Describe NetgearWGT624 Access Point Router here.
Contents
SuperG
Version 1/2 
Version 3
Note: These are Just My Inexperienced Experiences
Antenna is only 2 dBi but can be modified, if you don't mind voiding your warranty. Greater the dBi the more range of your wireless router:
Router antenna is not detachable, unless you modify router/void your warranty.
[Edit] Or
see the Other Interesting Links section of the AntennaHowTo page, particularly the FreeAntennas links about adding a parabolic reflector to a standard factory dipole antenna.
I find the range and performance very good, but modifying it can only make it mo'better.
Currently, prices for this router are falling:
Where to Buy
For the performance and cost, I'd say this router is a good deal. With a 25 dollar rebate, ultimately you pay about $50... so modify it, it's cheap. Warranty schmority.
US$35 refurb unit from store.Yahoo.
You Can Achieve a Stable Connection If You Tweak it, a Lot
DSLReports, People complain about drop connection, this is the best I can do...
In Basic Settings--Router MAC Address--Click on radio button (o) Use This MAC Address xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
... if your NetGear modem is connected to the Internet. If the NetGear Router is connected to the Internet then the MAC Address works and should be made static.
Should also be noted in Advanced---WAN Setup---Click on check box [v] Connect Automatically, as Required.
Note: I lose connection when I'm downloading from a file sharing program like Hotline or eDonkey; it's only the Wireless Notebook that'll experience connection drops, but generally after 15 to 60 minutes of downloading. The connection is very, very stable on my Etherneted desktop system.)
Note: You will not have 108mBs performance unless you set the NetGear WGT624 Router to Channel 6 on Mode b and g, and you'll need a compatible CardBus, ie: NetGear WG511T. I've noted Hotline and eDonkey have more stable and faster downloads at these settings, but games like Quake 3 or Soldier of Fortune II will disconnect. Read further on to fix that.
Couph: D-link DI-624 wireless router kept rebooting every 5 minutes :Couph
Couph: I was experiencing these reboots on the Etherneted Desktop :Couph
I should state that the experiences I've had with NetGear WGT624 Router have been better then the experiences I've had with the D-Link DI-624 Router, that I returned. So whatever negative comments I make about the NetGear Router, keep in mind D-Link was worse.
I bought my NetGear WGT624 Router a week ago. I'll use this forum as a sound board for my experiences, not some stale techno jargen... real life experiences from a llama tech.
I recommend you modify the antenna to a higher dBi per forementioned antenna modification.
Connection is stronger, and Internet drops are less.
Okay, I've Tweaked it as Much as I Can
I like playing games like Soldier of Fortune II or Quake 3, but if you don't optimize the wireless router you'll get disconnected from the game on your Etherneted desktop computer. I had to do the following:
- 1) Assign a TCP ports in Port Forwarding and Port Triggering 2) Disable SPI Firewall 3) Disable Advanced 108 mbps Features
So basically, you end up with a 54 mBps wireless connection. 108 mbps connection seem unstable on my wireless notebook as well as my Etherneted desktop. I can't seem to get good streaming video on my wireless notebook from websites like MSNBC.com, good connection on Etherneted desktop... Eh, a 54 mBps is probably just as good, the WGT624 Netgear router only costs about $50, but not after you modify it. 'Probably better off with a Linksys.
Some specs
This router is based on an Atheros System On a Chip (SoC) design, ar5001AP. The processor is an Atheros AR2312A. It is running VxWorks:
-> version VxWorks (for Atheros AR5001AP default) version VxWorks5.4.2. Kernel: WIND version 2.5. Made on Apr 22 2005, 11:01:38. Boot line: tffs:(0,0):/fl/APIMG1 e=192.168.1.20:0xffffff00 f=0x8 o=et value = 70 = 0x46 = 'F'
There is a Linux port for this processor, developed by DeviceScape. They seem to be in breach with the GPL as they sold the kernel modifications needed for Atheros ar531x to D-Link. THe D-Link DWL-2210AP (also based on the AR2312A) is running a Linux solution from DeviceScape and they are not releasing any GPL'ed sources.
The guys over at openwrt.org seem to got hold of kernel sources for AR531x, mips-linux-2.4.25.tar.bz2. So it might be possible to run Linux on this device. I haven't figured out how to interrupt the vxworks bootloader. It would be nice to boot a Linux kernel via TFTP or something like that. If someone can talk D-Link into releasing the source for the DWL-2210AP (they have to, it's all GPL), it would be much easier to get a Linux ready for these Atheros SoCs.
Dlink has released the source code. See: DWL-2210AP source code
Netgear WGT624 v2 serial interface
Confirmed that the serial interface works on the WGT624 v2 unit as described in the WGR614 section, using inverters in RS232 TX and RX data lines from the connector provided on the circuit board. Super-username and password were not changed. These are also visible in the netgear.cfg back-up file that can be made from the http interface. Apply a long word (4 bytes) byte swap to change Little/Big-endian and make this readable on a x86 machine.
The config file 'apcfg', accessible via FTP, can be edited when one makes sure that Byte count and Checksum at the end are corrected. Byte count applies to the bytes up to and including the period before 'Bytes'. Checksum applies to the bytes up to and including the period just before 'checksum'. I used 'Hex workshop' that provides the counts. In wla directory the ftp routine can be invoked to load up and down the various files.
Had hoped to be able to activate Telnet by changing the Disable into Enable, but no change noted. Also tried Timeout from 0 to 180, and that has an effect on e.g. the serial connection going to sleep after 3 minutes. Not being a VxWorks expert I have not figured out yet how to get telnet to respond from port 23. Further suggestions appreciated !
[Edit] Here's a suggestion: see the Telnet Console section, on the NetgearWGR614 page.
Is there a link to information to make such cable?
Try this link: Serial console on a WGT634u. It describes some possible solutions to create serial cables.
WGT624 Bootup Log
ar531x rev 0x00005850 firmware startup... SDRAM TEST...PASSED Atheros AR5001AP default version 3.0.0.43A 0 auto-booting... Attaching to TFFS... done. Loading /fl/APIMG1... Decompressing... \ OK. Starting at 0x80010000... /fl/ - Volume is OK Reading Configuration File "/fl/apcfg". Configuration file checksum: 3e397 is good Attached TCP/IP interface to et unit 0 Attaching interface lo0...done Adding 9682 symbols for standalone. -> wireless access point starting... wlan1 Ready Ready wlan_11b not enabled CC module initialized successfully WAN Initialisation [SUCCESS] PPTP Initialised Firewall INIT completed AD Init completed FW initalized IGWIpRsmInit(): ....End vxBitsInit add interface mirror0 Registered MsgClnt Loading the databases...... Dns ALG loadeddatabase completed Info: No FWPT default policies. Login: Gearguy Password: Geardog U12H01700> help Commands are: bridge ddns exit firewall ftpc ip lan passwd reboot save show sntp uptime version wan web windsh wla '..' return to previous directory U12H01700>
Following section is from Darren Sharman:
Controlling Reconnects
Here is a quick hack using Curl and Crontab so you can get the router to reconnect your ADSL connection at a time convenient to you, not just when your 24 hours is up (or whatever your service provider timeout is), e.g. my ADSL connection drops every 24 hours, so I reconnect mine at 5 am, when hopefully I should be asleep!
{{{#reconrouter.sh
#v1.0
#24/4/05
#By Darren Sharman
#SharmanspamBlah@technologist.com (you need to take away spam and Blah !!)
#this script assumes you have your router setup to auto connect
#do inital login (sometimes this fails but allows the second command to succeed )
/usr/bin/curl admin:yourpassword@192.168.0.1/st_poe.cgi
#wait a mo
sleep 5
#now do the reconnect
/usr/bin/curl -d "ConMethod=Disconnect" admin:yourpassword@192.168.0.1/st_poe.cgi
#if your not autoreconnecting you can also uncomment the following lines
#sleep 5
#manual reconnect
#/usr/bin/curl -d "ConMethod=Connect" admin:yourpassword@192.168.0.1/st_poe.cgi }}}
Newbie help for crontab follows ->
To add this script to crontab do the following command: crontab -e
then add the following line to crontab ( you need to press insert!) 00 5 * * * /bin/bash /pathtowhereyouputyourscript/reconrouter.sh
Press "Esc" then type :q
To exit your editor
The Crontab line makes the script run at 5:00 am, just change the hours and minutes to a time to suit you.
Have fun and email me if you need help.
Darren
openwrt.org AtherosPort
Telnet Console
see Telnet Console on WGR614 page
