D-Link DIR-825 rev B1

Simultaneous Dual-Band Gigabit Ethernet

This device is very similar to the TRENDnet TEW-673GRU.

NOTE: B2 appears to only be different in labelling. The default firmware claims B1 and even /proc/cpuinfo claim to be B1 revisions even though the packaging and the sticker say B2. machine : D-Link DIR-825 rev. B1

NA = north america, WW = worldwide

 Proc: Atheros AR7161-BC1A P0A044.03C 0845 (AR7161m) (rev 2) RAM: ProMOS MVC 0919VPR V58C2256164SCI5 Switch: RealTek RTL8366SR 95K34S1 G922B

Links of Interest

 * Memory mod on Dlink DIR-825
 * D-Link DIR-825 H/W Ver.B1 F/W Ver. 2.03NA
 * OpenWRT on the D-Link DIR-825
 * D-Link DIR-825 Rev. B - Porting DD-WRT
 * Gathering Info about D-Link DIR-825
 * Review on SmallNetBuilder

Flashing DD-WRT
On DD-WRT Wiki

NOTE: B2 appears to only be different in labelling. The default firmware claims B1 and even /proc/cpuinfo claim to be B1 revisions even though the packaging and the sticker say B2. machine : D-Link DIR-825 rev. B1


 * 1) Download "factory-to-ddwrt_NA.bin."
 * 2) Set your IPv4 network adapter to the following in your windows network configuration to: IP Address: 192.168.0.2, Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 , Gateway: 192.168.0.1
 * 3) Physically connect the router ethernet port #1 to your computer ethernet port (NO WIRELESS!)
 * 4) Perform the 30/30/30 procedure:
 * 5) * With power on, hold the reset button down for 30 seconds.
 * 6) *Without releasing the reset button, unplug the router. Continue holding the reset button for 30 more seconds.
 * 7) *Without releasing the reset button, plug the power back in and continue to hold the reset button for 30 more seconds.
 * 8) *Release the reset button. The power light should be flashing on and off yellow.
 * 9) In Internet Explorer enter http://192.168.0.1/
 * 10) You should see a screen titled "Firmware Upgrade System". Mine is version 1.0.0.2 dated 2008/12/25, yours may vary.
 * 11) Select the “factory-to-ddwrt_NA.bin" file you downloaded and click the Send button to flash your router. As the firmware is uploaded and installed you will see the screen start counting to 100 percent.  The power light will remain out during this process.  At 100% the power light the power light will flash yellow and the router will reboot.  The router globe will be yellow, the power will be blue, the 2.4 or 5 GHz will be flashing blue.
 * 12) Reconfigure your network adapter to one of the following:
 * 13) *STATIC IP Address: 192.168.1.2, Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 , Gateway: 192.168.1.1
 * 14) *DHCP
 * 15) Using Internet Explorer go to: http://192.168.1.1 and You should see the DD-WRT screen to change your password.
 * 16) You should now be at the System Information screen.

Flashing OpenWRT
On OpenWRT Wiki

Reverting from DD-WRT

 * 1) Download the stock firmware at ftp://ftp.dlink.com/Gateway/dir825_revB/Firmware/dir825_revB_fw_203NA.zip
 * 2) Set your IPv4 network adapter to the following in your windows network configuration to: IP Address: 192.168.0.2, Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 , Gateway: 192.168.0.1
 * 3) Physically connect the router ethernet port #1 to your computer ethernet port (NO WIRELESS!)
 * 4) Perform the 30/30/30 procedure, using the same method you used to flash DD-WRT firmware.
 * 5) *You should see the stock "Firmware Upgrade System" screen.
 * 6) Select the stock firmware that you downloaded in step 1 and click the Send button.
 * 7) Reconfigure your network adapter to one of the following:
 * 8) *STATIC IP Address: 192.168.1.2, Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 , Gateway: 192.168.1.1
 * 9) *DHCP
 * 10) Using Internet Explorer go to: http://192.168.1.1 and You should see the DD-WRT screen to change your password.

USB Info
Easy to follow and working guides for installing software on an external USB drive: http://g300nh.blogspot.com (start with software installation on dd-wrt part 1)

Pictures
D-Link Images

COMMON PROBLEMS

 * Dramatic reduction of WAN download speed over time.
 * Reboot temporarily clears the problem.
 * Setting TX/RX antenna chains to 1 per BrainSlayer's advice gives stable 65Mb/s connection in NG-mixed mode. (current uptime 1 week without any performance deterioration)
 * Setting TX/RX antenna chains to 1+2 will give a 130Mb/s connection, which this far seems to be equally stable (current uptime 1 week without any performance deterioration)
 * Web GUI slows slowsmdown and becomes unresponsive over time.
 * Reboot temporarily clears the problem.

Calibration Data Recovery
tatsuya46 Wrote:

To recover do EXACTLY whats posted here, this includes odd symbols such as ">". After step ONE make sure to set a STATIC IP such as 192.168.1.10 and the DEFAULT GATEWAY to 192.168.1.1, this must be done. Also have a telnet client ready or use the windows telnet client (I did).

-I added a few words to this procedure so no one else gets stuck at it for hours like I did.

-If the last 2 characters of your router's MAC is something like CA like mine is, for step 7 you would put in XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:C9, 9 is BEFORE A.


 * 1) flash the following firmware onto the DIR-825: http://download.openwrt.net/ar71xx/tmp/caldata/openwrt-ar71xx-dir-825-b1-squashfs-backup-loader.bin
 * 2) type "telnet 192.168.1.1" without quotes
 * 3) type "cd /tmp" without quotes
 * 4) type "wget http://download.openwrt.net/ar71xx/tmp/caldata/part_01 " without quotes
 * 5) type "wget http://download.openwrt.net/ar71xx/tmp/caldata/part_02 " without quotes
 * 6) type "wget http://download.openwrt.net/ar71xx/tmp/caldata/part_03 " without quotes
 * 7) type "echo -n XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX > mac1" without quotes (router mac minus 1) Where XX is the router's MAC, look at the sticker on the bottom
 * 8) type "echo -n XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX > mac2" without quotes (NORMAL router mac)
 * 9) type "cat part_01 mac1 part_02 mac2 part_03 > caldata" without quotes
 * 10) type "ls -l caldata" without quotes (should read 65536 bytes)
 * 11) type "mtd unlock caldata" without quotes
 * 12) type "mtd -e caldata write caldata caldata" without quotes
 * 13) type "reboot" without quotes
 * 14) flash DD-WRT r14929 back onto it using emergency loader THEN DO TRIPLE 30 RESET. The 2.4 GHz radio (or whatever radio quit) led should start flashing.

Second USB port
It was reported that in order to enable second USB port it is sufficient to solder in two straight bridges in place of L66 (take a look to the corresponding photo in the "Photos" section). After that you will need to solder in second USB header or - easier way - to solder in short-tailed female USB type A connector (sample photo is also available in the "Photos" section).

Discussion and more information can be found in this |thread.

128 MB RAM Mod
vavasik did this mod and reported his experiences in this |thread.

He used two Samsung K4H511638D-UCB3 chips from Samsung DDR SODIMM 512 MB. Maybe other chips from other manufacturers can be used, only they has to have 32Mx16 organization. Chips with other organization, such as 64Mx8, are not suitable.

Next to the soldering, the bootloader (U-Boot) and the calibration data partition has to be changed, because the D-Link bootloader/calibration data partition does not start with the 128 MB RAM. He used the bootloader/calibration data partition from Netgear WNDR3700. It's done through a full reflash, check the forum for the binary. It turn the D-Link DIR-825 into an Netgear WNDR3700.

The Netgear stock firmware does not recognize the 128 MB RAM, it only shows/uses 64 MB RAM, but it starts.

An detailed tutorial from vavasik can be found |here.


 * Don't do this if your are inexperienced in soldering, you will for sure destroy the contacts->Trash!**