If you've got an older router kicking around, give it a new job. DD-WRT lets you configure all sorts of things, thereby allowing for expanded functionality.

On top of that, DD-WRT generally provides a lot more features and much more in-depth customization and configuration compared with most, if not all, stock firmware in home routers.

Open-source networking users will be happy to learn that Linksys finally made good on its promise to bring DD-WRT firmware to the Linksys router family.

If you're running alternative firmware Tomato instead of DD-WRT, make sure to check out our previous guide to ad-blocking with a Tomato-enhanced router. What do you think so far?

The Buffalo AirStation Extreme AC1900 is one of the first routers that sports the DD-WRT NXT, but will the new open-source firmware make it worth the investment? Here's CNET's full review.