ASUS RT-N66U

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multiple revisions of this device, use caution
abgn (AN900)
Wireless-N900 Dual-Band Gigabit Router
Dark Knight Double 450Mbps Dual N Band Router
RT-N66U 1.jpg
RT-N66U 3.jpg
Homepage
Support
Downloads
Wikipedia
InfoDepot Wiki
WikiDevi.wi-cat.ru
3rd Party Firmware
dd-wrt
OpenWrt
Tomato any flavor
Gargoyle
Status Unknown
Platform
BrandModelRev
ASUS RT-N66U B1 (Rev.3.00)
Serial number prefix
C21A08
FCC ID
IC ID
Type
wireless router
CPU1
CPU1 Type
MIPS 74Kc
CPU1 Speed
600 MHz 8-bit
Flash1 Chip
Spansion S29GL256P10TFI01
Flash1 Size
32 MiB33,554,432 B <br />262,144 Kib <br />32,768 KiB <br />256 Mib <br />0.0313 GiB <br /> (Serial)
RAM1 Size
256 MiB268,435,456 B <br />2,097,152 Kib <br />262,144 KiB <br />2,048 Mib <br />0.25 GiB <br />
RAM1 Chip
Samsung K4T1G164QF x 2
nvram Size
64K
ETH chip1
Switch
Broadcom BCM53125
Ethernet Port Count
1-1GbE-WAN
4-1GbE-LAN
Wired Standard
IEEE 802.3i/3u/3ab

802dot11 OUI: 08:60:6E (1 E, 1 W), 30:85:A9 (3 E, 3 W), 50:46:5D (2 E, 2 W), C8:60:00 (2 E, 2 W)
Ethernet OUI: 08:60:6E (1 E, 1 W), 30:85:A9 (3 E, 3 W), 50:46:5D (2 E, 2 W), C8:60:00 (2 E, 2 W)

Stock bootloader
CFE
Stock FW OS
Linux 2.6.22.19
Expansion IF types
USB 2.0, MicroSD Card slot
USB ports
2
SD/MMC Slots
1
USB Hub Compatible
Untested
Power
19 VDC, 1.58 A
Connector type
barrel
Serial Port (UART)
yes, 4-pin header
JTAG Port
yes, 10-pin header
Other

Default SSID: ASUS (100 addl. devices)
, ASUS_5G (46 addl. devices)
Default IP address: 192.168.1.1
the IP 192.168.1.1 is used by 1324 additional devices
of which 173 are ASUS devices
Default login user: admin
Default login password: admin
admin:admin credentials used by 1342 additional devices
of which 207 are ASUS devices

Manuf/OEM/ODM
3rd Party Firmware Support
AsusWRT-Merlin • (Wiki | List)
, DD-WRT • (List)
, OpenWrt • (List | Dev | DLs)
, TomatoUSB • (List | DLs)
, TomatoUSB RAF (Victek) • (List | DLs)
Retail
Availability End of Life
FCC approval date 07 December 2011
(Est.) release date 22 December 2011
UPC 886227037353
(UPC DB, On eBay)
ASIN B006QB1RPY Flag of the United States.svg
Country of manuf China
Radio 1
Chip1
Broadcom BCM4331
Wireless interface OUI
08:60:6E, 30:85:A9, 50:46:5D, C8:60:00
Antenna Connector Type
U.FL, RP-SMA
MIMO status
3x3:3
Wireless Standard
IEEE 802.11b/g/n
802.11n
up to 450 Mbps
802.11g
up to 54 Mbps
802.11b
up to 11 Mbps
WiFi Operating Frequency
2.4 GHz
Radio cor_rev
29
Radio 2
Chip1
Broadcom BCM4331
Wireless interface OUI
08:60:6E, 30:85:A9, 50:46:5D, C8:60:00
Antenna Connector Type
U.FL, RP-SMA
MIMO status
3x3:3
Wireless Standard
IEEE 802.11a/n
802.11n
up to 450 Mbps
802.11a
up to 54 Mbps
WiFi Operating Frequency
5 GHz
Radio cor_rev
29
 FCC ID
ASUS DSL-N66UMSQDSLN66U
MSQ-RTN66U
ASUS RT-N66WMSQ-RTN66U
 CPU1 brandRadio1 chip1 brandRadio2 chip1 brand
ASUS RT-N66UBroadcomBroadcomBroadcom
ASUS RT-N66U C1BroadcomBroadcomBroadcom
ASUS RT-N66WBroadcomBroadcomBroadcom

For a list of all currently documented Broadcom chipsets with specifications, see Broadcom.

For a list of all currently documented ASUS device with specifications, see ASUS.

450 Mbps - 3SS 5GHz 802.11n (40MHz chan.),
450 Mbps - 3SS 2.4GHz 802.11n (40MHz chan.) = AN900 class

Overview

Simultaneous Dual-Band, Gigabit Ethernet, 3x3:3 (450Mbps)

This router is sold in some locations as the RT-N66R.

It is also available in white as the RT-N66W.

The CPU is part BCM4706KPBG. The switch is part BCM53125SKMML.

Revision B2 is the same as B1, but have different CFE version.

Annihilator666's photos have a sticker on the device showing an:

OUI of 10:BF:48, LAN OUI of 20:CF:30, presumably, 50:46:5D OUI
Model: RT-N66U C1, H/W ver B2, F/W ver 3.0.0.4.382_19333
CPU: Broadcom BCM4708 (ARM); 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
(odmpid == "RT-N66U_C1" || odmpid =="RT-AC66U_B1" || odmpid == "RT-AC1750_B1")

Links of Interest

Reviews

Forum threads

now fully supported as of March 25

Other

Flashing

Flashing dd-wrt

Asus RT-N66U on DD-WRT wiki

NVRAM issue

As of June 2012 there is an issue with NVRAM all but being filled by the default DD-WRT installation. Until this issue is resolved, please know about the pro and cons of this issue, before you install DD-WRT on this router.

There are however frequent general news about this issue. If not daily, then weekly news. And eventually a solution to (preferably a 60/64K solution) will also reach the DD-WRT community.

As of this writing (June 30, 2012) https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin/downloads has implemented a solution, that lives with 32k NVRAM for CFE, but extends to ~60k in firmware.

As of July 16, 2012, TomatoUSB, Shibby has implemented a 64k NVRAM solution that lives with 32K NVRAM for CFE See Flashing TomatoUSB

Principle steps

  • Clear settings (Clear NVRAM) select Factory Default settings
  • Install the INITIAL ASUS RT-N66U version of DD-WRT (file name ends in .trx) using either the Web GUI method or the Recover Utility method. Both methods are described below
  • Clear settings (Clear NVRAM) select Factory Default settings
  • "Upgrade" to your final version of DD-WRT (filename ends in .bin) using Web GUI or Recovery Utility
  • Clear settings (Clear NVRAM) select Factory Default settings
Note: is IMPORTANT to Clear NVRAM (to select Factory Default settings) BEFORE and AFTER upload of any new firmware.

Upload Firmware via Web GUI

  • Clear settings (Clear NVRAM) select Factory Default settings.
  • Upload the .trx file using the stock web GUI.
  • Wait for the router to re-boot on its own. This may easily take 10–15 minutes to happen, so just be patient.
  • Clear settings (Clear NVRAM) select Factory Default settings. Wait for the router to re-boot on its own!!! May take 10 minutes or more

Upload Firmware via Recovery Utility

  • Set your NIC card to static IP 192.168.1.12, Subnet 255.255.255.0, Default gateway 192.168.1.1 (Static IP guide)
  • Put router into recovery mode by holding down the reset button while powering up the router, wait until the power led is blinking slowly, then release the reset button.
  • In the Asus Recover utility Access the router’s built in recovery mode by issuing 192.168.1.1 in browser field.
  • When completed wait until the router re-boots on its own. This takes at least 10 minutes.
  • Put router into recovery mode by holding down the reset button while powering up the router, wait until the power led is blinking slowly, then release the reset button.
  • Flash the final DD-WRT build, could be any of:

Simple Instructions (Works for most)

1 Holding the reset botton with out energy cable, connect energy cable and switch

on the router with the reset botton pressed till the "on" led blinks slowly.

2 Try httр://192.168.1.1 and now you see the MiniWebserver.

alt text

3 Klick Durchsuchen und in the Fileserver search the Firmware.trx and click open.

(Click Browse and in the Fileserver search locate the Firmware.trx and click open.)

Now click Upload

alt text

4 When the firmware fully loaded click Continue.

You are back to the MiniWebServer , now click Restore default NVRAM values.

alt text

5 Now get http://192.168.1.1/do.htm?cmd=nvram+commit into the Browser and press Enter

alt text

6 Now click Continue and then click Reboot

7 Try http://192.1.68.1.1 and set Username and Password

alt text

If you are not fast enough and the router reboots then you can do step

1,Clear NVRAM and do step 5&6 without loading firmware again.
  • When completed wait until the router re-boots on its own. This takes at least 10 minutes.
  • Put router into recovery mode by holding down the reset button while powering up the router,
wait until the power led is blinking slowly, then release the reset button.
  • Select Reset NVRAM defaults when it completes (should be quick), in the browser field,
type in httр://192.168.1.1/do.htm?cmd=nvram+commit.
When done press enter. When complete select reboot and wait 5–10 minutes
for the router to reboot and start building its layers.
  • Now you should be able to access via web gui 192.168.1.1 and it should be DD-WRT.

Flashing OpenWrt

On the OpenWrt ToH (techdata entry)
On the OpenWrt Wiki
OpenWrt Target: bcm47xx
OpenWrt Subtarget: mips74k
OpenWrt Package architecture: mipsel_74kc
Support started version: 15.05
Current supported version: 23.05.5
Unsupported Functions:
WiFi 2.4GHz, WiFi 5GHz, openwrt only sees 128MB RAM

Please insert instructions here

Flashing Tomato

  1. Set static IP address on computer of 192.168.1.10
  2. Download the file 'tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-101-AIO-64K.trx'
  3. Put the router into recovery mode by holding down the reset button
    in the back of the router and plug the power in.
    Continue holding the reset button until the power lights blinks slow,
    then release the reset button.
  4. Use the Asus recovery disk and upload the tomato firmware.
  5. Wait until it finish, about 5min. If you do not wait you will brick it.
  6. Power down the router.
  7. Power up the router and you now have tomato on it.
  8. Reset nvram (Thorough).

Upgrading

Updating DD-WRT

If dd-wrt is already on the router follow these instructions. If stock firmware is on the router follow the flashing instructions.

  1. Check for recommended builds here first.
  2. Set your computer to a static IP of 192.168.1.7. (or to whatever subnet the router is on) Disable all firewalls and security. Disable wireless on your computer and only have the router connected to the flashing computer by the ethernet cable between the two.
  3. Hard reset or 30/30/30 (If the router supports it, if not, reset to defults in the GUI) prior to flashing. Wait. Check for password page on re-login and change password.
  4. Flash firmware. You can use the webgui except if you have a belkin router. (For belkin use tftp.exe to flash)
  5. Wait...at least three minutes. Lights should return to normal. See important2, below. Failing to wait is how most people brick their routers.
  6. Do a power cycle of the router. (Unplug the cord, count to 30 and plug it back in.)
  7. Wait for the lights to return to normal usually about 2 minutes.
  8. Hard reset or 30/30/30 again (If the router supports it, if not, reset to defults in the GUI). Wait. Check for the password page and re-login to change the password. Then you can reconfigure your settings manually.
  9. Once configured set your computer back to autoIP and autoDNS.

Important1: This Hard reset or 30/30/30 works fine for Asus router, but you do have to power cycle after the reset.

Important2: After you flash the firmware, and before you do the hard reset, the router will be building some nvram settings. YOU MUST WAIT FOR THIS TO FINISH PRIOR TO DOING ANYTHING WITH THE ROUTER INCLUDING A HARD RESET. Usually, you can tell when this process is completed by the WAN light coming on, but it does take several minutes. Go have a beer. There are starting to be more and more people who BRICK their routers by not waiting until the nvram is rebuilt, PRIOR to doing a hard reset. YOU NEED TO WAIT!

JTAG-Serial Info

JTAG

RT-N66U Jtag On DD-WRT forum

JTAG Pinouts

J2 sure looks like a JTAG header

1 © nTRST |  2 ® GND
3 © TDI   |  4 ® GND
5 © TDO   |  6 ® GND
7 © TMS   |  8 ® GND
9 © TCK   | 10 ® GND

Serial

Console connection on N66U and TUMPA board On DD-WRT forum

Serial Pinouts

Serial is J1 Serial is J1

 R| VCC  1 © |F
 E|  RX  2 © |R
 A|  TX  3 © |O
 R| GND  4 © |N
             |T

USB Info

DD-WRT USB

  • The USB port is where you can connect an external USB hard drive or flash drive. Which can do a multitude of things. You can use in as a NAS, storage for a FTP server, use Optware to run external programs like torrent software, samba for sharing files to network, share a USB printer with network... The list of possibilities is long, it just takes a little research.
  • ProFTPd, samba, dlna, raid support is included in most the newer builds of dd-wrt. Check the features chart to be sure.

Tomato USB

Most newer Tomato forks comes with file sharing, ftp server and media server built in.

Tutorial: How to set up NAS and Optware on Tomato FOR TOTAL NOOBS


vlan Info

DD-WRT VLAN Info

VLAN Support

Pictures

Asus' RT-N66U
DarkShadow's Unit
Annihilator666's Unit
FCCID MSQ-RTN66U

Notes

Hardware Modification

MicroSD

 sdhci: Secure Digital Host Controller Interface driver
 sdhci: Copyright(c) Pierre Ossman

After sticking in a 2GB MicroSD card and rebooting, the card is seen and mounted to /tmp/mnt/sda1

 df -h
 Filesystem                Size      Used Available Use% Mounted on
 /dev/root                17.0M     17.0M         0 100% /
 tmpfs                   124.8M    412.0K    124.4M   0% /tmp
 devfs                   124.8M         0    124.8M   0% /dev
 /dev/sda1                 1.9G     24.0K      1.9G   0% /tmp/mnt/sda1

Contents can be shared via samba in OEM firmware, now to figure out how to run custom scripts from the oem firmware.

Mounted MicroSD Card in TomatoUSB

Card was partitioned and formated in Ubuntu with GParted

Mounted MicroSD Card on TomatoUSB

On InfoDepot Moved to TechInfoDepot
Info from BrainSlayer (DD-WRT forums)
Internals and boot log on vr-zone forums
Reviewed on SmallNetBuilder

TomatoUSB (shibby) on the RT-N66U

LAN OUI of 20:CF:30, presumably. This is assumed to be a BCM4706 device.

Trouble with recovery mode

mhchm

I just want to give a tip for anybody who has trouble getting into recovery mode. I didn't find this simple information on the internet yet. First, some context:

I flashed a Brainslayer build from a Fractal build, and then my router stopped responding to ping. When booting normally, the power and ethernet LEDs would light up. The same thing happened when booting up with the reset button pressed, which should have put into recovery mode, but didn't. When booting up with the WPS button pressed, the power LED would flash and clear the NVRAM. The router then started up and enabled the two radios, broadcasting a "dd-wrt" SSID, but still no ping.

To force it into recovery mode:

  1. Set a static IP of 192.168.1.2
  2. Press the WPS button and start up
  3. Let the power LED flash rapidly for 5 seconds, then release WPS
  4. Immediately press the reset button, keeping it pressed until the power LED flashes slowly
  5. Release the reset button
  6. Point your browser to 192.168.1.1

Voilà.