Gallery: $60 router + DD-WRT = high-end wireless router
by George Ou | February 22, 2008 1:48pm PST | Image 1 of 22
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This is the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router that sells for as little as $60 at all the local electronics stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, and Fry's or it can be ordered online. The WHR-G54 sells for as little as $50 and is virtually identical except for the fact that the WHR-HP-G54 has a receive side amplifier which helps the router hear faint laptops coming in on long-range connections. This particular router can run DD-WRT using this specific upgrade procedure. DD-WRT can turn this cheap device in to an enterprise class product with enterprise features normally found in devices costing hundreds of dollars more.
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Ah.. what about Linksys features to amplify receiving signal .. not on part with this device?
Yes I know, but they've skimped out on RAM and Flash lately and every model you commonly find has half the RAM and Flash. The old Linksys routers were nice but all the model variants are too confusing and sometimes you can't tell which version you're buying online.
This particular Buffalo router is in all the local stores like Circuit City, Fry's, Best Buy, online, etc. I wanted to highlight something easy to find.
This particular Buffalo router is in all the local stores like Circuit City, Fry's, Best Buy, online, etc. I wanted to highlight something easy to find.
I see your point about the variants (SpeedBooster, Pre-N, version numbers, etc.), but if you're going to be enough of a hobbyist to risk bricking your WAP, you're also going to look for the right hardware for the project, and you'll also do sufficient research before launching into it.
The best Linksys units are WRT54G version 4 and WRT54GL. Second best are WRT54G versions 1 through 3, and WRT54GS versions 1 through 4. I don't recommend WRT54GSv4 as a top choice because the SpeedBooster feature is unnecessary (and may not be supported under DD-WRT). The WRT54G versions 5 and above have the RAM issues you referred to. WRT54GC, WRT54GX and others are incompatible with DD-WRT. Most of this is explained in the DD-WRT web site (www.dd-wrt.com -- check the Forums).
Yes, the forums are quite extensive. However, I refer to my earlier statement about being a hobbyist.
bricking: if the installation of DD-WRT doesn't work perfectly (and there are many ways this can happen), your router just got turned into a high-tech brick. It can be recovered in some cases, but doing so voids the warranty because it involves opening the case. I know this because I've bricked and recovered two different units.
WAP: Wireless Access Point
The best Linksys units are WRT54G version 4 and WRT54GL. Second best are WRT54G versions 1 through 3, and WRT54GS versions 1 through 4. I don't recommend WRT54GSv4 as a top choice because the SpeedBooster feature is unnecessary (and may not be supported under DD-WRT). The WRT54G versions 5 and above have the RAM issues you referred to. WRT54GC, WRT54GX and others are incompatible with DD-WRT. Most of this is explained in the DD-WRT web site (www.dd-wrt.com -- check the Forums).
Yes, the forums are quite extensive. However, I refer to my earlier statement about being a hobbyist.
bricking: if the installation of DD-WRT doesn't work perfectly (and there are many ways this can happen), your router just got turned into a high-tech brick. It can be recovered in some cases, but doing so voids the warranty because it involves opening the case. I know this because I've bricked and recovered two different units.
WAP: Wireless Access Point
There are ways to un-brick during the startup sequence with TFTP. In fact this Buffalo requires you to go through the unbricking procedure for the first time install and I linked to the specific how-to guide.
There are ways to brick a router that cannot be recovered by just using TFTP. I had an occasion where the transfer wasn't clean, the firmware file was corrupted, and the router wouldn't boot at all (TFTP doesn't do any error checking or correction). My only option was to open the case (voiding the warranty) and put a jump between two specific points. Granted, mine was a Linksys unit, but I seriously doubt that the Buffalo is immune from corrupt firmware installations.
except DD-WRT crashes when there is a power failure on the Linksys WRT54G v8 - goes back to default or bricks the box -
The article does not say exactly what DD-WRT is. Is it software or additional hardware? If you write an article about a new product you should at least clarify what it is for those of us who don't keep up to the minute with every new product.When does the DD-WRT become useful as opposed to a regular router such as the Linksys?
Ken Hess
Ken Hess
Nice reply. I suppose you're one of those IT guys that gives those of us who actually work with and help users understand what is going on a bad name.
Try this: It may ansswer your questions.http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F
I provided a link to DD-WRT but should have explained it as free software.
If you click on the DD-WRT hyperlink in the article, it points to you to a page that gives more info on what DD-WRT is.
It's about a cheap router and a free open source firmware. It just shows you what's possible.
DD-WRT is a 3rd party firmware, based on Linux.
If you do a search for router firmwares or go here:
http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php
You'll have enough information here to learn all about 3rd party firmware for home routers.
If you do a search for router firmwares or go here:
http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php
You'll have enough information here to learn all about 3rd party firmware for home routers.
Why would you run DD-WRT? It suxx ass compared to Tomato!
Get yourself a nice Linksys WRT54L instead (for around the same price!) and flash Tomato on it, much more stable and twice as fast!
Get yourself a nice Linksys WRT54L instead (for around the same price!) and flash Tomato on it, much more stable and twice as fast!
I know Linksys is owned by Cisco but I have to admit it just sucks. I have a WRT54GS(I think that is the full model) and I had nothing but issues with it. Being a CCSP and managing and managing all Cisco network, from Aironet Wireless to 4507 blade switches I thought Linksys was a good way to go but boy was I wrong. I constantly lost connections from my PS3 and IOGear USB Wireless adapter. This was using simple AES 128 and 3DES for security. I thought it was the devices but I finally bought a cheap $32.00 Belkin and man talk about solid. It seemed to have all the features of the Linksys plus it could do wireless bridging and it stayed up.
Anyway, maybe Cisco will get Linksys to improve but until this I will probably never buy another linksys.
Anyway, maybe Cisco will get Linksys to improve but until this I will probably never buy another linksys.
I have three WRT54GS routers, configured with DD-WRT. Two form a wireless bridge configured on a DMZ from my main router (m0n0wall), and the other is a general access point for my laptop. Actually the WRT54GS with DD-WRT will do more than the dedicated router running m0n0wall. I have had no problems at all with any of them. I have some replacement antennas that help give me more range, but none of these consumer class devices will give you more than about 40-50 feet without directional antennas. Transfer rate is good from about 30 feet away, but drops further away.
You may have had some interference issues from other wireless devices, microwaves, etc. Did you try changing the radio channel on the Linksys? There's a lot of those things out there running fine, perhaps you got a lemon.
You may have had some interference issues from other wireless devices, microwaves, etc. Did you try changing the radio channel on the Linksys? There's a lot of those things out there running fine, perhaps you got a lemon.
...want their "discount" retail arm to sell hardware as good as their over priced enterprise stuff? If the low priced stuff could actually perform well enough for some low level business equipment, it could eat into THEIR market. They bought Linksys to have a foothold in that end of the market. It's the only way (legally) they can try to protect what really makes them money.
Full-branded Cisco units are enterprise-class, while most Linksys branded units are consumer-class. The difference is that enterprise class hardware is generally built for high capacity, high demand, and high reliability, while consumer class doesn't have requirements to this level. I'd seriously question the sanity of any IT department who installs an over-the-counter Linksys (or Belkin, Netgear, D-Link, etc.) unit as their corporate gateway. There are some higher-end Linksys models, but I still wouldn't put them in an environment with much more than 50 users/workstations.
Now, there are ways of building enterprise class routers out of surplus computers and readily available free software. All you need is an old computer, install two network cards, and use software designed for the job. I've had excellent success with Smoothwall and Freesco, but other products such as Vyatta, IPCop and many others are just as capable. For the titles named here, all it costs is the old PC, some time to download and install the software, usually a CDR disc, and the electricity to run the box. Once it's running, you shouldn't even need a keyboard or monitor. There are commercial arms to some of these titles for those who need vendor and technical support, but it's still cheaper than buying a Cisco.
http://www.smoothwall.org
http://www.freesco.org
http://www.vyatta.com
http://www.ipcop.org
Now, there are ways of building enterprise class routers out of surplus computers and readily available free software. All you need is an old computer, install two network cards, and use software designed for the job. I've had excellent success with Smoothwall and Freesco, but other products such as Vyatta, IPCop and many others are just as capable. For the titles named here, all it costs is the old PC, some time to download and install the software, usually a CDR disc, and the electricity to run the box. Once it's running, you shouldn't even need a keyboard or monitor. There are commercial arms to some of these titles for those who need vendor and technical support, but it's still cheaper than buying a Cisco.
http://www.smoothwall.org
http://www.freesco.org
http://www.vyatta.com
http://www.ipcop.org
Does the WRT54L have a receive side signal booster like the WHR-HP-G54?
(It's a WRT54GL... don't forget the "G")
However, referring back to my earlier comment about hobbyists, there are other means of picking up weak signals. You can get a high gain antenna. The Linksys HGA7T antenna is recommended for most of the routers you're likely to be installing DD-WRT on (the blue & black traditional Linksys boxes).
True hobbyists are also going to look at other means of high-gain antennas. Custom-made antennas: "cantenna," "biquad" and other odd antenna designs. Parabolic dishes are also used by hobbyists to further boost and focus a signal. I found plans for an antenna that claims an 8-mile range in a fairly straight line (as opposed to a roughly spherical range for the common "stick" antenna) using a biquad design mounted to a modified satellite TV dish.
If you want to go extreme, look at http://www.wifi-toys.com/wi-fi.php?a=articles&id=91
However, referring back to my earlier comment about hobbyists, there are other means of picking up weak signals. You can get a high gain antenna. The Linksys HGA7T antenna is recommended for most of the routers you're likely to be installing DD-WRT on (the blue & black traditional Linksys boxes).
True hobbyists are also going to look at other means of high-gain antennas. Custom-made antennas: "cantenna," "biquad" and other odd antenna designs. Parabolic dishes are also used by hobbyists to further boost and focus a signal. I found plans for an antenna that claims an 8-mile range in a fairly straight line (as opposed to a roughly spherical range for the common "stick" antenna) using a biquad design mounted to a modified satellite TV dish.
If you want to go extreme, look at http://www.wifi-toys.com/wi-fi.php?a=articles&id=91
But I want both the high gain antenna and the receive booster and I don't want to put people through Linksys WRT version hell and I didn't want people to get a version with half RAM and half flash. That's the whole reason I picked this specific model.
...you just want everything. 
With the right antenna, you don't really need to boost the signal. I've seen the difference an antenna can make. I have no desire to boost signal when I can focus it, aim it, and get clean connections across significant distances.
The hobbyist will know what Linksys versions to use and which to avoid (or at least he'll know where to look). As I indicated in an earlier post, it's easy to find out which units are only half-flashed models (pun intended).
With the right antenna, you don't really need to boost the signal. I've seen the difference an antenna can make. I have no desire to boost signal when I can focus it, aim it, and get clean connections across significant distances.
The hobbyist will know what Linksys versions to use and which to avoid (or at least he'll know where to look). As I indicated in an earlier post, it's easy to find out which units are only half-flashed models (pun intended).
I upgraded the firmware on my Linksys router with this and was able to increase the rank of my wireless network at home. Understand I'm not an IT person, just an informed user. Follow the links discussed below, you'll find excellant directions that anyone who can read can follow. Do note the cautions, they are very real.
Tomato also works well with the Buffalo 54g. I did this a while back to replace the unreliable wireless routers my parents had. Didn't use the HP because it wasn't available at the time, but I ended up putting DD-WRT on one and Tomato on the other just so I could play with both. No problems on either side. If I remember right Tomato offered support for the newer features before DD-WRT did.
Nice little article though, all the ones about using linksys routers are outdated at this point.
Nice little article though, all the ones about using linksys routers are outdated at this point.
Too many Linksys versions to track and all the ones that are readily available are like 1/2 flash and 1/2 RAM which means you're stuck with the Micro firmwares. This Buffalo router is easy to find and you don't need to worry about what version it is.
... that I recommend one of the following, as far as Linksys is
concerned:
1) Linksys WRT54GL (Linux version of the WRT54G) - no matter
what version of WRT54GL you get, you will be getting good
specifications for use with DD-WRT as a home user. You can,
for example, use the WRT54GL and DD-WRT to act as a wireless
client bridge with your main wireless router, and have your
video games in one side of the house (XBox360, Wii, PS2, PS3,
etc), plugged into your WRT54GL. The WRT54GL links wirelessly
to your main router, and now you have a wireless bridge that
connects 4 game systems for less than $70, instead of paying
$99 for a wireless gaming adapter for each system.
2) Linksys WRTSL54GS - Use it to act as a file server for your
network, or run some of the packages from Optware to make it
more fully featured, when you also plug in a USB mass storage
device. (Best with OpenWRT, because of DD-WRT's lack of swap
support)
3) Linksys WRT350N - Same as above, but with gigabit ethernet,
wireless N, and a little more memory. Best with OpenWRT. Most
useful with a larger group of computers, or a more complicated
network environment.
---
The Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS routers have (at last count) 8
to 12 different versions of those router models, and if you're
not lucky, you won't find a router that works well with the
firmware, and will have to suffer with a limited feature set.
This confusion is avoided (so far) with the router models I've
specified here.
concerned:
1) Linksys WRT54GL (Linux version of the WRT54G) - no matter
what version of WRT54GL you get, you will be getting good
specifications for use with DD-WRT as a home user. You can,
for example, use the WRT54GL and DD-WRT to act as a wireless
client bridge with your main wireless router, and have your
video games in one side of the house (XBox360, Wii, PS2, PS3,
etc), plugged into your WRT54GL. The WRT54GL links wirelessly
to your main router, and now you have a wireless bridge that
connects 4 game systems for less than $70, instead of paying
$99 for a wireless gaming adapter for each system.
2) Linksys WRTSL54GS - Use it to act as a file server for your
network, or run some of the packages from Optware to make it
more fully featured, when you also plug in a USB mass storage
device. (Best with OpenWRT, because of DD-WRT's lack of swap
support)
3) Linksys WRT350N - Same as above, but with gigabit ethernet,
wireless N, and a little more memory. Best with OpenWRT. Most
useful with a larger group of computers, or a more complicated
network environment.
---
The Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS routers have (at last count) 8
to 12 different versions of those router models, and if you're
not lucky, you won't find a router that works well with the
firmware, and will have to suffer with a limited feature set.
This confusion is avoided (so far) with the router models I've
specified here.
George, do you know of any draft-n routers that will work with this firmware? Or do you know if the DD-WRT people have any plans in that area. I've been looking at Buffalo's draft-n dual band router.
I've been using a Linksys WRT350N with the latest DD-WRT
firmware I could use. They work OK together, although I have a
couple of notes:
1) The Linksys WRT300N uses a different chipset than Linksys
WRT350N, so be careful about which router you get.
2) Although the WRT350N has a USB port, the DD-WRT firmware
still does not have built-in support for USB, swap space, or
acting as a file server.
3) I am able to get N speeds with DD-WRT, and since a lot of
the N specification is implemented by the firmware, it may be
possible to upgrade to the new draft of 802.11N by upgrading
the firmware later on.
DD-WRT can be made to support USB, samba shares, etc., with
some tweaks using jffs and optware -- there are several howto's
on the 'net about it. However, DD-WRT still doesn't support
swap, so you are limited in what you can have running.
As a bit of a quirk, DD-WRT does not light up the correct LEDs
on the Linksys WRT350N, because it is a gigabit router, so each
port actually has two LEDs. As a result, plugging a network
cable into the "Ethernet 1" port on the WRT350N causes
the "Internet" LED to light up while running DD-WRT. I'm sure
they'll fix that at some point, though.
OpenWRT does support USB, swap space, and acting as a
fileserver (FTP, Windows, and NFS). However, once you get
Samba 2 configured and running, it is very difficult to get
remote management for the router set up, which is why I still
use DD-WRT for my home use on that router.
OpenWRT's wiki has a list of exactly what hardware is
supported, and in what capacity. This hardware list also
applies to DD-WRT, for the most part, and can be very useful
when finding out how much space is available on different
models of routers.
firmware I could use. They work OK together, although I have a
couple of notes:
1) The Linksys WRT300N uses a different chipset than Linksys
WRT350N, so be careful about which router you get.
2) Although the WRT350N has a USB port, the DD-WRT firmware
still does not have built-in support for USB, swap space, or
acting as a file server.
3) I am able to get N speeds with DD-WRT, and since a lot of
the N specification is implemented by the firmware, it may be
possible to upgrade to the new draft of 802.11N by upgrading
the firmware later on.
DD-WRT can be made to support USB, samba shares, etc., with
some tweaks using jffs and optware -- there are several howto's
on the 'net about it. However, DD-WRT still doesn't support
swap, so you are limited in what you can have running.
As a bit of a quirk, DD-WRT does not light up the correct LEDs
on the Linksys WRT350N, because it is a gigabit router, so each
port actually has two LEDs. As a result, plugging a network
cable into the "Ethernet 1" port on the WRT350N causes
the "Internet" LED to light up while running DD-WRT. I'm sure
they'll fix that at some point, though.
OpenWRT does support USB, swap space, and acting as a
fileserver (FTP, Windows, and NFS). However, once you get
Samba 2 configured and running, it is very difficult to get
remote management for the router set up, which is why I still
use DD-WRT for my home use on that router.
OpenWRT's wiki has a list of exactly what hardware is
supported, and in what capacity. This hardware list also
applies to DD-WRT, for the most part, and can be very useful
when finding out how much space is available on different
models of routers.
DD-WRT advertises its support for the Buffalo
brand of routers, and together they make a
great team for home/personal or small office
use.
However, DD-WRT has no support for swap space
(using disk areas as memory). OpenWRT (a
similar open-source project) does. Combine
this with a USB-capable router, such as the
Linksys WRTSL54GS or WRT350N routers (I think
ASUS has some USB-enabled routers as well), and
you can plug in a flash drive and make it (or
part of it) act as additional memory for the
router.
I've worked on a router configuration where I
have a Linksys WRTSL54GS (Media Storage Link
router with a USB port), and a 4GB USB Pendrive
connected to it. The router is running OpenWRT
(which does support swap space), and there are
30 wireless computers and 1 wired "console"
computer that all use the router for access.
The router is also running a Samba 2 server,
which allows it to act as a Windows File
Server, to share files to all the client
computers. Finally, the router can also run
Privoxy, a program that can be used as an HTTP
proxy for the 30 classroom computers, so those
computers can only go to the websites we want,
and that list is controllable in the router.
The entire network is remotely accessible using
SSH and VNC (with a VNC repeater on the
router).
For hints on how to set up something like this,
google OpenWRT, privoxy, Optware, samba, and
vncrepeater
Just my $0.02
- W
brand of routers, and together they make a
great team for home/personal or small office
use.
However, DD-WRT has no support for swap space
(using disk areas as memory). OpenWRT (a
similar open-source project) does. Combine
this with a USB-capable router, such as the
Linksys WRTSL54GS or WRT350N routers (I think
ASUS has some USB-enabled routers as well), and
you can plug in a flash drive and make it (or
part of it) act as additional memory for the
router.
I've worked on a router configuration where I
have a Linksys WRTSL54GS (Media Storage Link
router with a USB port), and a 4GB USB Pendrive
connected to it. The router is running OpenWRT
(which does support swap space), and there are
30 wireless computers and 1 wired "console"
computer that all use the router for access.
The router is also running a Samba 2 server,
which allows it to act as a Windows File
Server, to share files to all the client
computers. Finally, the router can also run
Privoxy, a program that can be used as an HTTP
proxy for the 30 classroom computers, so those
computers can only go to the websites we want,
and that list is controllable in the router.
The entire network is remotely accessible using
SSH and VNC (with a VNC repeater on the
router).
For hints on how to set up something like this,
google OpenWRT, privoxy, Optware, samba, and
vncrepeater
Just my $0.02
- W
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