Asus WL-520UG: Loving Tomato Firmware

WL-520gU EZ Wireless Router with MFP Server

For a while now, I have been using Tomato firmware in all of my Broadcom-chipset-based broadband routers. I have a Linksys WRT54GS v1.1, Linksys WRT54GL v1.1, Buffalo WHR-125G and now the Asus WL-520UG, all on Tomato Firmware.

I particularly like Victek’s version of  Tomato firmware, because of the added features (CPU Info and overclock, WAN Info, IP/MAC limiter, Speedmod) on top of the vanilla version of Jonathan Zarate’s. Recently, with the help of “Teddy_Bear” from www.LinksysInfo.org the USB functionality of the Asus WL-520UG is now fully supported in Tomato firmware.

Unlike the Linksys routers wherein flashing with a 3rd party is like a walk in the park, flashing Tomato in supported Asus and Buffalo routers needs a few more steps. Instructions on flashing these routers are already posted in the web. I, however, didn’t want to take the complicated steps by flashing it first with DD-WRT and then flashing it with Tomato.

I also tried Jonathan Zarate’s instruction to “renaming the tomato-ND.trx to WL520GU_2.0.0.9_EN.trx”  and flashing it the normal way, but it didn’t work. Perhaps I was doing it the wrong way? LoLz!

I went straight to flashing it with Tomato using Linksys’ tftp.exe utility and Victek’s latest firmware, particlulary for the WL-520GU, Tomato_RAF_1.23.8622_ND_USB_Std.

To extract the 7z file you need uncompress using 7z tool. http://www.7-zip.org. The Asus WL-520GU should only be flashed with an “ND driver”

Warning: I will not be responsible for any damage as a result of this instruction. Do it at your own risk.

Before you start, make sure that the router has been reset to its default settings.

1. Set a static IP to your PC 192.168.1.100 Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway 192.168.1.1

Set A Static IP on your PC

2. Run the tftp.exe utility. Set the IP address to 192.168.1.1. Use “admin” as password and browse for the extracted Tomato_RAF_1.23.8622_ND_USB_Std.trx firmware. Leave this utility open for step no. 8

TFTP.EXE Utility

3. Using an ethernet cable, connect your PC to a LAN1 port of the router.

4. Check if you are able to logon to the router’s admin page at 192.168.1.1

5. Disable windows firewall.

6. Unplug power from the router.

7. Using a pen or a paper clip, press the reset button at the back of the router (the black, recessed button, not the protruding red one), keeping the reset button pressed, power on the router.

8. When the power led begins to flash slowly, release the reset button, upload the Tomato firmware by pressing the “upgrade button” in the tftp.exe utility. You should get a green circle indicating the firmware upload was successful.

Firmware successfully flashed.

9. Wait for two (2) more minutes BEFORE you reset the WL-520GU router.

10. Power cycle your router, log in to it at 192.168.1.1 with admin/admin default username/password and enjoy Tomato

Mojave: The Experimental “New Windows” From Microsoft

The Mojave experiment, the "new" Microsoft Operating System

 MOJAVE pronouced: mə-ˈhä-vē, mō-

• a member of the North American Indian people formerly living in the Colorado river valley in Arizona and Nevada and California
• a desert area in southern California and western Arizona
• Mohave: the Yuman language spoken by the Mohave
• Codename of Microsoft’s “new” operating system.

Windows Vista, is arguably the most despised (by critics, fan-boys or wannabe’s) operating system Microsoft has developed. In an attempt to re-educate the “mis-informed”, re-vitalize the image of Windows Vista against skeptics and eventually instill acceptance, mostly from Windows XP users who are afraid to migrate due to incompatibility issues brought about by Vista.

On a personal note, I can say I am one of the early adapters of Windows Vista. I was part of the technical BETA testers of the then codenamed, Longhorn operating system.

I never had any problems with Microsoft Vista. All of the programs I use are compatible with it. The only two incompatible hardwares I have are my Linksys WPC54GX and WMP54GX v2 that Vista Ultimate 64-bit version refuses to identify. It is not Microsoft’s fault, though. It’s Linksys’. Linksys, up to now will not come up with 64-bit drivers on Vista and even mostly on Windows XP 64-bit edition.

The most appalling thing is that Linksys support told me that they do not see any reason to release any 64-bit drivers for their adaptors! Hell, even during the BETA stage of Longhorn, Linksys’ official statement was that 64-bit drivers are to be announced soon.

Now this is one concrete example why potential consumers are mis-informed about Windows Vista. They readily blame Microsoft who is not at fault here, rather than pin the blame on the hardware manufacturers that turns a blind eye to its consumers.

If any of you has a working 64-bit driver specifically for these two adapters, please leave a comment. You may also help Microsoft by informing working or non-working hardware/software by visiting the Windows Compatibility Center :)

I’m sure some of you may react negatively to this as my attempt to promote Windows Vista – I don’t care What I know is that, Microsoft does its best to reach out to its consumers.

I’m proud to have partaken in its early stages of developtment. I am proud of that opportunity.