Русский flag Русский

OpenWRT: turning an old router into a powerhouse

Published on 2025-11-01

Imagine: an old router for 2000 ₽ blocks ads, shares a VPN, works as a Mesh system and doesn’t slow down even with 50 devices.
This is not magic — this is OpenWRT.


🏠 Who needs OpenWRT

OpenWRT turns an ordinary router into a mini-server. If you have at least one item from the list — it’s definitely time to try it:

  • Want AdBlock for the whole house
  • Need a VPN without a subscription
  • Have an old router lying around
  • Like to tinker with settings

90% of users install OpenWRT — and forget about the router forever.


⚡ What OpenWRT can do

  • AdBlock — ad filtering at the DNS level
  • SQM (QoS) — get rid of lags in Zoom and games
  • WireGuard / OpenVPN — fast and secure VPN
  • Mesh Wi-Fi — combines multiple routers
  • USB modems — works even with 4G dongles
  • Torrents 24/7 — without a PC turned on

🛠 Installation in 60 seconds

# 1. Скачать прошивку
wget https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.5/targets/mediatek/mt7622/openwrt-23.05.5-mediatek-mt7622-xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6s-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin

# 2. Залить на роутер
scp openwrt-*.bin root@192.168.1.1:/tmp/

# 3. Прошить
ssh root@192.168.1.1
sysupgrade -n /tmp/openwrt-*.bin

In three minutes LuCI (web interface) will be available at 192.168.1.1.


🔥 Top-5 features

FeatureCommand
AdBlock for the whole houseopkg install adblock luci-app-adblock
VPN in 30 secopkg install luci-app-wireguard
Wi-Fi like an ISPuci set wireless.radio0.channel='36'
USB modemopkg install kmod-usb-net-rndis
Torrents without a PCopkg install transmission-web

🧠 Best hardware

ModelPriceWhy
Xiaomi AX36004000 ₽6 antennas, 1 Gbps
GL.iNet GL-MT30007000 ₽VPN, USB, portable
NanoPi R4S5000 ₽2× 1 Gbps, ideal for VPN

🎯 Conclusion

OpenWRT is Linux for your router.
If you want the most out of old hardware — install it and forget it.
Not sure if your router is supported? 👇 Write the model — I’ll advise in 5 minutes!

Need help?

Get in touch with me and I'll help solve the problem

Related Posts