RT-N66U and Tomato

[wouterv]

This week I experimented with Tomato RAF on my RT-N66U.
I used the latest version (1.28.9014MIPSR2-RAF-v1.3g.trx).
Installed it using the Firmware Restoration Utility.
I didn't get it to work, the following problems arised:

1. It seemed the WAN port and LAN port 1 are swapped (Tomato Status screen showed activity on LAN port 1, while only the modem was connected to the WAN port and with a live network cable in LAN port 1 it showed activity on the WAN port).
2. No wired connection possible on any LAN port (no ping reply on 192.168.1.1), wireless connection was no problem.
3. The above lead to the major problem: no Internet connection, not with the modem in the WAN port and not with the modem in LAN port 1 (even after I left the modem off for 30 minutes to forget any MAC address).
4. With the 2.4 GHz channel set to 11, a WRT54GL as Client Bridge showed channel 11 in the status screen and 9 in the Site Survey.

I reverted back to Asus stock firmware.

• Who has successfully installed Tomato on a RT-N66U?
• What variant (Shibby or RAF or else)?
• Any further hints?

 

[crandy2]

I'm running shibby 121 just fine. I had to clear nvram, I had similar problems. I just flashed it once, then flashed a second time within shibby (making sure to check the clear nvram box).

It's worked great ever since.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[tarmdjur]

Tomato Firmware 1.28.0000 MIPSR2-121 K26 USB AIO-64K
That's the version with SDK 5.110. If you want worse range, pick the AC one with SDK 6.

Flash and then clear nvram by holding wps button while powering up.

I've used Shibby's Tomato since i bought it a year ago and haven't had a single problem with it. My last router, wnr3500lv2, also worked great with Shibby's Tomato.

 

[KevTech]

For most cable users it is mandatory to powercycle modem after Tomatousb install as the WAN MAC on Tomato is different from stock.

 

[andyg]

anyone have a chance to compare Merlin sdk5 vs shibby 5.110?
n66u owner here looking to maximize range of wireless, especially 5ghz for Plex streaming

 

[KevTech]

I have found the 5.100.138.20 in merlin sdk5 is better than the 5.110 driver that Tomatousb is using.

In fact the 5.110 driver gave me some connections issues that I do not have with the 5.100 driver.

 

[wouterv]

Thanks for all replies

Tomato Firmware 1.28.0000 MIPSR2-121 K26 USB AIO-64K
That's the version with SDK 5.110. If you want worse range, pick the AC one with SDK 6.

Flash and then clear nvram by holding wps button while powering up.

The version information you gave came from the Tomato Shibby screen.
The download file is located here:
http://tomato.groov.pl > DOWNLOAD
K26RT-N > build5x-121-EN > Asus RT-N66U 64k > tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-121-AIO-64K.trx

For those as curious as I was: AIO stands for "All In One", compared to builds that leave out certain features.

I installed the above version, did the "clear NVRAM" as instructed.
After that the router at least functions quite ok and is accessable.

KevTechs note is correct, for changing firmware both ways Stock/Merlin to Tomato and Tomato to Stock/Merlin:

For most cable users it is mandatory to powercycle modem after Tomatousb install as the WAN MAC on Tomato is different from stock.

The issues I noticed are:

1. 6in4 Static Tunnel does not work (I am very sure the settings for Hurricane Electric are set correct).
2. TX power set to 80 mW (Shibby default is 45 mW), the result greatly depends on the Country / Region selected. THE NETHERLANDS (as it should be for me) gave a poor result, setting it to UNITED STATES gave a better result, still not as back in the "old SDK5" days.

Then I installed Tomato RAF again, over Shibby with the "clear nvram box" checked.

1. The wireless range with Shibby is comparable with the "old SDK5" days (with Country /Region and TX power left default).
2. 6in4 Static Tunnel does work (same settings as used in Tomato Shibby).
3. After a hard reset (power up with the WPS button pressed) my old problem appeared again: cannot connect to the LAN ports.

The router is back to stock firmware.
For me sofar both Tomato branches show too many issues to be called reliable for the RT-N66U.

anyone have a chance to compare Merlin sdk5 vs shibby 5.110?
n66u owner here looking to maximize range of wireless, especially 5ghz for Plex streaming

Also mentioned by KevTech:
Shibby seems to perform less then the old stock SDK5 driver.
And as far as I have seen Tomato RAF performs equal as the old stock SDK5 driver (sorry, I don't know the RAF driver version number).
But, what I have checked is the 2.4 GHz performance (I don't know what KevTech was looking at).
As far as I know wireless range issues are only reported for 2.4 GHz.
Certain older SDK5 drivers show 5 GHz connection issues, which are solved since long time.
The wireless range of 5 GHz is by nature less then 2.4 GHz.
My rule of thumb is: 2.4 GHz shall reliably cover a 2 story average home (depending on the build up of your home it may reach 3 stories), 5 GHz will reliably cover one room.

 

[KevTech]

And as far as I have seen Tomato RAF performs equal as the old stock SDK5 driver (sorry, I don't know the RAF driver version number).

According to the changelog, he uses 5.110.27.20012 for wifi.

 

[andyg]

For most cable users it is mandatory to powercycle modem after Tomatousb install as the WAN MAC on Tomato is different from stock.

so if I install tomato, I would have to update the MAC address of my n66u in the modem/gateway to maintain it as a DMZ as it is currently

 

[wouterv]

so if I install tomato, I would have to update the MAC address of my n66u in the modem/gateway to maintain it as a DMZ as it is currently

It seems Tomato makes the WAN MAC address one number higher compared to stock firmware.
With Stock/Merlin firmware the WAN MAC address is equal to what is printed on the bottom and equal to the MAC address shown for LAN and Wireless 2.4 GHz in the System Status.
If the LAN MAC address ends with 07, Tomato will make the WAN MAC address end with 08.