N66U router firmware

[alex5908]

Hi there,
Yesterday I bought an RT-N66U router and installed it. It's working OK but the firmware is ...376.1071 which is not the latest. Thus, I have 4 questions.
1. What are the benefits if I upgrade the router to the newest Asus firmware?
2. If something is wrong how can I restore the router to the previous firmware?
3. I bought the router to increase the wifi transmission range as the distance between the router and my bedroom is just 15 meters but my mini Ipad was loosing the wifi connection with Linksys router. What is the best firmware just to fix this issue?
4. Do I have to use TomatoUSB/Merlin/Padavan installed for improvement of the wifi transmission range?

 

[wouterv]

If your router works satisfactory with the current firmware .1071, I suggest to upgrade to the latest, at the moment of writing this it is version 3.0.0.4.376.3754
The performance will be the same.

The "Firmware version check" in the router is often behind due to outdated reference tables, go to below site to find the latest firmware and release notes:
https://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN66U/HelpDesk_Download/

1. Please select OS: Others
2. Exand the Firmware section.
3. Find your firmware choice for download.

Your current version .1071 is also down the list, download it as well if you want to be able to roll back.

After the upgrade from .1071 to .3754 (or visa-versa) you MUST do a hard reset and manual configure the router again, and I suggest to delete the wireless profiles on your clients and connect again. This due to specific changes in the firmware and the wireless drivers: see further below for an explanation.

To answer your questions:

1. Benefits: newer firmware includes a lot of security fixes since your version .1071 and there are other enhancements or new features.
2. Restore: yes, keep the old version available as described above.
3. Best firmware: ask 10 people and you get 20 answers. I suggest to read this forum and make up your own mind. Your first step is a change of routers, get familiar with Asus, and next start to experiment with different firmware branches.
4. Alternative firmware: each branch has its specific features to everyones taste and choice.

Some notes about firmware upgrades and changing branches:
Hard reset:

1. Power up the router.
2. Hold the reset button pressed more than 5 seconds.
3. Access the router at the default IP address 192.168.1.1 and admin/admin
4. Manual configure the router again (do NOT load a firmware backup file).
5. Optional: delete the wireless connection profiles on your computers and connect again.

Hard reset and manual configure after changing firmware branches is mandatory (stock vs Tomato, Shibby vs RAF, Merlin vs any other) to avoid bad operation due to incompatible settings.

Hard reset and manual configure is often mandatory when new firmware of the same branch contains updated drivers (the reset requirement should be written in the release notes).

After some firmware upgrades it is also required to delete the wireless connection profile on the client and rebuild the wireless connection.

A firmware configuration backup file ONLY works safe with exact the firmware branch and version it was made with.

 

[n2ubp]

Hi there,
Yesterday I bought an RT-N66U router and installed it. It's working OK but the firmware is ...376.1071 which is not the latest. Thus, I have 4 questions.
1. What are the benefits if I upgrade the router to the newest Asus firmware?
2. If something is wrong how can I restore the router to the previous firmware?
3. I bought the router to increase the wifi transmission range as the distance between the router and my bedroom is just 15 meters but my mini Ipad was loosing the wifi connection with Linksys router. What is the best firmware just to fix this issue?
4. Do I have to use TomatoUSB/Merlin/Padavan installed for improvement of the wifi transmission range?

1: newer firmware corrects known errors, and sometimes introduces new problems.

2: The previous reply to your question spelled this out in detail

3: There is a chance that no firmware will fix your ipad connectivity issue. Many connectivity issues are due to other issues, what building materials were used to make you home, RF interference, router location in respect to end user device. Sometimes a solid 802.11G connection is faster than a marginal N connection and more reliable.

4: no, maybe all you need to do is get antennas with higher gain specs.

 

[wouterv]

3: There is a chance that no firmware will fix your ipad connectivity issue. Many connectivity issues are due to other issues, what building materials were used to make you home, RF interference, router location in respect to end user device. Sometimes a solid 802.11G connection is faster than a marginal N connection and more reliable.

See also this recent post:
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=161373&postcount=5