DD-WRT Router Script

This script allows routers running DD-WRT firmwares to block ads network-wide. It also tracks and updates the host list(s) periodically through a cron job, as well as disables those annoying LED lights.

The router that I am using is Netgear R7000P, running the DD-WRT v3.0-r46069 std (03/17/21) build.

Setup

1. The router must already be running the compatible DD-WRT firmware. Here is a list of compatible routers.

2. Go to your router's landing page (usually 192.168.1.1).

3. Navigate: Administration > Commands Paste in the bash script (script.sh) in the Command Shell, and click Save Startup.

4. Navigate: Administration > Management > Cron.

5. Enable Cron.

6. Paste in 0 * * * * root /bin/sh /tmp/.rc_startup.

7. To manually execute the script, paste /tmp/.rc_startup in Administration > Commands > Run Commands

Updating Adhost Lists

Replace your prefered ad hosts list under this line:

curl -k -o /jffs/adhosts.txt https://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt
grep addn-hosts /tmp/dnsmasq.conf || echo "addn-hosts=/jffs/adhosts.txt" >> /tmp/dnsmasq.conf

If you have multiple host lists:

curl -k -o /jffs/adhosts1.txt https://adhost1.com/hosts.txt
curl -k -o /jffs/adhosts2.txt https://adhost2.com/hosts.txt
echo "addn-hosts=/jffs/adhosts1.txt" >> /tmp/dnsmasq.conf
echo "addn-hosts=/jffs/adhosts2.txt" >> /tmp/dnsmasq.conf

There is a list of well known host lists consolidated by Steven that you can try.

Changing Refresh Intervals

Cron job is customisizble:

1. Learn about the cron interval setup, or use https://crontab.guru.
2. Paste in the 5 time variables under Additional Cron Jobs.
3. For example, 0 * * * * root /bin/sh /tmp/.rc_startup runs the job at the top of every hour.

Are Ads Coming Through?

Check your log:

1. Navigate: Status > Syslog
2. Look for --- www.googleadservices.com ping statistics ---
3. Hopfully the result is something like

--- www.googleadservices.com statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max = 7.292/7.324/7.384 ms
PING www.googleadservices.com (0.0.0.0): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: seq=0 ttl=64 time=0.260 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.317 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.240 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: seq=3 ttl=64 time=0.257 ms
64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: seq=4 ttl=64 time=0.250 ms

4. If the IP pinged is not 127.0.0.1, 0.0.0.0, or something similar, ads are not currently being blocked.

Remember, this method of adblock only work for blocking DNS-based ads. If an ad is served on a non-known ad server, it will come through.

License

MIT