42mW is a whole lot. I have seen that dd-wrt defaults value is 71mW. The problem with such a default value is, that it strongly depends on the used antennas what you should use here. A default value for different routers is not easy as the don't have the same antenna gains.

I have done a few tests here and I'm pretty sure that such high values for the wnr3500l are not needed at all, they just cause overheating and therefore disconnects.

With 2mW on my wnr3500l and 5mW (10mW default for my intelm card) I can go downstairs and have a perfect stable connection through the concrete ceiling.

Compared to all the other routers I've used this is the best I've ever seen.

Are you using the netgear standard firmware, or have you flashed dd-wrt etc. and not done a 30/30/30 reset?

Hi, I haven't tried to open my wnr3500l but I did open my old wnr834.
WNR834 had 2 antennas glued on inside of the box although the onboard wireless pcmcia card had 3 u.fl connectors (...don't know why they didn't include the 3rd one). As I mentioned above I haven't tried to open my wnr3500l (maybe I'm wrong)but I wouldn't be surprised if the same kind of antennas were found inside wnr3500l.

That's a pic of the WNR834B. Does the WNR3500L also have the antenna connectors inside? If so, how many are there? I think the Debricking Guide on this site has some pictures of the insides and one of them shows the RF plate and there seems to be two connector holes right above it. Maybe there's a third.

Thanks. So I guess you can hook up 3 external antennas with some modding.

Netgear continues to impress me with this model.