This $89 Wi-Fi router is designed to let you run whatever firmware you want

The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) announced last week that the OpenWrt One, a Wi-Fi router created with open-source software in mind, is now available to buy for $89 on AliExpress. The SFC says the router “will never be locked down” and gives its owners the “right to change, modify, and repair” as they like.

The OpenWrt One is aimed at giving owners a “hacker-friendly device” that doesn’t rely on private companies’ update schedules and won’t lose support over time. That the OpenWrt One uses open-source software — it comes with OpenWRT pre-installed — means, in theory, you can keep it up-to-date for as long as you care to use it.

Image: Software Freedom Conservancy
The OpenWrt One has a switch for updating…