Help for new RT-N66U, firmware and 2 XBox's...

[Hitman]

Hi just joined an need some help as I've just ordered an Asus RT-N66U to replace my current overloaded router, I have been reading lots on this forum.

My current router is a Netgear WNR3500L and I've had a lot of problems with it over the last year, probably because I now have a lot of wired/wireless devices and suffering from disconnects on my wireless laptop and xbox live disconnecting periodically with the 2 xbox 360 consoles I have for me and my son.

What I need priority help with is getting things setup with the new N66U, so that both Xbox's work flawlessly with live and have the best bandwidth from the router, do I use a static setup or rely on DHCP and UPNP.

What would be the best firmware to use, current ASUS or something like Merlin's or Tomato and what to setup within the GUI, not interested in USB drives or VPN?

Would I benefit from QoS as I've never used this before and need help setting it up however i also read that it will disable HW acceleration, is it best left alone?

I have also read about the 32k/64k CFE boot loader and ask if I should check this out and upgrade if it's set at 32k?


Thanks for any help.

 

[joegreat]

Hi,

My comments are in line with your questions...

...so that both Xbox's work flawlessly with live and have the best bandwidth from the router, do I use a static setup or rely on DHCP and UPNP.

Xbox should work flawlessly as Asus added an "Optimized for Xbox" switch into the WLAN config.

UPNP can be enabled, but has nothing do do with DHCP...
DHCP manual config can ensure that all your devices get always the same IP address - nothing else - this can be also achieved with fixed IP addresses on each device.

What would be the best firmware to use, current ASUS or something like Merlin's or Tomato and what to setup within the GUI, not interested in USB drives or VPN?

If you are interestedn into the listed topics you should go for Merlin! Details can be found in the stick post of this forum section.

Would I benefit from QoS as I've never used this before and need help setting it up however i also read that it will disable HW acceleration, is it best left alone?

QoS does what it says: Basically it ensures that the defined devices/protocols get the defined bandwith.
But in this case you should go for Tomato firmware, as the Asus QoS implementation is weak and no updates/addons from Merlin.

I have also read about the 32k/64k CFE boot loader and ask if I should check this out and upgrade if it's set at 32k?

No need to care about 32/64k CFE anymore. Any actual firmware will handle it correct out of the box!

With kind regards
Joe

 

[Hitman]

Hey thanks a lot Joe, appreciated!

I may stick with stock firmware to see how that pans out and read a bit more on the other firmware.

Edit: One other thing is my modem runs PPPoE (fibre to phone distribution box in street then down copper to my house), I read that HW acceleration is disabled for some firmware's (SDK5 based) when using PPPoE, can this be enabled or do I stick with new SDK6 firmware?

Ty.

 

[RMerlin]

Hey thanks a lot Joe, appreciated!

I may stick with stock firmware to see how that pans out and read a bit more on the other firmware.

Edit: One other thing is my modem runs PPPoE (fibre to phone distribution box in street then down copper to my house), I read that HW acceleration is disabled for some firmware's (SDK5 based) when using PPPoE, can this be enabled or do I stick with new SDK6 firmware?

Ty.

HW acceleration was only implemented in PPPoE starting with SDK 5.110. That means you need to use a stock firmware that's in the 3.0.0.4.3xx numbers, or the SDK6 test build from my firmware.

My next release will implement SDK6, which will also bring PPPoE HW acceleration.

Note that you mostly need HW acceleration if your PPPoE connection is faster than 100 Mbps. Below that, you won't see any real difference.

 

[Hitman]

Note that you mostly need HW acceleration if your PPPoE connection is faster than 100 Mbps. Below that, you won't see any real difference.

Thanks RM, my connection runs at 65/15 (80/20 based), so older firmware can be suitable, will be looking into using yours.

Ty.

 

[philwoz98]

Nothing against Merlin and his hard work, but I have been very unsuccessful with Merlin's firmware and multiple xbox's. particularly I would have "moderate" NAT with his regardless of what was enabled. Once I went to Tomato I have had zero problems. Best of luck to you

 

[RMerlin]

Nothing against Merlin and his hard work, but I have been very unsuccessful with Merlin's firmware and multiple xbox's. particularly I would have "moderate" NAT with his regardless of what was enabled. Once I went to Tomato I have had zero problems. Best of luck to you

According to this technical FAQ, "moderate NAT" isn't really a problem in itself:

http://support.rockstargames.com/hc...ding-how-NAT-types-affect-online-connectivity

I wish Microsoft wouldn't be so cryptic in their explanations (since technically, "moderate NAT" doesn't mean anything - it's someone trying to put a "cool" name on a technical situation). My guess is, they are probably trying to use uPNP to open restricted ports (ports between 1 and 1023 aren't forwardable through uPNP for security reasons). If that's the case, you just have to tell the router to allow forwarding these ports:

nvram set upnp_min_port_int=1
nvram set upnp_min_port_ext=1
nvram commit
reboot

I suspect that would take care of the XBox NAT complains.

 

[Hitman]

Some good info, thanks guy's i'll check it out!

@philwoz98

What tomato firmware version are you using and any special requirements to flash it, can it be done normally via web GUI or does it require a specialised flash eg. via recovery method?

Does anything need setting once flashed to accommodate the multiple xbox use?

Anything I should be aware of when flashing?

Ty.

 

[philwoz98]

http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26RT-N/ I am using build 12 currently with no problems at all

 

[Bad Teddy]

Nothing against Merlin and his hard work, but I have been very unsuccessful with Merlin's firmware and multiple xbox's. particularly I would have "moderate" NAT with his regardless of what was enabled. Once I went to Tomato I have had zero problems. Best of luck to you

That's strange. I've been using Merlin's builds for a long while and my NAT has always been "Open."

 

[Hitman]

http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26RT-N/ I am using build 12 currently with no problems at all

Thank Phil, how is this flashed and what file do I use 64k version of AIO, BT_VPN or Mega etc...?

Do I need to upgrade to 64k beforehand or does the firmware upgrade automatically to 64k now, if it's running 32k?

Ty.

That's strange. I've been using Merlin's builds for a long while and my NAT has always been "Open."

Is that with 2 or more Xbox 360's, or just one?

 

[philwoz98]

I used this link, worked like a charm https://gist.github.com/joshenders/3941269. And I used the MEGA file as well.

 

[Bad Teddy]

=

Is that with 2 or more Xbox 360's, or just one?

Just one Xbox

 

[Hitman]

Thanks guy's, I will await the router coming Tuesday.

Still a bit unsure about the 64k bit, will read about it