Installing Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router

[Muse]

It seems like everyone flashes these to DD-WRT firmware for all the added features. I haven't done anything yet besides inspecting the contents and reading all the pretty stuff on the box and downloading DD-WRT v23 SP2 Standard. I'm currently using a D-Link Dl-704p ethernet router, and it has web configuration, so I suppose the Buffalo web configuration won't seem too strange.

There are a couple of CD's in the box:

1. Air Navigator
Contents:
-->Client Card Drivers (I have a Thinkpad T60 with ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ)
-->Product Manuals
-->Client Manager Utility

2. Air navigator for Router & Access Point WHR-HP-G54 ver. 1.0.1
CD Contents:
-->Setup Wizard
-->Product Manual


Are the CD's useful? Are they in effect after flashing with DD-WRT? Should I print the manual(s) on the CD? Guidance appreciated.

 

[JackMDS]

There actually of No big use for the CDs even without flashing with DD-WRT.

The only useful thing on them is the extended manual file.

You are much better of configuring the Device manually rather than using the CDs Wizard type installation.

However once Flashed the interface becomes DD-WRT and you have to learn how DD-WRT is working.

In any case, install first and run the Router as is to make sure that it is working before Flashing.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
There actually of No big use for the CDs even without flashing with DD-WRT.

The only useful thing on them is the extended manual file.

You are much better of configuring the Device manually rather than using the CDs Wizard type installation.

However once Flashed the interface becomes DD-WRT and you have to learn how DD-WRT is working.

In any case, install first and run the Router as is to make sure that it is working before Flashing.

So, basically just run the supplied cat5 cable from my DSL modem, run cat5 from my desktops to the rj45 plugs and give the Buffalo power and boot up my systems and see what happens? What will indicate that it's functioning OK?

 

[kevnich2]

Get a wireless laptop, connect to it wirelessly and make sure internet and everything works. Flashing those takes but a few seconds if you read the directions. Do a search for DIY under the network forum and about 3/4 down the DIY network page it'll have EXCELLENT step by step instructions for flashing these. After it's flashed, these things have all the functionality of $1,000 router/firewall. I have 2 here at my house and two at my office configured as AP's. All running DDWRT

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: JackMDS

So, basically just run the supplied cat5 cable from my DSL modem, run cat5 from my desktops to the rj45 plugs and give the Buffalo power and boot up my systems and see what happens? What will indicate that it's functioning OK?

Basically? Yes.

To get to the Internet you might need to configure the PPPOE ID and Password in the Router.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Get a wireless laptop, connect to it wirelessly and make sure internet and everything works. Flashing those takes but a few seconds if you read the directions. Do a search for DIY under the network forum and about 3/4 down the DIY network page it'll have EXCELLENT step by step instructions for flashing these. After it's flashed, these things have all the functionality of $1,000 router/firewall. I have 2 here at my house and two at my office configured as AP's. All running DDWRT

Where is that? Link? I can't find it. TIA.

 

[JackMDS]

Quote from, http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=1952411&enterthread=y

By Kaido.:thumbsup:

Did mine tonight, works great, no bricks (goodbye Linksys!). Here is my procedure for the $39 Buffalo WHR-G54S, adapted from the Wiki: (step-by-step, looks more complicated than it is)

1. Download the standard generic firmware: (dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin)

a. Go here: DD-WRT Download Area, http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads.php
b. Click on "dd-wrt.v23 SP2"
c. Click on "standard"
d. Click on "dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin" to download (3.3mb)
e. Save to C:
* v23 SP2 will not always be the most current version; just update the folder and filenames to reflect whichever is newest (v23 SP3, v24, etc.). Also, do NOT use anything prior to SP1 on a Buffalo router!

2. Configure your computer: (I used Windows XP)

a. Disable wireless connection (if you have one)
b. Close anti-virus and firewall applications
c. Plug in network cable (to connect to the router later)
d. Open TCP/IP Network settings (Network Neighborhood > View Network Connections > Local Area Connection > Internet Protocol (TCP/IP))
e. Select "use the following IP address" and set the IP address to "192.168.11.2", Subnet mask to "255.255.255.0" and leave the Default gateway blank

3. Configure your router:

a. Reset to factory defaults (if you just bought it you are good to go)
b. Unplug power cable
c. Plug in network cable from PC to a LAN port (not WAN)

4. Flash firmware:

a. Open the Command Prompt (Start > Run > "cmd" to open)
b. Go to the C:\ by typing "cd c:\"
c. Type this in BUT don't press enter yet: "tftp -i 192.168.11.1 PUT dd-wrt.v23_generic.bin"
d. Hit enter and then plug in the power cable to the router
e. The LAN port will start flashing (the green LED by the Ethernet cable)
f. Wait a minute or two for the file to transfer. If you are successful, you will get a message like "Transfer successful: 3502080 bytes in 5 seconds, 700416 bytes/s". If it is not successful, you will get a message saying "Timeout occurred". If this happens you probably plugged in the router's power cable too quickly. There is a small window when the router accepts files to be transferred and you have to hit it just right.

5. Reset the system:

a. Go back into your TCP/IP settings on your PC and set it to "Obtain IP address automatically" instead of "Use the following IP address"
b. Reset the router by unplugging it and plugging it back in
c. Log into the router by pointing your browser to 192.168.1.1
d. Immediately change the password (default username is "root" and password is "admin")

That's it, now enjoy! Basically you are just transferring the new firmware to the router. Easy as pie. By the way, the rest of my network equipment showed up, here's a pic:

Home Network

Pictured is my shiny new black Motorola cable modem, freshly-flashed Buffalo wireless router, and 16-port 10/100 Dell switch. Below that is my Mini-ITX file server (small, eh?). Everything will be connected to an old UPS battery-backup strip I have lying around somewhere. Now I will have the pleasure of drilling holes in my place to run the wiring. I'm not going to bother installing keystone jacks (wallplates) since I don't have that many devices and the wires can be hidden pretty easily against the wall (white network cables). I bought the CAT5E network cables from MonoPrice.com, an awesome place for getting quality cheap cables. I'll post some some more pics when it's all set up.

 

[kevnich2]

Those are the ones. If you follow those exactly, you CANNOT go wrong with it.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Those are the ones. If you follow those exactly, you CANNOT go wrong with it.

Thanks. Now (correct me if I'm wrong, please) I believe that's instructions to go with the dd-wrt firmware.

OK, people say in this thread to first make sure the router's OK before flashing. Now, I figure I've probably made a mistake. That mistake may be not turning off my NAV and Zonealarm, but nobody said to do that so I didn't. I'm currently using my old D-Link ethernet router because I'm not getting a connection with the Buffalo. Here's what happened when I tried to test it:

I hooked it up.

I booted my computer.

The router came with a little piece of paper that says this:

- - - -
Buffalo AirStation Quick Setup Guide

1. Please put the "AirNavigator for router & Access Point" CD in your computer's CD/DVD drive.

2. Please click according to the screen.
- - - -

I did all this and up pops this little screen:

---------------------------------------------
Setup Wizard
---------------------------------------------

This product does not support the current OS version.

OK

---------------------------------------------

I'm running Windows 2000 SP4. I can't find anything on the box mentioning OS requirements. Press OK and it goes away and nothing happens. I open IE 6 and there's no connection. I rummaged around in the 5 MB or so PDF manual on the CD, which says you can get a configuration screen by opening a browser and entering 192.168.11.1. When I do that nothing is found, just as though I was trying to go to my home page. I don't see anything in that PDF manual about OS support. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

 

[ncage]

Just curious if you flash one of these things with dd-wrt and you wnt to go back to buffalo's firmware for whatever reason in the future can you do that?

Ncage

 

[noping]

Originally posted by: ncage
Just curious if you flash one of these things with dd-wrt and you wnt to go back to buffalo's firmware for whatever reason in the future can you do that?

Ncage

Yep. Link at the DD-WRT download area.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Those are the ones. If you follow those exactly, you CANNOT go wrong with it.

Thanks. Now (correct me if I'm wrong, please) I believe that's instructions to go with the dd-wrt firmware.

OK, people say in this thread to first make sure the router's OK before flashing. Now, I figure I've probably made a mistake. That mistake may be not turning off my NAV and Zonealarm, but nobody said to do that so I didn't. I'm currently using my old D-Link ethernet router because I'm not getting a connection with the Buffalo. Here's what happened when I tried to test it:

I hooked it up.

I booted my computer.

The router came with a little piece of paper that says this:

- - - -
Buffalo AirStation Quick Setup Guide

1. Please put the "AirNavigator for router & Access Point" CD in your computer's CD/DVD drive.

2. Please click according to the screen.
- - - -

I did all this and up pops this little screen:

---------------------------------------------
Setup Wizard
---------------------------------------------

This product does not support the current OS version.

OK

---------------------------------------------

I'm running Windows 2000 SP4. I can't find anything on the box mentioning OS requirements. Press OK and it goes away and nothing happens. I open IE 6 and there's no connection. I rummaged around in the 5 MB or so PDF manual on the CD, which says you can get a configuration screen by opening a browser and entering 192.168.11.1. When I do that nothing is found, just as though I was trying to go to my home page. I don't see anything in that PDF manual about OS support. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

Well, your going to have to give us quite a bit more information if you need help. Power on your buffalo router. On the back, press the reset hole with a pen or a paperclip for about 10 seconds. Give the router about 1 minute to come back up, hook your PC with a network cable up to one of the 1-4 ports on the back. After this, restart your PC. Once windows comes back up, do the following: Start > Run > type "command" and press enter. In the black DOS window, type in: "ipconfig" and press enter. What does it say in here exactly?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: kevnich2

Well, your going to have to give us quite a bit more information if you need help. Power on your buffalo router. On the back, press the reset hole with a pen or a paperclip for about 10 seconds. Give the router about 1 minute to come back up, hook your PC with a network cable up to one of the 1-4 ports on the back. After this, restart your PC. Once windows comes back up, do the following: Start > Run > type "command" and press enter. In the black DOS window, type in: "ipconfig" and press enter. What does it say in here exactly?

Thanks!

Looks like I finally got past the impasse. Let's see... First problem was my properties for TCP/IP LAN settings. I thought I had it set up for automatic IP detection but it was not! I changed that and then I got into the Buffalo configuration setup screen. I changed that for autodetect and nothing worked, so I reset the router again and went back in. This time the utility worked differently, I have no idea why. I was asked for info from my ISP and I called them and got the primary and secondary DNS server addresses, which were news to me. I entered them and once I figured out what my actual username is for my ISP, my connection was verified and voila... I'm currently using the Buffalo! Now, I guess I'll try to connect wirelessly with my laptop. I have a feeling that's not going to work right off the bat...

Edit: I'm wirelessly connected using my laptop. Thing is, the laptop identified 5 wireless networks available. I tried one of them (I didn't recognize the name of any of them) and it didn't work. So, I tried another and it does work. The laptop said it's an unsecured network. How can I identify the name of the wireless network? How do I know I'm connected to my Buffalo? I think my next door neighbors have a wireless network too.

Edit 2: I recognize the street address of my neighbor in one of the network names. I'm pretty sure I'm connected to my Buffalo, but don't know how to confirm that. 3 of the 5 available networks are unsecured. I guess I should go into my Buffalo config utility and secure things. I suppose a better idea is to just flash dd-wrt, now that I've confirmed the Buffalo is working (well, after I prove that I'm connected to my own network!).

Edit 3: Going into the Buffalo config utility I see the SSID is the same as the name of the wireless network I'm connected to. So, the Buffalo appears to work OK.

 

[Muse]

Kaido's quoted instructions to flash dd-wrt include the following:

5. Reset the system:

a. Go back into your TCP/IP settings on your PC and set it to "Obtain IP address automatically" instead of "Use the following IP address"
b. Reset the router by unplugging it and plugging it back in
c. Log into the router by pointing your browser to 192.168.1.1
d. Immediately change the password (default username is "root" and password is "admin")
------------------------------------------------------------
I believe that should be 192.168.11.1, not 192.168.1.1

PS I was wrong. The new firmware specifies 192.168.1.1

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: noping

Originally posted by: ncage
Just curious if you flash one of these things with dd-wrt and you wnt to go back to buffalo's firmware for whatever reason in the future can you do that?

Ncage

Yep. Link at the DD-WRT download area.

Which of these firmwares would return the WHR-HP-G54 router to its original condition? It appears that none of the 3 will do that.

 

[Muse]

So, although I know of no way back to the stock firmware I just flashed to dd-wrt standard: v23 SP2. I went into the dd-wrt configuration screen and have made almost no changes yet.

I have no Internet connectivity.

I change my username and password. I only made two potentially substantive changes. The other day I got primary and secondary DNS server addresses from my ISP and I figured maybe they are appropriately entered as Static DNS 1 and Static DNS 2 under Network Address Server Settings (DHCP) under Basic Setup in the dd-wrt control panel. Is that correct or incorrect? Any suggestions as to why I don't have an internet connection? My laptop sees the network and is connected. My Windows is set up to get an IP address automatically, just as it was before when I was successfully connected using the stock Buffalo firmware.

 

[Muse]

Internet connectivity solved. I called ISP support (SBC), and it was suggested I try PPPoE in Basic Configuration instead of the default (Automatic Configuration = DHCP). Apparently, Automatic Configuration doesn't work for my connection.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
There actually of No big use for the CDs even without flashing with DD-WRT.

The only useful thing on them is the extended manual file.

You are much better of configuring the Device manually rather than using the CDs Wizard type installation.

However once Flashed the interface becomes DD-WRT and you have to learn how DD-WRT is working.
In any case, install first and run the Router as is to make sure that it is working before Flashing.

What are some good ways to figure out the DD-WRT features? I see help in there, but there's a ton of things. I have my WPA-AES security set up now, but I don't know squat about wireless security. I know this is a good kind. Does it depend on using a LOT of characters? Why is it that WEP is so easy to crack?

One of the things I want to look into is increasing the output of the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router. I think I'm getting pretty OK coverage but I want to boost it some to get better signal strength and throughput. Where do I do that in the DD-WRT interface? TIA.

 

[kevnich2]

Under the wireless tab, choose the advanced sub-tab and it'll be in there. Just make sure you only change one thing at a time, then check and make sure things are ok. With the advanced settings, there's alot you can change (and alot you can mess up). If you change a lot around and hit save and things don't work right, you'll have a tough time figuring out which option it was that caused the mess up.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Under the wireless tab, choose the advanced sub-tab and it'll be in there. Just make sure you only change one thing at a time, then check and make sure things are ok. With the advanced settings, there's alot you can change (and alot you can mess up). If you change a lot around and hit save and things don't work right, you'll have a tough time figuring out which option it was that caused the mess up.

Thanks. I assume the initial setting I'd play with is the one initially set at 28.

There's a setting in dd-wrt that says something like return to factory default configuration. Now, I assume that's one of two things:

1. Initial dd-wrt settings
2. The original default router firmware and settings

Which is it?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Under the wireless tab, choose the advanced sub-tab and it'll be in there. Just make sure you only change one thing at a time, then check and make sure things are ok. With the advanced settings, there's alot you can change (and alot you can mess up). If you change a lot around and hit save and things don't work right, you'll have a tough time figuring out which option it was that caused the mess up.

Thanks. I assume the initial setting I'd play with is the one initially set at 28.

There's a setting in dd-wrt that says something like return to factory default configuration. Now, I assume that's one of two things:

1. Initial dd-wrt settings
2. The original default router firmware and settings

Which is it?

It's clearly a return to dd-wrt defaults.

 

[FrankRamiro]

It's clearly a return to dd-wrt defaults.

Hi guys: i have Good news for me: I was able to figure out this DD-WRT config on the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 and Updated the Firmware and i've set up a Secure WEPA and you know what i have a very good Wireless signal on all my Wireless machines and all locked.