Click here [dd-wrt.com] for a guide on installing DD-WRT
Download the latest DD-WRT builds from here [dd-wrt.com]
If you are not interested in using custom firmware yet, these routers support mesh with the stock firmware, but the USB port is disabled.
The stock firmware is relatively new, but is speculated to not receive many, if any, updates, so it may be best to wait until custom firmware support is merged and more mature before messing with installing custom firmware.
How to enable mesh:
- Setup your Main router completely.
- Plug your child node using the wan port to the main router lan port, wait for a solid purple light on the child node before proceeding.
- Log into your main router web admin.
- Click on CA at the bottom right.
- Click on Connectivity and CA Router setup.
- Click on both Add Wired and Add Wireless nodes buttons. Wait for the Add wireless button to re-enable.
- Click Done adding Child Nodes and then Apply.
- Now the child node light should start flashing purple and turn into a mesh mode when it turns blue.
- Disconnect Ethernet and wait for blue light again.
- Move node to desired location.
How to set up as access point:
- Disable DHCP (optional).
- Set the device to Bridge Mode under Connectivity tab.
- Connect cable from your router to a LAN port.
- Get some nail polish and a round sticker to cover the annoying flashing right light.
- Click the 'CA' at the bottom of the page to see the detailed configurations of wifi.
to unbrick and flash new firmware
run flashimg
run flashimg2
rename stock firmware to tortuga.img
Top Comments
Mind you that I only have 100Mbps Spectrum internet but I do stream/direct play 4k videos from a Plex media server to several Amazon Firestick 4k devices without issue. Overall IMO you would be hard pressed to find such relatively decent hardware for so cheap; especially a Mesh network.
It wasn't all smooth at first mind you. I kept getting disconnects; especially with the streaming IP cameras. But I discovered by disabling Express Forwarding all my streaming issues went away. (CA>Connectivity>Administration>Express Forwarding)
I'm guessing that Cisco's/Linksys' proprietary Express Forwarding routing protocol was causing havoc with the IP cams streaming capabilities. Also, disabling Node Steering seemed to make things more stable as well; mesh nodes no longer disconnect from the router when Node Steering is disabled. (CA>Wi-Fi Settings>Advanced>Node Steering)
Of course, user experience can vary so feel free to experiment. if the routers are giving you problems, try turning these features off and see if it works
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I'm also not sure the USB bus on this router is as fast as a raspberry pi. And software support is just way better on a Pi than openwrt for pretty much any usecase (Plex, pihole, nas, torrenting, etc).
Heck, this doesn't have HDMI!
VS the raspberry pi at $17.52.
I'm also not sure the USB bus on this router is as fast as a raspberry pi. And software support is just way better on a Pi than openwrt for pretty much any usecase (Plex, pihole, nas, torrenting, etc).
Heck, this doesn't have HDMI!
Your point regarding better software support and power consumption of the RPi is well taken. I will point out that you can save a couple of watts if you disable all 3 of the radios on the Linksys.
I don't know if you were joking about HDMI support, but I'm assuming that once the Linksys is officially supported by OpenWRT or DD-WRT, one will be able to use a USB 3.0 -> HDMI adapter.
Oh yeah, I also read some people saying that the power supply is a weak point for the RPi? I don't know the details as I didn't really dig into this.
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I would just connect the 1st box to your current cable modem to use it as a wireless router. If you have a big house and need more wireless coverage, configure a 2nd box as a mesh node and put it close to the location where your wireless signal is weak.
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