Updating firmware on R6 and R7 routers and access points

WARNING: UPDATING FIRMWARE IS A RISKY OPERATION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RENDER YOUR EQUIPMENT COMPLETELY UNUSABLE.  PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION AT YOUR OWN RISK.  WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RUINED EQUIPMENT.  POWER TO THE ROUTER SHOULD NEVER BE REMOVED NOR SHOULD THE POWER BUTTON BE USED DURING FLASHING OPERATIONS AS THIS CAN ALSO RUIN THE EQUIPMENT.  Internet connectivity will go out during flashing, and may stay out until router has been properly re-configured.

We cannot guarantee or warranty the use of third-party open-source software for these routers.  Use of our WiFi routers is completely at-your-own-risk.  We do not know of any issues past or present with the software - it is maintained by a very dedicated community of open-source developers.

We offer professional phone/remote tech support currently for $1.20 per minute.  We can often complete firmware upgrades in around 15 minutes or so.  For more information on having this done professionally to save time and avoid risk, click here.

1. Have a reliable connection
2. Locate and download the correct firmware onto your wired computer - you may need to unzip/extract the firmware file
3. Login to router administration page and upload new firmware
4. Test connectivity to router administration page
5. Reconfigure settings (local addressing and settings for WiFi low-emf settings) on router/AP

1) You *can* update the firmware from WiFi, but you will need to ensure a reliable connection, and after update the WiFi network name may change - so you may have to reconnect.  Connecting via Ethernet cable may be easier and more reliable.

2) We currently recommend this version of Firmware: 2020.8.  Click *R6 download here* or *R7 download here*.  Extract (unzip) the file somewhere on your computer.

**Advanced** You may also (higher risk of stability or usability issues) download the latest by going to:  FreshTomato.org and go to Downloads.  Choose freshtomato-arm.  Choose the latest year.  Then choose the latest-highest number.  Then K26ARM and for R6 choose R6700v3 and for R7 choose R7000.  We recommend the file "VPN" version of the file.  You only need to download the VPN file - one single file - and it will need to be extracted.

3) Access your router admin page at http://192.168.143.1 or for access points http://192.168.143.254 (for access points you may need to follow these instructions to access them) and login using the password you set, or the default username "admin" and default password "password" (without quotes).  Click on Administration on the left.  Then click Upgrade.  Browse to the VPN firmware file ending in .trx.  Choose that file.  It *is* recommended to checkmark the checkbox to "After flashing, erase all data in NVRAM memory".  This WILL require you to set some very important advanced wireless settings in order to have low-emission WiFi again, but is more reliable and failsafe.  If you fail to complete the reconfiguration step, you will have standard high-emission WiFi exposure!!

Click the upgrade button.  You should receive a message that the update was completed.  It is recommended to wait at least 5 minutes.  DO NOT POWER OFF OR UNPLUG ROUTER AT ALL DURING THIS TIME

4) After the firmware upgrade, you must unplug the router/AP from your Internet connection (or for APs your network).  The router will now have the default IP address, so you will have to connect to it by going to http://192.168.1.1 

Once you are into the config, login with the default username "root" and default password "admin"

Once you are into the admin, you can now reconfigure the correct settings of the router/AP.

5) FOR ROUTERS

A. Go to the Basic link on the left.  For routers click on the IP address shown under LAN settings.  It is the default 192.168.1.1, but we recommend changing this to the default we use: 192.168.143.1.  The subnet should automatically be 255.255.255.0.  Click OK and then Save at the bottom.  You may need to reconnect to the router by unplugging the computer and re-plugging in or disconnecting and reconnecting to WiFi.

Change the WiFi network (SSID) names for the 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz bands as desired.  You can disable one of the bands as well by unchecking it if you would like to further reduce emissions.  You may use the ones on the sticker of the router if you wish.  It is absolutely highly recommended to enable security(encryption) on this page as well.  We recommend using WPA2-Personal for security/encryption type.

Save

B. Go to Advanced on the left and then to Wireless.  For both the 2.4 ghz and 5.0 ghz band do the following: Change Beacon Interval(Rate) to 2000.  Change Transmit Power (TX Power) to 17.  Change country/region to your country, such as United States of America.  Save the settings.  Now the router is low-emission again.

C. Go to Administration on the left and Admin Access.  At the bottom of this page change admin username to "admin" no quotes.  Change the password to default of "password" if you would like or to a password of your choosing.  If you forget the password, you will have to reset all settings and reconfigure them all over again.  Save at the bottom.

5) FOR ACCESS POINTS

A. Go to Administration on the left and Admin Access. At the bottom of this page change admin username to "admin" no quotes. Change the password to default of "password" if you would like or to a password of your choosing. If you forget the password, you will have to reset all settings and reconfigure them all over again. Save at the bottom.

B. Go to Advanced on the left and then to Wireless. For both the 2.4 ghz and 5.0 ghz band do the following: Change Beacon Interval(Rate) to 2000. Change Transmit Power (TX Power) to 17. Change country/region to your country, such as United States of America. Save the settings. Now the router is low-emission again.

C. Go to Basic on the left and...

Change the WiFi network (SSID) names for the 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz bands as desired. You can disable one of the bands as well by unchecking it if you would like to further reduce emissions. You may use the ones on the sticker of the router if you wish. It is absolutely highly recommended to enable security(encryption) on this page as well. We recommend using WPA2-Personal for security/encryption type. Save

D. It is recommended to do this last step next to make connectivity to the router admin simpler for access points: 

Click the LAN IP address which is now 192.168.1.1 and change it to a new desired IP or our recommended IP of 192.168.143.254. UNCHECK DHCP The subnet should automatically be 255.255.255.0. Click OK.  At the top click on WAN

Change WAN Type at the top to DISABLED.  Checkmark the box that says "Bridge WAN port to primary LAN (br0)" Then SAVE at the bottom and the access point should be all configured as default that we recommend.

You've done it!!