Jared
Jared

Jared

Installing LEDE on Linksys EA3500

Note: While this has worked for me on a few units it’s also resulted in a few units becoming unusable.  Other people have reported similar issues.

This is my experience installing LEDE firmware on a Linksys EA3500. This is a sub $30 router available for sale on Amazon that supports 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz with enough memory for decent projects.

Upgrading the router from the stock router firmware to LEDE required an intermediate step of first upgrading to OpenWRT.

  1. Install openwrt-kirkwood-linksys-audi-squashfs-factory.bin on the factory firmware.
    Tip: If the router stops responding after 5 minutes and the power light is rapidly blinking try power-cycling it. If that does not work and the power light is still rapidly blinking then unplug the router, and while holding the reset button in plug the router in. Keep the reset button pressed for 15 seconds and release. The router might reboot into a usable state.
  2. SSH into the router
  3. Exec
    opkg update
  4. Exec
    opkg install luci
  5. Open the router admin page and install the LEDE sysupgrade firmware lede-17.01.4-kirkwood-linksys-audi-squashfs-sysupgrade.tar

Review of OpenWRT and LEDE Routers Available on Amazon

If your looking for a well supported OpenWRT or LEDE router available from Amazon this is a list of my findings and opinions.

Historically the Linksys WRT AC1200 has been my router of choice for projects but with prices remaining around 150 USD it has become less desirable for small projects. My ideal router pick would be:

  • Under 100 USD
  • 2.4 and 5 Ghz support
  • Good OpenWRT / LEDE support
  • Available from common retailer sources

My current findings  and reviews ordered based on preference

Current Favorites

GL.iNet GL-AR750

Con

  • Travel router
  • Not explicitly listed on the LEDE supported hardware page (as of 2017-11-20)

Pro

  • Price
  • 5Ghz support

GL.iNet Brand – General

Con

  • Mostly travel routers.
  • No 5Ghz support (as of 2017-11-20)

Pro

 

Linksys WRT AC1200

Con

  • Price. Currently $145 as of 2017-11-20

Pro

 

Don’t bother with these

 

NETGEAR N750 – WNDR4300v1

Con

  • ONLY V1 is supported and Amazon doesn’t clarify what is sold.

Pro

NETGEAR N600 – WNDR3400v3

Con

  • Amazon doesn’t clarify if version 3 is sold
  • Memory a little less than N750

Pro

 

NETGEAR N750 – WNDR4300v2

Con

  • V2 is not supported.

Pro

Kasda AC1200

Con

  • Isn’t listed on the OpenWRT or LEDE as a supported router (as of 2017-11-20)
  • Contain a customized version of OpenWRT based on review.

Pro

  • Good price

NETGREAR WNR3500L

Con

  • No 5 Ghz support

Pro

 

TP-Link Brand

Prior to the Linksys WRT series of OpenSource routers this was my preferred brand but then TP-Link started locking their firmware images making it difficult to upgrade from a stock image to OpenWRT / LEDE

Con

  • TP-Link locked the firmware to prevent OpenWRT / LEDE upgrades
  • No longer easy to upgrade

Pro

  • Decent prices