies and many DSL providers. So unless you have one of the few DSL providers which allows resale of its services, your going to need to get a T1 or T3 line which is a lot more expensive. It may still end up being profitable, but no where near as much as using DSL or cable. Other than that it's a good plan.
--

The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired.
russotto

join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA

Re: Cringely got one thing wrong

You don't need a T1. A quick check of Megapath (Business DSL) and Speakeasy business DSL revealed no restrictions on resale of DSL services. These are more expensive than telco DSL but still way cheaper than a T1. You can also resell Speakeasy residential if you give Speakeasy a cut. Cable companies offer business plans too, though I don't know if they are resellable.
NGOwner

join:2000-11-21
Leawood, KS

Re: Cringely got one thing wrong

And how exactly is the ISP going to distingish between services offered for hire, and services used for personal use?

Especially when the traffic generated is not going to look any different than a Internet and Vonage phone user?

[NG]Owner
--
It is impossible to create an idiot-proof product. Humanity is simply too adept at churning out better idiots.
wilburyan

join:2002-08-01

I also looked into it to see if I could resell DSL to the residents in my condominium. apparantly it doesn't violate the terms of service. The only problem I would have is they may have some problems such as games that require certain ports to be open should they want to host a game.

Another bottleneck to the reselling of DSL (for me anyway) would be available bandwidth, my ISP offers 7mbit down... but that same package only offers 640kbps up.

anon900

@rr.com
I would also bet its a HUGE security risk sharing your connection like this. The router is way over-rated as it is.

I think one software author was upset about Sveasoft using his software in his firmware and charging for it.

glmclell

join:2000-10-17
Manistee, MI
clubs:
·Charter Pipeline

cringely...

bah, having wasted the time to actually read cringley's article, he seems to have forgotten one thing

he states several times his desire for SBC to be put out of business by local WLAN networks.

yea, right...

Somebody feeding that wlan with internet still has to subscribe to a service ... cable or dsl, it all relys on the phone company. cable might take longer to get to the phone lines, but in the end, it does.

using WLAN's to replace SBC as an ILEC is also pointless ... unless all you want to call is your neighbor or other computer connected people, the WLAN will have to tap the telephone-grid somewhere, and cha-ching, there's Ma-Bell
--
Been brain-washed lately? Remember, CNN is available 24x7 on the air and online - scrub scrub scrub!

Andrew J
Premium
join:2001-11-09
Lancaster, PA
clubs:
·Comcast
·Vonage
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: cringely...

he states several times his desire for SBC to be put out of business by local WLAN networks.
------------------------------------------
Doesn't matter but there is no person named Cringely. It's just a bunch of guys that write a tech gossip column.
--
If you give a little and they give a lot.

Mellow
Premium
join:2001-11-16
Salisbury, MD
·HostGator
·Cavalier Telephone


1 edit

no go with reselling cable

Most of the current broadband subscribers are on cable. You can't take down sbc or verzion with upload speeds under 1mbit. Not to mention it is against the TOS. Cracks me up when people think mesh networks are going to topple the big wigs, maybe the nerds will have a cool network but for the everyday person they won't want to deal with it. Plug and pray, that's all your average person wants to do for net access.

It is sweet dreams to think of verzion or sbc or the cable companies having to lower prices due to losing customers to this, but I think it will have a reverse effect, the price will double for whoever is sharing the line in the first place to make up for the lost clients sharing the line.
--
Ocean City, MD Surfing Gallery
bac522

join:2003-08-04
Manchester, NH

Re: no go with reselling cable

said by Mellow See Profile:
Cracks me up when people think mesh networks are going to topple the big wigs,
I remember people saying the same thing 15 years ago when I said AT&T wouldn't dominate long distance and would see a time when they would be fighting just to maintain their existences. I learned a long time ago that if it sounds unbelievable then thats all the more reason it is probably believable.

tmpchaos
Requiescat in pace
Premium,Mod
join:2000-04-28
Hoboken, NJ
clubs:

(topic move) dumb e-mail


Moderator Action
This topic was moved to the forum Charter Pipeline.

IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL

It's not all glory

»[Equipment] Sveasoft Bandwidth Management Problem Not all users are seeing the wonderful results. But I do think this is definitely a customer friendly idea. And it seems many other users have seen positive results when using the different "open source" firmwares.
--
Test Your Security Team Z Member Cable Modem Diagnostics

digiblur
Got Sipura?
Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

Re: It's not all glory

said by IGGY See Profile:
»[Equipment] Sveasoft Bandwidth Management Problem Not all users are seeing the wonderful results. But I do think this is definitely a customer friendly idea. And it seems many other users have seen positive results when using the different "open source" firmwares.

And 2 users in a thread having problems is uncommon for you?
--
Also find me at: Techware Labs & Sveasoft Forums

griminal
Finally.

join:2001-06-25
Bangor, MI

Geek factor.

It's not about starting your own business or putting ISPs out of business.

It's all about the cool geeky factor and how geeks can change the world!

N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

COOL

Cool graphic. The fighter jet shadow under the router..

No one else pointed it out.. The two antenna match up nice to the tail fins.....

statecop
Premium
join:2002-09-16
Beverly Hills, CA

BEFW11S4 ???

Does anyone offer firmware for the BEFW11S4 ?

It is basically the older 11MB version of the WRT54G.
Forums » Cringely Discovers Sveasoft


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