TP-LINK N600 Wireless N Dual Band Gigabit Router w/ 2x USB Ports (TL-WDR3600) $39 after $15 rebate + Free Shipping

Quote from CoBrA2168 : Hmm..I'm fairly technical, but have never dabbled into OpenWRT. How do I know which build to use?

It's all explained in the OpenWrt or Gargoyle wiki. The OpenWrt wiki has information specifically on this router. The build will say tl-wdr3600 in the filename. Instructions are also in the other SD threads on these routers.

Just to note again, wireless (and usually the web interface) are disabled by default in OpenWrt.

Got a Netgear WNDR4300 a while back for this price. Not sure which is better. Maybe I can use this as a repeater?

Thanks OP. Just bought one.

Quote from yazyazoo : I go to the router gui and go to the software section. The have a couple of pages list that is in alpahbetical order. You can search it also. Then you choose download or install option and then in a few minutes it's on your router. As for security I am using WPA2 AES on both bands. I gave each band it's own SSID so I know which I am hooked up to.

It is shockingly easy to add software packages. Actually, almost too easy to the point that you may go crazy with it and bog down your router! OpenWrt is very lean to start, which is part of what keeps it so reliable and fast. Add the packages you need. If you want something really easy to use with QOS and even bandwidth limits already included, go Gargoyle (with a skin).

Gargoyle should have access to the same packages as OpenWrt (with the exception of the GUI) since the underlying firmware is the same.

Quote from slicksder : Got a Netgear WNDR4300 a while back for this price. Not sure which is better. Maybe I can use this as a repeater?

Same chipset in the Netgear WNDR4300 but OpenWrt/DD-WRT aren't there just yet. Netgear firmware is probably better than TP-Link if you're staying stock. Great price for that router though!

Quote from yazyazoo : I go to the router gui and go to the software section. The have a couple of pages list that is in alpahbetical order. You can search it also. Then you choose download or install option and then in a few minutes it's on your router. As for security I am using WPA2 AES on both bands. I gave each band it's own SSID so I know which I am hooked up to.

Quote from drawz : It's all explained in the OpenWrt or Gargoyle wiki. The OpenWrt wiki has information specifically on this router. The build will say tl-wdr3600 in the filename. Instructions are also in the other SD threads on these routers. Just to note again, wireless (and usually the web interface) are disabled by default in OpenWrt.

Awesome information guys, I think I'm going to try the latest "attitude adjustment" build of OpenWRT and see how it goes.

One last question - do you guys know if there are any specific steps I have to take if I want to revert back to stock firmware? With DD-WRT, there is a special "revert" firmware that you simply have to load to go back to stock.

What type of connection are the antennas? I'd like to connect a cable for an outdoor mounted antenna. Anyone have experience with this routers antennas and connection type?

Quote from CoBrA2168 : Awesome information guys, I think I'm going to try the latest "attitude adjustment" build of OpenWRT and see how it goes. One last question - do you guys know if there are any specific steps I have to take if I want to revert back to stock firmware? With DD-WRT, there is a special "revert" firmware that you simply have to load to go back to stock.

There are some special steps - all in the OpenWrt wiki

Quote from schezwan : What type of connection are the antennas? I'd like to connect a cable for an outdoor mounted antenna. Anyone have experience with this routers antennas and connection type?

well... you'll need 2 antennas if you want to take full advantage of the wireless speeds.

Quote from drawz : There are some special steps - all in the OpenWrt wiki

Are you talking about this page?
http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600

There doesn't seem to be a lot of information here...and it's linking to a fairly old firmware. The old Slickdeals wiki suggests using the latest attitude adjustment build.

Quote from CoBrA2168 : Are you talking about this page? http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600 There doesn't seem to be a lot of information here...and it's linking to a fairly old firmware. The old Slickdeals wiki suggests using the latest attitude adjustment build.

Oops, check the WDR4300 wiki page. It's the same router, but with 3 antennas. Instructions are conceptually the same, but obviously you want the firmware with wdr3600 in the name!

Updated the wiki here with instructions from the last wdr3600 deal.

Quote from CoBrA2168 : Hmm...interesting. I might have to mess around with this and see what I can do. How do you know what packages are available, and which ones will I need? All I really want is a router which can reliably do Ethernet and WiFi (both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz). Wireless security is a must.

Follow the wiki here:
http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/8...-usb-ports


I used similar instructions on the TP-LINK TL-WDR4300 N750 i bought from amazon about two weeks ago. I never tried the stock firmware, but this is my first experience with OpenWRT and it has been running solid. Zero reboots, slowdowns (other than ISP caused ones.. but that's an ongoing issue -_-) The only packages i installed were the ones in the wki and the QoS package.

https://gist.github.com/petedoyle/4129668 has some good info, too.

Quote from drawz : Yes, you can disable a band or just not use it, but you're wrong about 5 Ghz being "sucky." Yes, the range is lower with the higher frequency band (can't beat physics here), but there is much less congestion and interference on 5 GHz as compared to 2.4 GHz, so the speed tends to be much faster. This will vary depending on whether you live in an apartment or a house, in the city or in a more rural area. Don't forget there are also cordless phones, bluetooth, and good old fashioned microwaves in the 2.4 GHz spectrum. If you don't have a dual band wireless adapter in your laptop (or whatever), then you only have 2.4 GHz available and the choice is simple.

Well I meant the 5Ghz sucks in its current form (wireless N) due to the short range and other issues. It will be MUCH better implimented with the coming AC format/routers. I'm still tempted to get this router and once they thoroughly improve on the AC format, I will jump on that and abandon wireless N routers all together.

Quote from fyu : well... you'll need 2 antennas if you want to take full advantage of the wireless speeds.

And the connection type is??????

Looks like a good deal