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(More customer reviews)Everything in a review of a device like this is really a review of the device firmware. And the firmware is still in development. Some features, like USB and file sharing, are just starting to work. If you are a Linux guru and want an advanced router, you can have some fun with this right now. If you are a less sophisticated user, it might be better to wait for a later firmware update.
As I write this, the router firmware release is V1.1.00.32_1.00.32NA. You can see if there is a later firmware release at Netgear's web site. Router version v1 on that site is for the USA, v2 is for elsewhere.
This firmware release did not come in the box. I had to upgrade the firmware - actually, the device offered to upgrade itself when I visited its set-up web page after I'd gotten it working with my DSL connection.
The USB port had a black label glued over it, saying that it would work only with an upcoming firmware release. I peeled that off.
I am 11000 wire feet from the telephone office, which limits the speed I can get using DSL. This modem synced to my ATT ADSL at a rate higher than my my Zoom Telephonics XV6. 3008 KBPS at 6 dB s/n, vs. about 2600 at 6 dB for the Zoom, which was significantly more flaky at that rate. Actually, the command-line ADSL utility says it is synced at a "max" download rate a bit higher, and a "max" upload rate almost double - it could be that ATT is rate-limiting me, and I never reached their bandwidth cap while using the Zoom.
The "Guest" interface configuration for wifi wouldn't work in this firmware version. This is supposed to allow you to provide an open wifi network that doesn't have access to your internal LAN, while also providing a private wifi network for your use that has full LAN access. The USB storage device function wouldn't work because the "create a folder" button was grayed out. Linux gurus will be able to work around this bug, I discuss how later in this review.
The box runs warm. You might get longer life by mounting the unit so that it has airflow on all sides.
Netgear's release notes for this release are:
New Features & Bug Fixes
* USB support has been added. This feature can be accessed by clicking on the Basic and Advanced settings under USB Storage, with additional USB Settings available under the Advanced menu. For more details please see the ReadyShare document posted with this firmware release. You may remove the label over the USB port on the back of the unit to access the USB port.
* The Reference Manual has been updated and can be accessed by clicking on the Documentation link in the router management interface.
* A new Setup CD, version 1.2, has been released which adds Win 7 compatibility and fixes some default settings issues. The revised CD can be found at this link: [...]
* Fixed a problem where the WiFi speed limit didn't seem to work with WN511B: Up to 130Mbps was reported as a higher speed by the client.
* Fixed a problem where some invalid IP addresses were allowed by router for Remote Management.
* Fixed a problem where Port scan attacks were not logged.
If you run setup.cgi?todo=debug from the router's web interface, it will enable you to telnet into the router's busybox shell. If you know Linux, you can then make the router do all of the things that the web interface isn't ready to do, and more. For example, I mounted USB storage devices that, due to some bug, the web interface wouldn't handle. I suspect that some very complex routing is possible from the command line.
The fact that this is a Linux router is interesting because of the potential for alternative firmware such as that provided by groups like DGTeam and DD-WRT. They enhance the features beyond those provided with the factory firmware, and continue to support the devices with new firmware after the manufacturer has lost interest in its old products. DGTeam does not provide firmware for this model, but DD-WRT supports a different model which is essentially this unit but without ADSL. With the software from both groups it should be possible to cobble together a working alternative firmware for this model. I am the original author of the "busybox" Open Source toolkit used in the router, so I might be able to do that. I bought a second, used unit for development.
The router is based on Broadcomm ICs. Broadcomm is known for not releasing Open Source drivers for some of its hardware, although many of their chips have been reverse-engineered and now do have Open Source drivers. We're probably stuck with the proprietary driver for the ADSL modem chip unless someone does a whole lot of work, but I think the wifi chips and ethernet bridge now have open drivers.
Once you get into the command-line environment, there's a whole lot of functionality that is not exposed to the less sophisticated user. You can also figure out what the hidden web screens are. There's one to configure IPV6 at ipv6.htm, and one to diagnose ADSL at adsl_test.htm . There is a command-line program to tweak the ADSL parameters and read out ADSL statistics. It's not documented, but you can figure it out, and probably the most important information is:
adslctl configure --mod {option} (where option is a, d, l, t, 2, p or e)
* d sets the modem mode to G.DMT - adsl1
* l sets the modem mode to G.lite - adsl1
* t sets the modem mode to T1.413 - adsl1
* 2 sets the modem mode to ADSL2
* p sets the modem mode to ADSL2+
Here is a list of commands available from the shell prompt:
[ iptablesradvd adslctl killrc
ash killall rc.sh atm_monitor klogd reboot atmarplashrestore_config.cgi atmarpd led_app ripd atmctllld2rm bcmupnp lnrmmod bftpd login robocfg br2684ctl lsroute brctl lsmod rt2684d busybox lsofscfgmgr bwpingmd5sumsetup.cgi cat mini_httpdsetupwizard.cgi chmod miniupnpd sh cmd_agent_apmkdir sleep confmknod smbd cpmknod_sdsmbmnt
crond mlabelsmbmount ddmoresmbpasswd dfmount smbstatus dhcp6smount.ntfs-fuse smtpc dmesg multi_pb_appsyslogd dnrdmvtc dsldiagdnaptd test eapdnas touch echonbtscan true ez-ipupdate netgear_ntp udhcpc false nmbdudhcpd fdisk ntfslabel umount findntfsmount upgrade_flash.cgi freenvram utelnetd ftpgetpasswdvconfig greppingwget ifconfigpot wizard igmppotcounterwlctl import_ca.cgi pppdwps_ap initpppoe wps_det insmodpppoe-relay wps_enr ippptpwps_monitor ip6tables pszebra
All in all, it looks like this line of devices has potential. Indeed, it looks a lot more exciting than the "Open Source Router" line that Netgear promotes, and has no fewer proprietary issues than that line. With the reverse engineering that's happened so far, it looks like the only spoiler is the Broadcomm proprietary modem driver, and I guess I'll cross my fingers and hope someone with a lot more signal-processing competence than me spends some time fixing that.
Bruce Perens (bruce at perens dot com)
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Product Description:
Two simultaneous wireless networks deliver better connections with less interference, Greater bandwidth for high-quality media streaming and better online gaming, Push `N- Connect securely connects devices at the touch of a button, Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) for reliable Internet, voice and gaming applications, For use with ADSL broadband (through the telephone line).
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