<3 this. I've preaching this for the past year ever since I discovered the amazing combination of the 8yr-old Linksys WRT54GL [1][2] + Tomato SpeedMod firmware [3]. Amazing how that router still dominates the ratings of all routers, both in terms of numbers and average rating, and there are still more ratings trickling in almost daily.
Also, I don't know if SpeedMod has been merged back into mainline Tomato or not, but it's worked flawlessly on my WRT54GL for almost a year now.
I completely agree with Jeff's conclusion as well - commodity hardware + FOSS = potentially unbeatable. FOSS that has had a chance to literally evolve on the same platform for almost a decade, assuming it hasn't been abandoned, can really demonstrate the power of software evolution, for lack of better term.
Also, I don't know if SpeedMod has been merged back into mainline Tomato or not, but it's worked flawlessly on my WRT54GL for almost a year now.
I completely agree with Jeff's conclusion as well - commodity hardware + FOSS = potentially unbeatable. FOSS that has had a chance to literally evolve on the same platform for almost a decade, assuming it hasn't been abandoned, can really demonstrate the power of software evolution, for lack of better term.
1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124...
2. http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WRT54GL-Wireless-G-Broad...
3. http://touristinparadise.blogspot.com/2008/04/linksys-wrt54g...