Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 23:43 Post subject: Netgear WNDR3400
Hi all. Relatively new DD-WRT user here.
I've read a bunch of threads on the Netgear WNDR3400. I just received a refurbished VERSION 1, and want to flash it with DD-WRT.
If I've done my homework correctly, my understanding is that after I do a 30-30-30 reset on the router, the initial flash should be:
dd-wrt.v24-17990_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-WNDR3400.chk
I'm confused, though, about what to do next. Is there another build that gets flashed after this one (like dd-wrt.v24-17990_NEWD-2_K2.6_big-nv64k.bin)? If so, is this the best build for the WNDR3400?
Like ScottB, I too am a new user, and like ScottB I too was a bit perplexed as to how to accomplish
this great feat of dd-wrt firmware installation.
So after a few attempts, with just as many errors, I finally got it right on two wndr3400v1 routers,
and so I decided to post my "How I did it."
Please forgive me if this is in the wrong area. I'm a FNG.
NETGEAR WNDR3400v1 DD-WRT Firmware Install and Upgrade ( The Easy Way.)
I have revised this "How To" and its revision can be found here.
I am making an assumption that you’ve done your homework and just need a quick “How to” to get you going.
You know what they say about assumptions.
Then let’s get started shall we.
[Note: I used IE9 to install the dd-wrt firmware on my router.
Others have experienced connection issues when using Firefox
to do the initial install of the dd-wrt mini firmware.]
First the prep:
Search like hell to find the most resent and stable build for your wndr3400v1.
As of this posting I settled on [ dd-wrt.v24-18946_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-WNDR3400.chk] and
[ dd-wrt.v24-18946_NEWD-2_K2.6_big-nv64.bin] (The mega build bricked me.)
[Note; newer K2.6 or K3.X mega-nv64 builds may work]
For initial firmware install: >
Download the same mini.chk and big-nv64.bin or mega-nv64.bin builds you want to install.
(eg: _18946_mini.chk and _18946_big-nv64.bin) or ( _XXXXX_mini.chk and _XXXXX_mega-nv64.bin)
For firmware Upgrade download the big-nv64.bin, or mega-nv64.bin build you want to upgrade to.
Copy the downloaded builds to a folder on the pc you will use to perform the firmware install.
Use a PC not connected to the web to perform the dd-wrt firmware install.
Connect the pc with the downloaded firmware a to a LAN port on the wndr3400 and
change the NIC on the pc from DHCP to a static ip address, ie:
Ip > 192.168.1.2
Subnet > 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway > leave empty or 192.168.1.1
[TIME FOR THE FIRMWARE INSTALL]
1) [Do 30>30>30 reset on the router]; press and hold reset button 90 sec. (30 sec
with power, 30 sec without power, 30 sec with power), release reset after 90 sec.
2) Power cycle the router. (Power cycle = disconnect power for 30 sec.) Connect PC
to LAN port on the router during the power cycle, if not already connected.
3) Open a browser on the pc connected to the router and in the address bar type in
the router’s ip address: [ 192.168.1.1 ].
[**NOTE: If you’re doing a dd-wrt upgrade then proceed to step 9.**]
[For initial / trail builds continue with step 4.]
4) Log into the router using factory default username and password.
(for Netgear username is: admin and password is: password)
5) From the Netgear Menu select [Router Upgrade.] Browse to the dd-wrt_XXXXX_mini.chk
build you want to install. Click on [Upload] Accept all prompts (hit “Yes” twice),
the dd-wrt firmware will now install.
(Keep the browser open)
**IMPORTANT NOTE: WAIT FOR ROUTER LIGHTS TO RETURN TO GREEN BEFORE YOU LOG IN TO THE ROUTER!!
(It should take about 3 to 4 minutes for the lights to turn green.)
When lights turns green refresh your browser. You should now see the dd-wrt control panel.
6) At the control panel screen enter [root] for username, and [admin] for password.
Click on [Change Password] then close the browser.
7) Do another 30>30>30 reset and wait for lights to return green then power cycle the router.
8]. After the power cycle, when the lights return to green, open the browser and enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar,
login with the default user and password. (root / admin). Click on [Change Password]
Time for the upgrade>
**********DOING THE UPGRADE***************
[Note: The following steps are for doing an upgrade, or going straight from initial install to upgrade.]
(If dd-wrt firmware is already installed on your router, and you're doing an upgrade,
then steps 1 to 3 should be done first before going to step 9). (For the initial big or mega upgrade continue with step 9).
9) Click on [Administration], enter username [root] and password [admin].
Select [Firmware Upgrade]. Browse to the big-nv64.bin, or mega-nv64.bin file and hit [Upgrade]
(leave the browser open).
**Note: WAIT FOR ROUTER LIGHTS TO RETURN GREEN**
[Upgrade successful] message will display in your browser if all went well.
10) Click on [Continue]
11) Close the browser and do another 30>30>30 reset. ** WAIT FOR LIGHTS TO RETURN GREEN**.
Do a power cycle one last time.
12) Power up your router, wait for green lights, then open a browser and browse to 192.168.1.1,
change username and password; different from the default I hope. Click on [Change Password]
Congratulations you have successfully loaded DD-WRT firmware onto your router; enjoy.
(If you see anything wrong please feel free to scold me; like you wouldn't anyway.)
Last edited by deviouswun on Fri Feb 06, 2015 4:52; edited 10 times in total
nicely outlined...! but many ppl are reporting bricks with 18946, i'm gonna stick with 17990 mega for now. But you seem to know a lot of stuff, so m gonna ask u something that i cant find a simple answer to, no matter what!
How do i enable NTFS support? i have a 1.3tb NTFS partition on my 2tb hdd that i want to mount on the usb port. Worked fine with stock, no idea how to do it on dd-wrt.
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:49 Post subject: enable NTFS support on the usb port wndr3400
How do i enable NTFS support? i have a 1.3tb NTFS partition on my 2tb hdd that i want to mount on the usb port.
Hi psycho2097.
I did brick my first wndr3400v1 after I tried to install the_18946_mega.bin;
that’s what I get for reading to many post.
In hind-site I should have started with the 17990 but was convinced to take
the leap to 18946 by a post I did not fully and carefully read.;
that’s what I get for not reading enough post.
I’m just about to go down the road you’re on right now because I’ve spent the past 2 days
trying to get the 2 wndr3400 to play nice with WDS on the 5GHz freq.
with WPA2 AES security; again to much and to little reading of post.
I finally got it working and was about to do some more reading
on the usb subject when I stumbled upon your reply.
I’ll try to get it done tonight and post my results if I’m successful.
1 WNDR3300 dd-wrt.v24-16758_NEWD_std-nokaid_nohotspot_nostor.bin
2x WNDR3400v1 using dd-wrt.v24-18946_NEWD-2_K2.6_big-nv64.bin
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:08 Post subject: You're welcome. Glad I could help
Thanks Struckdown, I’m glad I could help.
Trying to use gereral instructions and apply to a specific problem just
seemed too problematic.
In my case I failed to notice the mega.bin over the big.bin.
If you ever end up bricking your 3400 or decide you want to go back to the
Netgear firmware. Shoot me a line, or better yet, skip the serial
and jtag route and look for juanpedro012 post on how
to unbrick a 3400 using the pin short method.
Look at the bottom of the [ WNDR3400v1 pin short picture] that juanpedro012
attached to his post for a black arrow to see exactly which pins to short.
Then scroll down that same page until you come to my post on how
I successfully did the pin short method.
Be forewarned, I could afford to do the pin short because I had already
ordered a replacement wndr3400, so I had nothing to lose by doing it.
Remember the fool who follows the fool is truly the fool;
and being called a fool, is on the nicer side of what people have called me.
1 WNDR3300 dd-wrt.v24-16758_NEWD_std-nokaid_nohotspot_nostor.bin
2x WNDR3400v1 using dd-wrt.v24-18946_NEWD-2_K2.6_big-nv64.bin
Thanks for the excellent advice and help. I've downloaded the mini and big firmware, as per the instructions. I'm going with 17990 because I'm conservative by nature and all I really want from my old 3400 is to turn it into a wireless bridge.
My question is about applying a static IP address to the PC that I will be using for the install. My plan is to use my Acer laptop. I will disconnect it from the internet. Then what? The rest of the instructions are pretty clear but this step has me a bit confused.
Okay I got the firmware installed. I logged in and changed the settings on the 2.4ghz network to "client bridge" and 5ghz to "repeater." I changed the IP to 192.168.1.99. I applied all the settings and the internet light on the front is not turning on. What did I do wrong. As an aside, I can't find a place to disable DCHP.
Looks like you got the static ip. issue resolved.
I’m guessing from your second post you’re setting up two routers wirelessly.
Believe it or not I just got done with that and it wasn’t as easy as the install.
Are both your routers 3400vi, and did you install 17990 on both?
I have the 2.4ghz as a Mixed AP, and 5ghz as a repeater bridge, with no virtual Interfaces
setup on the secondary router. Security is WPA2 Personal/AES on both channels.
"What did I do wrong. As an aside, I can't find a place to disable DCHP"
Under Setup > Basic Setup If you changed Connection Type to [Disabled] the option to disable DHCP goes away.
I need more info to proceed _________________ WNDR3400v1 using dd-wrt.v24-24461_NEWD-2_K3.x_mega-nv64k.bin
WNDR4500v1 OEM Firmware Version V1.0.1.40_1.0.68
“Incredibly handsome and master of all villainy!”
“Ow! My giant blue head!”
Looks like you got the static ip. issue resolved.
I’m guessing from your second post you’re setting up two routers wirelessly.
Believe it or not I just got done with that and it wasn’t as easy as the install.
Are both your routers 3400vi, and did you install 17990 on both?
I have the 2.4ghz as a Mixed AP, and 5ghz as a repeater bridge, with no virtual Interfaces
setup on the secondary router. Security is WPA2 Personal/AES on both channels.
"What did I do wrong. As an aside, I can't find a place to disable DCHP"
Under Setup > Basic Setup If you changed Connection Type to [Disabled] the option to disable DHCP goes away.
I need more info to proceed
Thanks. The principle router is a WNDR3700 V2 running netgear firmware. It was the old 3400 that has WW-DRT 17990 installed.
THe security is WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]. Does this help?
According to most of the post I’ve seen, wireless security should be WPA2-(PSK) AES, or WPA-(PSK)TKIP on both routers;
in other words one or the other but not both. The preference I believe is WPA2-AES. _________________ WNDR3400v1 using dd-wrt.v24-24461_NEWD-2_K3.x_mega-nv64k.bin
WNDR4500v1 OEM Firmware Version V1.0.1.40_1.0.68
“Incredibly handsome and master of all villainy!”
“Ow! My giant blue head!”
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:23 Post subject: Another device on the network is using your computer’s IP
Great step by step deviouswun
I'm nearly there, but when I pwer up the wndr3400 with same dd-wrt as above the network goes grazy.. all machines start saying:
"Another device on the network is using your computer’s IP address (192.168.2.27)." or whatever IP
I've to switch off the wndr3400 and everthing works again...