#1 STUNNA

DD-WRT is a free open source firmware that can be loaded on to certain routers with Broadcom or Atheros chips. It overwrites the firmware that comes with the device and DD-WRT can add features and functionality that didn't come with the router.

My Netgear WNDR3700 is a fantastic router, except it's lacking a few features that I'd like to have. I'm thinking about putting DD-WRT on this router to get those missing features.

Who here has DD-WRT and what are your impressions with it?

http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index

stogie1020

and

Not difficult, and worthwhile IMO.

I have a Linksys by Cisco and the software that came with it was crap. No brainer.

Currently running:

DD-WRT v24-sp2 (12/19/09) big
(SVN revision 13493M NEWD-2 K2.6 Eko)

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

ive been running it on my wrt160n for about 3 years without a single issue to date.

Beelzebub

I have had it on 2 different devices and love it and have been running it for over 5 years.
I cam currently running it on my Linksys 3000 and it runs flawlessly.

The only time I had any problems was with my companies VPN, would drop connection every 11 minutes. It turned out I had to upgrade the dd-wrt firmware to the latest one and that took care of the problem.

Whiskers

whatevs.

hornyleprechaun

Don't know what version I have, but I've been running it for almost 4 years now.. I have my main router in my office upstairs connected to the cable modem. My 2nd router is by my living room tv/360/HTPC. It's nice to have both of them bridged together so I didn't need a wireless card for my 3 components downstairs.

litesout

I ran it back in the day of my old WRT-54G. Currently looking into a new router to replace my failing WRT-SL54GS as I was a dumbass and positioned it so that the ethernet cable was pulling down on the WAN port. Its loose and about every 2 days I have to go fiddle with it now.

Stunna, I'm thinking about the 3700. What features is it lacking that DD-WRT adds?

doopstr

Any of these routers dual band (5Ghz/2.4Ghz)?
EDIT: NM, looks like Stunna's is dual band.

The wrt160n at $44.38 is tempting.

hornyleprechaun

My Dad and brother both recently purchased the Linksys 3000.. They love it. My Mom watches Swedish news (she's Swedish) that is streamed from Sweden and she used to have terrible buffering problems throughout their house.. with the new 3000 they haven't had a problem since. My brother said he walked down his street and still had 3 bars of WIFI on his iPhone with his 3000.

litesout

The E3000 was actually my first choice until I started doing some reading. The Maximum PC article on routers (wish I could remember what month it was from) had the E3000 head to head against the 3700. The 3700 out performed it in every way that matters to me. Truth be known, I really don't need the USB port on it at all as I have WHS set up, but it seems if you want a high performance router you're getting one whether you want it or not. I really just need throughput and simultaneous dual band.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...uters?page=0,0

fsttyms1

Im looking into the E4200. I upgraded my cable/internet recently and stupidly went withthe POS Motorola Surfboard that they recommended. The thing is GARBAGE. I have an old wrt54g router that worked great but i think its time for a upgrade?

thunder04

iTrader: (1)

I have it on my cheap-o wireless access point (was the cheapest on the shelf at Fry's) as well as on my parents 7 year old Linksys WRT54GS.

It really goes to show that "crap" networking products can be "crap" simply because of the software that runs them. The cheap-o WAP I use was just that...really cheap. However, with the DD-WRT firmware, it turned into awesome.

It's something made by AirLink101...can't remember model specifics. The upgrade process wasn't nearly as straight forward as it was with some of the more popular hardware, but it was definitely worth the fight.

thunder04

iTrader: (1)

Unless you are looking to upgrade to N wireless, The WRT54G should do you good...especially if you flash it with DD-WRT.

litesout

I wholeheartedly agree. 3rd party firmware made the WRT-SL54GS what it should have been. The Linksys firmware sucked clown balls. The whole purpose of this router was that it was one of the first to have the USB port for network storage and media streaming. With stock firmware it was about as fast a floppy drive and suffered constant drive disconnects. The FTP server never worked and streaming support was never fixed. The modding community fixed all that. I put HyperWRT on it (I don't remember why I chose HyperWRT over DD-WRT, think it had to do with streaming though) and never looked back. Honestly, only reason I want to replace it is the WAN port going bad.

fsttyms1

Hummmm maybe ill try the flash.

stogie1020

Oh MAN! I have this EXACT problem!

litesout

Give it a shot! If for no other reason than its free.

fsttyms1

Looks complicated. wrt54g v6

what files do i need? I see 5 of them.

I see

Killer
prep
micro generic
micro generic

tftp.

slobeatz

Definitely worth it. I have it running on two routers, the second acting as a wireless bridge.

thunder04

iTrader: (1)

http://dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Lin...26_5.1_%26_6.0

#1 STUNNA

Believe it or not the WNDR3700 doesn't have a basic feature of port forwarding. It can't have different private and public ports. So I can't point public 8080 to private 80, or I can't port public 50000 to private 3389, private and public both have to be the same port. That's ridiculous.

#1 STUNNA

The DD-WRT for my router is in beta so IDK if I'm going to jump on it just yet

litesout

Wow, the install for yours looks a bit complicated. I'd print out that page and have it handy. The steps themselves don't look too tough, just a lot of them. The SL thankfully is easy. Download, and use the web based upgrade utility and you're done!

litesout

Really? I had no idea. May have to rethink that decision. Or read a bit about DD-WRT and the 3700.

hornyleprechaun

***WARNING***

Make sure you follow the steps EXACTLY. I flashed 2 Linksys routers perfectly fine, but when I tried it on a 3rd I bricked the router. Had to throw it out and buy a new one

stogie1020

I want to upgrade the DDWRT firmware on my linksys, but they specifically say NOT to export old version settings and then re-import into the new updated version. I gotta go back and plug all that shyt in again? What a PITA.

doopstr

I like this step...
Oh, and the next step is repeat that stuff one more time

thunder04

iTrader: (1)

That's only if it explodes. I upgraded my parents Linksys without any problem. The upgrade won't wipe your settings.

CanopyFlyer

The WRT54G line, depending on the version, is probably among the best ever made for home use. If the router works, and the firmware does everything you want it to, then don't mess with third party firmware. It isn't worth it, if you're not going to use the additional features.

I have a couple of WRT54GL's (essentially a WRT54G V4). One active, and the other in a box in case the first one dies. I'm currently running Tomato as a test. I had DD-WRT on it before, and I do like it. My message isn't anti-DD-WRT, but rather don't use third party firmware unless you have a real need for it.

The other question you should ask yourself is this: Do you have any "N" capable devices in your home? If you don't, what do you do that requires that expense? You'll need to upgrade your wireless devices, that you want to run at that speed, with "N" network cards too. If not, stick with the WRT54G.

Just out of curiosity, I scanned the networks close to my house. Of the 12 networks visible, there are 4 that are completely open, or are only using WEP. One is an "N" network using WEP! That just makes me want to cry!

Has anyone tried to drum up business by approaching your neighbors about configuring their networks properly? I'm considering offering it for free, as a loss leader, to drum up some business via referrals. Just and idea I've been kicking around. Advertising via Craigslist, or on the web is so choked that it doesn't seem worth it.

doopstr

I hear you on that. I've been so happy with my tomatoed WRT54GL that I've been reluctant to upgrade to N.

stogie1020

Ahhh. Good point.

fsttyms1

All i have running wireless is my PS3 and my laptop. I am looking at a new laptop that has N thats why i figured i would upgrade.

Want to come make mine better and more secure

CanopyFlyer

Sure! $50 plus mileage. The free offer was just for people in my neighborhood.

The main thing to remember is to use only WPA2/AES/CCMP for security. The rest of it becomes secondary after that.

#1 STUNNA

:w hat:

HOLY CHIT! You guys never told me how awesome DD-WRT was! This thing has fucking everything!!! OMG, I'm in heaven right now!!!

stogie1020

You lie. All settings "ka-put" during upgrade. Luckily I only have a short list of MACs for filtering.

doopstr

Fawker, you gave me shit when I suggested getting something that ran ddwrt in your July wireless thread.

#1 STUNNA

That was a shit ass router!!! Nor did you properly describe dd-wrt to me! I looked into it but I couldn't find god descriptive info about it. I didn't know it had this many features until I installed it......

stogie1020

Welcome to 2005. Paypal me $10.

#1 STUNNA

Well FYI, I had looked into it years ago but my router at the time (dlink dir-655) wasn't capable so it never went further. This is the first router I've bought that was dd-wrt capable. So it wasn't because I hadn't heard about it, I just never bothered cause I'm not going to buy a new router to replace my perfectly capable router just to find out....

#1 STUNNA

OK I don't see how to do DHCP reservations. DHCP reservation allows me to assign a specific IP to a certain MAC address at the router. It's like doing static IP in Windows but it happens in the router which I prefer over static IP.