Tomato and Linksys WRT54GL transmit power?

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:21 am

Any benefit to bumping it up from the stock setting of 42mW to 70mW? I see quite a few people running it at 70mW. Does it effect the life of the router? Does it pose any kind of health risk over time? Mine is brand new.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:27 am

70 won't affect the life of the chipset, above 84 is when the heat begins to build up. The best wy to increase range is to use better antennas. A pair of 7 or 9 Db antennas will almost double the current range at 70.

FYI, In use dd-wrt rather than Tomatoe, more features.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:35 am

Yup...84 is supposed to be the threshhold, crank it up past that..and the signal actually loses quality..it becomes "distorted". Much like a cheaper stereo system..when you put the volume up too far....the music starts to sound horrible.

I like Tomato...yes less features than DD-WRT, but it's leaner and I find it "snappier" response wise. I've read on many tech forums many people have found it more stable than DD also. If you don't need all those features that bloat it up...sorta like linux distros.

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:53 am

Is it true with the WRT54GL stock Linksys firmware. It is set to 28mW for the transmit power?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:49 am

KoRnGtL15 wrote:Is it true with the WRT54GL stock Linksys firmware. It is set to 28mW for the transmit power?

Old firmware was on most earlier versions of the wrt54...if I recall on the last batch of GLs we got in..I think it's at 45 now....I'll take a look. We get the GLs in for budget jobs...but flash with DD right away before setting up for clients. Or maybe it's DD that now defaults to 45. Eh...next time I set one up I'll take a look.

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:52 am

Sounds good. Thanks!

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:36 pm

Curious. I got to looking at the product manual. It says the RF power output is set to 18 dbm. Is that equal to 63mW? Or is the Linksys manual wrong?

Appendix B:
Specifications
Model WRT54GL
Standards IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u,
IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b
Channels 11 Channels (US, Canada)
13 Channels (Europe, Japan)
Ports Internet: One 10/100 RJ-45 Port
LAN: Four 10/100 RJ-45 Switched
Ports
One Power Port
Button Reset, SecureEasySetup
Cabling Type CAT5
LEDs Power, DMZ, WLAN, LAN (1-4),
Internet, SecureEasySetup
RF Power Output 18 dBm
UPnP able/cert Able
Security Features Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI)
Firewall, Internet Policy
Wireless Security Wi-Fi Protected Access™2 (WPA2),
WEP, Wireless MAC Filtering
Environmental
Dimensions 7.32" x 1.89" x 6.06"
(186 x 48 x 154 mm)
Weight 13.8 oz (391 g)
Power External, 12V DC, 0.5A
Certifications FCC, ICES-003, CE, Wi-Fi (802.11b,
802.11g), WPA2, WMM
Operating Temp. 32 to 104ºF (0 to 40ºC)
Storage Temp. -4 to 158ºF (-20 to 70ºC)
Operating Humidity 10 to 85%, Noncondensing
Storage Humidity 5 to 90%, Noncondensing

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:39 pm

dd-wrt default == 70mW.

wrt54g default == 19 mW on early version 2, other versions are set at 28mW, newest Linksys firmware allows increasing the TxPower to 40 mW.

But the best method of increasing range and output-input is by using higher gain antenna(s).

Currently, new linksys wifi router don't have external antennas. Radio Shack carries Linksys and has a stockpile of Gigaware 7dB with RP-TNC connector that fit the wrt54g routers. They are selling these antennas cheap. The package comes w/ 2 antennas. I just got one today for $3.43 w/ tax. Doubles the range of a stock wrt54g w/ Llinksys stock firmware.
http://www.radioshack.com/pwr/product-r ... -Pack.html

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:08 pm

We bought a whole box of these 9dBi ones, 18 bucks/pair
http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?pro ... 282&page=1

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:19 pm

-mW \ Dbm Power Conversion Table
mW -- 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 80 100
DBm -1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I got a pair of those 9db antennas for 10 bucks ea:
http://www.data-alliance.net/servlet/th ... MNI/Detail

That's a good price for the ones you got.

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:49 pm

Linksys actually lets you set it to that? Not saying I do not believe you. Can you post a screen shot?

TonyT wrote:dd-wrt default == 70mW.

wrt54g default == 19 mW on early version 2, other versions are set at 28mW, newest Linksys firmware allows increasing the TxPower to 40 mW.

But the best method of increasing range and output-input is by using higher gain antenna(s).

Currently, new linksys wifi router don't have external antennas. Radio Shack carries Linksys and has a stockpile of Gigaware 7dB with RP-TNC connector that fit the wrt54g routers. They are selling these antennas cheap. The package comes w/ 2 antennas. I just got one today for $3.43 w/ tax. Doubles the range of a stock wrt54g w/ Llinksys stock firmware.
http://www.radioshack.com/pwr/product-r ... -Pack.html

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:58 pm

Just got a 1/2 dozen GLs in the office today for stock....came with 4.30.11 firmware, can't find anywhere to view/adjust transmit power. Getting wiped 'n flashed to DD in a few seconds anyways.

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:07 pm

The newest fimrware on the Linksys website is:

Firmware

*

01/10/2008

Ver.4.30.12

My WRT54GL also came with 4.30.11 I also remember poking around for a transmit power adjustment before flashing with Tomato. I could not find any thing in the Linksys firmware that had it. Thats why I asked if he could post a screen shot. Maybe the newer version of 4.30.12 has that option?

KoRnGtL15 · Post by **KoRnGtL15** » Sun May 03, 2009 7:14 pm

When you flash with DD-WRT. Do you leave the transmit level alone at the stock level of 70mW with that particular firmware?

YeOldeStonecat wrote:Just got a 1/2 dozen GLs in the office today for stock....came with 4.30.11 firmware, can't find anywhere to view/adjust transmit power. Getting wiped 'n flashed to DD in a few seconds anyways.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun May 03, 2009 7:25 pm

KoRnGtL15 wrote:When you flash with DD-WRT. Do you leave the transmit level alone at the stock level of 70mW with that particular firmware?

Depends on the setup. At home.....I'm at 80 I think. Some single installs I'll leave at 80. For larger deployments where I have a bunch of them blanketing a larger area, I usually leave it turned down...example, I did 10 of them at a nursing home not long ago with the hi gain antennas. I think I have them all at 50 or so.

BillZM · Post by **BillZM** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:21 am

I'm late to this tread. Have wondered myself about the default power setting on later Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GL firmware. Experimenting a bit with both WRT54G v3.1 and WRT54GL v1.1 running recent Linksys software, then switching to Tomato, Tomato settings of 50-60mw yield approximately the same signal strength as the Linksys firmware. If I have to be precise, I'd say 52mw. Latest comparison with WRT54GL v1.1 running 4.30.13 and Tomato v1.27. This is an easy experiment if you don't mind flashing the box.