OpenWRT Firmware -Dec. 08

evdo-wizard · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

Alright, well after I dropped my service with sprint several months ago, I didn't have much motivation to continue working on this project. However I picked up a card from Verizon last week.. so things have changed.

The firmware has been updated as of August 25th.

About:
The stock Linksys firmware has some problems such as slow upload speeds, disconnects, etc. These problems have been known a while, yet Linksys hasn't released a new firmware with fixes.

Really, the stock Linksys firmware is just a stripped down and partially disabled version of Linux. Because Linux is open source, it is possible to put other firmware on this router. Several alternative firmwares for generic Linux routers exist, such as OpenWrt, DD-WRT, Sveasoft... but none of them have the support for 3g wireless cards.

What makes OpenWrt different from all the other firmwares is that it is completely open source, and because of that we can add our own support for 3g cards, while at the same time use all of the features that OpenWrt already has.

Current list of features:
- Fixed upload speeds
- Support for Sprint, Verizon, Alltel and AT&T (though I have only tested sprint)
- Full 3G button / light support
- Easy setup
- Different connection modes: demand, always on, manual
- Keepalive daemon: reconnects if connection is lost (only on always on and manual connection modes)
- X-Wrt (?)
- Connection status page: monitor, connect and disconnect from your web browser
- All of the other features that OpenWRT has

Features still being worked on:
- WAN failover
- 3G connection strength, mode etc.
- 3G data usage log

Changelog for v1.1:
- Fixed syntax error in buildroot makefile for comgt.
- Completely rewrote the Mobile Network status page, and added auto-refresh
- Added keepalive log to the Mobile Network status page
- Fixed syntax error in ifup.3g
- Merged /bin/3g with /sbin/ifup.3g
- Created a new default theme
- Fixed various problems with the keepalive daemon
- General cleanup of code

Download:

New version coming soon with many fixes. If you absolutely must have the firmware right now, download the latest beta below. Otherwise I suggest that you wait until the next official release is uploaded.

v1.2 Beta (Revision in file name)
(Changes from v1.1):
OpenWrt-3G for routers with OpenWrt firmware: Download
OpenWrt-3G for WRT54G3G-ST with Linksys firmware: Download
OpenWrt-3G for WRT54G3G with Linksys firmware: Download

Setup Instructions:
Setup is very simple. After upgrading the firmware, go to your routers setup page (default is 192.168.1.1). You will need to create a password, and the username will always be 'root'.

To setup your internet/3G card, go to the Network tab.

Setup your landline connection first (if you have one) under WAN Configuration. Then, Select 3G data card under WWAN configuration.

Then select your connection preference (I suggest always or manual, as you can use the keepalive daemon only works with those modes).

Select your 3G provider under the Mobile Network Configuration. Some fields may be blank (like Sprint, where all fields are blank except for Dialup Number).

Then finally save and apply changes.

You may need to reboot the router (System > Reboot) after the initial setup.

After your 3G card is set up, you can monitor and connect/disconnect from the Mobile Network status page, which is found under Status > Mobile Network.

Notes: The keepalive daemon automatically runs when the connection mode is always connected or manual. Basically, it makes sure that your physical connection to the internet is always working when you are supposed to be connected. You can specify your own keepalive IP to be pinged, but it isn't necessary and I actually wouldn't recommend it. The keepalive will automatically find and use the providers IP.

Lastly, don't try to update X-Wrt (Webif²). This will overwrite all of my webif modifications, and I'm sure you don't want that Very Happy

.

How to revert back to Linksys firmware:
Hopefully, nobody will have a reason to do this.. but heres how to do it. First of all, you need the Linksys firmware in a version that OpenWRT will accept. Here is a .trx of the Linksys 2.00.9 firmware that I uploaded a while back:
http://www.bigupload.com/d=F4530B6A

Go to your routers config page, then under the System > Upgrade.

Tick "Erase JFFS2 partition" and "Turn 'boot wait' ON", select the firmware downloaded from the link above and hit upgrade.

Developers:
There is now a Trac, where all source code is viewable online, and can be checked out via SVN.

If you want to have full SVN access, PM me.

kinggodzilla · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

You rock! Downloading now!

josw · EVDO User Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 69

I was already running your previous open WRT firmware, how to I install your new version, I know I go to upgrade do I check to boxes and the upgrade?

Jaydbo · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:18 pm Post subject: Great job!

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put this together, and to share it with all of us. I have installed, and am experimenting with the robust feature set.

You and the other great folks here are restoring the faith in humankind that Sprint was close to making me lose.
_________________
time2matter

evdo-wizard · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

josw · EVDO User Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 69

I think I did it right everything working,
Thanks For All Your Hard Work

Joe C · EVDO User Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 76

evdo-wizard,

I just downloaded this tonight and can't wait to try it out when I get home tomorrow morning. I really appreciate your hard work and want to thank you for putting together and releasing this firmware.

Joe

peterv95 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

evdo-wizard,

looks like great work, can't wait to try it out Laughing

... just need to find out username and password for Alltel service. Rolling Eyes

evdo-wizard · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

Nighthawke70 · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 114

Does this release need the card info, username and the like, as the previous release did?

Llama · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

Thanks evdo-wizard!

I'll check this out tomorrow, I am going to a pre season game (Redskins) today and the last thing I need to be answering the phone if the wifey has any problems and blames the router changes. Wink

_________________
--Larry

Three60guy · EVDO User Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 77

An earlier post in this thread implied you need to enter the following:

User Name
Password
APN Name

I am assuming the User Name looks like an email address.
The password could either be the last 4 digits of your phone number or your last four digits of your Social Security Number.
I have no idea what APN Name is.

Could anyone provide info on this? It appears without this info this solution won't work.

Thanks.

evdo-wizard · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

Three60guy · EVDO User Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 77

Hmmm......

I tried the simple method and no dice. Heck, none of my computers could even see it via WiFi. Everything shows that it was configured properly after doing the installation and I followed your steps but it just sat there and laughed at me for some reason. I rebooted, restarted, pulled the power on it nothing made any difference.

Thank goodness the restoring of the Linksys software worked fine. So, I'm back to using the original software I was. But I am willing to try again....I'm just clueless as to what I did wrong or what I should do differently this time.

Sorry for not having a better report. But I'm still part of the willing because I really am looking forward to better upload speeds as well as the "keep alive" feature. Overall, it looks great. Oh before I forget, how do you control the light on the air card once it starts to work?

Thanks so much for your efforts.

evdo-wizard · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

What network (sprint, verizon etc.) were you trying to connect to, and what card do you have? Also, you say the wifi didn't work.. so that means you connected via networking cable?