Poll: DDWRT can solve 90% of wireless problems?

Question

Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this firmware. Just used it to setup a free and very functional vpn connection to an office. How many sub $40 routers can even come close?

Assuming you lack an unlimited budget (most home users) I think everyone that wants wireless should buy a router that is supported by dd-wrt. With buffalo whr-g54s selling for a little over $40 (and less on sale), I don't see why people bother with dlink, linksys, or netgear routers that cost as much, if not significantly more, while at the same time delivering less performance, features, and stability. This is truely the best side effect of all the pre-N garbage that has been released recently -- some very nice G routers are now dirt cheap.

While all the 'bonus' features of dd-wrt are centainly worth mentioning (quality of service, boosting xmit power, vpn, an otherwise great firewall and access restriction interface to name but a few) the best part is that it is rock solid stable. My linksys wrt54g with dd-wrt loaded was up for over 90days straight when I reset it to upgrade its firmware.

For people new to wireless the thought of voiding your warranty with an unknown aftermarket upgrade might be scary. It's well worth doing though just for the stability and compatibility with your clients. You don't have to use all of its fancy features to make use of it. I think anyone with a compatible device should install ddwrt and that anyone in the market should buy a compatible device.

All of this said, perhaps my horrific dlink and netgear experiances have just made me overally happy to have something that actually works as expected without issue. My former router, a dlink 524 rev C, was never stable. Firmware releases from dlink would make it worse as often as better. Hacking it to a 624 helped some. I finally gave up though and bought a used wrt54g off ebay. Best decision ever as I look at broadband reports and see that the latest dirmware release for the 524/624 C still has significant stability issues.

Others please weigh in.

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 09-27-2006 01:22 AM

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 09-27-2006 01:25 AM

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Where do you get this firmware. Is there a website with more information?

rwm32 · Answer

Ahem.... www.dd-wrt.com!  There, you'd never have guessed, now would you?   Not much I can add to the paean of praise for dd-wrt from NemesisDB.   However, I guess that one of the things which puts people off is the danger of bricking the router when trying to flash the new firmware.  But if you read the download + install instructions carefully, there shouldn't be any problem.

NemesisDB · Answer

Bricking is a valid concern though it should be less likely to happen if people just flash to the stable builds and not the daily alphas.

I should probably just go ahead and do the serial mod and make a jtag cable against the day when it happens :)

edit: and while the price is on the high side, you can buy router's pre-flashed from the site now.

Message Edited by NemesisDB on 09-27-2006 10:46 AM

dallascowboyswo · Answer

What can this firmware do if I load it. Can I revert back to the linksys firmware if I dont like.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006

NemesisDB · Answer

it really depends on what router you currently have...   the most important thing to remember is to follow the directions.  there is an excellent wiki with information at the dd-wrt site.   As for what you can do with this firmware, it might be better to ask what you want it to do?

dallascowboyswo · Answer

O.K. so I bought me a used wrt54g linksys so I could play with. Tell me how to load this firmware.

thanks,

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v2
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

NemesisDB · Answer

what hardware revision? If not v1 through v4 wrt54g, then do *not* procede.

This page may be helpful: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Index:Install

If you have a v1 through v4, you should download the appropriate mini version of the firmware. This can be found here I believe: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/down.php?path=downloads%2Fdd-wrt.v23%20SP2%2Fmini%2F&download=dd-wrt.v23_mini_generic.bin

Once you have the mini, reset the factory defaults on your router using the reset button (believe you press and hold for 5 to 10 seconds? -- basically until the light pattern changes).

Once this is done, log back into the router and use the linksys update firmware tool to upgrade to the 'mini' image you downloaded. Give this several minutes to complete.

When this is done, reset the factory defaults again using the press-and-hold method on the reset button.

Note that the default UN and password will have changed to root / admin

At this point you can either keep the mini version of dd-wrt or flash to a more appropriate package. Lots of people use standard. I use VPN. It depends what you need. Differences can be found here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_%22DD-WRT%22%3F#File_Versions

If you have any doubts at all -- ask here or in the dd-wrt forum. It's no fun bricking your router.

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Is the link you offered to v23 sp2 mini? So I have to load the mini version first before I can load the standard version. I have a wrt54g version 3 router. I suppose when I tell my router to upgrade firmware it will prompt me to browse to the file?
thanks for you help.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v2
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

NemesisDB · Answer

the linksys firmware on some models limits the size of firmware uploads. to avoid this it's best to start with the mini. this may only apply to the wrt54g v4, but it's best just to be safe.

Also, always use a wired connection for the flash.

Yes, the upload firmware button within your router's webGUI will prompt you to browse for a file.

The wiki actually recommends a 30sec hold of the reset button when you reset the defaults. Seems a bit long to me, but I don't think it will hurt.

Remember, the new login for the router will be root / admin.

As you bought it just to test with, I assume you'll still have internet access if something goes wrong.

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Well I loaded it. I can see the ddwrt user control panel when I put in the 192.x.x... but when I go to log in, it will not accept the username and password. username root password admin. Did I brick it...what now.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v2
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

Message Edited by dallascowboysworldchamps on 10-24-2006 04:39 PM

NemesisDB · Answer

pressing and holding the reset button reverts to the 'factory' default settings for the firmware (it clears the NVRAM area). chances are the old linksys UN and PW were still in memory and the reset fixed that. you should do this before and after every firmware upgrade.

and yes, you can now upgrade to the standard version. reset defaults by holding the reset button, log in, and use the 'firmware upgrade' option. let the flash complete (give it plenty of time even when it says its done!). then
reset the defaults a final time.

the image for V23 SP2 standard is here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/down.php?path=downloads%2Fdd-wrt.v23%20SP2%2Fstandard%2F&download=dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Well I let held down the button on the back for another 30 seconds and this time it worked. I can get in. So can I upgrade to the standard version now. If so can you give me the link. Hey man thanks for all of your help......
Oh yea.. if I change the password and then later forget the password will pressing the button on the back of the router revert back to the root/admin passwords?

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v2
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

Message Edited by dallascowboysworldchamps on 10-24-2006 04:24 PM

dallascowboyswo · Answer

How can I tell if I loaded the standard version. When I selected browse I thought I selected the standard version file but in the browse window when it was doing the setup it showed the mini file I had put in earlier. However when I boot into the control panel it does say. Firmware: DD-WRT v23 SP2 (09/15/06) std. Does that mean I was successful in loading the Standard version. I am afraid to do it again for fear of it not needing it.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v2
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

NemesisDB · Answer

well mine says Firmware: DD-WRT v23 SP2 (09/15/06) vpn

so I'll assume you did get standard on there.

be sure to reset settings by holding reset button now that you have it!

To double check, you'll need to compare features. Check out this: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_%22DD-WRT%22%3F#File_Versions

According to it, mini lacks things like SD card, chillispot, kaid, and other things that standard has. Log into your router and see if these options are available:

Under Administration / Management you should see IPv6 Support, MMC/SD Card Support, and Samba FS Automount -- none of these options are present in mini. Additionally, there should be an option to allow https under web management.

If you see the above you have standard. If not, you may still be running mini.

dallascowboyswo · Answer

I do see Ipv6, sd card and chilli spot. So I guess it took ok and was a successful load. I opened the control panel of the wrt54g v2 with linksys firmware and the wrt54g v3 ddwrt and I noticed that the ddwrt had many more settings to manipulate. Now its a matter of finding out what all these settings pretain to. I guess I will search on their website to learn more. It has been a blast. I am looking forward to getting more info. thanks again.

Inspiron E1505
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB/2.00GHz/667MHz)
15.4 Inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WSXGA+
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0 + EDR)
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Bios A08
pur. Sept. 7 2006
WRT54G Linksys router v2
ZoneAlarm Pro v 6.0.667.000

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Poll: DDWRT can solve 90% of wireless problems?

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