shredmeister
join:2005-07-13
Granite Bay, CA
| reply to harryhoudini
Re: Success with WRT54GX Firmware on Belkin Pre-N!
I took the plunge and no go.
First off I changed the first 4 bytes to: 00 2f 01 02. Then I started the upgrade and after about 5 seconds into it, it kicks me out with a message like, "you're attempting to upgrade with the wrong F/W" or something like that.
The router then rebooted. I went back in, and the latest WRT54GX F/W ver 1.02.06 was still intact.
Sorry no go, unless someone can figure out the other bytes that need to be changed to load it.
-Shred |
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Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia
2 edits | reply to jonazen
said by jonazen  :I'm actually looking forward to trying this out - but it probably won't be till the end of next week. Just tried firmware WRT54GX-v2_USA_v2[1].00.08.bix (( from »www.linksysinfo.org/ ))
Unsuccessful. I get the error message:
"Firmware Update Failure: You have attempted to install an incompatible firmware version. Your router will now reboot."
No damage done, it just maintained the previous firmware version 1.02.06
Hope this feedback helps. |
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jonazen
Be Like Water My Friend
Premium
join:2004-02-18
Princeton Junction, NJ | I'm beginning to guess that there's more than a superficial difference between v1 and v2 of this router... |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
1 edit | Note... Linksys has not yet posted this firmware release on their GPL download site either. Could it be possible they have gone to a different software platform for this firmware? Given the presence of .asp in the code, its certainly possible.
Also... if the new Linksys version does load properly on the V1 WRT54GX, but not on the Pre-N, then clearly something has changed that we don't know about. I haven't read anything yet on the Linksys forum about WRT54GX v1 users having issues upgrading to the new firmware though. the firmware is so new we'll need to follow that forum a bit to see.
Its also possible that if the new firmware does work fine on the Linksys WRT54GX v1, but not on the Belkin Pre-N, we're at a dead-end with the version we now have. 
And we may need to go back to Belkin firmware if they ever get off their keisters and get it whipped into shape.
--
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
- Albert Einstein
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hjfisch
join:2005-02-21
Germany | I have a WRT54GX v1 too
and the v2 Firmware does not work on it.
I´m quite satisfied with with the v1
Firmware on my belkin pre-n.
Everything is working now without any probs. |
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Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia | reply to djdanb
WRT54GX-v2_USA_v2[1].00.08.bix on Belkin Pre-N!
Also, this WRT54GX-v2_USA_v2[1].00.08.bix firmware is over 4MB large.
I thought the Belkin Pre-N only has 4MB of flash memory???
Any comments ?? |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
| said by Mr Greek :Also, this WRT54GX-v2_USA_v2[1].00.08.bix firmware is over 4MB large. I thought the Belkin Pre-N only has 4MB of flash memory??? Well.. that would be a problem, now wouldn't it. 
I never paid any attention to the size of the Belkin Pre-N's flash rom.
But it wouldn't surprise me if Linksys increased ROM/RAM in the GX v2 hardware.. That's something they did when they went from the first WRT54G to the enhanced WRT54GS. More RAM/ROM = ability to really enhance the firmware without running out of space.
I guess there is good news in all of this, though... possibly. If the new WRT54GX firmware won't run on the v1 hardware, then they will likely have to continue to release separate firmware updates for the v1 hardware... In which case we can use that version.... I hope.
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"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."- Albert Einstein |
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jonazen
Be Like Water My Friend
Premium
join:2004-02-18
Princeton Junction, NJ
 ·T-Mobile VoIP
| Re: WRT54GX-v2_USA_v2[1].00.08.bix on Belkin Pre-
I hope you're right.
I'm wondering if they'll bother to keep adding features to their v1 box at this point, or merely satisfy themselves that it's stable and then concentrate on v2.
Belkin really seems to let a LOT of time go by re: firmware updates. There seems to be a correspondence between version numbers between brands (e.g., Belkin / Linksys), probably based on updated base versions from Airgo. If that's so, Belkin doesn't seem to care that they're signficantly behind, which I personally find disappointing.
In general I hate seeing a product abandoned (or left "as is") when a new hardware version is released -- but this seems to happen in today's market a LOT.
Hopefully Belkin and/or Linksys will keep supporting this hardware version!
--
Jon
Jonathan Strong
The Strong Group
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
1 edit | The version 1 WRT54GX has only been out for 6 or 7 months so I'd expect they would release firmware for it a while longer. However, at this point it is possible, given limited rom space, that the most they'd do is fix bugs.
Whats interesting, though is that on the WRT54G and GS routers there were 3 or 4 different hardware versions released. And while the hardware changed, Linksys added functionality in the newer firmware versions to fix bugs, add support for the newer hardware, and adding features while maintaining compatibility with the earlier HW versions.
I had hoped the GX would follow this pattern. Sounds like NOT.
--
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
- Albert Einstein
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jonazen
Be Like Water My Friend
Premium
join:2004-02-18
Princeton Junction, NJ
·T-Mobile VoIP
| I'm surprised too that the versions can't share the same code. This has to be a result of a decision that Airgo made in moving from v1 to v2. I wonder what kind of issue motivated them to make a change that's not backward compatible when the features and specs (at least as far as we can tell today) are the same..?
--
Jon
Jonathan Strong
The Strong Group
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GeorgeG
join:2005-07-23
New York, NY | reply to mozerd
Re: Success with WRT54GX Firmware on Belkin Pre-N!
As of July 19th, there is a new firmware update for the WRT54GX on the Linksys site. V2.0. Has anyone tried it with the Pre-N yet? |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
2 edits | You should read the thread ... Asked and answered already: »Success with WRT54GX Firmware on Belkin Pre-N!
And this firmware has been tried on a WRT54GX v1.. No go: »Success with WRT54GX Firmware on Belkin Pre-N!
--
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
- Albert Einstein
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
| reply to hjfisch
said by hjfisch :I have a WRT54GX v1 too and the v2 Firmware does not work on it. I´m quite satisfied with with the v1 Firmware on my belkin pre-n. Everything is working now without any probs. I also asked about it in the Linksys forum. Answer, the version 2.x firmware is for v2 hardware only. The 1.x firmware is for v1 hardware only.
So hopefully we'll see additional updates for the 1.x firmware... but probably only bug fixes. And it also means Sveasoft or any other firmware "enhancer" will have to choose which code base to work off of. Wanna bet they will pick the 2.x source if the code is available. 
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"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."- Albert Einstein |
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jonazen
Be Like Water My Friend
Premium
join:2004-02-18
Princeton Junction, NJ
·T-Mobile VoIP
| said by jsimmons :...And it also means Sveasoft or any other firmware "enhancer" will have to choose which code base to work off of. Wanna bet they will pick the 2.x source if the code is available. That's another issue that bugged me. If v1 hardware has become an orphan, I'm sure you're right that there will be bug fixes only -- and only if we're lucky. The odds of companies like Sveasoft supporting 2 versions of the platform are slim, considering that they're pretty obviously already stretching their resources to the limit.
On a related note: anyone aware of any substantial differences in v1 and v2 that would make v2 more appealing (other than the fact that v1 is now an orphan)? Any feature differences that are worth considering?
--
Jon
Jonathan Strong
The Strong Group
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
2 edits | AFAIK, Linksys doesn't really talk up the new version. Most of the buzz has been about them implementing standard removable antennas on the V2 box. The V1 box (and Belkin's Pre-N for that matter) doesn't support removable antennas. There have to be other differences, though or the 2.x firmware would be compatible with v1 hardware.
My next step will be to check out the Linksysinfo.org site. They usually post info about linksys hardware differences as soon as someone rips them apart and compares the versions, chip by chip.
--UPDATE--
I have checked linksysinfo.org. Same question has already been asked there. No answers yet.
--
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
- Albert Einstein
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Grumpa
@cox.net | reply to mozerd
Is it necessary to modify the first four bytes of the Linksys firmware to flash the Belkin?
Thanks. |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA | YES. |
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mike_s104
join:2005-04-12
Winchester, VA
| reply to djdanb
my experience:
I only use the Belkin Pre-N router as an AP. For a router I used (notice the used) a Linksys BEFSX41. I downloaded the newest firmware for the WRT54GX, changed the 3rd and 3th bits and proceeded to update the Belkin.
The update took and everything seemed great. I then wanted to use the Belkin/Linksys hybrid unit as my main router/AP. First issue was the old issue with my Axim X50, see »Belkin Pre-N Story . I fixed that by using a Linksys WRT54G as an AP only just for my Axim X50 (which I updated the firmware to A04 and AES nor TKIP work with the Belkin/Linksys unit). Secondly, I updated all the info on the Belkin/Linksys hybrid unit to match those on the BEFSX41. I then changed the IP and removed the BEFSX41 from the network. I noticed under the status page showing the internet as "disabled". I then remembered the Belkin firmware had a setting to use it as AP only which disabled the WAN port. I then reset it to factory defaults and everything is working (except the wireless for my Axim X50).
I also used the Linksys WPC54GX driver and software for the Belkin Pre-N PCMCIA card on a laptop. It works great as well. 
Just thought I would share... |
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grumpa
@cox.net
| Be advised, I have gone back to the Belkin Notebook Adapter drivers (1.2.0.80) after successfully loading the Linksys 1.5.0.86 drivers. The Linksys hybrid worked fine, but took longer than usual to "startup". What this did was "fail to auto-start" most of my internet seeking applications (MSN Messenger, PC-Duo (remote control), etc. Just wanted to pass this along ... |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
| reply to mike_s104
said by mike_s104 :I then remembered the Belkin firmware had a setting to use it as AP only which disabled the WAN port. I then reset it to factory defaults and everything is working Actually, the Belkin firmware AP only setting does not disable the WAN port. It just converts it into another LAN port so you in effect have a 5 port switch. In AP mode, I connected the Pre-N to my LAN using the wan port.
Looks like you've got things working pretty well. I still have not had any luck switching over to the Linksys Cardbus adapter driver... No matter what I do, after uninstalling the Belkin client and driver and installing the Linksys (successfully it says), My adapter still shows up as a Belkin adapter and the driver version is the same as the Belkin driver. So I'm still using the Belkin drivers. Works fine though.
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"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."- Albert Einstein |
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