Wireless Routers-Cisco/Linksys/Tomato

nuffoftexas · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009

Wow! I can't believe I didn't do this long ago. Because there didn't seem to anything better, without dishing out $500+ for a real business-class Cisco with wireless access point, I've been sticking with the old Linksys WRT54G v6.0 wireless router. The frustration of lockups and dropped connections had me going bonkers. Lately this has meant rebooting both the router and wireless laptop up to five times per day. The wife working remotely off the VPN was also getting tired of me doing this. So, I finally decided (forced actually) to come up with a real solution. Enter the (now) Cisco/Linksys WRT54GL - the "L" stands for Linux driven firmware. Upon initial setup, with the latest firmware installed, things were really no faster. However, there didn't seem to be any connection issues. So I then went ahead and downloaded/installed the TOMATO firmware. Bingo! This WRT54GL is a screamer now. Blazing fast lookups, replies, and throughput. The configurations available are amazing. I even pumped up the router power output to 100mW - more than doubling the default power output. (marina owners take note) That can be turned up to 251mW if you wish. But to be on the safe side, I left it "low" so as not to overheat anything and burn it up. I am SO totally pleased with this I thought I would put in a word here about it. The router is $60 +/- shipped from Amazon. The Tomato firmware is free. Tomato works on both the old WRT54G's v4.0 and earlier and also with the new WRT54GL. If you think you have one of the older ones, you can check the version number on the bottom of the unit to verify. I would recommend just forking over the $60 for a new Linux version.

If anyone here would like to give this a whirl, please let me know. I'll be glad to help you out. I'm an IT guy with 15+ years experience as a Data/Voice Networks Systems Engineer. Also a number of Microsoft and Cisco certifications. You can PM me and I'll get you my phone number beforehand in case something doesn't fly. You can even send me the unit and I'll be glad to configure it for you so all you have to do is plug it in. Computer savvy folks should have no problems doing all this on their own. However, let me know beforehand and I'll be glad to be standing by. Don't forget also to pickup the new 7-Zip extractor. That will be required to extract the binaries. Good luck and happy surfing!

...if you feel you must say something smart, please first remember the old adage about the car mechanic's vehicle or the postman going for a walk. Thank you.

scottyt · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

my router at home is a linksys, and its running ddwrt. it is linux based and similar to tomato, but i think it has more support. from what i read on the ddwrt forums 70 milli watt is about the highest you should run it. they say it can do more but it "might" be a longer term problem.

a nice thing about ddwrt is it can function as a repeater, ie set it up, hook up 12 volts. then haul it up the mast and you can use the extra power and range to hook to a shore side connection and then connect mutable wireless item on the boat to it. basicly you create a new wireless hot spot on your boat that connects to the shore based hotspot.

edit ddwrt also allows you to over clock the router cpu

and here is the funny one, nuffoftexas your first paragraph sounds just like a spammer. i know your not but its formatted just like a spammer would

nuffoftexas · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyt

...and here is the funny one, nuffoftexas your first paragraph sounds just like a spammer. i know your not but its formatted just like a spammer would

I know, that and other things. That's why I soon thereafter asked, in another forum, how to delete a thread. I really need to get a boat and get off these boards.