Router wireless problems

ste-sim2x9 · 12 Jan 2011 at 15:23

I don't mind buying a router as my netgear is a few years old and being on 24/7 every years but don't know what to buy. I was looking at the one below.

Linksys by Cisco WRT160NL-UK 300Mbps Open Source Wireless N Cable Router

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-112-LS&groupid=46&catid=1596&subcat=

Skidilliplop · 12 Jan 2011 at 23:34

Yep looks fine. I have the WRT320N which is quite similar to that and it's very impressive.
Worth a quick check to see if the model supports custom firmware. It's linux based so it ought to but worth checking as the custom firmware offers a vastly greater feature set to the stock firmware.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database

Plumb the model into there and have a looksee. Quite often there are certain versions not supported due to hardware tweaks.

ste-sim2x9 · 13 Jan 2011 at 13:58

I typed WRT160NL in that dd-wrt database and that router comes up so is that good and what does that give me the option to do. It gives me v24 preSP2 [beta] build14896. Never really done much with router except update to latest software on mt netgear router from netgear website. And other thung is on the WRT160NL i'm looking at it has -UK at the end, does that matter.

Skidilliplop · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:43

With firmware you want to match the model number on the label as closely as possible incase there are any hardware differences. Though usually -UK doesn't change much.

There Are detailed How to's on that site for installing the firmware. The custom firmware gives you far more options and much more detailed information on the router. Such as QoS graphs so you can see your QoS working and troubleshoot it. Better and more detailed line stats (on ADSL ones) and other handy stuff like DynDNS client built in, VPN Server/Endpoint RADIUS authentication and all sorts of bells and whistles you normally would have to buy a business grade box to get.

ste-sim2x9 · 14 Jan 2011 at 07:43

I've seen on www.dd-wrt.com in the router database that the router i'm using is supported, Netgear WGT624 V4. Should i update it to the firmware on there.

Skidilliplop · 14 Jan 2011 at 09:34

You could definitely try. It would certainly give you better diagnostic tools. When my WRT54GS played up I put DD-WRT on it and it showed me that radio 2 was dead. On the standard firmware there wasn't detailed counters and stats for the Wifi. So it might help you get to the bottom of this issue.

ste-sim2x9 · 14 Jan 2011 at 13:29

So it might help you get to the bottom of this issue

I thought so but how is this done, is it the same as putting orig netgear firmware on. There are two files, what do i do with them.

Netgear WGT624 v4 BETA Firmware: Console image linux.bin

Netgear WGT624 v4 BETA Firmware: Webflash image wgt624v4-firmware.bin

Skidilliplop · 14 Jan 2011 at 14:16

Usually you have to install a stripped out version of the firmware first because the normal netgear update facility doesn't do the proper one right. Then you boot the barebones one and use it to load the full one.
There are detailed instructions on the site as it can vary depending on the router.

ste-sim2x9 · 16 Jan 2011 at 18:01

I have not updated my router yet to DD-WRT firmware as i don't know enough about it incase i brick the thing but the last few days my router has not dropped the wireless once untill today. It happens more if me and my wife try to use our laptops together on wireless. I noticed that the house icon (network) goes and the planet icon (internet) in network and sharing center.