Router flashed
Tuesday, 12. February 2008, 18:32:52
Today my friends brand new WRT54GL router was delivered to our house. Unpacked the parcel and lo and behold! On the Linksys box there's an ominous message stating that you're about to unpack a product containing open source software... Duh! That's why I bought it dude!
Open the box and there's those funny labels again. The labels urge the new owner to run the CD first and only then hook up the router. Yeah that's all very well and groovy if you're into Linksys' own firmware (v4.30.7 BTW) but not for me. Goodbye Linksys firmware, hello DD-WRT! Since my friend knows next to nohing about how to deal with computer related problems, I want a router running software that requires no attention from its prospective user. For maintenance I've enabled web access to the router so I can remotely access DD-WRT when needed.
I just finished flashing DD-WRT onto it, v24 RC5 std_nokaid to be precise. Now it sits on top of my PC for a burn-in test. Let's see if this thing is stable for a few days.
In the box there's also a piece of paper, it's the EU Directive 1999/5/EC, compliance information for Linksys products Relevant to the European Union.
Under 2,4 GHz Restrictions there's this bit of funny information:
Amen to that...
The above means I can crank up the TX power output of a WRT54GL to 63 milliWatts (= 18 dBm) and still be within legal boundaries. Combined with the stock 2 dBi rubber duck antennas this yields a power output of 100 mW (18 dBm + 2 dBm = 20 dBm, 20 dBm = 100 mW). Default TX power value is just a measly 28 mW.
Open the box and there's those funny labels again. The labels urge the new owner to run the CD first and only then hook up the router. Yeah that's all very well and groovy if you're into Linksys' own firmware (v4.30.7 BTW) but not for me. Goodbye Linksys firmware, hello DD-WRT! Since my friend knows next to nohing about how to deal with computer related problems, I want a router running software that requires no attention from its prospective user. For maintenance I've enabled web access to the router so I can remotely access DD-WRT when needed.
I just finished flashing DD-WRT onto it, v24 RC5 std_nokaid to be precise. Now it sits on top of my PC for a burn-in test. Let's see if this thing is stable for a few days.
In the box there's also a piece of paper, it's the EU Directive 1999/5/EC, compliance information for Linksys products Relevant to the European Union.
Under 2,4 GHz Restrictions there's this bit of funny information:
This product is designed for use with the standard, integral or dedicated (external)
antenna(s) that is/are shipped together with the equipment. However, some
applications may require the antenna(s) to be separated from the product and
installed remotely from the device by using extension cables. For these applications,
Linksys offers an R-SMA extension cable (AC9SMA) and a R-TNC extension cable
(AC9TNC). Both of these cables are 9 meters long and have a cable loss
(attenuation) of 5 dB. To compensate for the attenuation, Linksys also offers higher
gain antennas, the HGA7S (with R-SMA connector) and HGA7T (with R-TNC connector).
These antennas have a gain of 7 dBi and may only be used with either the R-SMA
or R-TNC extension cable.
Combinations of extension cables and antennas resulting in a radiated power level
exceeding 100 mW EIRP are illegal.
Amen to that...
The above means I can crank up the TX power output of a WRT54GL to 63 milliWatts (= 18 dBm) and still be within legal boundaries. Combined with the stock 2 dBi rubber duck antennas this yields a power output of 100 mW (18 dBm + 2 dBm = 20 dBm, 20 dBm = 100 mW). Default TX power value is just a measly 28 mW.
