If you’ve never heard of Merlin firmware, no, I’m not talking about wizards, just regular Wi-Fi tech, which is cooler than magic anyway.

So yes, if you’re interested in making your Asus router better, or noticeably different, you’re reading the right post. It’s all about getting your router the Merlin treatment. You’ll learn what it is and how to sprinkle it on your beloved Wi-Fi hardware.

Important note: Putting third-party firmware on a router, among other things, can be tricky and even cause the router to die if you don’t do it right. Consider yourself warned. Use Merlin at your own risk. This post is for those, who, because of boredom or otherwise, want to venture out of the general tech norm. If you want to continue, tread lightly!

Dong’s note: I first published this piece on October 21, 2020, and updated it on October 18, 2022, to add relevant