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Basic functionalities are same for all the firmware. As per as your requirement, I suggest you to use the original firmware. Performance of original firmware is better than open source firmwares. But if you have interest to work on open source firmwares then you can use any open source firmwares.
Hi There.
As a newbie to opensource routers, I was wondering if someone could compare, the different versions that are available for the WNR3500L.
What does Tomato have over DD-WRT over some of the others?
It seems from what I've read so far, that DD-WRT is the favorite. Is this true and why?
I am mostly concerned with Wireless Repeating (Extending my wireless reach). To that end, should I even worry about using an Open Source firmware if I already have two WNR3500L's which support repeating out of the box?
Thanks for any information...Hope I don't start a turf war 
July 26, 2010 4:33 AM
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July 26, 2010 11:59 AM
First of all, Sudipta is correct in that the default NETGEAR firmware for the WNR3500L is solid, and in fact recently got an update. However, I have never tried to set up a wireless repeater with the stock firmware.
DD-WRT is probably the most popular third party FW to install on the WNR3500L based on what I see on the community, although Tomato has been quite popular lately.
If you want to try DD-WRT, the latest version is here:
http://www.myopenrouter.com/download/21278/DD-WRT-Mega-BETA-svn-14826-2010-07...
Here's a guide on using DD-WRT as a wireless repeater (it's for the WGR614L and for a much older version of DD-WRT, but should give you a good idea):
http://www.myopenrouter.com/article/10594/Using-NETGEAR-WGR614L-with-DD-WRT-A...
July 26, 2010 8:35 PM
Hey Guys. Thanks for the quick responses and the clarification. The only problem I've found with the stock firmware is that it only supports WEB for repeating. I like the DD-WRT. But I've been having some trouble with disconnects (message posted elsewhere in the forum). I was wondering if Tomato or one of the others would work better.
Thanks again!
August 2, 2010 8:01 PM
Sudipta said: Basic functionalities are same for all the firmware. As per as your requirement, I suggest you to use the original firmware. Performance of original firmware is better than open source firmwares. But if you have interest to work on open source firmwares then you can use any open source firmwares.Listen to him he is a wise man. I tryed DD-WRT twice. It worked for a while but then I was having major problems with my Wi-fi. iPod would forget network settings and would not connect. Went back to the stock firmware. It may not be the prettiest or have all the features but it does work right.
August 14, 2010 3:01 AM
Hi,
I have been using Tomato for years with the Linksys WRT54GL, it has been rock stable, but have now bought the WNR3500L and have installed TomatoUSB - it seems to continue the stability of the previous system ;-)
August 14, 2010 8:38 AM
snuskebasse said: Hi, I have been using Tomato for years with the Linksys WRT54GL, it has been rock stable, but have now bought the WNR3500L and have installed TomatoUSB - it seems to continue the stability of the previous system ;-)
How is your signal strenth using tomato? I find that it is very weak compared to Netgear's stock firmware. No matter what tweaking I do (transmit power, channel selection, etc.), I could not get the signal any better.
This does not make any difference for clients on the same floor of my house, but makes a huge difference in clients upstairs as N clients cannot connect at speeds higher than about 108 Mbps.
Curiously, the same tomato firmware does not cuase such problems on my RT-N16, which basically has similar hardware as WNR3500L.
Netgear WNDR3700V1
August 14, 2010 9:28 AM
I can only compare to the signal strength of my WRT54GL+Tomato to my WNR3500L+Tomato as I even didnt try the WNR3500L firmware, and the WNR3500L signal strength is LOWER, but our family here is at the same floor, so is doesnt matter. The speedtest.net test gives about 5% extra up- and download with WNR3500L.
I think the 3 external antennas of the RT-N16 compared to WNR3500L internal really makes the big difference in the signal strength, and the same issue is on my WRT54G vs. WNR3500L as I mentioned above.
August 14, 2010 9:40 PM
> snuskebasse said: ... been using Tomato for years with the Linksys WRT54GL,
> ... bought the WNR3500L and have installed TomatoUSB -
Is it possible to use the USB port as a Serial port to WNR3500L as an access point which routes traffic from a USB Bluetooth/RFID/... dongle to a server on the network?
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August 15, 2010 5:03 PM
@Ramin, yes should be possible.
DD-WRT for example contains these drivers
http://ftdi-usb-sio.sourceforge.net/
http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/products.asp?id=59
August 15, 2010 5:30 PM
snuskebasse said: Hi, I have been using Tomato for years with the Linksys WRT54GL, it has been rock stable, but have now bought the WNR3500L and have installed TomatoUSB - it seems to continue the stability of the previous system ;-)@snuskebasse, Thanks for this. I too have been using tomato with my WRT54GL. I'm about to purchase the WNR3500L and I was hoping Tomato would be just as stable on the 3500L as the 54GL. I'm a true fan of the Tomato firmware. I look forward to using the WNR3500L. On sale this week at BestBuy for $79....
August 16, 2010 12:21 AM
@robuhh. On my WNR3500L, I first upgraded to DD-WRT-mini and then from DD-WRT-mini to TomatoUSB, but couldnt use any login/password. It was solved to keep the reset button pressed while applying power. Keep the reset button pressed for 3 minutes, release and allow 1 minute for rebooting. The defeault Tomato login=admin and password=admin can be used to get into TomatoUSB web interface !
August 16, 2010 8:36 AM
@snuskebasse, Hey thanks for that info. I definitely would have had a problem with that.
Question, I am familiar with flashing the Linksys wrt54gl with the mini version of DD-WRT before flashing the "full" version. I thought you had to do this because of the size of the flash (8mb) and ram (16mb) in the linksys modem. The WNRL3500L has 8mb flash and 64mb ram With all that memory why is it still necessary to flash with mini DD-WRT before the Tomato version?
Thanks
August 16, 2010 9:27 AM
@robuhh, I just followed the instructions found at:
http://www.myopenrouter.com/forum/thread/17828/How-to-install-Tomato-on-WNR35...
and found the extra reset trick somewhere else !
August 19, 2010 9:26 PM
Kong said: @Ramin, yes should be possible. DD-WRT for example contains these drivers http://ftdi-usb-sio.sourceforge.net/ http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/products.asp?id=59
Can I use a USB hub to connect multiple USB Serial Dongles?
What is the maximum number of USB Serial Dongles I could attach to the Ext. USB port?
Can I attach same number to the Internal USB port?
Thanks;
-Ramin
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