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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Setup Parent Node
-UNPLUGGED ATT MODEM AND PLUGGED BACK IN
-PLUG CHARGER INTO LINKSYS#1
-CONNECTED ETHERNET CABLE FROM ATT MODEM>TO LINKSYS#1 INTERNET PORT
-CONNECTED PC ETHERNET TO ETHERNET PORT #3 OF LINKSYS#1
-TURN ON POWER SWITCH ON BOTTOM>LIGHT EVENTUALLY TURNS SOLID BLUE (READY FOR INTERNET)
-WEBBROWSER ENTERED: myrouter.local (192.168.1.1 DOES NOT WORK)>SIGN IN>ACCESS ROUTER:ENTER PW FROM BOTTOM>SIGN IN
-CONNECTIVITY>TIMEZONE EASTERN>APPLY>INTERNET SETTINGS TAB>TYPE OF INTERNET CONNECTION>EDIT>SAYS "AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION-DHCP"-NO CHANGES
CHILD NODES ONLY:
3-Plug your base/child nodes (LINKSYS #2,#3,#4...) using the INTERNET PORT (NOT LAN PORTS) to "LINKSYS#1/PARENT"-ANY ETHERNET PORT#1>TURN ON #2,#3,#4>wait for a solid purple light on the child node before proceeding(reboot if needed)
4-Log into your main router web admin: myrouter.local
5-Click on CA at the bottom right.
6-Click on Connectivity ON LEFT SIDE>CLICK TAB: CA Router setup.
7-Click on both Add Wired and Add Wireless nodes buttons(IF NOT CLICKABLE CLICK-DONE ADDING CHILD NODES THEN CLICK AGAIN) (DONT CLICK DONE ADDING CHILD NODES YET). Wait for the Add wireless button to re-enable.
8-Click Done adding Child Nodes and then Apply. (IF CLICKING APPLY DOES NOT MAKE COLOR FLASH MEANS YOU ARE NOT CONNECTED TO INTERNET PORT)
9-Now the child node light should start flashing purple and turn into a mesh mode when it turns blue (IF DONT TURN BLUE>POWER OFF THEN ON).
10-Disconnect Ethernet CABLE FROM LINKSYS #2 INTERNET PORT and wait for blue light again.
11-Move node to desired location
12-repeat for all other child nodes:>CLICK OK> GOTO STEP #3
For step# 7, I did not see the "Add wired node" and "Add wireless node" buttons right away. It first asked me to enter the SSID and password (I had already setup Wi-Fi under the Wi-Fi settings - so not sure why it asked me again under the CA Router setup page - unless I was supposed to enter something else in the SSID/password field?), and there was a Submit button right under it. After I hit Submit, the "Add wired node" and "Add wireless node" buttons appeared.
Did you experience this and if yes, what SSID/password did you enter?
No band steering
No fast roaming
Your better off calling all three SSIDs 2.4ghz, 5ghzHighband, 5ghzLowband. Then deciding how to park all your lots. Say all rokus on 2.4ghz, all laptops/phones on lowband, and all gamestations/cameras on highband.
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Did you experience this and if yes, what SSID/password did you enter?
I have a T-Mobile AC1900 (AC68U) that I intend to keep for WAN access and then bridge the main LN1301 with two child AI mesh nodes.
Right now, my AC1900 connects to a switch on the LAN side that feeds all other devices, plus two Cat5e cables for two other floors.
So, is it WAN—> AC1900 -> WAN LN1301 LAN -> Switch -> WAN Child Nodes, or will it not work?
Thank you
Setup Parent Node
-UNPLUGGED ATT MODEM AND PLUGGED BACK IN
-PLUG CHARGER INTO LINKSYS#1
-CONNECTED ETHERNET CABLE FROM ATT MODEM>TO LINKSYS#1 INTERNET PORT
-CONNECTED PC ETHERNET TO ETHERNET PORT #3 OF LINKSYS#1
-TURN ON POWER SWITCH ON BOTTOM>LIGHT EVENTUALLY TURNS SOLID BLUE (READY FOR INTERNET)
-WEBBROWSER ENTERED: myrouter.local (192.168.1.1 DOES NOT WORK)>SIGN IN>ACCESS ROUTER:ENTER PW FROM BOTTOM>SIGN IN
-CONNECTIVITY>TIMEZONE EASTERN>APPLY>INTERNET SETTINGS TAB>TYPE OF INTERNET CONNECTION>EDIT>SAYS "AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION-DHCP"-NO CHANGES
CHILD NODES ONLY:
3-Plug your base/child nodes (LINKSYS #2,#3,#4...) using the INTERNET PORT (NOT LAN PORTS) to "LINKSYS#1/PARENT"-ANY ETHERNET PORT#1>TURN ON #2,#3,#4>wait for a solid purple light on the child node before proceeding(reboot if needed)
4-Log into your main router web admin: myrouter.local
5-Click on CA at the bottom right.
6-Click on Connectivity ON LEFT SIDE>CLICK TAB: CA Router setup.
7-Click on both Add Wired and Add Wireless nodes buttons(IF NOT CLICKABLE CLICK-DONE ADDING CHILD NODES THEN CLICK AGAIN) (DONT CLICK DONE ADDING CHILD NODES YET). Wait for the Add wireless button to re-enable.
8-Click Done adding Child Nodes and then Apply. (IF CLICKING APPLY DOES NOT MAKE COLOR FLASH MEANS YOU ARE NOT CONNECTED TO INTERNET PORT)
9-Now the child node light should start flashing purple and turn into a mesh mode when it turns blue (IF DONT TURN BLUE>POWER OFF THEN ON).
10-Disconnect Ethernet CABLE FROM LINKSYS #2 INTERNET PORT and wait for blue light again.
11-Move node to desired location
12-repeat for all other child nodes:>CLICK OK> GOTO STEP #3
I set up the first router as a gateway, DHCP enabled, wan automatic DHCP, and had to use a 192.168.2.0 subnet, it didn't like 1.1. Second router I had to set static IP to .2 before the gateway finds it and setup DHCP. Then I set up the second one as a router, DHCP disabled.
If your not tech savy the advantage is bridge mode will just handle the wireless access. If there's issues where you or an att tech resets your att gateway everything will still work. And I'm guessing att will also have more incentives to provide security updates to their customers gateways than linksys which is practi giving them away at a loss.
If you bought more than one linksys I'd setup mesh beforehand and disable att wifi to allow for seamless roaming between nodes and avoid potential channel interference. If you just bought one, att will probably be faster/strongeroverall so I'd run an Ethernet wire to a portion of the house with weakening signal and just use both access points for wider coverage.
So I do the full setup for the "main" Linksys, then setup the nodes, then put the main Linksys into bridge mode and plug it into the ATT gateway. And turn off wifi on ATT... Not sure I've seen passthrough mode, will look for it when I try to set this up. Thanks and repped!
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No band steering
No fast roaming
Your better off calling all three SSIDs 2.4ghz, 5ghzHighband, 5ghzLowband. Then deciding how to park all your lots. Say all rokus on 2.4ghz, all laptops/phones on lowband, and all gamestations/cameras on highband.
Join The Conversation
Share your experience with the Slickdeals community
Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!