FREE! New public Alchemy version Sveasoft firmware for Linksys WRT54G / WRT54GS wireless 802.11g router

[user1234]

Sveasoft Alchemy firmware si compatible with WRT54G V2.2. See this thread for a link on where to find it (or just google it).

 

[db]

A lot of people have said don't get this or that 802.11g laptop card, BUT...

Who makes a *good* card to use with the wrt54g/gs?!!

 

[imported_waldo]

I use a proxim card, and love it...don't have any problems at all...but it is pricey, but I have never used better.

 

[networkguru1]

Hello
I have the wrt54g with sveasoft vRc6 firmware. Everything works great except wireless.
my laptop keeps dropping the signal or wirless on the router sometimes just does not want to come up.
I had my router in AP Mode, Mixed and channel was 6(i changed to 11, but did not help)
yes i do have a 2.4Ghz phone, but it is not sitting next to my router. I have a fax machine next to it, don't know if it makes a difference.( the fax machine did not bother my previous netgear 802.11b router)

anytips or setting will be helpful.

currently i am using the wrt54g in following settings...
B-only, Ap mode. and it is working fine.

However i want to use in G Mode..and that's when it starts acting weird.

please help..

 

[xyyz]

quick question... anyone try this firmware on any other supported device? any of the following:

Linksys WRT54G
Linksys WRT54GS
Linksys WAP54G
Linksys WRE54G
Belkin F5D7130
Belkin F5D7230-4
Belkin pre-802.11n devices (uses an Airgo wireless card)
Motorola WR850G
Trendnet TEW-411BRP
Asus wl-300g
Asus wl-500g
Dell Truemobile 2300
Buffalo Airstation WBR-G54
Buffalo Airstation WBR2-G54
Ravotek W54-RT
Ravotek W54-AP
Microsoft MN700
Apple Airport ExtremG

does it have the exact functionality of the linksys? for example, switch port specific control, etc?

 

[JKolstad]

Ignore... much better responses were already posted.

 

[JKolstad]

Originally posted by: Devistater
One of the more notable things is the 251mw power boost. Which is pretty high heh.

I can't imagine it really provides much more range to regular wireless cards though, does it? Since even if the cards can hear the WRT54 'that much better,' unless you can boost the power output of the card the WRT54 won't be able to hear the card any better than before.

This reminds me of the CB bands where everyone in the country can hear the guy with the high power linear amplifier... but he's effectively only broadcasting, since very very few people are able to talk back to him.

 

[PING]

link to the latest leaked sveasoft firmware. http://slashdot.org/~TheIndividual/journal

JKolstad, i'm not a gpl lawyer, but from what i read about gpl Sveasoft keeps the copyright to the code they created. But, since the linksys firmware is from gpl'ed code and sveasoft is using that gpl'ed code the sveasoft firmware source must be available upon request from other people.

 

[mdcrab]

Boosting the XMTR power worked well for me in connecting 2nd floor computer to basement router. Connection on computer went from "Low" to "Very Good" for signal strength.

mdcrab

 

[MunkeeBoy]

Originally posted by: JKolstad

Originally posted by: Devistater
One of the more notable things is the 251mw power boost. Which is pretty high heh.

I can't imagine it really provides much more range to regular wireless cards though, does it? Since even if the cards can hear the WRT54 'that much better,' unless you can boost the power output of the card the WRT54 won't be able to hear the card any better than before.

This reminds me of the CB bands where everyone in the country can hear the guy with the high power linear amplifier... but he's effectively only broadcasting, since very very few people are able to talk back to him.

FYI, boosting the power increases both transmit AND receive capabilities of the router.

 

[CoolTech]

is there any way to get this router to use VPN internally? Instead of using a VPN Client in windows on every computer on the network, can you use the router, via a script or third party app installed on the router to connect and transfer all traffic over the VPN? Like entering the username, password and server information somewhere in the script, anyone know if this is possible?

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: PING
JKolstad, i'm not a gpl lawyer, but from what i read about gpl Sveasoft keeps the copyright to the code they created. But, since the linksys firmware is from gpl'ed code and sveasoft is using that gpl'ed code the sveasoft firmware source must be available upon request from other people.

Yes he must provide the source to the GPL portions IF they have downloaded the binaries from him. He's essentially trying to restrict the flow of the beta versions of the binaries by making a service support agreement with sveasoft that states if you share the binaries, you basically take all support onto yourself since you are "forking" the developement. So you are still free to share the binaries, as long as you dont mind losing your sveasoft subscription and handling support. And since the person who distributed is then obligated to support, if you got the binary from somewhere else, the other place is also now obligated to provide the source code.

Now perhaps he goes a bit far sometimes in trying to lessen the flow of some of his binaries to p2p. I already posted several posts mentioning a lot of this. Feel free to reply if some of those posts you feel is incomplete.

Originally posted by: CoolTech
is there any way to get this router to use VPN internally? Instead of using a VPN Client in windows on every computer on the network, can you use the router, via a script or third party app installed on the router to connect and transfer all traffic over the VPN? Like entering the username, password and server information somewhere in the script, anyone know if this is possible?

Good question. I'm not terribly familiar with how the router does VPN and if it just does passthrough on the traffic/ports in question, or is able to do connections by itself. Other routers I've seen that allow VPN connections to the router usually still have a client software installed on the computer that connects to the router from outside (the internal network I dont think needs them in this case, if you do like say remote desktop once you are connected to the internal network. I suggest asking on perhaps the sveasoft forums, or something like that. Perhaps one of the people here can answer for you.

Originally posted by: xyyz
quick question... anyone try this firmware on any other supported device? any of the following:
does it have the exact functionality of the linksys? for example, switch port specific control, etc?

I dont belive the sveasoft firmware supports all those devices currently. From what I understand they are trying to move in the direction to just supporting generic broadcom hardware with the other things added in plugins in the future, but I dont belive any of that has been done currently. So far as I know its just a few linksys devices mostly, like wrt54g/gs and wap54g.
As for what is basically a switch port specific VLAN type managed switch control, that would depend on the switch chip the individual manufatures of the other devices decided to put in with the broadcom chipset. In the case of linksys it is a specific ADMtek ADM6996 that allows such control per thier datasheet.
It would be the same with any other options and features that are not directly implemented within the broadcom chipset.

Originally posted by: Hankysmoo
Could someone tell me what the differences in versions of the WRT54G are? I bought my WRT54G about 3 months ago and it is still unopened. Should I try to get one of the newer ones? Thanks.

Here's a link that provides more detail than you ever wanted to know about the differant versions
http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=6

Originally posted by: user1234
I'm using Alchemy firmware, which as far as I know is the only one which is compatible with the WRT54G V2.2, which is the latest model, and the one you're likely to get if you buy now (please correct me if I'm wrong). Do you know if this firmware supports static DHCP and hot to set it up ?

Yes I know that it supports it. I mentioned it in a couple replies above. I've also linked in the OP places for documentation. I even suggested checking the manuals in my last reply to yours.
However, I'll give you a direct link.
http://docs.sveasoft.com/SV-Administration-Management-DHCPd.html

 

[TheCoop]

I am a total noob to this. Be warned.

I just bought the new WRT54G router. I have downloaded the Sveasoft firmware. I will flash the firmware to the router. Easy so far. I have a main computer that I use to run an ftp server on. I have one other computer which just accesses internet and a Gizmo from Sunrocket as well.

I need EASY instructions (consider me totally stupid) on how to set this up to get the ftp to work. I am using port 20020 in my ftp server going to my computer 192.168.0.101. I know the real IP addy is (this is a fake one so you all dont start hammering it) 68.33.111.104 . Can someone actually walk me through how to set this up to work. I know that I plug the gizmo, computer one and two into one of each of the 4 port plugs on the back of the router, obviously I will have to turn off/unplug the cable modem and router and wait a minute or two for it to configure the ip address. After that I am lost. I am sure I will have to pull up IE and see that internet is working. If it is, then access the router using its IP addy (will find out what it is). From there I need to know where to go other than back to school. Thanks in advance. p.s. I can figure out how to set the QOS setting for the gizmo to give it prioity when using the VOIP phone.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: TheCoop
I am a total noob to this. Be warned.
I have a main computer that I use to run an ftp server on.
I need EASY instructions (consider me totally stupid) on how to set this up to get the ftp to work. After that I am lost. I am sure I will have to pull up IE and see that internet is working. If it is, then access the router using its IP addy (will find out what it is). From there I need to know where to go other than back to school.

[snipped some stuff]
After you've connected stuff and verified internet works:
First: What FTP server software will you be using? I'm familiar with serv-u but not much else beyond general stuff.

On the router: You will need to "port forward" the ports you will use for the FTP. Put in those ports, and set it up to direct it to your computer's internal 192x IP.

On the computer you will run FTP on: Note that this IP must not change on your internal computer. If you are using standard linksys firmware you can check the manual there.
For sveasoft heres the direct link:
http://docs.sveasoft.com/SV-ApplicationGaming-PortForwarding.html
ftp is TCP transfers, so choose that.
Then setup the FTP server program to monitor that port, and if you want to enable PASV transfers on the FTP you'll need to provide it with the external IP of 68.x, and update itevery time it changes.

 

[TheCoop]

I already have a router running with the ftp working fine but since I am switching routers, this is where I wanted to know what to change. I will go with your suggestions and report back if not working. Thanks much.

 

[Generic42]

So, if I was buying a router this week, and wanted to use this firmware, any recommendations?

I was thinking about the WRT54G, but if there is a better/cheaper option, I'd go with that.

Murdock

 

[GTFan]

If you can wait a bit, the new Sveasoft Talisman release is supposed to have support for the Belkin F5D7230-4, a cheapo (free or better AR) 54G router. From what I've read on the sveasoft Belkin forum, it will support all versions of this box, with some limits on the later versions (v1444 and v2000) due to the small 2MB flash available. These are what you'd commonly find in the store.

 

[JPSJPS]

Originally posted by: JKolstad

Originally posted by: Devistater
One of the more notable things is the 251mw power boost. Which is pretty high heh.

I can't imagine it really provides much more range to regular wireless cards though, does it? Since even if the cards can hear the WRT54 'that much better,' unless you can boost the power output of the card the WRT54 won't be able to hear the card any better than before.

This reminds me of the CB bands where everyone in the country can hear the guy with the high power linear amplifier... but he's effectively only broadcasting, since very very few people are able to talk back to him.

Everything you said is correct except for one potential scenario. If the client wireless card (or client USB) has very poor receive sensitivity or is getting jammed by interference(can't hear well) then the added WRT54 power will overcome this and range will increase. Of course high gain directional antennas are a much better approach to improve range especially in a "crowded" environment with lots of interfering signals/systems.

 

[TheCoop]

Originally posted by: TheCoop
I already have a router running with the ftp working fine but since I am switching routers, this is where I wanted to know what to change. I will go with your suggestions and report back if not working. Thanks much.

Ok here goes. I installed the router. I have wireless turned off since all my items are wired to the router. I upgraded the firmware to Alchemy 6 RC5. I now have everything configured the way I want it. Everything works. Two small requests. I am not router literate so please excuse me for common questions, if they end up being common questions.

1. How do I keep the router from changing the computer IPs 192.168.1.100 thru 104. I seem to have it happening whenever one of the computers gets turned off. I would like to keep the same IP for each computer/VOIP.
I have VOIP on port 1 - its setting is 192.168.1.101
I have my computer on port 2 - 192.168.1.102
My sons comuter is on port 3 - 192.168.1.103

I would like them to stay this way even if turned off.

2. How do I set up QOS properly. I know that my bandwidth is 400KBs download and 40KBs upload. What do I set the maximum setting for each port at, they give you a drop down list but not sure which selection to make.

Thanks if you can walk me thru this.

 

[TechFarmer]

Not sure a hot deals thread is the best place for tech support (linksysinfo.org forums may be better) but here goes:

1. Static IP: What you need is to assign static IP addresses using the DHCPd. Go the the Administration page on the router and click the more link for details. Basically, you enter info for each device in the following format (no < or >) in the text box:
<IP Address> <##:##:##:##:##:##> <Hostname>
To find this info for clients currently connected to the router, go to Status, Local Network, DHCP Clients Table and you will see IP address, MAC address, and Hostname. Just type in the info for each client, changing the IP address to what you want it to always be. Reboot and you'll get a new permanent static IP address.

2. Bandwidth Management: Go to Application and Gaming, QoS, and click on the more... link. It says "In order to use bandwidth management (QoS) you must enter bandwidth values for your Uplink and Downlink. These are generally 80% to 90% of your maximum bandwidth." So, take your max speeds and multiply them by 0.9 and enter them in the boxes. Your values sound a little low, so you may want to run another speed test. For VoIP, you probably only need to enable QoS on the WAN port.

Finally, set device-level priority by by setting MAC Priority and/or Ethernet Port Priority (on the same page as QoS). Set it high for the VoIP MAC address and/or the physical port the VoIP adapter is connected to on the router. Set the priority lower for other devices on the network, based on how important it is for them to have a high % of the available bandwidth.

Hope this helps!

 

[TheCoop]

Thanks that worked perfectly.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: TechFarmer
Not sure a hot deals thread is the best place for tech support (linksysinfo.org forums may be better) but here goes:

1. Static IP:

You did notice I linked to the sveasoft manual page on static IP a few posts up right?
But thanks for the info on QOS, I've been thinking about trying that out.

 

[0roo0roo]

sweet .7... i just realized i several versions behind

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
sweet .7... i just realized i several versions behind

I'm actually not using SVEASOFT. I've been using HyperWRTG and it's been doing great. I think you can find it out there too. Are there any sites with comparisons of the different firmwares available for the WRT54G?

 

[0roo0roo]

ah. no idea.
personally i'm too lazy to test more than one since the sveasoft works well enough. .5 wasn't very stable though..was ok for like 2 weeks at a time before i had to reset cuz it would get suddenly slow. .7 ok so far, but well i've only used it for a day