In the present times, everyone needs the internet, and for this purpose, one needs to have a strong wi-fi signal. You need to have a reliable internet connection from a small project to massive web development or playing hardcore gaming. For this purpose, if you can increase the bandwidth signal and quality using firmware, it is just icing on the cake.
For a lag-free fast internet connection, expensive routers were needed, about $600 but not anymore, as anyone can convert their $60 router performance to that of $600 router performance by merely using the hardware of a cheap router to the fullest. To do that, you can upgrade your router performance free with open source Tomato firmware.
DD-WRT is also an option to upgrade your router, which provides many features to users than tomato firmware, but only a few users use it. Tomato firmware is a community of developers for custom firmware that provides consumer-grade computer networking routers and gateways.
Here we will learn about a simple technique by which you will use your cheap router like an expensive router without using much cost. The IANA designed a widely used IP address and, according to routerlogin.mobi, it enables you to use ADSL routers.
If you have a cheap router, you need first to install the latest version of the firmware and extract its content in a folder that can be easily accessed. Before upgrading, it is necessary to check whether the router supports the tomato firmware or not.
We have to log in to our current router for upgradation; the procedure for upgrading the router will be different for different routers and depend on the type of firmware it is working on.
Remember that the firmware may not work if you have downloaded it from another browser except internet explorer. If you also face a similar issue, you need to download the firmware again using the internet explorer’s help.
Step 1
Go to command prompt and type ip configuration and save the subnet mask, two of the DNS addresses, and default gateway. After setting the IP address on our desktop manually, we will need a set of 4 numbers. If we have formulated a username and password, then we have to enter the same.
To upgrade the router, it is necessary to log in to the router, manually set the IP address to 192.168.1.1 and open the admin panel. Enter username/password if it has been created before.
Step 2
Now we will go inside a folder which consists of the downloaded version of tomato firmware. We will go to the firmware’s upgraded section and click on the administration tab in the router’s admin panel.
After completing these steps, we will go to the browse option and direct our router to the new firmware file, which we had unzipped earlier. We will search for a README file in the folder, which will tell us which version we need to go at this point. After this, we need to click on the upgrade button and wait for the upgradation to complete.
Run the firmware side by side and go to the firmware upgrade section in the router admin panel. Now select the correct firmware file for the router in the unzipped folder. Choose the file name closest to your router name; say you are using WRT54GL router, we have to choose WRT54G_WRT54GL.bin.
After this, click to upgrade and wait. Do not close or disconnect the network during the process. When this is complete, we will be able to use it.
After getting all of this, we need to log in with a username and password. If, after doing all this, the router does not work, we need to reset the router to start working. The reset button is present on the back of the router, and by clicking on the reset button for a few seconds, the reset will happen.
After updating the router on the new firmware, we will be able to do many things. We will also be able to do wi-fi signal boosting, and it can be done by using advanced on wireless, which is present on the sidebar. But by doing this, the heating of the router will increase, and its lifeline will decrease.
After finishing, we are ready to use our $60 router with a $600 router’s performance. Tomato firmware extends the wi-fi range and increases the speed of the internet. If not working, reset the router by pressing the reset button for a few seconds at the router’s back and trying rerunning the firmware.
After everything is completed, you get your very own high-end router. Even though speed is boosted and the connection is improved, it may reduce the router’s life expectancy as the low-end router components may overheat and get damaged in the long run.
Tomato firmware has simplicity in layout design, monitoring bandwidth tools, and, nevertheless, the charts. It is user friendly and does not complicate things for the user. Beginners can find required content without getting confused with terminologies.
Throttling Your Bandwidth By Program
We know that most of the routers treat one request of bandwidth as the other. But in this upgraded version, you will be able to set up QoS(Quality of Service) rules. You will prioritize the traffic due to web development or gaming, or other things you want to prioritize and throttle traffic, which does not require a steady bandwidth rate.
Doing this will ensure that even if your system is clogged with other files, you will get enough bandwidth to complete your priority work. You will also be able to prioritize based on IP addresses to limit or extend the bandwidth.
Boosting Your Wireless Signal
By upgrading the router by this method, you will increase the wireless signal by 70. However, upgrading above 70 will make your router overheat and decrease your router life significantly. By boosting your wireless signal, you will be able to increase the range of your wi-fi signal.
There are various tips and tricks to improve the router’s bandwidth and speed without upgrading the software. Some of them are
- Placing a foil sheet between the antennas and making an angle towards the required place of network connectivity.
- Please keep it away from other electronic devices to minimize the fluctuations from other wireless signals.
- Strategically place the router in the house to get maximum connection speed in required places.
- Cut off wi-fi leechers
- Switch to 5 GHz
- Control bandwidth-hungry applications and clients.
Using this program, you will make your router secure, stable, and save your time and money. This is also a user-friendly technique, and you will be able to use the service of an expensive router at the cost of a simple router. Using this technique, you will boost your wireless signal, increase or decrease the bandwidth for a selected IP address, and throttle the bandwidth.
Usually, these technologies are hidden by the router manufacturing companies because of these techniques; their profits will decrease. Still, these techniques can be used by paying little attention to upgrading the firmware, and if all the things are done carefully, you don’t need to change the properties of your router again and again.
