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
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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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If they had the same SSID, I would have no control over which band it connects to. And for some of my devices that are certain distances away, there's a 200mbps difference in actual speed between the two bands.
And have you speed-tested using each channel and not letting the router auto-assign? I found a big difference between the channels as well. And this is with only one other 5Ghz router using 1 channel detected nearby.
Also wondering if I can do a wired backhail on the mesh nodes on the router side of the bridged network.
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I personally replaced my RT-AC68U running latest Merlin firmware with this Linksys running stock firmware, and have definitely seen a WiFi performance gain...even with my Asus AC1900 PCI-E card that has 1300mbps AC and doesn't even have AX. I get 570mbps (max for my Internet) with that card on my Linksys instead of 350mbps with my RT-AC68U in the exact same location. In fact, i get better performance with that AC1900 card than with a Gigabyte WiFi6E card on the Linksys.
Since I have 64 devices connected which sixteen 24/7 streaming 1080p IP cameras are a part of; disabling Express Forwarding and Node Steering made a huge difference/improvement. I went from a virtually unusable network with constant disconnects and streaming video frequently freezing to a rock solid/reliable LAN.
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