Too many "free" ISP routers

jon81uk

womble12345 said:

What is worse for the environment, throwing it in the bin or posting it back to you ISP (for free) and them throwing it in the bin?

Worst is throwing it in the general bin (hence there should be the crossed out wheelie bin symbol).

Best is taking it to your councils recycling centre as part of a planned trip with other items.

In the middle is posting it back for recycling.

Ergates

_Kismet said:

gefnew said:

The problem with not using the latest router is that the firmware will be out of date and libel to attack from the internet.
Also the newer routers will have better coverage and security.

Yeah, thanks, that's certainly a reason to switch to a newer router. My own router last had new firmware released in 2016.

So like I said, the next ISP router I get, I'll probably use it for the higher spec and updated firmware. The downside of ISP routers is that they may not even receive any additional firmware updates at all.

Still doesn't solve my problem of what to do with the unused ISP routers I currently have lying around!

Whilst you obviously can't change the hardware, you should be able to update the firmware.

Neil_Jones

Ergates said:

_Kismet said:

gefnew said:

The problem with not using the latest router is that the firmware will be out of date and libel to attack from the internet.
Also the newer routers will have better coverage and security.

Yeah, thanks, that's certainly a reason to switch to a newer router. My own router last had new firmware released in 2016.

So like I said, the next ISP router I get, I'll probably use it for the higher spec and updated firmware. The downside of ISP routers is that they may not even receive any additional firmware updates at all.

Still doesn't solve my problem of what to do with the unused ISP routers I currently have lying around!

Whilst you obviously can't change the hardware, you should be able to update the firmware.

Most branded routers stop receiving updates after a while and even the ISP routers don't always get the updates (and if they do, sometimes you have to ask for them - Plusnet for example, though they have recently changed this)

However nothing to stop you using open-source firmware, like these on third party routers, I wouldn't go down this route on ISP routers:

https://dd-wrt.com/

https://openwrt.org/

Of course double and triple check the router is compatible, as you'll probably brick it otherwise and then all it'll be good for is as a doorstop.

getmore4less

Freecycle/trash nothing/... usually finds most things a home.