How To Install DD-WRT On NETGEAR's R6300 802.11ac Wireless Router

Owners of the R6300, the premium, in-your-face, king-of-all-routers can celebrate... the popular DD-WRT third party firmware has been ported, and it is good. (If you're new to all of this, check out our general introduction to open source firmware, or our other guides.)

Step 1: Download DD-WRT for the R6300

The first step -- like all the other steps, now that I think about it -- is very simple. Grab the latest DD-WRT build for the R6300 from our downloads area and unarchive the file. You will find a file with the .CHK extension inside the archive.

Step 2: Log Into the R6300's GUI

Navigate to 192.168.1.1 in your favorite browser and enter your username and password. Then, head to the Advanced tab at the top, and click Administration in the left menu panel.

Step 3: Upload DD-WRT Firmware to the R6300

In the Administration panel, click Router Upgrade. A new option will pop up asking you to browse for the upgrade file to use -- simply select the .CHK file for the upgrade that you unarchived in step 1.

Note that you will most likely, depending on the version, be presented with a warning regarding the firmware version being "older than the one you had." Simply bypass the warning by clicking through, and the router will begin the update.

When I performed the update, it happened extremely quickly, and I panicked at first -- thinking that it may have corrupted the router. However, this wasn't the case, and it was just that fast of a process. Allow the R6300 to reboot and settle for a few minutes before trying anything. (You may also want to perform a 30-30-30 reset, which the professionals usually recommend after flashing a new firmware. I did not do this and it worked fine, but your mileage may vary.)

Step 4: Log In to DD-WRT and Reset Password

Assuming the upgrade completed successfully, you'll be presented with an initial password reset screen, where you'll input your username (I suggest "admin") and password. Make sure to save this, of course, or else you'll have to do a hard reset and start all over.

After taking care of this, check out the main screen and make sure all is well.

Step 5: Complete Some Basic Setup Steps and Reboot

Now, it's recommended that you configure a few initial settings in the router to get things rolling, such as setting up your 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz access points (with encryption, of course).

uPnP is not enabled by default in the build as of this writing, so make sure to enable that as well.

After getting all set with the basics, perform an additional reboot to ensure all is well and your settings have been retained by the router.

Initial Testing of DD-WRT for the R6300

In my initial tests, the firmware has been performing extremely well. All of my devices have been immediately recognized, throughput is top notch as expected, uPnP is working flawlessly -- all is good.

Some users on the DD-WRT forums have reported that the 5 GHz band is not working properly, and as this is an early build as of the time of this writing (10/30/2012) some bugs are to be expected, or at least not surprising. However, 5 GHz worked for me with no issues, and has been working for many other users as well. One suggestion is to try different channels and also to eliminate any outside interference from other devices.

Please post your experiences with the R6300 DD-WRT buiild in our dedicated DD-WRT forum!

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Daddyfix
Daddyfix's picture
Nice article. But the

Nice article. But the Loopback does not work with the Initial build. There is a fix here
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=722072#722072

Interesting that your 5ghz is working well.

How far away have you tested the 5ghz channel?
What channel are you using?
Or What are your 5Ghz settings?

Peter Redmer
Peter Redmer's picture
Thanks! I am still running DD

Thanks! I am still running DD-WRT on the R6300 and it's continued to work well, although the initial performance of the 5g radio is not what I thought it would be. It works, but doesn't have penetration through the wall to my office or very much range. I find it's much better at this point to use the 2.4g connection.

However, it does indeed work and doesn't seem to have any connection issues, just not as good as it should or with as strong as a signal as I would expect.

On my Galaxy Note, through the wall, I get about -90 dBm on the 5g connection through the wall, about -80 dBm right in front of the router, on channel 44 (set to Auto in DD-WRT) channel width of 20, n-only, WPA2 encryption.

I'm going to play around a bit to see if I can improve that.

jas88
jas88's picture
Apparently the 2012-12-10

Apparently the 2012-12-10 release fixes some issue with 5 GHz signal strength. I tried following the instructions (with both the release linked from here and that newer one) and got an error about incorrect firmware, so I can't comment on how it actually works for me.

Lehrryan
Lehrryan's picture
Is there any plan to be able

Is there any plan to be able to use the bandwidth caps in the future? (the default bandwidth level)I have been very unsuccesful at trying to limit my roommates 25Gig a day downloads

Lehrryan
Lehrryan's picture
Are there any plans to bring

Are there any plans to bring over the by user bandwidth limitations? I have been very unsuccesful at trying to limit my roommates 25Gig a day downloads

rojaro
rojaro's picture
Is there a way to install

Is there a way to install/enable OpenVPN support?

Peter Redmer
Peter Redmer's picture
@rojaro -- I've tried

@rojaro -- I've tried installing support with a VPN provider that had an auto-install script, but it didn't work at all.

I'm pretty sure that it would have to be baked into the firmware. That's not to say there wouldn't be a way to install it, but seeing as I'm not a programmer at all, I'm not sure how that could be accomplished by an end user.

That being said, I've had great luck with L2TP on this build with two different VPN providers. Works great and reasonably fast, too.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Latest firmware supports

Latest firmware supports OpenVPN. Use this complete tutorial by Peter to configure your OpenVPN client.

Tanja84dk
Tanja84dk's picture
First of all thanks for your

First of all thanks for your guide, I did help me alot to get dd-wrt on my netgear R6300.

Unfortunally I have got a small problem.
Everytime that my router reboots ( power outtake etc ) then it's loosing all settings and going back to a new installed dd-wrt.

Do you have any idea how I fix that?

dbg
dbg's picture
Duplicate post, oops, i can't

Duplicate post, oops, i can't erase this???

dbg
dbg's picture
Tanja, what version did you

Tanja, what version did you use? The link above had an older version, this is what I got: dd-wrt.v24-K26_R6300_19-10-2012.rar

I found this one, that is slightly newer: http://desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC/Initial/
dd-wrt.v24-K3_R6300.chk and every set of instructions i've found says you need the chk file, so hopefully this works, i'm about to flash this, we'll see...

Tanja84dk
Tanja84dk's picture
yeah I installed the version

yeah I installed the version from the article, and yeah thats version DD-WRT v24-sp2 (10/18/12) mega.

And I'm sorry but firmwares where I can't see if it's for R6300v1 or R6300v2 ( And yes there are a diference between them ) they are not getting in the router, because that is my main router.

But to be hournest I'm thinking of going back to Netgear's software ( and yes I have my flash to my version from netgear ticket support ), because that lack of way to ask question even on the forum on this website ( wrote this question in the dd-wrt section also because this thread is so old ), but even post from validated users can't post without moderators are granding the post, and that is unacceptial, when there arent mods there are looking on the forum, when the questions can be very important

Subhra
Subhra's picture
@Tanja84dk: Yes you are right

@Tanja84dk: Yes you are right R6300v1 and R6300v2 are different router models. You will get kong's firmwares for in the following links: 

R6300: http://desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC/Initial/

R6300v2: http://desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC-Arm/Initial/

Tanja84dk
Tanja84dk's picture
Subhra said: @Tanja84dk: Yes

Subhra said: @Tanja84dk: Yes you are right R6300v1 and R6300v2 are different router models. You will get kong's firmwares for in the following links:  R6300: http://desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC/Initial/ /p> R6300v2: http://desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC-Arm/Initial/

The router is also restored back to official firmware thx to help from netgear there were able to response within a few hours on mail.

And to be hournest I'm not following downloads from this website anymore to places without instructuons when it's linked on this website, because my view on the owner here, is that is actually don't care of the work he makes. 

Have wrote a post to him on twitter several days ago, tryed to mail him etc, to find out when my forum post would get accepted with no response.
And that is a person there are saying on his blog that he is a "community manager, social media specialist, writer, web worker," quoted from his private blog.

What I see of the owner, that is that he is a person there don't care of others, and open systems, and general don't care of the problems he makes for others

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Hi, nice to meet you!

Hi, nice to meet you! Congratulation for the work!
I have a little problem. I installed the firmware for R6300 V1.. it's work but the NETGEAR Logo is "off" (nothing light) . It's normal?
Thanks!

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Hi, nice to meet you!

Hi, nice to meet you! Congratulation for the work!
I have a little problem. I installed the firmware for R6300 V1.. it's work but the NETGEAR Logo is "off" (nothing light) . It's normal?
Thanks!

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Ops! Sorry for double comment

Ops! Sorry for double comment!

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
I have same problem... but no

I have same problem... but no reply :-( Logo is off. I tried with led script and logo is ON but the light is low as if it was turned on only one LED

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Ethos Evoss said:

Ethos Evoss said:

Giuseppe said: I have same problem... but no reply :-( Logo is off. I tried with led script and logo is ON but the light is low as if it was turned on only one LED

How to revert back to stock ?

I don't know.. sorry

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Hi, nice to meet you!

Hi, nice to meet you! Congratulation for the work!
I have a little problem. I installed the firmware for R6300 V1.. it's work but the NETGEAR Logo is "off" (nothing light) . It's normal?
Thanks!

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Hi, nice to meet you!

Hi, nice to meet you! Congratulation for the work!
I have a little problem. I installed the firmware for R6300 V1.. it's work but the NETGEAR Logo is "off" (nothing light) . It's normal?
Thanks!

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Ops! Sorry for double comment

Ops! Sorry for double comment!

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
I have same problem... but no

I have same problem... but no reply :-( Logo is off. I tried with led script and logo is ON but the light is low as if it was turned on only one LED

Giuseppe
Giuseppe's picture
Ethos Evoss said:

Ethos Evoss said:

Giuseppe said: I have same problem... but no reply :-( Logo is off. I tried with led script and logo is ON but the light is low as if it was turned on only one LED

How to revert back to stock ?

I don't know.. sorry

aram
aram's picture
I installed latest version

I installed latest version and I lost my 5g band even though it configured and lost USB access even though its enabled nothing can see my usb drive. Any suggestions would be appreciated, The stability has been great though.

Eternalx
Eternalx's picture
I see dd wrt builds for r6300

I see dd wrt builds for r6300 being made as we speak betas mostly no one has announced which of these builds are stable I have been tampering with alot of builds to seek one that best suits my router and its been tough some settings work some dont etc. but latest build now is  dd-wrt.v24-27858_NEWD-2_K3.x_mega-R6300.bin how will I know if it is stable? I do not feel like going back to a nov 2014 build due to new 2015 tech already being shipped out.

jvilla
jvilla's picture
I been using this build for

I been using this build for R6300V1.(stable for me since it's release) ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2015/02-04-2015-r26138/netgear-r6300/

MicahFaia
MicahFaia's picture
I'm having an issue with mine

I'm having an issue with mine. I've flashed it with .chk file after .chk file. Still not working. Same stupid power light blinking. The tftp client shows successful transfer but it isn't working at all. Suggestions?