Wireless Range and Firmware Versions

[ablatt]

I know that the N66U was affected by the Broadcom driver changes in SDK6 and 376.44.

However the AC68U Broadcom driver has stayed fairly constant in different firmware versions at version 6.37.14.86.

So why is it that people comment about large range variations and improvements when going to different versions such as 376.43 or john's fork version when using an AC68U?

Won't all the versions have the same range on the same driver?

 

[L&LD]

Uhm, (simple answer?), no.

Being closed source, who knows what they've enabled or disabled that affects things they don't think to check for?

 

[RMerlin]

Also, quite a few persons aren't doing rigorous testing. On quite a few of these cases, the reason for the performance change wasn't caused by the firmware change, but by the simple fact that they had to reboot their router when flashing a different firmware. I've seen such cases first hands when I did a blind test with a few persons, and some persons reported "different" wireless performance when the two firmwares they tested had the exact same wireless driver...

 

[BWR]

There's regional and channel unlocking available in older FW versions, as well as wl_txpower adjustments beyond 200mW. Both affect range.

 

[sm00thpapa]

After .276 the N66U became an average router. I'm still running .270 on my N66U and .276 on my N66W.

 

[bbb0777]

There's regional and channel unlocking available in older FW versions, as well as wl_txpower adjustments beyond 200mW. Both affect range.

Exactly. In my experience, the newest firmware for the AC68U doesn't have any different range on default setup.

However, the older firmware allows one to modify the output power (which is what I like about it), as well as choose from many more channels. The latter being most important to users outside the US, as the newest firmware apparently restricts many from channels they're legally allowed to use.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

270.26b is the best firmware for me. It gives me coverage through the whole garden. None of the later versions did that.

With the change of "something" the perfect RT-N66U changed into a "13 into a dozen" wireless router, not worth buying.

 

[Harvester]

270.26b is the best firmware for me. It gives me coverage through the whole garden. None of the later versions did that.



With the change of "something" the perfect RT-N66U changed into a "13 into a dozen" wireless router, not worth buying.

Hi, I am having no luck with all of these firmwares, performance has dropped off considerably since this router was first introduced! Would you be able to send me a link to this older firmware? Thanks

 

[Harvester]

Hi, I am having no luck with all of these firmwares, performance has dropped off considerably since this router was first introduced! Would you be able to send me a link to this older firmware? Thanks

I have found the the link, thanks anyways.

Cheers

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I have found the the link, thanks anyways.

Cheers

And, how does this version works for you ?
Besides this firmware version I also installed 12 dBi antennas
(http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=138632&postcount=10)
These antennas gives me some more coverage.