New router, and dd-wrt questions

[CU]

I picked up two refurb TRENDnet TEW-652BRP v1.1 for $19.99 that support DD-WRT. To install DD-WRT do I flash it with tew652brp-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin and then with tew652brp-firmware.bin. I know I have to do the 30/30/30 reset thing in there also, but is that the basics of it. There is not a dedicated page on DD-WRT's site about this router. Also the two firmwares are the same size and date. What is the difference between them? Other routers seem to have have two firmwares listed like this also, so I assume this is a generic install question.

Next question is am going to use one as the main router connected to the cable modem and the other one as a wireless bridge to connect the upstairs computer room to downstairs. I know I can set them to N/G mixed mode and that will allow our netbook to connect, but would it better to create a N only SSID to connect the routers and then a G only SSID to connect other device like our netbook? What are the pros and cons of both configurations? Another option I have is run them in N only and connect my old Dlink-624 up and have it run in G only. So what sounds better?

 

[CU]

After doing some reading it looks like using virtual SSIDs or allowing N/G on one SSID is better than using my old Dlink router as a G access point because of conservation of channels. Still not sure what is better though, virtual SSIDs or allowing N/G on one SSID? I think virtual SSID's, so older devices that don't support the newest encryption can connect to the virtual SSID.

 

[Vincent]

My neighbors' wireless networks don't interfere much with ours. So I have one 802.11g network on channel 1 and the 802.11n network has the rest of the 2.4GHz spectrum. This has worked well for me.

Did you every get dd-wrt installed? The first time you flash from the Trendnet firmware, use the factory-to-ddwrt firmware. Otherwise the factory firmware will reject the dd-wrt file. Later on when you upgrade to more recent dd-wrt builds you can use the other file.

I was using a TEW-652brp 1.1 with dd-wrt for a while but could never get it to work well in 40MHz 300mbps mode. I finally replaced it with an Asus RT-N12 which has worked better, but I still regularly fail to get 300mbps connections.

 

[CU]

I haven't flashed it yet. Lack of time being the reason. How much land does your house set on? Our lot is .2 acres. Just wondering since you said your neighbors don't interfere much.

 

[Vincent]

I think we have about 0.24 acres. With inSSIDer I can detect a handful of other wireless networks but their signal strength is so low that they don't interfere with ours.

I've never experimented with wireless bridging, but my experience with the instability of wireless networks in general would make me reluctant to depend on a wireless bridge. It's probably worth a try, but you might end up much happier using powerline networking or MoCA adapters to connect your upstairs computer room to downstairs.

 

[CU]

Unfortunately they didn't wire that room with cable or even phoneline. Never even seen a house not have all the bedrooms wired for phones. Didn't even notice until after we bought it. So, MoCA want work. Thought about powerline networking, but since these routers were only $20 I thought I would try a wireless bridge. Now to find time to try it out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've been using a DD-WRT WDS with WPA/PSK-AES for several years, runs pretty good. I'm using Netgear WNR834Bv2 units (Broadcom hardware).

Your TrendNet 652s are Atheros hardware, so a little different. Haven't tried much WDS with those, but I have used wireless client bridging with a virtual AP (how you have to do wireless repeating with Atheros on DD-WRT).

I think Broadcom hardware is a bit more stable under DD-WRT than Atheros, but it should still work.