WRT54G v2.0 Alchemy Upgrade Fails - Help!

Hi guys (and gals),

I'm trying to upgrade my WRTG54G v2.0 to Alchemy 1.0, using the web
interface, and it fails every time. Doesn't seem to hurt the router,
but I can't get it to install.

- Reset router to factory defaults
- Used a direct wired connection to the router.
- Downloaded and unziped the bin file.
- Browse to the above, click upgrade.

Runs for a couple of seconds, progress bar about 1/2 inch, then full
ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...), and a
Continue button. Click that, returns to the upgrade web page, progress
bar keeps moving. When about 2/3 full, progress bar restarts, go
another few minutes to about 2/3 full, then a pop-up window with
"Upgrades are Fail" and a Cancel button.

All I want to do is boost the power on the transmitter to reach a
WGA54G in my bonus room, heard Alchemy was a good option.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

- Brian.

DD-WRT, do a google :-)

"Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...)

This may be something to do with the fact that the Linksys firmware
will (*) only support a firmware download of 3MB. With the DD-WRT
software, you have to load the ...mini... version first, which removes
that restriction.

I got no help at all from the Alchemy folks, even after 'subscribing',
haven't done the DD-WRT thing yet, but it looks like a much more
responsive developer and forum participants.

(*) There's some question about which version of Linksys firmware do
or do not have this restriction, but this funny message appears to be
related. "We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!"

"William P.N. Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...)
>
> This may be something to do with the fact that the Linksys firmware
> will (*) only support a firmware download of 3MB. With the DD-WRT
> software, you have to load the ...mini... version first, which removes
> that restriction.
>
> I got no help at all from the Alchemy folks, even after 'subscribing',
> haven't done the DD-WRT thing yet, but it looks like a much more
> responsive developer and forum participants.
>
> (*) There's some question about which version of Linksys firmware do
> or do not have this restriction, but this funny message appears to be
> related. "We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!"

WRONG!

You can flash standard DD-WRT (or any f/w) to ANY version WRT54G up to
router v3.x.

v4 WRT54G routers SUPPOSEDLY have a limitation on FLASH .BIN files having to
be less than 3MB, hence the SUPPOSED mini requirement for DD-WRT. Once the
mini is FLASHED, you can do the standard version. )I say SUPPOSED as if you
check the wiki on this, there are reports of direct to standard being OK.)

v5 WRT54Gs cannot be FLASHED at all.

__spc__ wrote:

> "William P.N. Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>"Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...)
>>
>>This may be something to do with the fact that the Linksys firmware
>>will (*) only support a firmware download of 3MB. With the DD-WRT
>>software, you have to load the ...mini... version first, which removes
>>that restriction.
>>
>>I got no help at all from the Alchemy folks, even after 'subscribing',
>>haven't done the DD-WRT thing yet, but it looks like a much more
>>responsive developer and forum participants.
>>
>>(*) There's some question about which version of Linksys firmware do
>>or do not have this restriction, but this funny message appears to be
>>related. "We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!"
>
>
> WRONG!
>
> You can flash standard DD-WRT (or any f/w) to ANY version WRT54G up to
> router v3.x.
>
> v4 WRT54G routers SUPPOSEDLY have a limitation on FLASH .BIN files having to
> be less than 3MB, hence the SUPPOSED mini requirement for DD-WRT. Once the
> mini is FLASHED, you can do the standard version. )I say SUPPOSED as if you
> check the wiki on this, there are reports of direct to standard being OK.)
>
> v5 WRT54Gs cannot be FLASHED at all.
>
>
Hi,
Had no trouble flashing standard version onto my v. 2.0 router.
And there is provision for TX output adjustment.

On 2 Feb 2006 06:55:53 -0800, "Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I'm trying to upgrade my WRTG54G v2.0 to Alchemy 1.0, using the web
>interface, and it fails every time. Doesn't seem to hurt the router,
>but I can't get it to install.
>
>- Reset router to factory defaults
>- Used a direct wired connection to the router.
>- Downloaded and unziped the bin file.
>- Browse to the above, click upgrade.
>
>Runs for a couple of seconds, progress bar about 1/2 inch, then full
>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...), and a
>Continue button. Click that, returns to the upgrade web page, progress
>bar keeps moving. When about 2/3 full, progress bar restarts, go
>another few minutes to about 2/3 full, then a pop-up window with
>"Upgrades are Fail" and a Cancel button.
>
>All I want to do is boost the power on the transmitter to reach a
>WGA54G in my bonus room, heard Alchemy was a good option.

Did you do this via a wireless link or via an ethernet cable? From
your description, it sounds like you did it via wireless. That
doesn't work because the router kills the wireless connection before
the upload is done.

Also, did you bother to reset to defaults BEFORE you did the flash
upgrade? It's not really necessary, but is considered a good idea to
avoid suprises.

I suggest you dump Sveasoft and switch to DD-WRT. See instructions
at:
| http://wrt-wiki.bsr-clan.de/index.ph...T54G.2FGL.2FGS
Where it says to wait 2 minutes after flashing is for real. I wait
about 5 mins and don't touch ANYTHING until after the 5 minutes is up.

So, do you need instructions on how to de-brick the router or did it
recover by itself?

General clues and links:
| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> On 2 Feb 2006 06:55:53 -0800, "Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I'm trying to upgrade my WRTG54G v2.0 to Alchemy 1.0, using the web
>>interface, and it fails every time. Doesn't seem to hurt the router,
>>but I can't get it to install.
>>
>>- Reset router to factory defaults
>>- Used a direct wired connection to the router.
>>- Downloaded and unziped the bin file.
>>- Browse to the above, click upgrade.
>>
>>Runs for a couple of seconds, progress bar about 1/2 inch, then full
>>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...), and a
>>Continue button. Click that, returns to the upgrade web page, progress
>>bar keeps moving. When about 2/3 full, progress bar restarts, go
>>another few minutes to about 2/3 full, then a pop-up window with
>>"Upgrades are Fail" and a Cancel button.
>>
>>All I want to do is boost the power on the transmitter to reach a
>>WGA54G in my bonus room, heard Alchemy was a good option.
>
> Did you do this via a wireless link or via an ethernet cable?

Ahem :-)
>>- Used a direct wired connection to the router.

> I suggest you dump Sveasoft and switch to DD-WRT. See instructions
> at:

I'm pretty happy with Talisman, and there are plenty of happy Alchemy users.
DD-WRT probably _is_ better, but Alchemy should be fine. otoh, boosting
power is only a one-way solution (it doesn't make it any easier to
receive).
--
derek

In article <CSuEf.6111$(E-Mail Removed)>, "__spc__" <s p a m t i m e @ n t l w o r l d . c o m> wrote:
>
>"William P.N. Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> "Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...)
>>
>> This may be something to do with the fact that the Linksys firmware
>> will (*) only support a firmware download of 3MB. With the DD-WRT
>> software, you have to load the ...mini... version first, which removes
>> that restriction.
>>
>> I got no help at all from the Alchemy folks, even after 'subscribing',
>> haven't done the DD-WRT thing yet, but it looks like a much more
>> responsive developer and forum participants.
>>
>> (*) There's some question about which version of Linksys firmware do
>> or do not have this restriction, but this funny message appears to be
>> related. "We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!"
>
>WRONG!
>
>You can flash standard DD-WRT (or any f/w) to ANY version WRT54G up to
>router v3.x.
>
>v4 WRT54G routers SUPPOSEDLY have a limitation on FLASH .BIN files having to
>be less than 3MB, hence the SUPPOSED mini requirement for DD-WRT. Once the
>mini is FLASHED, you can do the standard version. )I say SUPPOSED as if you
>check the wiki on this, there are reports of direct to standard being OK.)
>

I flash the mini now on all of them and then 'upgrade' It only takes a few
minutes more, in my case, I just set a computer and the router to the task,
have coffee/water foutain etc, come back repeat with the 'big' version ad
asnwer email or do newsgroups...

>v5 WRT54Gs cannot be FLASHED at all.
>
>

fundamentalism, fundamentally wrong.

In article <b8xEf.539145$ki.324241@pd7tw2no>, Tony Hwang <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>__spc__ wrote:
>
>> "William P.N. Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>"Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>>ASP web page with "Upgrades Are Fail" (interesting grammar...)
>>>
>>>This may be something to do with the fact that the Linksys firmware
>>>will (*) only support a firmware download of 3MB. With the DD-WRT
>>>software, you have to load the ...mini... version first, which removes
>>>that restriction.
>>>
>>>I got no help at all from the Alchemy folks, even after 'subscribing',
>>>haven't done the DD-WRT thing yet, but it looks like a much more
>>>responsive developer and forum participants.
>>>
>>>(*) There's some question about which version of Linksys firmware do
>>>or do not have this restriction, but this funny message appears to be
>>>related. "We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!"
>>
>>
>> WRONG!
>>
>> You can flash standard DD-WRT (or any f/w) to ANY version WRT54G up to
>> router v3.x.
>>
>> v4 WRT54G routers SUPPOSEDLY have a limitation on FLASH .BIN files having to
>> be less than 3MB, hence the SUPPOSED mini requirement for DD-WRT. Once the
>> mini is FLASHED, you can do the standard version. )I say SUPPOSED as if you
>> check the wiki on this, there are reports of direct to standard being OK.)
>>
>> v5 WRT54Gs cannot be FLASHED at all.
>>
>>
>Hi,
>Had no trouble flashing standard version onto my v. 2.0 router.
>And there is provision for TX output adjustment.

They aren't kidding about the heat issue on the Tx, be careful about how
high you set it unless you can run a fan to help keep things cool. Unless
you just have to I would stay below the recommended max.

fundamentalism, fundamentally wrong.

Derek Broughton <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>> Did you do this via a wireless link or via an ethernet cable?
>Ahem :-)
>>>- Used a direct wired connection to the router.

Oops. However, I just remembered another mess I created that might
apply. I was connected via BOTH wireless and wired at the same time.
I didn't realize this had happened because I had reset the router to
defaults and my laptop had cleverly decided to connect to the now
available non-encrypted access point. I thought I was safe with the
ethernet cable, which should have been the default network path. It
apparently wasn't. When I started the flash update (which was Alchemy
1.0 incidentally) it went part way and froze. Oops. I later used a
TFTP copy to recover.

>> I suggest you dump Sveasoft and switch to DD-WRT. See instructions
>> at:
>
>I'm pretty happy with Talisman, and there are plenty of happy Alchemy users.
>DD-WRT probably _is_ better, but Alchemy should be fine. otoh, boosting
>power is only a one-way solution (it doesn't make it any easier to
>receive).

Yep. What bothers me is that there have been quite a few reports of
dramatically improved range when the power is increased only at the
WRT54G end. In theory, that should not be possible unless:
1. The receiver in the WRT54G is substantially more sensitive than
that in the client radio receiver.
2. The typical +15 to +17dBm output from the unmodified WRT54G is
actually much lower than specified.
3. The methods of measuring the improvements are inconsistent.

I also find it interesting that for all the WRT54G routers that have
had the power increased, I've only seen one spectrum analyzer photos
of the distorted mess created when the power is cranked up.
http://explorer.cyberstreet.com/wrt5...raloutput.html
It's really difficult to see what's happening without an illuminated
graticule, but my guess(tm) is that 100 or perhaps 150mw is the limit
of acceptability. I'll try to take some better photos when I get
inspired (and looking for an excuse to buy a new digital camera).


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558