Wireless routers make life a lot easier by allowing your phones, tablets, PCs, TVs, and all sorts of other devices to connect to the internet without running a series of Ethernet cables around your house. But since these routers are basically little computers that connect to the outside world, they’re subject to security threats just like any other internet-connected device.

So it’s typically a good idea to pick one that gets regular firmware updates featuring the latest security patches, bug fixes, and other new features. But most of the companies that make routers only offer those updates for a limited time… if at all. And one of the innovators of the mesh WiFi space has just announced that it’s first-generation hardware will no longer be receiving updates after the end of this month. So if you have a first-gen eero Mesh WiFi router, now might be a good time to start thinking about an upgrade.

Of course, one way around this limited-lifespan problem moving forward is to buy a router that’s known to work with OpenWrt or other third-party, open source firmware. It takes a little more work to set up, but could keep your existing hardware useful for years to come.

Here’s a roundup of recent tech news from around the web.

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4 replies on “Lilbits: Raspberry Pi OS updated, eero’s first routers reach end of life(ish), Sony mobile gaming accessories launching next week”

  1. Unfortunately, there are no Raspberry Pi computers available for us to try the new updates…

  2. Routers reaching “End of Life” feels like a new development, am I wrong?

    1. Not really, they’ve always had updates which then eventually stop happening. However, I don’t think I’ve seen very many articles telling you that you really really ought to replace that out-of-support expensive box of electronics with a new expensive box of electronics concerning domestic routers.

      1. And it hurts a bit more these days because companies have been pushing mesh systems so instead of replacing one router you might need to replace 2-3.

        But yeah, it’s probably a good idea to either replace your router every 4-5 years or switch to open source firmware if that’s something you’re comfortable with (and don’t need the latest features like support for WiFi 6E or 7 or whatever).

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