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mdf

mdf

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#205229 4-Nov-2016 12:31
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So I've had a couple of queries about setting up a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 for FibreX Max. I can get a good solid ~900Mbps using ethernet and the local speedtest server with this set up. Windows Defender is on too.

 

 

I haven't bothered trying to squeeze and extra ~50Mbps (my old connection was only 50Mbps total! What an age we live in!). I prefer the additional functionality of Advanced Tomato over an extra ~50Mbps that in real world use means this will never matter (not least of which the N wifi my main notebook is limited to!). 

 

I really am not an expert in this stuff, but this is what I did to make mine work.

 

1. Flash your router with Advanced Tomato. Mine came pre-flashed (thanks @michaelmurfy!) but I've done this on other routers and it's not too hard but PLEASE read ALL the instructions before you start. The R7000 in particular requires two separate flashes - first an initial flash then the AIO ("all in one") version. Use ethernet. Do the resets as per the instructions. If it tells you to hold down reset for 30 seconds, really hold down reset for 30 seconds.

 

Advanced Tomato is a superb looking GUI for the Tomato by Shibby firmware, with lots and lots of great functions, including

 

  • Bandwidth monitoring
  • Advanced QoS
  • Access control
  • Enabled SSH/Telnet protocols
  • Configurable buttons and LED’s
  • Support for many wireless modes
  • Built-in openVPN server/client
  • SNMP protocol
  • BW Limiter (QoS Limit) – graphic interface to generate HTB scripts
  • ARP Binding
  • Smart routing and DNS (registration to access this forum required) 

Advanced Tomato here. The Peacock thread is written for DDWRT but contains some helpful info if you're new to this.

 

WARNING: My wifi seems to work well with Advanced Tomato, but others have reported poorer performance. I can't explain this (bad flash?).

 

Please please read the instructions first. Not reading the instructions may brick your router.

 

2. Configure your VLAN. Log into your router (192.168.1.1 by default, and (from memory) admin/admin credentials).

 

Select Advanced Settings > VLAN. Under "VLAN Settings", first delete VLAN2, which should be the one with the WAN port ticked and bridge set to WAN.

 

Next add a new VLAN. Set VLAN to 10, VID to 0, and tick WAN Port and the "Tagged" option for the WAN port. Then set the bridge to WAN. You won't be able to do this last step unless you have deleted VLAN2.

 

Scroll down and hit save. A reboot will be required (it takes a while as it writes to NVRAM). Once this is finished, return to Advanced Settings > VLAN to check that your settings have saved (I had some self-inflicted issues at this stage). On mine, VLAN2 reappeared but as long as its bridge is not set to WAN you will be fine.

 

3. Configure FibreX. Select Basic Settings > Network. Under WAN Settings, the default settings should be Type DHCP, Wireless Client Disabled, DNS Server Auto, MTU deafult and Router Modem IP 0.0.0.0. These are right. But if you've previously had your router set up for a different type of connection (including non-FibreX cable) you will need to change these.

 

These settings should be selected regardless of whether you have an (optional) static IP or not. On FibreX, a static IP is just a reserved DHCP address.

 

4. Plug the WAN port of your router into your new Technicolor modem (cat 6 cable recommended). Mine is in port 1 of the modem, but I'm not sure if this matters. 

 

Select Status > Overview and scroll down to the WAN section. Wait until the status changes to "Connected". This might take a minute. This will also tell you your IP and the DNS servers if you're interested.

 

5. Optional speedtest. If you run a Speedtest now (you might have to manually select your closest server), you'll get something like 400Mbps.

 

6. Enable cut through forwarding. Select Advanced Settings > Miscellaneous. Enable the CTF checkbox. Then scroll down and click save. It will think for a minute.

 

7. Speedtest (again). You should now be running at close to maximum. Note that conditions vary depending on just how many people are testing out their brand spanking new connections.

 

You're done!

 

Buying a new router? If you're thinking about buying a new router, do your homework first, including this thread. A newer model of a router might not necessarily be better, particularly if your firmware options are more limited. For example, the newer Nighthawk R8000 doesn't seem to be able to run Advanced Tomato.

 

Buying a new router to improve wifi? Think seriously about buying a wireless access point instead. The HG659 seems to be a pretty solid router (albeit without some of the advanced functions of custom firmware goodness). And it will work just by plugging it in! Just swapping a new router in the same spot probably won't make things that much better. You will almost certainly get better performance and value for money if you can do a run of ethernet cable from the HG659 to a central WAP. If you can get a run of ethernet cable from your router into the ceiling, ceiling mounted WAPs are fairly easy to install and configure and give awesome coverage (I have Cambium E400s).

 

PS. If you're thinking about flashing custom firmware, please read the instructions for that firmware first! I don't want bricks on my conscience!

 

EDIT: typos


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Skillie
192 posts

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#1663752 4-Nov-2016 13:23
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Thanks @mdf - you make it look easy - will try Advanced Tomato and give feedback tonight!

 

Are you using Version: 3.3-138?

 

 




Skillie
192 posts

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  #1664129 5-Nov-2016 09:07
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Installed Advanced Tomato (brilliant firmware for power users) - took some fiddling to configure the WiFi for 5GHz ac1300 connections.

 

Getting ethernet speedtest now similar as HG659 - but WiFi speed has gone up to 580Mbps!


nhryan
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  #1681714 3-Dec-2016 13:31
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Thank you for that advice. I was rather apprehensive about the attempt given the brick comment but persevered and got there. The instructions being in a silent video clip was not so helpful especially as couldn't be connected to the Internet while doing the upgrade.

 

I also found I couldn't set the VLAN to 10 and the VID to 0 as it kept changing the latter to 10. Doesn't seem to matter as I'm now connected.

 

Like you I had problems with this step but kept faffing around with it and got there in the end. Initially it kept telling me I had to have one VLAN assigned to WAN which I thought I did as it was right there in front of me.

 

I'm actually not sure in the end what I did that worked but I think it involved also deleting the VLAN 1 or perhaps overtyping that one with the new details.




0verdose05
102 posts

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  #1708970 24-Jan-2017 20:57
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Skillie:

 

Installed Advanced Tomato (brilliant firmware for power users) - took some fiddling to configure the WiFi for 5GHz ac1300 connections.

 

Getting ethernet speedtest now similar as HG659 - but WiFi speed has gone up to 580Mbps!

 

 

 

 

Sorry for digging up an old thread but I have just installed Advanced Tomato on my R7000 and am having issues with the 5GHz AC connections. Could you remember what settings you used to get it active again?


proximo
4 posts

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  #1712641 30-Jan-2017 10:06
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Hi all

 

Ive got FibrexMax at home and replaced the HG659 with a R7000 : Latest Stock Firmware

 

Anyway, best I could squeeze outa it was 730 down / 99 up

 

 

 

Then flashed to advanced Tomato : Latest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now as shown ..  in this test

 

 

 

M.

 

 


carnie
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  #1740094 15-Mar-2017 22:37
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I have booked in an upgrade of the old Vodafone 100/10 cable to Fibre X 200 today and was hoping to be able to use my existing R7000 router as it gave me a better wireless range than the original cisco router vodafone supplied me for 100/10 cable.
Does anyone know whether i will still have to reflash with advanced tomato even though im only going to be maxing out around 200mbs? I am a little nervous doing the firmware update as i have already bricked the R7000 once doing a standard update and it was a mission to reinstall the original firmware and get it going again.


Also ive read about some bad experiences with the fibre x speeds dropping significantly is this still an issue or has the service improved since it was rolled out???

proximo
4 posts

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  #1740101 15-Mar-2017 23:24
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Hey
Tbh had i been on 200 fibrex id stay with stock firmware.. their seems to be some limitation with stock that limits its max wan download... tomato with ctf enabled got me up there..
7000 is an awesome router...

M.

 
 
 

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).
proximo
4 posts

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  #1740103 15-Mar-2017 23:26
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O and i live in lower hutt .. ive had good solid and reliable speeds...
Example 4 4k tvs streaming 4k netflix at 8pm on a weeknight with no dropouts...

ajw

ajw
1932 posts

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  #1740143 16-Mar-2017 08:17
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carnie: I have booked in an upgrade of the old Vodafone 100/10 cable to Fibre X 200 today and was hoping to be able to use my existing R7000 router as it gave me a better wireless range than the original cisco router vodafone supplied me for 100/10 cable.
Does anyone know whether i will still have to reflash with advanced tomato even though im only going to be maxing out around 200mbs? I am a little nervous doing the firmware update as i have already bricked the R7000 once doing a standard update and it was a mission to reinstall the original firmware and get it going again.


Also ive read about some bad experiences with the fibre x speeds dropping significantly is this still an issue or has the service improved since it was rolled out???

 

Early days for me yet but was upgraded yesterday with 200/20 Fibre X so far has been reliable here in Stokes Valley, a friend in Newlands has recently also been upgraded to 200/20 with no issues on Fibre X.

 

But the installer did say they are having issues in Island Bay.


proximo
4 posts

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  #1740442 16-Mar-2017 18:57
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Fibrex 200 . Id stay on stock firmware.

zocster
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  #1808954 29-Jun-2017 13:53
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I take it this will be the same with a r7000 running ddwrt? Subscribing anyway ... might flash tomato on my r7000





 

Andy Ghozali
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lurker
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  #1808999 29-Jun-2017 15:35
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zocster:

 

I take it this will be the same with a r7000 running ddwrt? Subscribing anyway ... might flash tomato on my r7000

 

 

I just did the same last weekend, I just downloaded the latest firmware and renamed the extension to bin

 

Please double check that via Google but I just flashed direct then did a 30/30/30 reboot and did the ISP config


zocster
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  #1809119 29-Jun-2017 19:13
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lurker:

 

zocster:

 

I take it this will be the same with a r7000 running ddwrt? Subscribing anyway ... might flash tomato on my r7000

 

 

I just did the same last weekend, I just downloaded the latest firmware and renamed the extension to bin

 

Please double check that via Google but I just flashed direct then did a 30/30/30 reboot and did the ISP config

 

 

 

 

Interesting notes here. Tomato/ vortex uses older kernel... 





 

Andy Ghozali
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E: andy@ghozali.ru
M: +64 21 395 458
A: Andy's Business Services, 231 High St, Christchurch 8011, NZ
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