Recommend firmware for Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router

[Muse]

I think I heard that the dd-wrt firmware for this model wireless router has been significantly improved, however I'm running the version I downloaded almost 6 years ago in January 2007.

I've been having persistent problems with dropped audio with streaming Webex videos. They happen ~80% of the time between 4.5 minutes and 4.9 minutes. I think the problem has been pretty much isolated to be the router. Broadband has been tested, improved, declared pure.

I could flash to any firmware, I presume. I live in a midsized house, so I got the Buffalo router and the dd-wrt firmware with the idea that I would get improved range with my wireless devices.

If dd-wrt is a good/best idea, where can I find the best firmware for it, or other good/best firmware? Would Tomato be a better idea? Thanks!

 

[Muse]

Poking around I see "stable" and a variety of beta versions of dd-wrt for this router.

The latest development release is v24 preSP2 (Build13064) Beta
The recommended version is v24 preSP2 (Build14896) Beta
The "stable" version is v24 SP1 (Build10020)

I'm right now using some flavor of dd-wrt.v23_wrtsl54 from Sept. 15, 2006.

:\

 

[Spicedaddy]

"The recommended version is v24 preSP2 (Build14896) Beta"

That's what I've been using for a few years, no problems... Uptime is whatever time between now and the last power outage.

 

[Muse]

"The recommended version is v24 preSP2 (Build14896) Beta"

That's what I've been using for a few years, no problems... Uptime is whatever time between now and the last power outage.

Are you using it with this same WHR-HP-G54 router?

We had a badass power outage a couple of weeks ago... lasted 9 hours, 7AM to 4PM on a Friday. I've power cycled the router, did so today in testing. The info I'm seeing online about flashing dd-wrt is intimidating, voluminous, I'm seeing nothing yet like a user friendly flowchart, but I'm sure it will shake out somehow... I did it 6 years ago. The version I'm running right now is:

DD-WRT v23 SP2 (09/15/06) std

 

[JackMDS]

I do not think that the 3rd party firmwares do anything to increase Power/Range of the Buffalo HPs.

Because of the way the High output power works in these devices the boosting through the 3rd party firmware doe not increase anything, it might even impede the Wireless functions by making the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) more noisy.

As far as my experience goes if you need to use 3rd party firmware, Tomato does better than DD-WRT on this specific Wireless Router.

 

[OlafSicky]

3rd party firmware is usually slower and has worse signal than manufacturer but adds extra features.

 

[Muse]

I do not think that the 3rd party firmwares do anything to increase Power/Range of the Buffalo HPs.

Because of the way the High output power works in these devices the boosting through the 3rd party firmware doe not increase anything, it might even impede the Wireless functions by making the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) more noisy.

As far as my experience goes if you need to use 3rd party firmware, Tomato does better than DD-WRT on this specific Wireless Router.

I don't suppose I do need to run 3rd party firmware. Is it possible to flash Buffalo's firmware back on the router?

I tried to get a recommendation for dd-wrt at their forums but got scolded by a "dd-wrt guru" (i.e. moderator) for not first having read all the announcements thoroughly. I then apologized and started reading those announcements and I have to say that trying to understand the situation with the dd-wrt firmware updates by virtue of reading those announcements is a prescription for insanity and could lead to suicide, YMMV. Misuse of the English language, entropic links (scattering the student in a branching multitude of directions), unexplained terms and acronyms, apologies for inconsistencies in the website and horrible misleading and incorrect information in the firmware database (e.g. recommending very bad builds) are a few of the problems that come to mind. I've been perusing this for a couple of hours now and haven't gotten very far. I wish now I could just go back to Buffalo firmware, or maybe go to Tomato if need be.

 

[Muse]

I suppose I've found the answer concerning reverting to Buffalo firmware. A little searching found this thread:

Restore the original firmware of Buffalo WHR-HP-G54

A post in that thread by dd-wrt guru redhawk0 says:
- -
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:39 am

OK...its verified.

hard reset the dd-wrt loaded router.
Flash the file provided above using dd-wrt Administration>>Firmware Upgrade tab.
When it finishes flashing...wait 5 minutes
power cycle the router...it will boot up in Buffalo FW.
Login with UN/PW = root/<leave blank>
Hard reset again....then configure to your liking.

here are 2 screen shots after I did the above.

Good luck on your project

redhawk
- - - -
The provided file is WHR-HP-G54-1.40-ENG.BIN, which I believe is the more recent of the two firmware versions provided at Buffalo's website (renamed as provided in the thread) for that router, which I downloaded last night from Buffalo's downloads page for the router. They post version 1.40 and 1.20.

Perhaps I should post in the dd-wrt forums for confirmation, but am leery of flack from the cranky SOB's there.

 

[Pulsar]

I suppose I've found the answer concerning reverting to Buffalo firmware. A little searching found this thread:

Restore the original firmware of Buffalo WHR-HP-G54

A post in that thread by dd-wrt guru redhawk0 says:
- -
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:39 am

OK...its verified.

hard reset the dd-wrt loaded router.
Flash the file provided above using dd-wrt Administration>>Firmware Upgrade tab.
When it finishes flashing...wait 5 minutes
power cycle the router...it will boot up in Buffalo FW.
Login with UN/PW = root/<leave blank>
Hard reset again....then configure to your liking.

here are 2 screen shots after I did the above.

Good luck on your project

redhawk
- - - -
The provided file is WHR-HP-G54-1.40-ENG.BIN, which I believe is the more recent of the two firmware versions provided at Buffalo's website (renamed as provided in the thread) for that router, which I downloaded last night from Buffalo's downloads page for the router. They post version 1.40 and 1.20.

Perhaps I should post in the dd-wrt forums for confirmation, but am leery of flack from the cranky SOB's there.

I've been running tomato, on that router, for the last 5 years. I've never had a single issue with it, and my uptime is also measured in weeks / months.

 

[Muse]

I've been running tomato, on that router, for the last 5 years. I've never had a single issue with it, and my uptime is also measured in weeks / months.

I suppose I could flash Tomato from its current state. Or may be I should revert to Buffalo v.1.40 first. Or stick with Buffalo. One thing's for sure, I have to do something soon. I can't even download big files right now and I get audio dropouts every ~5 minutes or so using Webex streaming video. The only way I can download a big file right now (or stream Webex satisfactorily) is to plug my PC directly into my modem! However, that means my laptops lose their connection to my network or the internet, so I have to switch it back to do that... :hmm:

 

[Engineer]

I recommend Tomato. Not sure how much it's been updated for that particular router though and may not have many features, but even the older versions of Tomato are rock solid and fast.

 

[Muse]

I recommend Tomato. Not sure how much it's been updated for that particular router though and may not have many features, but even the older versions of Tomato are rock solid and fast.

Can I flash straight to Tomato from dd-wrt or do I have to flash Buffalo first?

 

[Engineer]

Can I flash straight to Tomato from dd-wrt or do I have to flash Buffalo first?

I have always went from DD-WRT to Tomato (clearning NVRAM either with a checkbox or a 30 second reset). As a matter of fact, many routers require a mini version of DD-WRT flashed first before Tomato can be put on (for whatever reason).

I'm partial to the Shibby version of Tomato and, according to this (click me), you can use either the K24 or K26 version of Tomato (make sure to flash under 4MB versions). Based on the age of that router, you might be better off going with the K24 version (not sure about K26 versions of Tomato on that hardware) but with that said, you'll lose functionality like IPV6.

 

[Muse]

I have always went from DD-WRT to Tomato (clearning NVRAM either with a checkbox or a 30 second reset). As a matter of fact, many routers require a mini version of DD-WRT flashed first before Tomato can be put on (for whatever reason).

I'm partial to the Shibby version of Tomato and, according to this (click me), you can use either the K24 or K26 version of Tomato (make sure to flash under 4MB versions). Based on the age of that router, you might be better off going with the K24 version (not sure about K26 versions of Tomato on that hardware) but with that said, you'll lose functionality like IPV6.

I suppose it's not the "age" of the router that matters but the model number, assuming there aren't different versions of the WHR-HP-G54 around.

I'll look for whatever's recommended for that router. Never heard of IPV6, will have to search for info. I sure need to flash my router soon, it's driving me nuts. I have discovered that my video for streaming video is freezing as well as the audio. With audio you can't miss it because the sound disappears. With video it just doesn't change for a few seconds, I hadn't noticed... but I notice now, because I can hear the presenter explaining things I can't see until things start moving again. I don't know for sure, of course, if a flash is going to fix the problem, but I have to try. Worst case scenario the router never works right again and I have to order some other router. In the mean time I would have to use my midtower for internet, connecting it directly to my modem.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have always went from DD-WRT to Tomato (clearning NVRAM either with a checkbox or a 30 second reset). As a matter of fact, many routers require a mini version of DD-WRT flashed first before Tomato can be put on (for whatever reason).

This.

 

[Muse]

This.

It's my next project. Right now I'm trying to use ExterminateIt to rid my Win7 64 system of vid-saver. I wasn't sure it was OK, but searches appear to indicate I can trust it.

Edit: Goddamn router... I have to pause and resume download of ExterminateItSetup.exe multiple times to get the 150MB download. It's that or hook up my desktop to my modem directly again... :\

I have no idea what site or sly installation slipped me vid-saver, a nasty adware adjunct that permeates my searches.

 

[Muse]

OK, I'm ready to flash the router except that

1. I don't know what version of Tomato to use

2. Don't know if I can flash right over the antiquated dd-wrt firmware that's on the router

3. Don't know where to get the firmware

4. Don't know the procedures.

Seems that there's much less out there for tomato than dd-wrt. I don't see dedicated forums, don't even see a site specific to Tomato. There's this site polarcloud, but it's unclear if that is or isn't an/the official site.

Guidance appreciated!

 

[Engineer]

Tomato forums:

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?forums/tomato-firmware.33/

www.tomatousb.org

Will look around for flashing instructions. Looks like you might have to do the TFTP method from what I have found though (nothing really clear).

As for versions, you can use either the K24 or K26 mini version (under 4MB for the flash) from Shibby (See the linksysinfo links) and would assume from TomatoUSB.org as well (Teddy Bear's version). I can only assume that Toastman's version (from the linksysinfo link) would work but not sure.

See here for Teddy Bear recommended versions (slightly dated with fewer features but very solid performance): http://tomatousb.org/doc:build-types

Shibby information here: http://tomato.groov.pl/?page_id=69

Version 24: http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K24/build5x-104-EN/tomato-ND-1.28.5x-104-SD-VPN.trx
Version 26: http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26/build5x-104-PL/ (use any of the MIPSR1 (NOT MIPSR2) versions below 4MB - probably the miniIP6 version)

Not sure about other versions.....

Flash procedure: http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.ph...tomato-k26-1-28-rt-mipsr2-102-mini-trx.57093/

***Use MIPSR1 only***

 

[Muse]

Thank you, Engineer, I'm at wits end with the router as it's been working. Can a router just get goofy and then recover with a reset or different firmware? HD performance can suffer from fragmentation, a tape player from dirty heads or worn tape, a speaker when the cone is cracked or otherwise compromised, an optical player if the lens is dirty, but a router? Could it also suffer warped performance over time?

Most of those links you included and most of the things you said are things I saw something about over the last few days but I am just getting into it.

I figure, before Monday (that's 2 days) I will have flashed the router.

I wish/hope there's some way for me to "get up to speed" on networking. I feel like a dunce, although I've been internet connected for 20 years! I watched a decent sized video this morning (maybe 12 minutes, I'm guessing) created by a guy evidently in Swedon who'd had his Tomato firmwared router for a little over a day and had a high end Asus N router. He stepped through seemingly all the Tomato features. Most of that stuff was just unknown to me, including QOS, for instance.

Maybe I should take some courses. At the very least, maybe, read a book. Possibly I can get my feet under me by studying information online.

 

[Engineer]

Thank you, Engineer, I'm at wits end with the router as it's been working. Can a router just get goofy and then recover with a reset or different firmware?

We had a Linksys router at work that suddenly started dropping connections. We rebooted several times and it was getting to the point of dropping about 10 times per hour (or more). Before my boss replaced it, I asked him if I could flash with Tomato. It has run solidly without one single drop since then (about 9 months now).

Just remember to get firmware that is MIPSR1 (not MIPSR2 as those are for a newer generation of Broadcom processors) and also to get one that is under 4MB(ytes) as your router has a 4MB of flash.

 

[Muse]

We had a Linksys router at work that suddenly started dropping connections. We rebooted several times and it was getting to the point of dropping about 10 times per hour (or more). Before my boss replaced it, I asked him if I could flash with Tomato. It has run solidly without one single drop since then (about 9 months now).

Just remember to get firmware that is MIPSR1 (not MIPSR2 as those are for a newer generation of Broadcom processors) and also to get one that is under 4MB(ytes) as your router has a 4MB of flash.

Ah, I understand! Thanks for relating that story, it gives me great hope that it will work OK again. Will likely flash tomorrow, I'll post the result. I'm wondering if I should flash to Buffalo FW first or just go straight to Tomato. Well, I'll deal with it tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

[Engineer]

Ah, I understand! Thanks for relating that story, it gives me great hope that it will work OK again. Will likely flash tomorrow, I'll post the result. I'm wondering if I should flash to Buffalo FW first or just go straight to Tomato. Well, I'll deal with it tomorrow. Thanks again!

If you're running DD-WRT, no need to go to the Buffalo version and then have to do the TFTP to get to Tomato. Simply upgrade to Tomato using the DD-WRT web based setup and use the upgrade firmware interface. Make sure to clear NVRAM after upgrading (either checkbox on upgrade page or by the 30 second reset method).

Good luck.

 

[Muse]

If you're running DD-WRT, no need to go to the Buffalo version and then have to do the TFTP to get to Tomato. Simply upgrade to Tomato using the DD-WRT web based setup and use the upgrade firmware interface. Make sure to clear NVRAM after upgrading (either checkbox on upgrade page or by the 30 second reset method).

Good luck.

Doesn't matter than I'm running such an old version of dd-wrt? It's DD-WRT v23 SP2 (09/15/06) std

I'm going to do it today. I won't know until tomorrow if it solved my problems because I won't have access today to the Webex streaming until tomorrow, it being Sunday today.

 

[Engineer]

As for the age of DD-WRT, I would imagine that it would not matter. If you use a Tomato version ending in .trx, you might have to rename it as a .bin file (I would try the .trx file first as is). It certainly should be easier to try to upgrade from DD-WRT than to go back to Buffalo (if that's even possible) and then use TFTP to place Tomato on there. I would go to Tomato from the DD-WRT upgrade page, no question.

 

[Muse]

Engineer, Toastman has recommended a version of Tomato at the thread I started at Linksys.org forum, Buffalo WHR-HP-54G FW version recommendation. He said:

I would always recommend 2.4 for this router. 7633.3 has been running rock stable at one of my sites on UPS since I flashed it many months ago.

I had no idea where to get that, did a bunch of searching and found a file, have no idea if it's appropriate for my router, will work on it or if there's a better one out there. The file I downloaded is:

WRT54GL-1.28.7633.3.rar

One thing I would like to know before flashing Tomato is if there's a reasonably easy way to flash back to Buffalo firmware should I want to. I believe that flashing back to Buffalo is a fairly straightforward process from the dd-wrt I have now (see earlier in the thread the instructions by redhawk in post #9).