RT-N66U .352 Beta firmware

[lilstone87]

So I was given permission to share this beta build, with the one's who are interested in using it. With that, this is indeed a BETA build, and that means it is consider a TEST build only. So if you do plan to use this build, remember what it is, and if you do indeed have issue's with this build. Just downgrade to a official firmware release by asus.

Here is a link to the RT-N66U .352 Beta Firmware
http://www.mediafire.com/?nktl6hun1yg5vbe

EDIT: I wasn't giving any notes on change's with this beta build, so I can't tell you what change's have been made in this beta build.

 

[RogerSC]

Any list of changes over the latest released firmware; i.e. what issues are they trying to fix with this beta?

Thanks.

 

[lilstone87]

Any list of changes over the latest released firmware; i.e. what issues are they trying to fix with this beta?

Thanks.

I knew I would forget to mention something in the main post. As for change log or such, I have nothing regarding that. So I am sorry I can't help, with what has been changed in this beta build.

 

[RMerlin]

I have a partial changelog back at home.

The most important things that I can remember, and would be of interest to you guys:

• XBox compatibility option added (it's a new checkbox on the Wireless page)
• DHCP client can be configured to Aggressive (the old behaviour of sending two new DHCP requests every 20 secs) or Normal (sending DHCP requests every 2 minutes). The latter is similar to the change I did in Asuswrt-Merlin to avoid blacklisting for Charter customers, except that Asus made it user-configurable.
• New Network Tools (wasn't in the changelog but was very visible, from a previous unreleased beta most likely), including ping, netstat, and WOL.
• WAN to LAN performance improvements to PPPoE

This is also based on the new wireless driver that Asus has been working on these past few months. My own speed tests (for the RT-AC66U) showed a notable performance increase in streaming. I've read various positive feports from other users as well.

Probably a lot of additional changes between 270 and 352 - we'll know the details once Asus makes the official release.

 

[jsmiddleton4]

Can't d/l it. Says "Set to private.....something or other".

 

[lilstone87]

Can't d/l it. Says "Set to private.....something or other".

Oops should be good to go.

 

[jsmiddleton4]

Thanks. Grabbing it now.

 

[jsmiddleton4]

Installed and up and running. Will see how laptops connect this evening.

Thanks for making it available.

 

[dsring]

Is this Beta firmware a more current version than the 9.0.0.4.346 Beta firmware? http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=10326

 

[RMerlin]

Is this Beta firmware a more current version than the 9.0.0.4.346 Beta firmware? http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=10326

Yes, although 9.x betas often stand outside of the usual branch to test specific features. That means it's possible that the VLAN stuff from 9.0.0.4.346 might not be present in 3.0.0.4.352 - someone will have to actually check.

 

[dmillerzx]

HUGELY erratic dBm readings in 2.4 GHz fixed?

Anyone noticing enhancements specifically within the 2.4ghz spectrum? I'm one of those that suffers from HUGELY erratic dBm readings in 2.4 GHz spectrum. Huge signal lose for a brief millisecond every few minutes. Note that I do have a great deal of interference in my location from other WiFi. Myself and a few others have reported this in the following thread if anyone is interested. Aside from somewhat major issue, I love the router and having been running Merlin's latest without a problem since release Thanks, and keep up the great work. Can't wait for the new drivers to be integrated into Merlin!

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=8972

 

[lilstone87]

Anyone noticing enhancements specifically within the 2.4ghz spectrum? I'm one of those that suffers from HUGELY erratic dBm readings in 2.4 GHz spectrum. Huge signal lose for a brief millisecond every few minutes. Note that I do have a great deal of interference in my location from other WiFi. Myself and a few others have reported this in the following thread if anyone is interested. Aside from somewhat major issue, I love the router and having been running Merlin's latest without a problem since release Thanks, and keep up the great work. Can't wait for the new drivers to be integrated into Merlin!

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=8972

For me the 2.4ghz band seems more stable with the newer drivers in the .3xx beta. As I have a wireless extender about 30 feet away, and it liked to jump between green/orange connection often. But since I started using the .345 or later beat firmware, I haven't notice the extender's connection dropping from green to orange, only staying at green which is good.

 

[dmillerzx]

This makes me hopeful! I think I'll have to leave Merlin's FW for a few and try this beta out.

I've noticed connections from my Wii U to the router jumping from Green to Yellow during gameplay quite frequently. Considering I'm only about 15 feet away I don't believe this should be happening.

 

[LoneWolf]

Note: For those that might have wandered in with AC66 routers and found this thread, I have found in my case that the RT-AC66R won't even load this firmware; it indicates it is incorrect. Also note that when I've tried (from a wired connection), right after it gives the error message, wifi drops completely until I reboot the router. I have downloaded the file twice (because I am a glutton for punishment) with the same results.

 

[Pierino]

Note: For those that might have wandered in with AC66 routers and found this thread, I have found in my case that the RT-AC66R won't even load this firmware; it indicates it is incorrect. Also note that when I've tried (from a wired connection), right after it gives the error message, wifi drops completely until I reboot the router. I have downloaded the file twice (because I am a glutton for punishment) with the same results.

Why would you try to load a fw meant for the rt-n66u on the ac66u or ac66r?

I'm confused.

 

[Poseidon]

If upgrading from Factory .270 to Beta .352- is it required to clear the NVRAM or is this step no longer necessary moving forward w/ Asus firmware from now on?

 

[RogerSC]

If upgrading from Factory .270 to Beta .352- is it required to clear the NVRAM or is this step no longer necessary moving forward w/ Asus firmware from now on?

I think that I'd do that, given the big jump between .270 and .352. In fact, I did that when I tried .352 *smile*.

 

[lilstone87]

If upgrading from Factory .270 to Beta .352- is it required to clear the NVRAM or is this step no longer necessary moving forward w/ Asus firmware from now on?

I always redo my settings manually after a firmware update, as I like to start fresh. Plus I have seen it more then a couple time's with Merlin's releases, and people complain of issue's. But a lot of the time once they wipe the setting's, and redo them manually most of them go away.

 

[Poseidon]

What's the recommended way to clear the router settings after a firmware upgrade?

 

[lilstone87]

What's the recommended way to clear the router settings after a firmware upgrade?

Well what I do is, the 30/30/30 reset. Which is hold the wps button down on back of router while it's on for 30 second's, push power button off while continuing to hold wps for another 30 second's. Turn power back on, and continue to hold the wps button for 30 second's. After that just let go of the wps button, the router should reboot, and you should be have to load the router up with setting's like when you first got the router.