Prepare for the first time firmware flash

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i3d
i3d's picture
Prepare for the first time firmware flash

I am a long time Asus user but 2 days ago I switched to Netgear R7000 given its overwhelming good review (also I need better coverage and stability. Asus is really poor on 5G). The first thing I got it is to seek for an opensource firmware and that led me to here.

I've read most of the threads here, I've read the README instructions. In a short, it seems that if I prepared everything documented, then it is as simple as upload the .chk file via the webUI and off I go. Correct? Almost painless if so.

One specific question, do I need to choose a specific Kong's build (i.e. a base build) to flash first and then flash to most recent? Or I could simply just flash the most recently?

For example, now my stock firmware version is 1.3.0.24-1.1.20 (the latest from netgear). The one I'd like to flash to is Kong's DD-WRT v23900 (release 4/17/2014). Am I ok to flash it directly?

The revert. As far as I read from all the threads, looks like revert is supported, so simply apply the stock .chk firmware would just work. Am I right? (So in my case, I could simply do v23900 -> 1.3.0.24-1.1.20)

Since this is a relatively expensive piece of hardwared, I'd like to make sure I wouldn't do anything stupid.

Thanks very much!

roadcarver
roadcarver's picture
Updating the firmware on the

Updating the firmware on the R7000 from stock to DDWRT is a two step process.

I didn't have to update to the latest official Netgear FW for the R7000 if I was going to update to the DDWRT.

This thread has the recommended files from Kong.
http://www.myopenrouter.com/forum/thread/56346/Where-to-begin/

The gist of the procedure.
1. Do a 30-30-30 reset
2. Update using the .chk file
3. Flash using the latest DDWRT (.bin)
4. Perform another 30-30-30 reset

You should be good to go.

i3d
i3d's picture
Interesting... Should it

Interesting... Should it _always_ be a .chk first and then a .bin ?

For example, the latest Kong's build v23900 is only released with a .chk file, isn't that good enough? Where is the equivalent .bin file for this version then?

Thanks!

roadcarver
roadcarver's picture
I updated my prior post -

I updated my prior post - made it clearer by adding "(.bin)" to step 3.

Please check the link that I posted - it has both .chk and .bin files.

i3d
i3d's picture
cool thanks. I got the

cool thanks. I got the impression that the .chk and .bin are versioned the same way but looks like they aren't. In other words, you could flash with the latest .chk and then with or without flashing the latest .bin image. They are not really related each other right?

I guess I am not so sure about the functionality of the .chk file and the .bin file.

For example,

I go ahead to flash the v23900 chk, then I pick the latest bin flashed. (According to your suggested step)

Next time, when there is a new vXXXXX chk out, am I ok to still run the .bin I flashed last time? Or there will also be a new .bin out and you MUST flash that one as well?

Thanks!

roadcarver
roadcarver's picture
My understanding is that you

My understanding is that you only need to flash the .chk file once and only if you're coming from a factory firmware.

Once you have flashed the initial DDWRT bin file, you just update to the latest DDWRT.bin file.

Here's a good explanation from Kong as to why a .chk file is required first.

http://www.myopenrouter.com/download/discussion/54776/chk-VS-bin-file/

pcast
pcast's picture
Install DDWRT on Netgear

Install DDWRT on Netgear R7000 AC1900 Night Hawk Router

reading the threads on the web this are the steps to flash firmware
my question is:
do a 30/30/30 reset
or just hold reset?

1. Log in to Netgear router with 192.168.1.1
login: admin
password: password
2. Download files (chk R7000 file) http://www.desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC-Arm/Initial/
Second file latest release bin R7000 file http://www.desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC-Arm/23900M/
3. Go to Advanced Tab/Administration/Firmware Upgrade
First upload R7000.chk file
Allow time for router to reboot
4. Do the 30/30/30 reset
5. Login to router again with 192.168.1.1
6. Go to firmware update within DDWRT and select .bin file you downloaded
Allow time for router to reboot
7. Repeat 30/30/30 reset
8. Log in to router and you have DDWRT installed!

thanks

roadcarver
roadcarver's picture
From what I read a 30-30-30

From what I read a 30-30-30 is the preferred reset when FW flashing.

i3d
i3d's picture
Got it. If the .chk is needed

Got it. If the .chk is needed only once when switch firmware, then it makes complete sense. Thanks folks!

i3d
i3d's picture
Ok, with all the help. I

Ok, with all the help. I think I've successfully upgraded to dd-wrt firmware. This is great. Thanks!

One thing I noticed after I got things setup is the 5G wireless Speed Limit is now only 217Mb/s, instead of the factory 450Mb/s. I wonder if it is because I had something misconfigured?

Here is the relative setup:

2.4G:
Wireless Mode: AP
Wireless Network Mode: Mixed
Wireless Network Name (SSID): XXX
Wireless Channel: Auto
Channel Width: Auto
Wireless SSID Broadcast: Enable
Explicit Beamforming: Disable
Implicit Beamforming: Enable
Network Configuration: Bridged

5G:
Wireless Mode: AP
Wireless Network Mode: Mixed
Wireless Network Name (SSID): XXX_5G
Wireless Channel: Auto
Channel Width: Auth
Wireless SSID Broadcast: Enable
Explicit Beamforming: Disabled
Implicit Beamforming: Enable
Network Configuration: Bridged

Are there anything else I am missing?

i3d
i3d's picture
I seem to have found the

I seem to have found the difference.

The speed limit (supported wireless network mode) has something to do with that you've chosen from the Wireless Network Mode option. If you choose "Mixed", then the max limit is 217Mb/s (if you choose this mode for both 2.4G and 5G, then you get this for both). Also, this mode does not support channel and bandwidth specification, they can only be "Auto".

In order to go 450Mb/s or above, you have to pick either "N Only" or "Ac Only". If you choose AC only but you have no AC clients, then you can't handshake the network at all. So for me, for now, I can only go to "N only".

This is a bit different than the stock firmware option.

In stock firmware, you can choose "Mixed" mode and bandwidth "Up to XXX" (e.g. in 2.4G, you can choose "Up to 600Mb/s", 5G you can choose "Up to 1300Mb/s), then it will automatically fallback (e.g. to N if you don't have AC client). This seems to be more convenient since if I upgraded to AC capable device, then I don't have to change the router settings.

I also hooked up my old N56U to create an AP and compare the signal strength. Looking from wifi explorer, looks like R7000 definitely beats the performance of 5G but for 2.4G, it seems that N56U is still a bit better.

I noticed the default Tx Power is 71mW, is there a better practical value to increase? If not, are there any other options you guys will normally tweak to max out the throughput and coverage??

Thanks!

tracker05
tracker05's picture
Hi,

Hi,

thanks for this step by step tutorial, but I'm a little bit confused about the hard reset. Roadcarvers procedure ask a triple 30 reset before uploading the .chk file compared to pcast who does the reset after the first upload. I would like to flash my R7000, but I'm not sure about this first reset. Which procedure is the right one ?

Accid
Accid's picture
Hi guys

Hi guys

Peter I am assuming this procedure is the same for
Netgear AC1450/R6250/R6300v2/R7000, Asus AC56U/AC68U/RT-N18U, D-Link DIR-868.