Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:47 Post subject: R8500 - no radio after dd-wrt install 3.0-r51362 (01/16/23)
Netgear R8500
Firmware VersionDD-WRT v3.0-r51362 (01/16/23)
Problem / Question: there is no radio broadcast.
Status Wl0 / 1 / 2 - "Active" in GUI. LED Buttons are on.
What I have tried without any improvement -
1. nvram reset via ssh (nvram reset && reboot)
2. flash back to a few older releases
3. Tried flashing with netgear stock firmware -> the upgrade is "successful" from dd-wrt Admin console, but the router still boots in dd-wrt.
4. Pinhole resets
5. wl status
SSID: "dd-wrt"
Mode: Managed RSSI: 0 dBm SNR: 0 dB noise: -92 dBm Channel: 36
6. wl radio
0x0000
7.
'dmesg' 'cat /tmp/var/log/messages'
[ 925.411404] CONSOLE: 027637.761 wl1: link up (wl1)
[ 925.604113] CONSOLE: 027647.817 wl2: link up (wl2)
[ 925.843021] CONSOLE: 027649.621 wl0: link up (wl0)
Thank you very much for any pointers regarding possible causes / solution.
1. nvram reset via ssh (nvram reset && reboot) should be
Code:
nvram erase && reboot
the r8500 have hardware issues very similar to the r9000, if clearing the nvram does not help i recommend to flash back to stock to test. Someone else may be able to help but thats what i would do for how long it takes.
This thread may help or search on google is normally better than using forum search:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1219111 _________________ Netgear R7800 PPPoE Main Router
Network IPV4 - Isolated Vlan's with IoT Devices. Unifi AC-Pro x 3 AP's, Router Wi-Fi Disabled. OVPN Server With Paid Commercial Wireguard Client's. Gateway Mode, DNSMasq, Static Leases & DHCP, Pi-Hole DNS & Running Unbound.
No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life!
did you come from stock or other 3rd party firmware? Sometimes other 3rd party FW changes bootloader this has been know to cause issues.
i dont own a r8500 so i am not the best person to help. _________________ Netgear R7800 PPPoE Main Router
Network IPV4 - Isolated Vlan's with IoT Devices. Unifi AC-Pro x 3 AP's, Router Wi-Fi Disabled. OVPN Server With Paid Commercial Wireguard Client's. Gateway Mode, DNSMasq, Static Leases & DHCP, Pi-Hole DNS & Running Unbound.
No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life!
phew, thanks a ton bushant. That helped.
For record -
nmrpflash is only supposed to work for file sizes till 32 MB, but the stock firmware Firmware Version V1.0.2.160 could still be successfully flashed (about 34 MB)
I repeated the whole exercise (installing dd-wrt again) and can confirm the behavior.
Stay away from dd-wrt for Netgear R8500, you have been warned
In spite of some success (see posts below), the performance is abysmal.
I have returned to stock and given the router away...
Last edited by IPSuisse on Wed Jan 18, 2023 20:16; edited 2 times in total
It is also good to repeat what has been stated in older posts that the best way to upgrade the dd-wrt firmware for the R8500 is to not restore to factory defaults as part of the firmware upgrade process. That seems to regularly knock out the wifi. If there is a desire to restore to factory defaults, it is best to do it as a separate step after the firmware has been fully upgraded to the latest version.
The latest firmwares work on the R8500, but you just have to know going in there are quirks you may have to deal with.
It is also good to repeat what has been stated in older posts that the best way to upgrade the dd-wrt firmware for the R8500 is to not restore to factory defaults as part of the firmware upgrade process
This was apparently the important part I missed.
I reflashed the (last) kong for R8500 with DD-WRT v3.0-r51362 std (01/16/23) without factory reset and then later did a pinhole reset.
Have got it working. Hope that it remains stable.
=> Unfortunately wifi keeps dropping. Great if you could get it working. I am giving up on R8500
It's also possible the wifi problem is due to the chip is overheating.
My R8500 has always been on stock firmware , in the summer I notice it drops wifi like once or twice a week. Maybe with dd-wrt flashed, when the chip is too hot, the chip would be kept in off state to protect from damage.