New Router R7000 which firmware to choose?

[Makaveli]

Going to replace my DGL4500 Router with NETGEAR R7000 today!

Which custom firmware do you guys recommend?

DD-WRT or Asuswrt-Merlin ??

 

[smitbret]

Will an R7000 run Merlin?

 

[Engineer]

Will an R7000 run Merlin?

The XVortex porting of Merlin over to an R7000.

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/asuswrt-merlin-on-netgear-r7000.71108/

Works well on my R7000 but I'm only running as an access point so not sure how well it runs as a full fledged router.

To the OP, Shibby Tomato runs pretty well on the R7000 also.

 

[Makaveli]

Out of the 4 firmwares.

Stock
DD-WRT
Merlin
Tomato

The general report seems to be Asus Merlin provides best performance and wireless range.

I just picked up the Router from canada computers but won't be setting it up until I decide on a firmware.

 

[Engineer]

From reading around (on both the Vortex and Merlin versions), there seems to be quiet a few dropped connections on 378.55 and their variants. Many have went back to the 378.54_2 versions and have reported much better connections. It appears that Asus has changed the SDK (wireless driver stuff) in 378.55 and that carried through to Vortex and Merlin with some side effects (bad) or so it seems. Since I don't run mine as a full router and have a RT-AC68U running as my main router (with same SSID as the R7000), I don't know if it's stable or not. I know there are no complaints but I have mine on 378.54_2 Vortex.

I ran Tomato on both for quiet some time but couldn't get IPv6 to work and there were always nagging little freezes. Once going to Merin and Vortex, I've had no such freezes.

DD-WRT also had freezes but has had several revisions (Kong and Brainslayer both) since then.

So far, I like the Vortex version about as good as any (378.54_2).

Good luck...

 

[VirtualLarry]

I was thinking of picking up an R7000 myself, mainly to run Shibby Tomato. I'm currently running it on an Asus RT-N12/D1, but that's only an N300 2.4Ghz router. I have an additional AC1200 AP. Would like to combine the two into one physical device to save space and power.

Is there any better AC1200 or better router to run Shibby Tomato? (I have an IPv6 tunnel through HE.net, so I need to run Shibby on my main router.)

 

[Makaveli]

So I got the R7000 setup.

First impressions I like the look of the router stock setup was super easy.

I updated the netgear firmware to its newest version then I went straight to Asus Merlin v378.55_2

So far I'm very impressed with what I see in the firmware and the amount of options.

I'm coming from a DGL 4500 which came out 2008 and doesn't allow open firmware so quite the change. I'm Off today so i'm going to spend the day fine tuning.

My previous setup was DGL 4500 router in the computer room to a 4 port Dlink switch in the living room with an AP attached to that switch. The Router would provide 5ghz access upstairs and the AP was in mixed 2.4Ghz for the lower floor.

The range so far on the nighthawk is great so I think I will be able to get rid of that second ap I want the switch there because I want the Smart TV to have wired connection aswell as my HTPC under the TV.

My upload is alittle higher on this router also.

 

[Beer4Me]

I bought an R7000 back in December 2014. Still using the stock firmware, and this router has been an absolute joy to own. Never any issues, and I never have to reboot it.

 

[Makaveli]

I bought an R7000 back in December 2014. Still using the stock firmware, and this router has been an absolute joy to own. Never any issues, and I never have to reboot it.

The Asus firmware on this router is far better than stock you have way more options. I spent a few hours last night playing around in the stock firmware then this one apples vs oranges.

 

[Engineer]

The Asus firmware on this router is far better than stock you have way more options. I spent a few hours last night playing around in the stock firmware then this one apples vs oranges.

Yes, Netgear has dumbed down the firmware with very few bells and whistles. Even removed Telnet.

The one thing I haven't done (yet?) is to add the modified CFE bootloader from Vortex. The modified bootloader will give the R7000 the same 'recovery system' as the Asus router so that it is very difficult to brick.

Very tempted to try doing that. I guess if worse came to worse, I could use a serial cable and console to un-brick it but the Asus method is so much easier.

 

[Makaveli]

Yes, Netgear has dumbed down the firmware with very few bells and whistles. Even removed Telnet.

The one thing I haven't done (yet?) is to add the modified CFE bootloader from Vortex. The modified bootloader will give the R7000 the same 'recovery system' as the Asus router so that it is very difficult to brick.

Very tempted to try doing that. I guess if worse came to worse, I could use a serial cable and console to un-brick it but the Asus method is so much easier.

I was looking into that also but his firmware will load with the OEM bootloader and makes it easier to go back to stock netgear firmware if need be. While the custom cfe does give the benefit of greater recovery since I didn't need it for Xvortex's firmware I didn't bother.

Now that I've spent a few more hours with it I'm very impressed with the range. I left my property and was still getting signal.

 

[Engineer]

I was looking into that also but his firmware will load with the OEM bootloader and makes it easier to go back to stock netgear firmware if need be. While the custom cfe does give the benefit of greater recovery since I didn't need it for Xvortex's firmware I didn't bother.

Now that I've spent a few more hours with it I'm very impressed with the range. I left my properly and was still getting signal.

I have one of these as well as an RT-AC68U and can pick up 2.4GHz for 3 blocks!

I can also scan and pickup about 30-35 AP's around the neighborhood at any time!