July 15, 2010 5:42 AM

Updates released and it's good news. NAT sessions have been increased to 4096,usb speed improvements, just to name a few.

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/15018

New Features, Enhancemens and Bug Fixes:

• This is a Wi-Fi certified firmware.
  The 11n rates are disabled when the security type is WPS-TKIP.
• No reboot is needed for a configuration change from the GUI.
• Traffic Meter: Maximum volume of monthly limit is increased from 99GB (5 digits) to 999GB (6 digits).
• The login pop-up window is removed.
• The USB storage access performance is improved.
• Improved compatibility with external USB storage devices.
• Increase the max number of NAT session to 4096 sessions at a time.
• Fixed: Firmware Upgrade - When the Apple Safari version 2.0.4 is used to access the router’s management GUI and upgrade the firmware, the progress bar cannot be displayed. The firmware upgrade is still working, and the “Update Settings” progress bar shows up after the firmware upgrade is done.
• Fixed: Traffic Meter - If the traffic meter function is enabled and the user’s setting is to block the traffic after the limit has been reached, then when the traffic volume limit is reached, the Internet traffic is blocked as expected. But after a router reboot, the Internet traffic will not be blocked.
• Fixed: Traffic Meter - The option “Turn the Internet LED to flashing green/amber" doesn't work if the option "Disconnect and disable the Internet connection" is not checked.
• Fixed: Log - At the Logs page, the Clear log button and Send log buttons do not work.

August 1, 2010 1:18 PM updated: August 2, 2010 10:40 PM

Testing this new firmware on my iomega external hdd (NTFS), I found the following with a Gigabit connection directly to my PC (2.60 GB file):

From PC To HDD - 5.65 MB/sec
From HDD to PC - 4.40 MB/sec

My wireless clients seem to be connecting at reasonably fast speeds (35-40 Mbps down and 20-30 Up on a 43 down/35 Up Mbps internet connection)

Some drawbacks:
* no wireless signal/Tx/Rx error) info for connected clients (so impossible to tell how good the connection is)
* can't limit wireless mode to N only
* PS3 connected wirelessly has trouble connecting and/or very slow

Netgear WNDR3700V1

August 2, 2010 7:52 PM

I love the fact now that it does not reboot the router no more when you make changes. That annoyance may to go back to dd-wrt which I had problems with. Now its back to the stock firmware. Glad they are improving it. It may not be the prettiest but it does work.

August 3, 2010 7:22 AM

Tony Ramirez said: I love the fact now that it does not reboot the router no more when you make changes. That annoyance may to go back to dd-wrt which I had problems with. Now its back to the stock firmware. Glad they are improving it. It may not be the prettiest but it does work.

I noticed that some changes result in USB device disconnection, though.  Overall I agree - the new firmware makes this an excellent, fast router with strong signals.  Much faster/stronger than dd-wrt or tomato.

Netgear WNDR3700V1