Please refer to latest updated version dated 20 Jan 2021.

Screen shoots are added to make the steps clearer.

Links to dd-wrt downloads were updated. Previous links are no longer valid.

Updated 23 April 2021

This post has been edited by misk94: Apr 23 2021, 11:09 AM

nice sifu.. buat tutorial mcm ni lagi ..
router ape yg the best tp ekonomi sikit la
now using unifi turbo'ed to 300 (dlink 842)

This post has been edited by Mushwashan: Jan 11 2020, 11:01 AM

Great article i use to play with dd-wrt

However found Mikrotik for more options and customization

Dear Mushwashan,

TQ for the compliments.

If your budget is below RM250 for the router, you may consider Tenda AC18. I think you can get it for about RM225 from Shopee. Bear in mind that AC18 costs about RM500 when it was first launched a few years back.

Why Tenda AC18?

Well, Tenda AC18 used to be Tenda best router before Tenda AC21 and AC23 came out recently. Performance-wise is quite good for it's price. The box and router shell do have a premium feel in comparison to budget Tenda routers such as AC6 and AC10.

Additionally, you could install ASUSwrt-Merlin custom firmware. Actually, Tenda AC18 is kind of a clone to ASUS RT-AC68U. This means that Tenda AC18 is compatible with ASUSwrt-Merlin firmware for ASUS RT-68U. I think this alone is quite a good incentive for those who like to customise their routers.

I managed to successfully performed the migration late last year using ASUS-Merlin 380 series firmware. Quite good indeed in term of performance and features after using the Asus-Merlin firmware.

BTW, please do not use latest ASUS-Merlin firmware for ASUS RT-68U to migrate Tenda AC18 to ASUSwrt-Merlin firmware. It might brick the router.

Play safe and use the 380 series firmware only. 380.70 is the latest and final of the 380 series firmware.

Attached photo shows 380.70 firmware running on Tenda AC18.

When I have time, I will make another tutorial on how to migrate Tenda AC18 to Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

Thank you.



P/S: I am not doing the planned guide to Asuswrt-Merlin firmware for Tenda AC-18 anymore. If you are lucky, you might find a used Tenda AC18.

Last updated 20/1/2021.

This post has been edited by misk94: Jan 20 2021, 03:11 PM

Thank you for the compliments.

I have not personally tried Mikrotik but I heard good reviews on Mikrotik routers.

You get what you pay for, I suppose.

I am trying to get the best bang from routers below RM300 (this amount changes over time as previously "expensive" routers are available at bargain prices when new models come out).

Unfortunately, not all of them are readily flashed with custom firmwares.

All the best with Mikrotik.

This post has been edited by misk94: Jan 23 2020, 03:53 PM

Dear Mushwashan,

Please check at Shopee Malaysia.

I think you can get a D-Link DIR-868L less than RM120 from All-IT Hypermart or OOKAS.

I bought mine from OOKAS during last year sale.

BTW, DIR-868L should be better than DIR-842.

This post has been edited by misk94: Jan 23 2020, 03:55 PM

thanks bro ..

buy cheap2 only for learning / testing only..
do just for hobby only hahahah
tengok macam best je custom2 ni
just want to know how its works

takda kerja cari kerja

Tq for your guide, i successfully migrate to tomato firmware

You are welcome.

Introduction to Guide

This guide was developed from various online resources and personal experience on D-Link DIR-868L router. 
Credits are due to all contributions.
I hope this guide will help others wishing to try DD-WRT and Tomato firmware on their DIR-868L router.
I know how difficult this process can be. 
The units were purchased from Shopee Malaysia in November 2019. So it’s a recent model with HW A1 and FW 1.22SHC.
I managed to migrate all of them to DD-WRT and Tomato/Advanced Tomato.
Also, I am able to migrate back to D-Link factory firmware FW-1.22SHC.

Altogether, there are three to four steps that you need to follow in order to migrate your DIR-868L to custom firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato with minimal problems.

Good Luck. 

Step 1: Downgrade DIR-868L factory firmware to FW1.003SHC

• Bear in mind that it is not recommended to install third-party firmware such as DD-WRT or Tomato though D-Link normal firmware upgrade. You will encounter all kind of problems. Something that you really want to avoid.
• You need to perform migration at Recovery Mode. Please refer to the steps at Recovery Mode, last section of this guide.
• First, you need to downgrade from your existing firmware (e.g. FW1.22SHC) to FW1.03SHC. This is important for successful migration to DD-WRT or Tomato firmware.
• Download FW1.03SHC firmware from D-Link Singapore website https://www.dlink.com.sg/dir-868l/#firmware.
• Unplug all cables (incl. power cable) from the router.
• Connect the router to the PC using one of the 4 switch ports. Please do not plug to the WAN port (yellow colour) or use WiFi.
• Set computer IP address to 192.168.0.3 and use 255.255.255.0 as the Subnet mask.
• Power-on the router while pushing a paperclip to the hidden reset button located at the bottom of the device for a few seconds.
• When the Power LED starts blinking, release the reset button.
• Use Mozilla FireFox browser and navigate to http://192.168.0.1. Other browsers will give you problems.
• You will see a text-based firmware update page where you can select the firmware file you want to upload.



•Upload the FW1.03SHC firmware when completed the router should reboot.



•When completed the router should reboot.



•The router should now be running FW1.03SHC firmware and accessible on the default address. (http://192.168.0.1). Default user is admin and no password i.e. blank.
•Next, click to Tools menu, then system menu and click on Restore Factory Defaults button



•The router will reboot again.
•The router is ready to be migrated to DD-WRT firmware.
•It is important to note that it is necessary to migrate the router to DD-WRT first before you migrate to Tomato firmware.

Step 2A: Migrate to DD-WRT firmware

• First, you need to download DD-WRT firmware.
• DD-WRT version r25974 was used with great success repeatedly on a few separate units.
• Download the r25974 files here. https://dd-wrt.com/support/other-downloads/...link-dir868l%2F
• Download two files factory-to-ddwrt.bin and dir868a-webflash.bin.
• First, flash the factory-to-ddwrt.bin file using the D-Link router’s firmware upgrade page.



• The process will take up a few minutes. Once successfully flashed, the router will reboot.
• Next, go to the router main page (default is 192.168.1.1).
• You should see DD-WRT and will be asked to enter new user and new password.



• I suggest root and admin, respectively. You can change them when you complete the whole migration process.
• Go to Administration -> Firmware Upgrade and browse to select the dir868a-webflash.bin file.
• Then flash the file with Reset to Default Settings. 



• The router will reboot once again.
• At this point you have a choice to upgrade to newer DD-WRT firmware version (Step 2B) or migrate to Tomato firmware (Step 2C).
• The following link may help you to decide to choose between DD-WRT or Tomato firmware.  https://techstorify.com/dd-wrt-vs-tomato-vs...outer-firmware/

Step 2B: Upgrade to newer DD-WRT firmware

• Download the latest DD-WRT firmware  https://dd-wrt.com/support/other-downloads/?path=betas%2F
• Choose 2021 folder.
• Latest in July 2021 is version r47074 https://dd-wrt.com/support/other-downloads/...dir868l-reva%2F
• Download the dir868a-webflash.bin file.
• Next, go to the router main page (default is 192.168.1.1)
• Go to Administration -> Firmware Upgrade and browse to select the dir868a-webflash.bin file.
• Then flash the file with Reset to Default Settings.
• As usual the process will take a few minutes.
• Once complete, the new DD-WRT firmware should boot up.
• This will take a few more minutes. Once done, you are all set!

Step 2C: Migrate to Tomato firmware

• Download the latest Tomato by Shibby firmware. (Last version 140. No update since)
• Last version is 140.  http://tomato.groov.pl/download/K26ARM/140-MultiWAN/
• Unzip the file.
• Go to Administration -> Firmware Upgrade and browse to select the file.
• Then flash the tomato-DIR868L-ARM--140-special.trx file with Reset to Default Settings.
• As usual the process will take a few minutes.
• Once complete, the new Tomato firmware should boot up.
• Right after this, go to Administration -> Configuration ->Restore Default Configuration and choose Erase all data in NVRAM memory (thorough) option.



• Click OK button.
• This will take a few more minutes. Once done, you are all set!
• Browse to Step 2D for Upgrade to Advanced Tomato firmware.
     
• Alternatively, you could migrate your DIR-868L to Asus RT-AC66U B1 firmware.
• Click the link below to see the step by step guide.

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5079525





Last updated - 23/4/2021 * Links to DD-WRT downloads changed.

This post has been edited by misk94: Jul 21 2021, 08:14 AM

Step 2D: Optional upgrade to Advanced Tomato firmware

• This is an optional step.
• Advanced Tomato present a more pleasant GUI that some of us would appreciate.
• Download the latest Advanced Tomato firmware.(Last version is 3.5-140. No update since.)
• Last version is 3.5-140. https://advancedtomato.com/downloads/router/dir868l
• Unzip the file.
• Go to Administration -> Upgrade Firmware and browse to select the file.



• Then flash the tomato-DIR868L-AT-ARM-3.5-140-special.trx file with Reset to Default Settings.
• As usual the process will take a few minutes.
• Once complete, the new Tomato firmware should boot up.
• Right after this, go to Administration -> Configuration ->Restore Default Configuration and choose Erase all data in NVRAM memory (thorough) option.



• Click OK button.
• This will take a few more minutes. Once done, you are all set!



Recovery Mode:

D-Link DIR-868L provides an easy way to recover using Recovery Mode (Also a useful and a recommended way to install third-party firmware)
• When the Power LED keeps blinking on boot, the router has entered the recovery mode.
• This usually happens when flashing a firmware went wrong, or the configuration has been corrupted.
• It is also possible to (force) boot into recovery mode to restore a soft-bricked router or flashing back to the factory firmware.
• Download the latest available firmware on the official D-Link website of the router revision. https://www.dlink.com.sg/dir-868l/#firmware
• Unplug all cables (incl. power cable) from the router
• Connect the router to the PC using one of the 4 LAN ports. Please do not plug to the WAN port (yellow colour) or use WiFi.
• Set the PC TCP/IPv4 address to 192.168.0.2 and use 255.255.255.0 as the Subnet mask
• Power-on the router while pushing a paperclip to the hidden reset button located at the bottom of the device for a few seconds.
• When the Power LED starts blinking, release the reset button
• Use Mozilla FireFox browser and navigate to http://192.168.0.1. Other browser will give you problems.
• Upload the D-Link firmware, when completed the router should reboot.
• The router should now be running factory D-Link firmware and accessible on the default address. (http://192.168.0.1).
• Please note that if you encounter problems going back to the latest factory D-Link firmware, it is suggested to start with an early firmware for example FW1.03.
• Each time you need to reset to factory defaults to clear the NVRAM memory of the router, before you upgrade to a newer firmware.
• The last step seems to be necessary when you are upgrading from FW110 to FW122, you may encounter a warning that size of the firmware is too big.
• Another problem you may encounter when going from FW110 onwards are the default Admin password. It is not the same as before.
• Please use the password listed on the label at the bottom of the router. Each router will have a unique password which will only work for that particular router.

• Alternatively, you could migrate your DIR-868L to Asus RT-AC66U B1 firmware.
• Click the link below to see the step by step guide.

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5079525





Last Updated - 21/1/2021

This post has been edited by misk94: Jan 22 2021, 08:41 PM

Hi! First of all, thanks for your detailed guide. I have managed to flash my 868L with Advanced Tomato successfully. It's really a beautiful UI. I need some assistance on settings for Unifi. I have entered the username and password for my account but the status seems to always be stuck at connecting. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dear weixiong91,

Your are welcome.

My apologies for delay with my reply. I have been busy at home with MCO 2.0 and all.

Glad to hear that you successfully migrated your DIR-868L to Advanced Tomato.

I am not using Unifi at home. So I don't have any personal experience setting up Unifi with Advanced Tomato.

However, after some searching in the internet, I found two sites which could help you.

Site 1: https://klseet.com/networking/router-firmwa...vlan500-vlan600

Site 2: https://ahot.home.blog/2019/03/04/tm-unifi-...any-router-1-2/

You need to spend time reading the two sites first and list down things that you need to do before actually doing the changes in the router setup.

Seems to do about VLAN settings.



This is for V1.28. Yours should be V1.40.

Good luck.

This post has been edited by misk94: Feb 11 2021, 11:38 PM

Tomato firmware revived!

Fresh breath of life to Tomato firmware fans.

The last Tomato firmware was released in May 2017. v3.5-140.

You can get your latest Tomato firmware from the following website https://freshtomato.org/

Latest version is V2021.2

List of compatible hardware? https://wiki.freshtomato.org/doku.php/hardware_compatibility

Maybe will trigger new interest in Tomato firmware?

Hopefully the new firmware would improve on performance and stability.

Regards,

Updated 26 April 2021.

This post has been edited by misk94: Apr 26 2021, 06:03 AM

OpenWRT - 802.11s Mesh WiFi Network



Anyone with plenty of free time and available router hardware suitable for OpenWRT firmware to play around with this open-source Mesh system?

https://youtu.be/1yaodn1BpSw

https://youtu.be/cw8ykKgVKbM

It seems you could mix and match different brand of routers as long the routers are supported by OpenWRT firmware.

Just sharing what I found by accident.

Regards,

This post has been edited by misk94: Mar 29 2021, 04:10 PM

Dear members,

I am thinking of selling my DIR-868L AiMesh router and node.

Both are already migrated to Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

These are the units that I have been showing you the guide and performance benchmark.

So they are tested and having reasonably good performance.

The units are still having balance of the three year D-Link warranty. i.e. until mid Nov. 2022.

I am asking RM300 for the set (one router and one node) - AC1750 AiMesh system. Complete with original box and power supply.

I think it is a reasonable price and comes with more than 1 year and 6 months remaining warranty.

Other sellers are selling used DIR-868L around the same price with no warranty at all.

Anyone interested please let me know.

Thank you.

Regards,

This post has been edited by misk94: Mar 31 2021, 05:39 PM

OOkla speedtest from PC on second floor. Testing a 3-node AiMesh.

AiMesh Router and nodes are connected @5GHz channel 36.

Internet is 300Mbps UL/50Mbps DL.

Running latest Asuswrt-Merlin firmware 386.2.





This post has been edited by misk94: Apr 6 2021, 02:12 PM

Dear All,

Since I don't have any factory DIL868L, I could only use my converted DLink to RT-AC66U B1 Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

I used the Fresh Tomato firmware for RT-AC66U B1 as it is most compatible. RT-AC68U should be compatible too.

List of firmware files:





Main page of Fresh Tomato:



Note: Bear in mind that WAN port is LAN port 4 since this unit is DIR-868L migrated to RT-AC66U B1.





Regards,

Updated 27 April 2021.

This post has been edited by misk94: Apr 27 2021, 12:51 PM