AirStation AC 1750 DD-WRT Router review: DD-WRT firmware is a game changer

Editor's note: This review was delayed for a few months due to a bug that would put the router in an infinite boot loop in certain settings, effectively rendering it useless. This bug has now been fixed via a new firmware version.

8.0

AirStation AC 1750 DD-WRT Router

The Good

The AirStation Extreme AC 1750 Gigabit Dual Band DD-WRT Router (model WZR-1750DHPD) is preloaded with DD-WRT. It has excellent Wi-Fi data rates, especially on the 5GHz frequency band.

The Bad

Compared with a few other similarly-configured routers, the Buffalo's range is disappointing and it's more expensive.

The Bottom Line

The AirStation AC 1750 DD-WRT Router is an excellent choice for savvy users who want deep levels of customization.

Buffalo's AirStation Extreme AC 1750 Gigabit Dual Band DD-WRT Router (model WZR-1750DHPD) is unlike any other AC1750 router I've reviewed. It's the first 802.11ac router that uses the well-known third-party open source firmware from DD-WRT, instead of stock firmware from Buffalo.

To most home users, this is not significant, but to savvy users and networking enthusiasts, the new router means they won't need to tinker with the hardware before they can take the full control of their network, which is the power of DD-WRT.

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In my testing, the new WZR-1750DHPD registered excellent performance, especially on the 5GHz band and very stable Wi-Fi signal. For this reason, despite the fact that it doesn't have the longest range, it's still well worth the current price of just $150, which converts to £85/AU$160. If you're a fan of DD-WRT or just want to make sure you can customize your home network to the extreme, the WZR-1750DHPD is an excellent choice. For more options on great 802.11ac routers, check out this list.

Common hardware design

On the outside, the new router looks very much like the WZR-D1800H , which was the very first 802.11ac router on the market two years ago. It's a square box that comes with two flexible detachable stands to keep it raised vertically or horizontally. On the back it has four LAN ports and one WAN (Internet) port -- all of them are Gigabit. There's also a USB 3.0 port and another USB 2.0 port. You can use these ports for most USB devices, such as printers or portable drives.

On the front, there's one LED light, which takes the shape of the word "Buffalo" and glows white to show everything is in order or red when something needs attention, and three other smaller LEDs to show the status of the Internet, the Wi-Fi network, and the wired network. There's also the button label AOSS. Normally, when running stock firmware, this button helps to quickly connect Buffalo Wi-Fi devices to the router's Wi-Fi network. Since the router runs DD-WRT, this is a programmable button. By default, however, it doesn't do anything.

Hardware-wise, the WZR-1750DHPD is a true dual-band router that supports three-stream (3-by-3) 802.11ac on the 5GHz frequency band and three-stream 802.11n on the 2.4GHz band. This means it can offer up to 1300Mbps and 450Mbps on each respective band, making it an AC1750 router. The router supports all existing Wi-Fi clients on the market, but you do need compatible client to get the top Wi-Fi speed.

Easy to setup

Out of the box, the new router can be used right away. This is because it comes with two default Wi-Fi networks printed on its under side. Using this information you can plug the router's WAN port into an Internet source, such as a modem, and you're good to go.

If you want to customize this network or any other features of the router, you'll need to access its Web interface. Information on how to do this is printed on a little label stuck inside the router itself. Basically, you just need to point a browser on a connected computer to the router's default IP address (which is 192.168.11.1) and log in with the default credentials which are admin and password.

After that, you'll be greeted with the router's interface. And this time around, unlike other Buffalo routers I've reviewed, it's that of the DD-WRT firmware.

DD-WRT is a game changer

DD-WRT is a well-known Linux-based open source firmware for wireless routers and access points. The firmware unlocks operational modes, such as using a router as a wireless extender, client bridge, or access point, and offers a comprehensive set of controls. Examples of these include the ability to modify wireless radio power, define advance access controls, choose from a greater DDNS service support list, create a Wi-Fi hotspot, setup VLANs for the router's wired ports, define advanced USB port functionality, manage enhanced QoS controls, and much more.

Running DD-WRT on a router is very similar to running Linux on a computer, instead of Windows or Mac OS. However, since different networking vendors have different stock firmware for their routers, DD-WRT also helps unify the experience of managing your home network. In other words, DD-WRT gives you a consistent experience on different supported routers, regardless of their vendors.

That said, what the WZR-1750DHPD has to offer is very much what DD-WRT has to offer and is limited only by the hardware power of the router itself. And running a 800MHz processor, the Buffalo is actually on the higher-end among many DD-WRT-compatible routers.

Here are few of my favorite features that DD-WRT has to offer on the WZR-1750DHPD:

A comprehensive VPN server and client features: This is great for businesses since they can connect two physical offices in a virtual local network by using two WZR-1750DHPD units.

Multiple virtual Wi-Fi networks: By default there are only two Wi-Fi networks, one of each band. However, on each band, you can add more than a dozen extra networks, called virtual interfaces or virtual access points. Having more networks means you can manage performance and compatibility very easily.

Professional HotSpot services: DD-WRT offers a few options of creating and managing a hotspot service professionally, such as a way for users to login or even pay for Internet access.

Ad blocking: You can set the firmware to block incoming online commercials to keep your network ad-free. This feature actually worked well in my testing, although it didn't block 100 percent of online adds.

And there are many other features and settings. In short, if you're a savvy user and want to be in total control of your home or small business network, DD-WRT is the way to go and the WZR-1750DHPD makes a great router. It basically has all the features you can possibly ask for from a home router.

Performance

The WZR-1750DHPD did very well in my tests and is one of the fastest routers in the AC1750 crowd. I tested it on both the 5GHz band and 2.4GHz band.

On the 5GHz band, when used with 802.11ac clients, it scored a sustained speed of 407Mbps for a close range of 15 feet. When I increased the distance to 100 feet, it registered 223Mbps. Overall it's in the top three on the market.

Still on the 5GHz band, when used with 802.11n the router topped the chart with 222Mbps for close range and 179Mbps for long range.

It did less impressively on the 2.4GHz band, however, registering just 83Mbps for close range. On the long range, it did much worse at only 28Mbps.

And the Buffalo didn't have great range either, compared with other 802.11ac routers. It should be used no more than 150 feet away if you want to have a stable connection, though I could see its signal over 200 feet away. This is likely because the router doesn't have any external antennas, which generally help with range. Making up for this though, the router passed my 24-hour stress test, where it was set to transfer large amounts of data back and forth between multiple Wi-Fi clients, without disconnecting once.

Note that I tested the router at CNET's offices, where there are walls and many Wi-Fi devices that are out of my control. Generally, walls shorten the reach of a Wi-Fi signal, and other Wi-Fi devices create interference. As with all Wi-Fi routers, your results may vary depending on where you live.

Conclusion

The Buffalo AirStation AC 1750 DD-WRT Router is not a must-have for home users but it's an excellent router for savvy users who want to get the most out of the hardware. The fact it comes preloaded with DD-WRT saves you from having to install the firmware yourself, which can be a hassle. On the other hand, if you don't mind tinkering with the firmware installation and possibly spending a little more, the Trendnet TEW-813DRU (version 2) or the TEW-818DRU will also make a great investment, since they also both support DD-WRT.