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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Obviously, that's probably not an option at this point, but does anyone have any thoughts about if that might be a possibility at some point down the road with something like OpenWrt? Or is it likely not even a possibility with a unit like this?
As a brief reference to what I'm talking about, here's a link where someone in the comments (reply #3 and #4) mentions pairing an Inseego m2000 hotspot to an Asus router via USB tethering (it's not much of a discussion, but maybe gives an idea of what I had in mind anyway) …
https://www.reddit.com/r/Calyx/co...therpower/
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-us....tethering
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/...hered_usb/
https://blog.wirelessmo
Not sure if OpenWRT bug or Luci bug or beta firmware bug, but setup was fickle, needed me to delete and recreate WiFi networks associated with the vlans, as well as toggle things on/off several times just to get them to stick. Seems like whenever you change/create a vlan, all wireless interfaces associated with that vlan get into some weird state until you delete, save, and recreate the wireless interface.
Working well now as a single AP in a small place. Coverage is barely enough, OpenWRT coverage is much lower than stock. 500mbit next to the router, lowering to 150mbit 2 rooms down with the door closed. Still, I got vlans!
WiFi1: 5GHz ax 2x2 (Qualcomm QCN5054 + Skyworks SKY85755-11) - channels 36-64 (low band)
WiFi2: 2.4GHz ax 2x2 (Qualcomm QCN5024 + Skyworks SKY85340-11)
WiFi3: 5GHz ax 4x4 (Qualcomm QCN5054 + Skyworks SKY85755-11) - channels 100-177 (high band)
WiFi1: 5GHz ax 2x2 (Qualcomm QCN5054 + Skyworks SKY85755-11) - channels 36-64 (low band)
WiFi2: 2.4GHz ax 2x2 (Qualcomm QCN5024 + Skyworks SKY85340-11)
WiFi3: 5GHz ax 4x4 (Qualcomm QCN5054 + Skyworks SKY85755-11) - channels 100-177 (high band)
So it's safe to say the OEM software is dead and won't get future updates? From a security perspective isn't this a bad thing to continue using it like this?
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https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-us....tethering
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/...hered_usb/
https://blog.wirelessmo
This is truly a powerhouse of a router and should last the test of time. AX will likely become the N of the previous generation (if not more popular since it's on 2.4/5g) and last a crazy long time. It's unlikely we see a serious move on BE/6ghz popularity for most devices.
Im from the camp "all oem software is dead". I only look for hardware that runs openwrt or preferably dd-wrt. DD-wrt is real easy to setup right after flashing. Its easy it even comes on a few routers standard, and updates come every 5-10 days(god knows what they are). Open wrt you almost need a buddy or a few hours/days of forum reading to get it juuuuuust like you want it.
As for me, i have a potato running opnsense, that i hope to god i never have to reconfigure. And i have this router just as a AP mesh using oem software. Unless there is a massive wpa vulnerability, it can remain oem for life. I did by two extra that i will monkey with dd-wrt with.
Im from the camp "all oem software is dead". I only look for hardware that runs openwrt or preferably dd-wrt. DD-wrt is real easy to setup right after flashing. Its easy it even comes on a few routers standard, and updates come every 5-10 days(god knows what they are). Open wrt you almost need a buddy or a few hours/days of forum reading to get it juuuuuust like you want it.
As for me, i have a potato running opnsense, that i hope to god i never have to reconfigure. And i have this router just as a AP mesh using oem software. Unless there is a massive wpa vulnerability, it can remain oem for life. I did by two extra that i will monkey with dd-wrt with.
WiFi1: 5GHz ax 2x2 (Qualcomm QCN5054 + Skyworks SKY85755-11) - channels 36-64 (low band)
WiFi2: 2.4GHz ax 2x2 (Qualcomm QCN5024 + Skyworks SKY85340-11)
WiFi3: 5GHz ax 4x4 (Qualcomm QCN5054 + Skyworks SKY85755-11) - channels 100-177 (high band)
I hope 3rd pty firmware enjoys these with extra ram and good hardware. This feels like back with OG linksys WRT53g or whatever it was. That thing was great once your hacked a fan onto it or just kept cool
I also hope linkys doesn't suddenly reach out and gimp the firmware to remove mesh on the stock FW. It seems to be working very well for me but I'm note really pushing video calls gaming with multiple people until the holidays so I'll never notice the dropped packets and bad router software of recent years. Hopefully it keeps just working great
Dropped packets bad routing etc will not show up for my currently use since I don't WFH anymore.
For the price you get 2 mesh or even 3 so no risk. Even if turns out stock FW can'd handle routing well they have good 3 radio mesh on stock. Two works great for most homes but with the slow shipping maybe just get 3.
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