NETGEAR WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router

It's been an amazing experience with flashing Netgear routers to dd-wrt. Normally, I use router Netgear WNR2000v1. It's working fairly. Then, I learned that model WNDR3300 is DUO channel router which allows users to set 2.4GHz or 5GHz wireless connection. It's interesting to me, so I purchased a Netgear WNDR3300. Unfortunately, I got a defective router model WNR3300v1. It works fairly as same as my old router WNR2000v1 but its wireless connection dropping anytime. I found this problem too late to return the item for refund or replacement. I google and learned that dd-wrt firmware support Netgear WNR3300v1 router, so I downloaded dd-wrt firmware and flashed router to dd-wt hoping that the wireless connection would be stable. DD-WRT firmware helps the Netgear WNR3300v1 with improving to its full 300Mbps rate BUT does not help the router with its defective wireless connection. It was difficult for wireless adapters to establish connection with the router and, sometimes, I still realize that wireless connection drops down that causes my computer to get disconnection with router. I was afraid that I got a wrong version of dd-wrt firmware. I google again and found that dd-wrt.v24_13637_std.bin firmware also support Netgear WNDR3300 routers, so I downloaded version 13637 firmware BUT I got dd-wrt.v24_std_generic.bin. My Netgear WNDR3300v1 already flashed to dd-wrt, so I simply upgraded router firmware to version 13637. Oops, the router power LED indicator ONLY kept blinking and was unable to work at all. I contacted Netgear support service and got instruction of performing 30/30/30 to get rid of corrupted firmware inside the router, then use the Firmware Recovery Utility provided inside the Installation CD to recover the router back to original manufacture settings. I did and successfully recovered the router. However, the still got wireless connection problem, so I returned to dd-wrt website and followed the Path: Downloads > others > eko > BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2 > 2010 > 01-16-10-r13637 > Broadcom to download exactly firmware dd-wrt.v24_std-wndr3300.chk which especially is for Netgear WNDR3300. I flashed the router to dd-wrt. The router work very well and, much better, I now can set two wireless SSIDs providing wireless connections in two channels. One is NG-mixed channel 6 with Upper 40MHz for wireless N connection. Another is G-Only channel 11 for wireless G connection. Interestingly, the router works so great. I can at the same time surf the Internet to watch some movie trailers to purchase some DVDs from Amazon.com while my Mom is watching some episodes of Hong Kong movies on Youtube and another laptop downloading some software updates. Stability of wireless connections of both wireless NG-Mixed and wireless G-Only SSIDs are pretty smooth. Honestly, it has been an amazing experience with OpenSource Firmware to me. September 17, 2012 Update: I have successfully upgraded my router to dd-wrt with recommended firmware v24-sp2 (09/18/2010) std-nokaid-nohot-nostore-build 15230M. The main reason is because I learn that this version of dd-wrt supports new IPv6 technology and is recommended due to its stability for Netgear WNDR3300v1. I prefer to flash this router to dd-wrt because dd-wrt firmware allows me to set two separate wireless channels. One is 5GHz wireless N only for my home network. Another is 2.4 GHz wireless G only for computers with old wireless adapters and guests. About signal strength, it's up to you to figure it out if you know that I share Internet connection with my next door neighbor and, at the same time, my neighbors runs a Macbook Pro with wireless HP printer connected, iPhone, iPod, and an Android tablet all smoothly. That's incredible for router users to prefer to flash router to DD-WRT. Update November 19, 2012: For AT&T U-verse users, this router can be added behind the AT&T U-verse Gateway by setting stactic WAN IP for the router. Most AT&T Gateways are set with default IP 192.168.1.254, so we can set stactic WAN IP for the router is 192.168.1.253 - Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0 - and Gateway is 192.168.1.254 (AT&T Gateway IP). Remember to set Primary DNS and Secondary DNS for the router using public DNS such as 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 provided by Google Public DNS. Then plug one end of ethernet cable into the LAN port of the AT&T gateway and plug the other end of the ethernet cable into the WAN port of the router. Voila, you now have one more SSID wireless N home network broadcasting in your home along with wireless G home network provided by AT&T Gateway/Router. You can disable wireless G in the Gateway/Router if you prefer to have your own wireless N home network with this WNDR3300 router.

The configuration was mostly straight-forward. My Apple TV had issues staying connected to the N side of the router. I switched it to a frequency in the middle of the N range from the low end of the N range and it took care of that issue. The only other issue I think was a problem with the client devices. They would list the N network, although they were only b/g capable. Paying attention to which SSID (since you set a different SSID for the N and G sides) was a simple resolution. The router had been solid. The lights in the top made my utility room look like a spacecraft landed in it, but a button push turns them off. I'd buy another one, if I needed one.

outstanding...bought a refurb from reforger, standard shipping (yeah right). I expected it to take 2 weeks, maybe 10 days...it shipped monday and got it wed. Pulled it out and setup was a breeze. Need to pay attention to the normal info in the box like the 10.0.0.1 ip and admin-password default signin and password, but netgear menu was normal, just what I expected. What I didn't expect was the immediate online update built right in(definitely cool). It eliminated one of the more convoluted steps with a new device. Every netgear upgrade I've done has been better everytime. If netgear keeps this up I'm going to expect a new and better surprise each time. There is a lot more cool stuff added including port forwarding upgrades, radio shut-off,...etc, geek stuff that will realy wow you but too geeky for most so I'll leave that for a surprise. The blue ball button connect is just too easy and may bum out some of the geeks but they'll get over it. The immediate speed and connect with no drops made me wish I'd gotten an 'N' card with it. In fact that's why I'm writing the review, because I came back to laughin' Bezos' site to get an "N" card. Order the card and router together or you'll be back again just for the speed. Way too easy.

Great set-up program - obtains IP addresses from your modem so you don't have to type them in. However, range was no better (maybe a little less) than my 3 year old Linksys G router on the G or the N band. The crushing blow however is intermitant disconnections every 15 to 20 minutes for no apparent reason, the last of which happened within 10 feet of the router, at which point I hooked up my old Linksys and made plans to run an ethernet cable to my new N equipped computer. After reading the other reviews, I find it very dissappointing that these problems have plagued this router since it was introduced over a year ago and have not been addressed by Netgear.