ASUS RT-N10U 150 mbps Wireless Router Instructions

ASUS RT-N10U 150 mbps Wireless Router

Specifications

• CPU: BCM5357
• RAM: 32Mb
• Flash: 8Mb

Installation Instructions

• Please note: The RT-N10U requires the K26 Firmware builds as Broadcom has not released drivers for the pre-K26 builds. You can also try K3X builds on this router, but make sure the build is less than 8,000,000 bytes.

Contents

1. Preliminary
   • Reports about useful builds
2. Hardware
3. 3 Installation Instructions
   • Principle steps
   •  How its done via
   • Web interface
   • How its done via
   • Recovery Mode
4. Clear NVRAM on this unit
5. Upgrade to newer DD-WRT
6. Power Consumption
7. Links and Notes
8. Issues

Preliminary

• As of (June 30, 2012) the DD-WRT Router database says CPU BCM5356, 16Mb RAM and 4Mb flash, but it is BCM5357, 32Mb RAM and 8Mb Flash. For one, all ASUS original firmware’s are >4Mb Flash
• For basic routing, at basic speeds (<50-80Mbps internet connections), this is an inexpensive, stable and good router choice, to use with DD-WRT (and other 3. party firmware’s).

Avoid build 22118 Wireless is broken

• OpenSSL Heartbleed fix is only added in change set 23882.
• The Wi-Fi ‘Krack’ issue was fixed for Broadcom in r33678, so use build 33772 or later. Noted Aug 2020: All K2.6 builds after 43136 are likely broken.

Reports about useful builds

• For basic routing purposes, I have been using this router for months and months (build 19342 – mini) without glitches. –Alvin 2014/aug/29
• forum mention – file link: K3 R36595 mega
• forum mention – K3 R36808 folder link

Note : do NOT use build 40559 – 40559 is broken for most routers, despite being the recommended build for many routers in the Router Database. Search forum “New build” to get the latest updated info about builds (noted Aug 2020).

Hardware

• 32Mb RAM
• 8Mb FlashRAM
• CPU BCM5357 @ 300MHz
• External 5 dBi antenna, changeable
• 802.11b, g & n (max 150Mbps wireless speed on 40MHz channel bandwidth)
• Wi-Fi frequency: 2.4GHz
• Power supply – DC Output : 12 V with max. 1 A current => max 12W power is available
• Power usage (default settings): around 3W (with nothing connected to USB ports)
• Buttons: WPS Button, Reset Button, Power Button
• 1x USB 2.0
•  4x LAN, 1x WAN

Installation Instructions

• Please note: The RT-N10U does REQUIRE the K26 Firmware builds as Broadcom has not released drivers for the pre-K26 builds. (Read more here: Recommended Firmwares). You can also try K3X builds on this router but make sure the build is less than 8 000 000 bytes.
• Find builds here: Where do I download firmware
• Details of the DD-WRT firmware build variations are found here

Principle steps

• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM)
• Install the INITIAL ASUS RT-N10U version of DD-WRT (file name ends in .trx and has RT-N10U in the name)
• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM)
• “Upgrade” to your final version of DD-WRT (filename ends in .bin or .trx, this is where you can upgrade from a K26 build to K3X)
• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM)

How its done via  Web interface

• Open a browser to http://192.168.1.1

• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM) via web menu: Advanced settings -> Administration -> Restore/Save/Upload Setting -> button Restore

• Upload the .trx file via the web menu: Advanced settings -> Administration -> Firmware upgrade

  • First RT-N10U specific build for initial upload:
    dd-wrt.v24-16994_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N10U.trx

  • Current Build for initial upload:
    dd-wrt.v24-21676_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N10U.trx

• Wait for the router to re-boot on its own. For however long it takes.

• When the router is re-booted on it own, open a browser to http://192.168.1.1

• set root for user name, and select any password

• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM) via DD-WRT web menu: Administration -> Factory Defaults -> yes -> Apply settings

• You are now running the mini version of DD-WRT. If that is good enough for your purposes, then you are done. If you however want to use a newer and/or different version

• You may now use the web interface to upload/upgrade to any DD-WRT firmware that can run on the RT-N10U, like:

  • First Mega build for RT-N10U: dd-wrt.v24-16994_NEWD-2_K2.6_mega.bin
  • Current Mega build: dd-wrt.v24-21676_NEWD-2_K2.6_mega.bin
  • Current Big build: dd-wrt.v24-21676_NEWD-2_K2.6_big.bin

• Upload the file via the web menu: Advanced settings -> Administration -> Firmware upgrade

• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM) via DD-WRT web menu: Administration -> Factory Defaults -> yes -> Apply settings

• You are done. Enjoy using DD-WRT

How its done via Recovery Mode

ToDo
For now, get inspiration from the RT-N16 and RT-N66U recovery descriptions, as it is basically the same procedure for all the Asus RT-Nx routers.

Clear NVRAM on this unit

Also known as a “Hard Reset” or “Restore to Factory Default settings” – on most Asus units (and on this unit particularly) you need to use the WPS button, when turning on the unit, to do a hard reset.

• Turn off power to the router.
• Push-and-hold the WPS button
• Turn on power – while still pushing the WPS button
• After power on, keep the WPS button pushed for some seconds (I prefer 10 seconds)
• Release the WPS button, and the unit will reboot with default/”factory” settings

Upgrade to newer DD-WRT

• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM)
• Use the DD-WRT web gui: Administration -> Firmware upgrade
• Restore Factory Default settings (Clear NVRAM)

Power Consumption

• Asus RT-N10U (measured with a kill-a-watt meter that has 0.000 resolution)
• PSU default numbers: 12V, 1A => max 12W, so there is also power for any USB devices.
• PSU standby usage: 0.25W (only the PSU is plugged in, not Router is connected)
• Unit running idle: 2.6W (Radio enabled, but not network cables in LAN or WAN ports)
• Network cables connected: 3W (Radio enabled, and wires connected to WAN port and 1 LAN port)
• 2.4GHz Radio usage: 0.6W (difference with 2.4GHz Radio On or Off)

Links and Notes

• FCC Asus RT-N10U Schematics
• Forum: Asus RT-N10U – questions
• Forum: Asus RT-N10U inside + DD-WRT with hardware details and pictures
  • Forum: Asus RT-N10U inside + DD-WRT Replacing 32Mb Ram with 64Mb Ram chip
  • Forum: Asus RT-N10U inside + DD-WRT RT-N10U_Black Hardware details
  • Forum: Asus RT-N10U inside + DD-WRT Show CPU temperature on a web page
• wikidevi.com: About RT-N10U_Black
• Forum: Is ASUS RT-N10U a good buy ?
• Forum: What is a good, basic and inexpensive DD-WRT capable Router?

Issues

• PPPoE: works in 19342-mini.trx & 24461-mini.trx, but not in 24461-mini-usb.bin —Alvin 07:31, 29

August 2014 (CEST)

• Wireless is broken (on K26 builds) somewhere between release 21676 and 22118 —Alvin 09:34, 29
• August 2014 (CEST)
  • see also ticket(s) 3151 and 3377 and 3460 and 3496
  • and forum New build is out 22118 (BS) K2.6 and K3.X
• USB issue forum post (R43718 K3 mega)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)  >>

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>