Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:32 Post subject: Asus RT-N10U inside + DD-WRT
Router Model: Asus RT-N10U
It is an entry level wireless router. I bought it for less than 35$US. It is Broadcom based cpu and has 8MB rom and 32MB RAM. If you are interested it, please look down.
Asus official RT-N10U product url: http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Routers/RTN10U/
package: box, RT-N10U unit, adapter, network cable, utility & doc CD , quick start guide , warranty paper.
Hardware basic spect.:
Wireless working frequency: 2.4GHz
board verison: REV 1.0 / A
Asus Rom version: 1.0.1.3c, date 2011.09.15
CPU: Broadcom BCM5357 300MHz
ROM: 8mb, Winbond model: W25Q64BVSIG
RAM: DDR-SDRAM 32MB, ESMT
Capactor: by brand, Acon, total of 6, not Japanese brand.
LAN : 10/100MB
USB port 2.0 * 1
Antenna: 5dBi, changeable.
Power: input 100~240V 0.5A, output 12V 1A
manufacture year: 2011
Made in: China
Broadcom's BCM5357 is a Single-chip 2.4G entry-level IEEE 802.11n retail router solution. This wireless LAN (WLAN) router system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution has enhanced features, industry-leading performance and best-in-class power consumption. With this new Intensi-fi® XLR SoC solution, Wi-Fi® system OEMs can leverage unparalleled silicon integration to reduce the overall cost while still maintaining adequate multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) performance for streaming HD video throughout the home. Broadcom has optimized this new 802.11n router solution with its Accelerange™ technology for enhanced throughput and range performance along with advanced features that minimize power consumption for 'green' functionality modes.
Features:
1: Integrated IEEE 802.11n radio, media access controller (MAC), baseband, CPU, memory controller and 5-port Fast Ethernet switch
2: Integrated 2.4 GHz power amplifier that has been proved in the field on shipping production platforms
3: USB 2.0 host port for storage and print server applications
4: Application and service support through NAND Flash and I2S
5: PCM interface support utilizing Broadcom's proven VoIP software stack
I have successfully flash RT-N10U with DD-wrt as following:
dd-wrt - v24 preSP2[beta] Build16994:
dd-wrt firmware name: dd-wrt.v24-16994_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N10U.trx
firmware release date: 2011/05/26
download location: Pleases search dd-wrt's router database with "n10u"
I was able to flash DD-WRT directly form original Asus's firmware's webgui.
Personal thoughts:
Asus RT-N10U should be the successor of WL-520gU. It is low price, with 802.11n 150Mbps, double the ROM and RAM size (520gU is 4MB ROM & 16MB RAM). The antenn is 5dBi, much longer and fatter than N16.
Due to BCM5357 is single chip SoC contain all the functions with 300MHz process speed, it could face performance suffering if many people and services are running simultaneously.
Strong points:
1: cheap. I bought it for less than 35$US
2: It has 8MB rom and 32MB RAM. Able to flash 8MB or less 3rd party firmware to expand its ability, such as VPN, BT, QoS, USB & NAS, & VLAN, etc.
3: one USB 2.0 port.
4: Asus original firmware provides 4 set of SSID, to simulate 4 routers.
5: Asus's firmware restoration is easy to use.
6: It has power button at the back.
Drawback:
Because the price is cheap, I won't complain too much. If I really have to complain something, then I would say the CPU's heatsink is small, and glued on the chip, which is hard to tear it off and change to a bigger one. Secand, LAN is not giga port. :p
Let's go stright to the well flashed N10U with DD-WRT's system info and board photos. Photos are 800 pixels.
dd-wrt v24 preSP2[beta] system picture.
dd-wrt: cat /proc/cpuinfo
Code:
DD-WRT v24-sp2 mini (c) 2011 NewMedia-NET GmbH
Release: 05/08/11 (SVN revision: 16994)
BusyBox v1.13.4 (2011-05-08 00:44:11 CEST) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.
root@DD-WRT:~# cat /proc/cpuinfo
system type : Broadcom BCM5357 chip rev 1
processor : 0
cpu model : MIPS 74K V4.9
BogoMIPS : 149.50
wait instruction : no
microsecond timers : yes
tlb_entries : 64
extra interrupt vector : no
hardware watchpoint : yes
ASEs implemented : mips16 dsp
shadow register sets : 1
VCED exceptions : not available
VCEI exceptions : not available
root@DD-WRT:~# uname -r
2.6.24.111
root@DD-WRT:~# mount
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
/dev/root on / type squashfs (ro)
none on /dev type devfs (rw)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
ramfs on /tmp type ramfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw)
devpts on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
/dev/discs/disc0/part1 on /opt type ext2 (rw,noatime)
root@DD-WRT:~#
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 14:49 Post subject: Re: Asus RT-N10U inside + DD-WRT
I have 2 Asus RT-N10U recently. For very cheap price 30E/each, I got nice router with 32M RAM and 8M Flash (so it is support big builds of DDWRT, including USB/NAS and OpenVPN at same time).
Tried builds:
16994 (initial) 19342 and 19519 without any major issues. In all cases, just 20MHz channel worked to me toward linux Intel client, just 65 Mbit/s channel reported.
Not able to use 135Mbit/s at all. But it is not real problem for me, as I want to use just 20MHz channel anyway.
Real troughput witch 65Mbit channel is betseen 50-52 Mbit/s with one client, which is more than 2 times better than with old b/g solution.
My routers are a bit never series (Black - B1 revision) but have same HW inside like old one. Just different look.
I agree with Barlos, that for that price, it is excellent machine.
If you have a tip how to set up 135/150Mbit correctly, and have it tested, just let me know.
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 12:32 Post subject: 64Mb mod failed
I tried to upgrade its memory to 64Mb, I did set sdram_init from 0x0419 to 0x0c19/0x0c29/0x0113 along with (or without) manual_boot_nv=1, but it was always reporting 32Mb.
What is odd is that after setting sdram_ncdl to 0x0000, it does not get recalculated after reboot, remaining 0, therefore I believe it doesn't use these nvram settings.
I did manage to (stable) 'clkfreq' overclock it to:
354,177,88 / 373,186,93 / 400,200,100 but it gets quite hot even after radiator replacement. I would recommend 354,177,88 with stock radiator to have it running for years.
