Tomato firmware tweaks on new router

[wtfbbq]

I just bought the ASUS 520GL and flashed it with the custom Tomato USB Lite. I've never really messed around with router settings (other than forwarding ports for games and other apps). Everyone says Tomato is packed full of features - are there anything that I should specifically test out and change? I saw that boosting the signal power to 70mw is recommended, but I'm going to first move in to my new place to see if anything like that is necessary.

Also, there's an option for DHCP that is giving me errors. It's on the same page as the other wireless settings and appears to be enabled by default. I tried enabling a WEP key, but then when I save the page it says the IP address ranges are invalid (though I did not change anything there). If only 3 people are going to be using it wirelessly, can I disable DHCP (haha, I don't really know what it does...)?

thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

If there is a specific need for a functional Feature (like using the Router as client wireless card, or setting security) use the feature.

Otherwise leave the settings alone. Routers are Not Mobo/CPUs, or Video cards, No need to tweak.

I can assure you that if you play with the general settings you would get worse performance.

Tomato Basic Screen Shows the DHCP and Basic Wireless configuration on the same Menu page but there is No relation between them.

The DHCP is so simple that I can not imagine configuration what your problem is, unless you made a mistake with the subnet and it is Not the same as the LAN' IP address above it.

Subnet is the first three group of numbers if the IP is (example) 192.168.1.10 192.168.1.x is the subnet.

 

[wtfbbq]

Ahhh thanks, that sounds like good advice - I'll just leave it be.

As for the question I'll try to clarify the problem a bit more: I haven't changed any settings on it (and can not due to the problem). DHCP was enabled on "192.168.1.192.168.1.2" to "192.168.1.NaN" with a time lease of "86400" these three issues give me an error on the Basic - Network page where I try to change the security and the SSID. pic: http://i42.tinypic.com/35d1bub.jpg (note: I later realized that I'm supposed to click "generate" and not just make up my own key... at least I think so, anyways. I'm a real noob at this.)

http://i42.tinypic.com/2gx1bty.jpg

Currently the router is not connected to a modem (I'll be using Comcast and am bored and just trying to set it up beforehand cause I've never done it before and will be busy moving things in). I'm at a friends house so I don't want to mess with his modem/router setup. Is this causing the DHCP problem (should I even keep it enabled?). Sorry about stupidly neglecting this fact beforehand, it slipped my mind.

 

[JackMDS]

The core IP of your Router is 192.168.1.

Thus the subnet is 192.168.1.x

Get rid of what ever is in DHCP fields and it should be set to something like 192.168.10 to 192.168.20 that would provide IP for 11 computer.

 

[wtfbbq]

ahhh okay, thanks!. so it doesn't really matter what the range is? it'll just auto assign them?
also what is the lease time? should i set it to 1 (min) or 10080 (max)?

 

[JackMDS]

It does not matter as long as it does not invade any other IPs that are allocated to the system.

IPs within the DHCP range would be Auto Assigned to the computers provided that the computer's TCP/IP is set to Auto Obtain.

Set the lease time to max and the IPs would be more stable.

If all your Wireless cars can do WPA use WPA is is faster more stable and much more secure than WEP.

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
Switching Off SSID (same has No Security. SSID can be easily sniffed even if it is Off)
MAC Filtering______(Band Aid if nothing else is available, MAC number can be easily Spoofed).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
-------------------
The three above are Not considered safe.
Safe Starts here at WPA.
-------------------
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP bellow SP3 and did not updated it, you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357>

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

 

[wtfbbq]

ah okay, thanks so much for the help! I'll use WPA and fix the dhcp settings. much appreciated!

 

[imported_hopeless]

Here is a link to a wikibook that goes over the different settings Tomato info

 

[KCT3P0]

yeah, maybe I should upgrade.