I'm looking into some new wireless networking jewelry and was perusing newegg when i came across this little gem:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162031

I like that one because I can share my 1 TB USB HDD with the entire network. I also like the fact that it supposedly has high powered output increasing the range/speed of the WIFI connections. Not to mention the Buffalo Website mentions something about a faster LAN connection with this router. All things I'm really interested in, but I digress.

In reading about said router I came across a review on CNET.com where someone mentioned that newer models ship with DD-WRT loaded onto them, and this is where things get fuzzy for me. I googled "dd-wrt" and that led me to the dd-wrt homepage and subsequently the dd-wrt wikipedia page. It's there that I learned all kinds of things like:
DD-WRT is a Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G (including the WRT54GL and WRT54GS).
DD-WRT includes such features as support for the Kai network, daemon-based services, IPv6, Wireless Distribution System, RADIUS, advanced quality of service, radio output power control, overclocking capability, and software support for a Secure Digital Card hardware modification.

*Note the emphasis on the radio output power control.

While I'm not the most computer savvy person in the world, I'm of the impression that this feature will allow me to increase the power of my WRT 54G's output? Meaning can I put out more dBm than what it does stock? Or does this mean that I can decrease the power output, if things are all in range and speed is good, to save power usage/prevent overheating of the device? I guess what I'm asking is, can I overclock the router or is it running at max power out of the box?

Because if so, this is all I am really needing.

PS: I know in the wikipedia page they mention overclocking but do they mean the firmware will monitor/support it once you overclock it? Or does it mean the firmware allows you to actually overclock the router?

long story bro

Yeah...no fucking way I'm reading all of that.

Sorry.

mantooth's playground.

^^^That looks familiar.

considering the reemed out bunghole, i'd say you've seen these balls before.

SnotBubbles;516444 wrote:Yeah...no fucking way I'm reading all of that.

Sorry.

This made me lol so hard I think I pooped myself.

DD-WRT is a custom firmware set for routers and access points. It basically turns your $60 router into a $600 router.

http://lifehacker.com/software/router/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router-178132.php

And yes, you could increase the output power (or decrease it) to suit your needs. You need to be carefull increasing the power too much though as you can fry the hardware.

I use dd-wrt on all the WRT54GL routers I purchase and setup.

I used a DD-WRT on my wdtryupmngtd router, made by DDT in IA, from the 419.

Jawbreaker;516725 wrote:I use dd-wrt on all the WRT54GL routers I purchase and setup.

The WRT54-whatever model routers have been fantastic because of DD-WRT. Cheap and easy to do what you want with. Sort of like Mantooth's mother.

I Wear Pants;517101 wrote:The WRT54-whatever model routers have been fantastic because of DD-WRT. Cheap and easy to do what you want with. Sort of like Mantooth's mother.

Huzzah!

After seeing you liked deep sea fishing I was ready to cut you major breakage man...but after reading (ne...glancing at) your original post I now know my original opinion of you was right on target.

I'm running DD-WRT on my WRT54GL. It works pretty well. I should be able to answer any questions you may have.

Sidenote: I set up a virtual wireless interface and am redirecting any traffic that connects to it straight to Goatse.

Another sidenote: If you DO increase the power, you will also increase the noise on the signal (in other words, you'll be able to pick up the network from longer distances, but the signal "quality" will be lower).

dlazz;517222 wrote:Sidenote: I set up a virtual wireless interface and am redirecting any traffic that connects to it straight to Goatse.

lulz.

Yeah I'm sorry for the original post but I wanted to make sure I didn't get a dumbfuck lmgtfy.com or similar smartass comment. I really wanted answers.

It's solid firmware, but you'd need to troll around their forums and see if there's a build they recommend over the one it ships with. They're pretty friendly with newbs, so you may want to make an account and ask there:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/

tl;dr

I Wear Pants;517101 wrote:The WRT54-whatever model routers have been fantastic because of DD-WRT. Cheap and easy to do what you want with. Sort of like Mantooth's mother.

Agreed.

dlazz,

since my wrt54g is like 5 yrs old. i'm thinking i'll just install the dd-wrt on it and try to increase the TX power. if this causes a hardware malfunction i'm gonna go ahead and upgrade routers. is this a worth while plan? I mean i've already got my money's worth out of the linksys so why not try to accomplish my goal without spending the money?

j_crazy;517351 wrote:dlazz,

since my wrt54g is like 5 yrs old. i'm thinking i'll just install the dd-wrt on it and try to increase the TX power. if this causes a hardware malfunction i'm gonna go ahead and upgrade routers. is this a worth while plan? I mean i've already got my money's worth out of the linksys so why not try to accomplish my goal without spending the money?

What version number is your WRT54G? You need to be careful which firmware you load because I think version 5 and higher has a memory limitation. You can still load dd-wrt but you can't put a full version on it. I would also see how well it performs without increasing the tx power.

j_crazy;517351 wrote:dlazz,

since my wrt54g is like 5 yrs old. i'm thinking i'll just install the dd-wrt on it and try to increase the TX power. if this causes a hardware malfunction i'm gonna go ahead and upgrade routers. is this a worth while plan? I mean i've already got my money's worth out of the linksys so why not try to accomplish my goal without spending the money?

Seems like a worthwhile goal to me. Make 100% sure that you can flash it with DD-WRT before you dive into it. I know there are a few models of the WRT54G that cannot be flashed with it. Make sure you have the directions printed out or saved somewhere that way if you mess something up you can retrace your steps.

Make sure you follow the steps even if they seem like they aren't necessary.


Like I said, their forums are way more updated than their website. Their router database suggested I use version 12000-something, but the forums said NOT to use that one, and to use 15000 instead.

If you post a thread on there right now asking for assistance on what to flash to your router, how to flash it, etc, you'll have a response later on tonight more than likely.

cool. thanks everyone.

and jawbreaker, i'll have to look when i get home, but i think i have version 2.0.

I just read the OP. You can overclock the router's processor (which runs at 200mhz), which would only help you if you're doing a lot of QoS rules and opening a bunch of torrents. It also generates heat (which can kill your router overtime).

Same goes for increasing the radio signal. It also generates heat.

FWIW: The stock Linksys firmware has a radio output of 42mW, while out of the box, DD-WRT runs at 71mW.

You should be able to bump it into the 80-100 range without any major issues, as long as it is well-ventilated.

In layman's terms, what is the end result... is this what it takes to share a hard drive wirelessly?