Some feedback on my experience with Buffalo and DD-WRT

[TSellers]

I meant to post his just in case anyone else is considering a Buffalo router with DD-WRT. Obviously this is just my experience and may not apply to everyone.

Just FYI, I used a Buffalo router with DD-WRT for about 3 weeks. During that time I tweaked the settings as best I could after spending hours in the DD-WRT forums. I especially concentrated on getting the QOS setup properly, and it took awhile to get it, this thread was helpful. In the end I found that I had actually got better VOIP with the Linksys 320N without DD-WRT so I went back to it and returned the Buffalo to NCIX while I still could.

Additional problems or concerns I noted with the Buffalo:
- The DMZ would disconnect for less than a minute at random times, I only knew this because my DNS service provides auto failover and I would get an email when my server was disconnected and then reconnected.
- ALthough you can set you output power for wireless, it did not increase the distance or signal strength I already had with the Linksys router.
- Even if you want to, you cannot flash your firmware on Buffalo routers back to the factory firmware, once you install DD-WRT that is it for life.
- The NAS implementation seemed problematic.
- You lose the Bittorrent client that comes in the Buffalo firmware when you switch to DD-WRT, however I read the one they give you is useless anyway.

For more issues I had, the review I posted at NCIX is here.

[FONGO_steve]

Man, I was so hopeful on that being a strong router from what I read! I may just hang onto my D-Link for the time being now that I hear that :S

[beverly]

it'll get better with newer firmware's and get worse with newer firmware's. go figure

[bridonca]

I was hearing there were issues with DD-WRT and wireless n routers. I am sure eventually that will get sorted out. In the mean time, I am rather enjoying the DDWRT I have on my older G routers. I really like milkfish and SSH

[TSellers]

Hmmm, bridonca you've got me thinking:

I've got an old Asus RT-15N here. While it is still an N, it was crap anyway so that's why I decommisioned it. The irony for me is I only have 4 wireless devices in the house and none of them use N anyway. It seems however the RT-15N will take DD-WRT, so maybe I should try playing with DD-WRT on it just to see what happens.

After the feedback here I'm glad I didn't flash the Linksys 320N to DD-WRT, think I better leave it alone for the time being.

[bridonca]

I do not know if you can do DDWRT on that router. That router seems to have a ralink chipset, which does not play well with open source. The memory specs on it are awesome though.

[Bloodsong]

I've got one 320N running the DD-WRT VPN firmware, and it's been pretty solid.
But I'm not using the wireless on it.

[keithl]

I use the DD-WRT firmware on a G router (WRT54G V1.1). I set up QoL per many web posts (including the above one). I give priority to RTP (by UDP port number if I recall). It works very, very well. I have uploaded and downloaded massive files from a very responsive server and done speed tests while talking without any hint of bandwidth related sound problems.

Three things about the mixed reviews:

1) some router hardware may be lower quality, leading to problems unrelated to the DD-WRT firmware (perhaps that was the problem with Buffalo?)
2) someone mentioned that N routers may not work well with DD-WRT (don't know, G is all I need and use)
3) my very good QoS result may have been because I have very stable uplink/downlink speed. I don't get throttled during peak times. (lucky me).

All told, I was VERY, VERY careful to follow the DD-WRT upgrade instructions (including many 30-30-30 reboots) and I read all I could about their QoS. My results were excellent.

Keith