Rehabilitation, underground utilities, sewer installation and repair
American Sewer and Utilities has consistently demonstrated excellence in the design and construction of a myriad of projects encompassing underground utilities, site development, leach fields, pump stations, landscaping, sanitary sewer, and municipal & residential rehabilitation. Our distinguished team comprises seasoned professionals and skilled artisans, dedicated to providing superior construction consultation and management servicesRecent comments
- After the initial Kong Mod 11 months 3 weeks ago
- Working the EXACT same 11 months 3 weeks ago
- While the "5 Easy Steps" 1 year 16 hours ago
- R8000P would be grate to see. 1 year 1 day ago
- Have a R8000 but ordered a 1 year 1 day ago
It will be possible only if Quantenna will add MU-MIMO to their drivers. And having access to this drivers of course. Drivers are blackbox. Maybe this will be done for ASUS AC87U with Quantenna.
BTW, I tried to check what is going with Quantenna in AC87U FW. Total crap with these GPL sources. Any version of GPL codes from ASUS for AC87U I tried to download I could not unzip. Error in ZIP archive. Three attempts. Three different GPL archives. Fakes. Not only Netgear with their 1.0.0.94 GPL.
Anyway I tried to check a bit Quantenna drivers extracting them from binary image of ASUS FW. They use old drivers. More old than in Netgear's 1.0.0.94 (and 1.0.0.95)
Hm ok, thanks for the responses guys. It seems it is best to stay with stock firmware.
So if you choose you can flash V2 on ANY R7500 model ? That's where I was confused was all. I am running 1.0.0.94, but I can flash to 1.0.2.4 if I choose to ? That's where I was confused earlier. If the hardware isn't model specific I would assme it is safe to flash any R7500 firmware without bricking the device it self. Thanks :)
bombz,
You misunderstood us. You cannot flash v2 firmware to your v1 router, otherwise you will get a brick. I suppose that flashing will not be possible at all if Netgear checks the hardware versions of router.
So what is it that determines it on the router hardware. I didn't see any sticker or anything that shows hardware revision. Is the only way to check by logging into the GUI and looking at the firmware number ? Stupid move on netgear if that's the only way to check. I didn't find any official firmware on their website for V2 anyways. That's why it's confusing I suppose.
bombz,
https://yadi.sk/i/Gnka-f7PrMG28
You can see in the left top corner of WebGUI for v2 exact identification "Nighthawk X4 R7500v2". For v1 you see just "Nighthawk X4 R7500". This is indicator.
If you do not see "v2" then you have "v1".
Hi Voxel,
Voxel
Thank you sir, so it is only software that shows this. Much appreciated.
@robysax -- I am interested to know about that custom firmware myself. If you wouldn't mind sharing the stability and maybe some screen shots (as the ones in the op you can't really make out) I may change or try custom firmware myself. I thought Wi-Fi 5ghz didn't work well with it... not that I NEED 5g but someone had said that I thought.
Thanks :)
Hi Robysax,
Regarding Entware: if you suppose to use my version of Entware optimized for Cortex-A15, it is better to download it again:
entware-cortex-a15.tar.gz https://yadi.sk/d/z82gKbw_qpz8A
entware-initial-cortexa15.tar https://yadi.sk/d/wgMUe9n7qpz8D
I renewed these archives today. Changes are:
1. Some packages were updated in Entware official site (synchronized with OpenWRT).
2. I used option -O3 instead of -O2 for compilation to provide maximal optimization (speed).
3. Changes a bit ffmpeg package (it is now fully optimized for Cortex-A15, was not so for previous version).
4 Some cosmetic changes.
So it is better to re-install this Entware from initial version if it was already installed.
P.S.
I'll be absent for two weeks, so there will be no my comments on your feedbacks some time. Good luck with Entware.
Voxel.
Hi Voxel,
In these 2 weeks, I have tried your custom firmware 1.0.0.98 and these are my feedback :
1. Option "Turn off wireless signal by schedule" on menu Advanced Setup/Wireless settings does not work for 2GHz and 5 GHz.
I have tried to reset router, reinstall firmware with reset before and after this step but, no success.
I use this function because, I don't want to take up WiFi signal all hours day
2. In several trials of download speed from internet, this firmware obtain about 85/10 Mbit max.
In the same identical condition with firmware 1.0.0.95 trial battery and ufficial 1.0.0.94 speed is always 100/10 Mbit, download is greater.
Are there different WiFi parameters among firmware 1.0.0.98 and 1.0.0.95 beta ?
3. I have logged via SSH but I can't view 5 GHz WiFi interface, only 2 GHz is visible like interface ath0.
I have increased txpower for 2,4 GHz via uci commands, it seems that max value is 20 dbm (100 mw).
My goal is to boost 5GHz signal increasing txpower.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi Voxel,
I do not know much about linux, I tried hard to set up the router on your custom firmware 1.0.0.98. but there is no luck, i stuck on installing the opkg package. I found the following problems.
1. the original readyshare is not working.
2. while i am installing entware, the command line "mkswap swap" and "swapon swap" it shows that command is not found.
Thanks for your Excllent work.
opkg install swap-utils_2.25.2-4_cortex-a15.ipk
Hi Voxel!
You can count my R7500 as one with your recent 1.0.0.98 firmware.
Installed with factory default pre and post FW upgrade.
My observations:
1. dropbear - my own RSA keypair installed and used at first attempt.
You setup very nice colored SSH terminal.
2. Entware - had not pay attention to swap size --> "disk full error" at creation. That resulted in backup of all my data on the other partition, delete all partitions an creating new ones (3GB entware).
Would be nice to mention the suggested minimum size of entware paritition in your readme.doc. Just a suggestion.
3. After entware-A15 install & swap setup and reboot all worked. After a few hours (late evening) WiFi 2.4 & 5 GHz did not want to connect any device (getting IP endlessly on devices) , Android phones - 2, notebooks -2 both Windows 10. Regarding LEDs on router were ON.
That WiFi "feature" I observed in official 1.0.0.94 also many times. That was the reason forced me to flash your firmware. Looks like dirty firmware, you have no influence to it.
4. Next day I tried to install LAN printer to one of the WiFi connected notebook. Windows 10 - "there was a critical error, rebooting [from some kind of a blue sccreen]). Again dirty firmware from Netgear?
The same happened two times. So after third reboot I found, that DHCP reserved IP to MAC number not delivered the rihgt IP (was in a range of IP autodelivered to not connected net card). I reserved 3 IP numbers to devices and all had IP numbers autodelivered (not connected).
New reboot solved the issue.
I will report my experiences in next days..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: How to check if WiFi (2.4 & 5GHz) work OK - remote in SSH terminal?
Best regards,
Zdenko
Zdenko,
(continue)
3. Such problem might be if your LAN has additional DHCP server. I.e. one from computer/gadget works as DHCP and your clients receive wrong IP from wrong DHCP server instead getting it from the router. Or DHCP from WAN port... I do not have another idea yet. I did not read such signals from R7500 users. If you have the same problem with stock FW...
4. As far as I understand this problem is solved by reboot?
It is possible for 2.4 using the command iwconfig.
5GHz from Quantenna is black box. But I found the command:
qcsapi_sockrpc get_interface_stats wifi0
at least it should dispay tx_bytes value, which is changed if client is using 5GHz
Voxel.
Robysax,
Did you read my message to you in Private Messages? Are you able to change 5GHz power now? Did it help with speed?
Voxel.
Hi Voxel,
Regarding points that I have notifed to you :
1. Turn off schedule issue :
You was right, there is a problem among time from router gui and SSH console.
I have seen that if I check time on console via SSH, the time is back of 2 hours but, in Web GUI the time is right, NTP server and time settings are correct.
I think that is necessary to setup correct NTP server and time by console to resolve problem.
2. Speed slighty slow than stock firmware :
I have tested speed closed to router with same device (iPad Air), same tool (Ookla), same server Ookla and same position from router in different hours of day.
I confirm that via cable, the speed is 100/10 like stock firmware.
I agree with you that this is no very reliable test.
3. Boost txpower at 5 GHz :
I have tried your commands but, signal is always weak from router to my bedroom (about 15 meters).
With isSSIDer 4 5 GHz signal does not gain any DBm.
When I will be free, I will try your last firmware 1.0.0.98HF
Thanks for your support
Robysax:
1. Timezone
To set proper TZ from command line it is enough to create proper TZ file corresponding to your timezone, e.g.
echo GMT-2 > /tmp/TZ
something like that. Just check your TZ how it should be in Linux. No changes in NTP server are needed. I use such command from autorun script which starts Entware.
2. Speed.
I do not know. Really, there is no anything that should brake the Quantenna 5GHz. Just it works or not. I tried 5GHz and Ookla test using other connection (which is very float, I gat 96Mbit maximum, 52 minimum by cable). I could get 92Mbit with 5Ghz. It is more than your 85 at least.
Regards,
Voxel.
Forgot to add:
3. Boost
I checked by inSSIder 3.1.21. tx_power is changed. My signal was -52. Now it is -47. I used qcsapi_sockrpc set_test_mode_tx_power callcmd 20. Initial value was 12. Notebook is about 8 meter distance from router. No walls but not direct visibility (chairs, table, sofa).
Voxel.
Hi Voxel!
Thank you for the answers. I'll flash your recent FW.
Regarding above, do I have to install ali from the begining? I know that my keys for dropbear are lost at flashing. What about else. Entware and packages are installed on entware USB disk. Do I have to repeat the installation of the entware and its packages at every firmware flashing?
I installed your A15 FW (compiled for Cortex A15) but uname -a returns:
Linux R7500 3.4.0 #1 SMP Mon Apr 25 15:34:23 MSK 2016 armv7l unknown
And today I installed samba from your entware-cortex-a15.tar.gz.
The disk transfer speed is very slow. Over 1GB LAN from computer to R7500 disk on USB3 is max 20 MB/s.
The smb.conf in /opt/etc/samba is:
[global]
netbios name = R7500
display charset = UTF-8
interfaces = lo br0
server string = Netgear R7500
unix charset = UTF-8
workgroup = doma
browseable = yes
deadtime = 30
domain master = yes
encrypt passwords = true
enable core files = no
guest account = nobody
guest ok = yes
invalid users = root
local master = yes
load printers = no
map to guest = Bad User
max protocol = SMB3
min receivefile size = 16384
null passwords = yes
obey pam restrictions = yes
os level = 20
passdb backend = smbpasswd
preferred master = yes
printable = no
security = user
smb encrypt = disabled
smb passwd file = /opt/etc/samba/smbpasswd
socket options = TCP_NODELAY IPTOS_LOWDELAY
syslog = 2
use sendfile = yes
writeable = yes
[BCK]
comment = Backup disk
browseable = no
writable = yes
path = /tmp/mnt/bck
[podatki]
comment = disk s podatki
browseable = no
writable = yes
path = /tmp/mnt/podatki
Do you have any idea, where the problem is?
Have a nice Sunday,
Zdenko
Hi Zdenko,
Of course it is not necessary to re-install Entware every time you reset or flash your router.
And? This message was also displayed in original FW (except time of creation) and I did not touch it. Change it to someting else?
Samba: I had something like 45-50Mbit when tested. About the same when I connect it to notebook. Some WD 2.5" HDD. Sorry, I out of my home now, cannot check again. I used some optimization guide from this article as far as I remembr (I created my smb.conf several years ago and re-used it with different routers, ASUS-es and then Netgear):
https://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/Make_Samba_Go_Faster
Try to play with socket options and AIO. AFAIR I used them.
Regards,
Voxel.
Thank you Voxel!
For the fast answer, regarding you are so busy.
The first I'll check, will be disk to disk copy on two USB3 ports on R7500 alone, to evaluate R7500 USB3 speed and after that, try samba optimisations.
Public question to that forum readers:
Have anyone tested and get any speed difference on NTFS and EXT4 disk partitions regarding R7500 USB3 handling and Samba sharing?
Suggestions what to implement for maximum Samba share speed on R7500 are welcome.
Best regards, Zdenko
Hi Voxel,
I have installed your custom firmware 1.0.0.98HF, installation worked fine, reset before and after upgrade
1. I confirm that creating /tmp/TZ with correct timezone resolve problem of time on console
2. With this custom firmware I can reach 100/10 MBit but I have to switch off QOS to achive this speed.
If you active QOS, band slow down to 80/10 MBit.
3. You are right, this command increase tx power level on 5 GHz.
4. ReadyShare does not work with usb HDD formatted NTFS, it can read only FAT32 and ext2 partition.
If you connect a NTFS USB disk, from SSH console you can see device mounted but, from Windows and router GUI you can't access to it.
In stock firmware there are no problem on NTFS HDD, transfer reach 40/50 MBit.
Like Zdenkod has written, performance on file transfer to and from USB storage are very slow, about 20 MBit.
My opinion is to don't use ReadyShare with this firmware but, download a samba package.
5. Any command that I enter from SSH console to set WiFi is lost after reboot.
For example if I enter uci commands, file /etc/wireless is updated but, after reboot return to default value
My opinion is to don't use router GUI if you have installed this custom firmware, it's better to use only console, more difficult but more affidable.
Is there any way to compile official DDWRT with quantenna drivers for R7500v1 ?
Thanks in advance for your support
Hi Robysax,
1.TZ: Yes, it should be so, I know.
2. QoS is strange stuff. IMO. I do not use it. You have good enough channel for download (100Mbit), so IMO use of QoS has no sense. If you have a lot of clients in your LAN, with torrents, permanent download, not so good bandwith, then use of QoS. Otherwise it just has no sense.
3. OK. Also take into account that inSSIDer can detect the change of tx_power not immediately. After some time.
4. ReadyShare (by Netger). Well, initially I just wanted to ignore this Netgear's specific stuff. Goal is possibility to use Entware/Debian with R7500. But 1.0.0.98 and 1.0.0.98HF have backward compatibility with stock FW. I understand that people maybe are interested in ordinary Netgear's router functionality. So (I wrote this somewhere above): if you have a file /root/.nolabel then you can get Netgear's ReadyShare. For all kinds of file systems. Except you should set permissions 777 for native ext2/3/4. Just run:
echo > /root/.nolabel
from console to get this behaviour of router (ReadyShare).
Also. I checked NTFS with 1.0.0.98HF. No problems. I could read the file.
Speed. Last info I got from Zdenko is that he has got increase of samba speed in 6 (six) times faster than he reported in his mesage with 1.0.0.98HF. I also do not face a problem with speed.
Suggestion:
a) Always use native filesystem for OS i.e. ext2/3/4 for Linux and R7500.
b) Use the link I passed to Zdenko about how to tune samba. Custom config.
c) Use exactly ext2 (not ext3/4) the get maximal speed. Just w/o journaling.
d) Maximum speed you can get with samba from Entware (my version)
5. As I wrote it could be done automatically. E.g. run your commands ifrom the script n your flash drive in the roout of your flash:
autorun/scripts/post-mout.sh
This script will be always executed when you reboot the router.
DD-WRT. Rather OpenWRT. I am not sure. Maybe Kong will do that.
Regards,
Voxel.
Robysax:
(short continuation)
Maybe not quite clear: Zdenko wrote me that after he upgraded 1.0.0.98 to 1.0.0.98HF he got increase of samba speed in 6 times.
DD-WRT vs OpenWRT: stock Netgear's FW is almost 90% OpenWRT. Based on OpenWRT AA version. Old, but stable. So I have now some knowledge in OpenWRT and how Quantenna drivers are loaded from OpenWRT. I have no experience in DD-WRT at all. Yet at least. Also, it is not clear for me will Kong try to add Quantenna drivers to his version or not.
And take into account that DD-WRT is in very initial state for Netgear's IPQ806x routers. Beta. Very "beta". Too many problems yet. E.g. not workable second USB, some problems with Wi-Fi too (except not workable Quantenna). No hardware acceleration. We have to wait some time. And IMO it is more feasible to add Quantenna drivers support to OpenWRT (taken from their official site, not from this forum). Maybe later I'll try. Now I have in my mind plans to upgrade additional packages in next version of my FW. Only problem that too small space is left in FW. Probably samba with more optimal config, OpenVPN, minidlna, workable wget. Something like that.
1.0.0.98HF has some advantages vs WRT: workable stable Quantenna drivers, hard float point, optimized for IPQ806x CPU, compiled with -O2 optimization, updated a lot of OpenWRT packages.
And regarding GUI vs tuning from console. For me it is usual practice. Basic routers settings are set from GUI. Rest tuning (optimal samba, optional FTP, webserver etc) are from console. Who likes what: Personal preferences. Fine tuning IMO could be done only manually, from console. When you understand how it works.
Regards,
Voxel.
I am looking forward on your new version. I had a hard time on setting up the samba36. Can anyone share how to set it up?
New version... Soon, soon... Maybe today. With samba- 3.6.25. Fortunately, I have some free time now.
Hi Voxel,
Thanks for your replay, I will try your last firmware 1.0.0.99 asap.
I have a few questions:
1. Like I have written in last Mail, when I change settings via console by uci commands, settings are lost after reboot.
Is there any way to maintain these settings after reboot ?
2. I have a Samsung Smart TV 6000 series and minidlna embedded in stock firmware does not work with my TV.
Is possible to integrate working version of minidlna in your custom firmware ?
3. Do you think that maybe possible extract sources from netgear firmware 1.0.0.95 beta and customize them ?
I have tried this beta and my feedback is good, it is stable, no problem with WiFi and ethernet connections.
It would be nice to activate dropbear access in firmware 1.0.0.95 beta and embed your customization.
I know that binwalk tool can extract firmware source.
Many thanks for your contribute to improve R7500, your custom firmware is the last chance so far to leverage hardware of this device.
New version of custom FW: 1.0.1.02HF. The link for download is (who wants to use):
https://yadi.sk/d/TJunW59jsHfPV
This FW is optimized for use of Netgear’s ReadyShare functions, including minidlna.
What’s new/changed vs previous version:
ReadyShare
https://yadi.sk/i/AGAgYWoRsHiAc
And it works now. I checked with Samsung Smart TV.
These
Other changes:
ZLIB, LZO, OpenSSL libs are compiled with –O3 option to provide maximal speed. Influence to several packages including OpenVPN (speed).
“Domino effect”: Change of minidlna version required to make changes in tools for compilation (re-new). Changes of tools required to re-new some packages. So updated yet another packages (repaced by latest version from OpenWRT).
Netgear size of FW image is limited, so step-back: standalone wget is removed, wget from busybox is enabled. No space for standalone wget. Plus removed some not-used by FW extra packages. Added one small package needed for me.
Voxel.
Pages