Upgrading an router to an unofficial version of OpenWrt is an excellent learning project for hobbyists interested in embedded Linux systems, compilation toolchains, and hardware hacking.
: Realtek notoriously relies on proprietary, closed-source drivers for its wireless chipsets. The open-source rtl819x drivers in the Linux kernel are incomplete, highly unstable, and often lack stable Access Point (AP) mode functionality.
CONFIG_LINUX_5_4=y CONFIG_TARGET_ramips=y CONFIG_TARGET_ramips_rt305x=y CONFIG_CPU_MIPS32_R1=y CONFIG_USE_MIPS16=y rtl8196e openwrt
The Realtek is a widely used System-on-a-Chip (SoC) found in numerous low-cost, budget-friendly wireless routers, access points, and Wi-Fi extenders. While these devices often come with basic, feature-limited stock firmware, the SoC itself is capable of much more. Installing OpenWrt on an RTL8196E-based device is an excellent way to unlock advanced networking features, improve security, and breathe new life into older hardware.
While you cannot run heavy packages like AdGuard Home, SQM Qos, or OpenVPN on an RTL8196E router, an optimized Linux firmware allows the device to serve several lightweight, useful networking functions: Upgrading an router to an unofficial version of
Extending Legacy Capabilities: A Feasibility Study and Implementation Guide for OpenWrt on the Realtek RTL8196E SoC
Frequently restricted to 32MB, leaving very little room for background processes or modern web interfaces like LuCI. The Current State of Support While you cannot run heavy packages like AdGuard
git clone https://github.com/openwrt-rtl/rtl8196e-patches.git target/linux/ramips/patches-5.4/