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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For the record, you can access the device at its IP or at http://linksysXXXXX.lo
Factory resets: you have to hold down the reset button on the bottom a full 20 seconds. Even beyond when the red light turns off. It will be dark for a bit, and then it will boot.
Btw, I started building qosmio source and it's taking forever.
Almost missed it myself after waiting a few minutes for the LED light to turn on and nothing was happening.
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Thank you so much for the instruction!
I followed to set it to static IP (and other fields), click <Apply>, now was directed to "https://linksyssmartwifi.com/ui/1.0.1.2375/dynamic/login.html", which I don't know how to logon it.
Before I can logon the Linksys router by the manual's url "http://linksys04071.local/", but now I cannot, nor can I logon it by the static IP I just assigned it to: 192.168.1.xxx.
Now what can I do? I still need logon it to convert it back to "Bridge" mode.
Thanks.
2 - Is the LN1301's WAN port connected to your Asus LAN jack? You should be able to log into the LN1301 bridge by entering the Static IP that you set.
3 - Does your Asus router have the LN1301 in its device list? If so; what's the IP that shows there for the LN1301? Use that IP to try to connect.
4 - Try using your PC which is connected via ethernet to your Asus router and enter the static LN1301 IP via a web browser. Alternatively you can also try using the Linksys app [google.com] on a wifi Android device and have it try to detect your LN1301.
5 - Try turning off your Asus' router's wifi and connect to the LN1301 via the SSID it's broadcasting. Once that's done either enter the Static IP or use the Linksys app to try to connect.
6 - If you are using Android 12 or higher you might see a "Manage Router" option under the Network SSID configuration when you are connected to the LN1301 and have the Asus wifi off.
Hopefully this will take you to the LN1301 log in screen. You need to enable the "Desktop Site" option (Top right 3 vertical dots of the Chrome Android browser) when your Android device takes you to the LN1301 webui for the option "For local access click here." to appear though.
7 - As a last resort and when all options are exhausted, you always have the option of factory resetting the LN1301 and trying again. Hold the reset button on the LN1301 for 20 seconds or so until the red status led turns off. Good luck
One question, using stock firmware, is there any security threat outside a typical router? I saw some posts that flashing custom firmware offers firewall protection, so is that missing under stock? Is this a standard feature on all routers/mesh system that should be considered when using these? Any insight is appreciated! Just looking for safe browsing and not make things more vulnerable for my family.
Also disabling Remote Access helps to secure things a bit as well. You won't be able to remotely manage the LN1301 over the internet though. CA>Connectivity>Administration>Remote Access
Overall the LN1301's firewall seems decent/adequate to me. It passes all port scans from dnschecker [dnschecker.org] and shields up [grc.com].
The concern about LN1301 is that firmware updates will be slow/infrequent since Linksys is virtually giving them away and many worry that it will be abandoned soon. The latest/initial official firmware [linksys.com] 1.0.4.215382 [reddit.com] has been updated March of this year though which isn't too bad IMO. I think waiting a year or so until OpenWrt become more mature/tested is a good idea as the stock LN1301 firmware is adequate/decent IMO.
The directions that I provided would enable you to do exactly that though; via a very long ethernet cable from the Asus' LAN port to a single LN1301's WAN jack which is in Bridge/AP mode.
Or my preferred method of 2 LN1301s; 1 in Bridge/AP and another in child mesh mode that share the exact SSID of your Asus. Either topology would work and allow you to continue using the Asus' wifi and augment/expand its range making the LN1301 Bridge/AP transparent/seamless in your setup.
As for the stock firmware of the LN1301; it's serviceable and stable. Bridge Mode/AP is very bare-bones though but it works. I would recommend sticking to the stock firmware for now and let OpenWRT mature/be tested a bit before upgrading/flashing. The only thing I believe you would be missing is having access to the USB port for NAS plus VPN and VLAN support.
IMO the stock firmware of LN1301's router mode is decent and relatively full featured. You get all that you need IMO; DHCP server, port forwarding, parental controls, QOS etc. I especially like the Device List (See attached photo) as it allows you name and assign icons for each connected device which makes keeping track of things easy. There's even a "secret" hidden menu for advanced settings; add /advanced-wireless.html to the /dynamic part of your router's web menu address. (IE 192.168.?.??/ ui/ ????????/ dynamic/advanced-wireless.html)
Unfortunately Bridge/AP mode for the LN1301 is very basic without any Device List; you will need to use the list in your Asus. However devices connected to the LN1301 bridge should show up as wired on your Asus.
Devices with the "..." are connected to the LN1301 bridge and those with the wifi icon are directly connected to your master Asus router; at least it should look that way and that's how it appeared in my old Netgear Rax38 when I was using the LN1301 as a bridge.
You can try using the WiFi Analyzer [google.com] for Android as well. If anything is connected to the LN1301 network it will show up as Belkin International. Also, in your device's status info that is connected to wifi, look for the MAC address of the SSID network; if the MAC starts with 80:69:1A [macaddress.io] then it's connected to the LN1301.
my old ASUS router running Merlin firmware (so I can use my custom rules, NextDNS, etc) -> first LN1301 in bridge mode -> other LN1301s as mesh children.
I will try to turn off the wifi on the old ASUS. It seemed to keep grabbing my devices (WifiMan app showed I switched to Wifi4) even though it was slower? For now, I changed the SSID to something else my devices don't recognize.
I would recommend disabling UPnP as soon as possible as it's a security risk. CA>Connectivity>Administration>UPnP
Also disabling Remote Access helps to secure things a bit as well. You won't be able to remotely manage the LN1301 over the internet though. CA>Connectivity>Administration>Remote Access
Also disabling Remote Access helps to secure things a bit as well. You won't be able to remotely manage the LN1301 over the internet though. CA>Connectivity>Administration>Remote Access
Overall the LN1301's firewall seems decent/adequate to me. It passes all port scans from dnschecker [dnschecker.org] and shields up [grc.com].
The concern about LN1301 is that firmware updates will be slow/infrequent since Linksys is virtually giving them away and many worry that it will be abandoned soon. The latest/initial official firmware [linksys.com] 1.0.4.215382 [reddit.com] has been updated March of this year though which isn't too bad IMO. I think waiting a year or so until OpenWrt become more mature/tested is a good idea as the stock LN1301 firmware is adequate/decent IMO.
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Everything was working fine before this, only thing that changed is the device restarted.
After about 30 total minutes the light turned blue on its own. Linksys admin page still won't load.
This is a device wired via ethernet to a router. It is operating in bridge mode. I can see the device in my router's connected list and it has the correct IP and shows that it's active.
So just caveat emptor that these things have a long startup and connection time.
EDIT: subsequent restarts and boot times have been shorter. Must have hit a snag in the bootup sequence or something
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