Increase the sensitivity of Asus WL-500gP Hardware mod.

[rampage]

If u are just not so skillgull with soldering than i suggest the 1st method.


Method 1.
Shortcut resistor R17 next to your braodcom wifi mini pci (the shielded thing with the barcode where the antenna connector is)
This increases sensitivity by alot because the receiver (rx amplifier) is not powered at all (its a mystery why). By shortwiring this resistor u alwasy give power to the amplifier , receive sensitivity increases a lot.
To shortwiri it simply use an iron and just cover it with pb. Dont use to much though.
The downside of this method is that the noise gets amplified too, thus u dont have the same performance like method 2.


Method 2.
Open up the wireless broadcom mini pci shield. The small shield with the barcode on it. U will see a cross shield underneath, cut it away just to have more space to work. Its not going to harm anything anyway.
locate and find c93 and c94. U will see that there is a small space next to them, so by unsoldering them u could resolder them again by rotating by 90 degress. Do that and there u go.


I have no responsibility if u damage this thing. Do it by your own risk.

After the mod my link speed almost tripled, with a parabol reflector (u know the paper ones, like windsurfer from techanvil are very good) i could pick up ap from over 5 km.
Overall i measured an increase of up to 4-5 times in sensitivity by using the wl-500 gp as a client.
Also i noticed an dramtic linkspeed increasing when wl was used as a ap.

rammy

[Oleg]

Shortcut resistor R17 next to your braodcom wifi mini pci (the shielded thing with the barcode where the antenna connector is)

NEVER shortcut this resistor! Your pre-amp would die. This resistor should be replaced with 62 Ohm.

And also, post original link to dd-wrt.com, to respect the original author of this mod.

[rampage]

i dont know the original post of ddwrt, because a friend of mine showed me this trick.
if u have the link please post it. im interested too, cause i have done some mods with the resistor shorted.
I dont want ma friends to have thei mini pci killed too,
but so far it works

edit: found it
h**p://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=26178&highlight=&sid=00b97253e0405df048ffaa66c02e83fa

[al37919]

the idea originated from here:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=26178&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

however, within the last couple of days this topic was thoroughly discussed here: http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=13261 (in Russian).

[Arnie-75]

So what is the final verdict of the ressian discussion?
I translated it with google but did not get all.

Has R17 been used by error or not? Is there any prooven benefit of replacing it with 62 ohms?

[Oleg]

Yes, it looks like a ASUS fault, i.e. they should use 62 Ohm instead of 62 kOhm resistor. We've found reference schematic for the transistor in question, which clearly states 62 Ohm (and other parts are the same).

And yes, replacing R17 with 62 Ohm gives about 15-20 dBm sensitivity increase for weak signals.

Shortcuting R17 will cause overcurrent for this transistor, causing it's death.

[Arnie-75]

Yes, it looks like a ASUS fault, i.e. they should use 62 Ohm instead of 62 kOhm resistor. We've found reference schematic for the transistor in question, which clearly states 62 Ohm (and other parts are the same).

And yes, replacing R17 with 62 Ohm gives about 15-20 dBm sensitivity increase for weak signals.

Shortcuting R17 will cause overcurrent for this transistor, causing it's death.

OK, thank you.

[Arnie-75]

Is it possible to buy a regular BCM4318E card and attach the original WL-500gP antenna to the first connector and a second cable-antenna (like Laptops have) to the aux-connector?

Should this work?
http://cgi.ebay.de/Broadcom-MiniPCI-WLAN-Karte-54-Mbps-802-11g-aus-HP-Soft_W0QQitemZ220206979486QQihZ012QQcategoryZ15115 0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[mimmopoli]

Is it possible to buy a regular BCM4318E card and attach the original WL-500gP antenna to the first connector and a second cable-antenna (like Laptops have) to the aux-connector?

Should this work?
http://cgi.ebay.de/Broadcom-MiniPCI-WLAN-Karte-54-Mbps-802-11g-aus-HP-Soft_W0QQitemZ220206979486QQihZ012QQcategoryZ15115 0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yes it's possbile and it work!
I changed the mini pci original card with a standard BCM94318MPG found on ebay, it's incredible, I gain about 10db on my wds link!

Mimmopoli

P.s:For other info please refer on the original topic on dd-wrt forum...

[Arnie-75]

Oleg,
can you please tell us what you found out in the Russian forum?
As far as google translates it looks like the Russian members checked teir WL-500gP and found that some devices are using the correct resistance?

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwl500g.info%2Fshowthread. php%3Ft%3D13261&langpair=ru%7Cen&hl=de&ie=UTF-8

[Oleg]

Oh... Yes. We've checked number of units and it appears, that all units manufactured since August 2007 seems to have correct resistor installed. You could check your unit manufacture date by examining first 2 digits in the unit serial number: i.e. 78 stays for August 2007, 79 for September, ... 7c for December.

The easiest way to check if you've right resistor installed is to type

wl noise

in the "hidden" page. This will return measured noise value from radio.

62 Ohm resistor gives -89 dB and above.

If you've something between -99..-92 then pre-amplifier is not working (62 kOhm resistor installed).

[Arnie-75]

Thanks,
I just checked. My serials start with 79IE so it was manufactured in september 2007. I also measured R17 and it is 63 +/- 2 which should be OK, right?
Wl noise gives -87 at first and -86 at a second try.

So do I definately have a good WL-500gP. :)

Anyone in Germany interested a spare BCM94318MPG REV4? ;)

[Oleg]

Thanks,
So do I definately have a good WL-500gP. :)

Exactly, this is a good WL-500gP.

[Arnie-75]

BTW, if anyone is interested, this is my good WL-120G V2AE:

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4951/dscn0695jo0.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0695jo0.jpg)

[mimmopoli]

The easiest way to check if you've right resistor installed is to type

wl noise

in the "hidden" page. This will return measured noise value from radio.

62 Ohm resistor gives -89 dB and above.

If you've something between -99..-92 then pre-amplifier is not working (62 kOhm resistor installed).

Great,

my unit was march2007, so a "defective" one...
Just for your info on my "new" BCM94318MPG REV4 the output of "wl noise" is:

noise is -97

Hope this help,

Mimmopoli

[Floche]

Hi guys
I have read this topic and the topic on dd-wrt website, but i didn't undestand the best way to increase the rx :
- replace R17 for a 62ohm ?
- rotate the capacitors c93 and c94 ?
- or both ?

Thanks :)


ps : sorry for my language i'm french :D

[Serge_K]

Hi guys
I have read this topic and the topic on dd-wrt website, but i didn't undestand the best way to increase the rx :
- replace R17 for a 62ohm ?
- rotate the capacitors c93 and c94 ?
- or both ?

Thanks :)


ps : sorry for my language i'm french :D
First option is correct.

[Pim Borst]

Hi there,

I just finished the R17 mod for my WL500gP.
Noise level went down from -98 to -84 :)

I simply soldered a 68 ohm SMD resistor parallel to R17:
Solder one side of the new resistor to the side of R17 that is closest to the shielding. Then solder a thin wire between the other sides of the two resistors.
See the attached image.

Pim.

[Pim Borst]

By the way, the reason I used a 68 ohm resistor was because the local component store didn't have a 62 ohm.
I could choose between 56 and 68 ohm. The latter seemed safer.
Later, when I choose not to remove R17 (the led-free solder didn't melt with my low power soldering iron) I realized that 68 ohm is perfect.
A 62K ohm and a 68 ohm resistor in parallel together give (almost exactly) 62 ohm.

[Garluk]

Oh... Yes. We've checked number of units and it appears, that all units manufactured since August 2007 seems to have correct resistor installed. You could check your unit manufacture date by examining first 2 digits in the unit serial number: i.e. 78 stays for August 2007, 79 for September, ... 7c for December.

The easiest way to check if you've right resistor installed is to type

wl noise

in the "hidden" page. This will return measured noise value from radio.

62 Ohm resistor gives -89 dB and above.

If you've something between -99..-92 then pre-amplifier is not working (62 kOhm resistor installed).

Where is the "hidden" page?

how can I give the noise measure?

Thanks in advantage

[Oleg]

http://my.router/Main_AdmStatus_Content.asp

[Garluk]

http://my.router/Main_AdmStatus_Content.asp

I have oleg's firmware.
If I go to the Main_AdmStatus_Content.asp page I get system command form.

Can you help me?

Tanks

[Renegate]

I have oleg's firmware.
If I go to the Main_AdmStatus_Content.asp page I get system command form.

Can you help me?

Tanks

click on this link -> http://my.router/Main_AdmStatus_Content.asp

it will apear a secret page from your router's config webpage called System Command
in this window you will have to type the following command -> wl noise and click Refresh it will give you a negative value
if your result is something between -99 and -92 you have 62 K Ohm resistor installed
if your result is -89 or a higher value (eg -86) then you have the right resistor installed (62Ohm)

[Garluk]

thanks..

I give -90 value.

I think have a right resistor installed but the measured noise value is not good. pre-amplifier not working correctly.

[Renegate]

thanks..

I give -90 value.

I think have a right resistor installed but the measured noise value is not good. pre-amplifier not working correctly.

the value is good but to be shure check and post here the first 2 digits from your WL-500GP serial number (it is located on the sticker underneath the device)

[Sjoerd-WL500gP]

See:

http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?p=88858

[Garluk]

the value is good but to be shure check and post here the first 2 digits from your WL-500GP serial number (it is located on the sticker underneath the device)

The first two digit of my SN are 78

[Renegate]

The first two digit of my SN are 78

Your unit is made in august 2007 (78 stays for August 2007) it has the correct resistor on the minipci card. You do not need the hardware modding

[dflorin69]

Hi all,

I have a WL 500GP with Oleg's firmware and the SN starts with 71 - that means a defective board. The wl noise command says : - 98dB before modding. After applying both condenser and R17 mod, wl noise: -98dB. Then, I have measured voltage at R17: 3.2 V at one end and 2.5 V at the other. Mesuring the R17 value I found a strange value : 3.6 kohm . Please tell me what to do to improve the noise value ?

Thanks for help!

[Renegate]

Hi all,

I have a WL 500GP with Oleg's firmware and the SN starts with 71 - that means a defective board. The wl noise command says : - 98dB before modding. After applying both condenser and R17 mod, wl noise: -98dB. Then, I have measured voltage at R17: 3.2 V at one end and 2.5 V at the other. Mesuring the R17 value I found a strange value : 3.6 kohm . Please tell me what to do to improve the noise value ?

Thanks for help!

Change the original R17 resistor (62K Ohm) from the minipciboard with a 62 Ohm resistor, you can find one at the electronic parts store or on an old computer mainboard
Double check your soldering just to be shure.
Good luck !

[lly]

dflorin69
You was read topic carelessly! Condenser C93&C94 and R17 mods are mutually exclusive! Moreover, condenser mod "overwrites" R17 mod.

And since you asks "what to do to improve the noise value ?", I apologize that you totally don't understand what you will give by such mod. Please, reread discussion carefully.

P.S. You cannot measure true R17 value onboard without desoldering - there were other resistors shunt it.

[polygrindle]

I am interested in replacing the mini PCI card as I'm not too confident with a soldering iron. Does anyone know if the revision of the BCM94318MPG card matters?

Well I bought a BCM94218MPG from Ebay for all of £4 and it's made the connection on my WL-500gp far more stable. Before I would sometimes have to search for the router two or three times before I could get a connection, and if let on overnight it would drop. Now it's connecting first time, and last night it didn't drop once!

[WillemB]

For anyone interrested i've done the R17 mod 2x this evening. I don't have any soldering experience on this size components. I have however soldered one SMD component once before.

Anyone going to try this be aware you DO need very high precision. If in doubt test on a broken piece of hardware like an old mobile phone. I was shitting my pants while doing this mod.

I bought 10x 62ohm resistors ... they only sell per 10 and cost me (for the 10) 1,50 in euro's. They gave me 11 by accident ;-).

First I opened up one of my routers to find the board inside to be way smaller than expected. The SMD components are 10x bigger than what I found inside. Anyway I had already $%^%% the warranty so I continued.
I unsoldered the R17 resistor which took a while to get out. Soldered the SMD resistor diagonaly away from the other contact and used wire to connect the other side.

My first router didn't seem to get away from -98dB however reception already seemed better so I went on to #2.

Doing my second router I found the -98dB had dropped to -85dB which made me rethink the first attempt.

I redid the first and at some moment my router seemed borked. It did receive but my laptop and other router could not see it. After some tinkering it worked again. I think it was some plastic residue in the slot.
Now my recetion is -85dB :-]


However I do have unstable WDS which needs looking into. Stops after a few minutes of service. This is a whole other problem since WDS initially never wanted to work.


Now that they are working and I'm sending this post to illustrate my thankfulness.

Thank you for inventing this mod!!!!!!

[gouryella]

Why replace? Ohm's law...
You may add 67 Ohm rezistor over the 67K rezistor.

R = (R1* R2) / (R1 + R2)
R = (67K * 67) / (67K + 67)
R = 4489000 / 67067
R = 66.9 ohm :D

[sarlacc]

Is this hardware mod useful for all modes (router, bridge, AP, client) or only for receiving signal ? I have ADSL connection (WAN) and some clients connected via WIFI. Should I do it?

[aridan]

Hi, today I got my Wl-500gp made in june 2007. A normal (not SMD) 68 Ohm resistor soldered paralel with the original r17 did the job.
Noise before: -99. After: -86.
Thanks. :)

[sorin]

Hi,

I have 2x wl500gp bought before August 2007 that are showing "noise is 0 (off)" for wl noise command. What does this mean? How can it be "enabled"?

Thanks.

P.S. I am not sure if it is related or not, but both are performing quite bad in terms of coverage.

[mundu]

Is this hardware mod useful for all modes (router, bridge, AP, client) or only for receiving signal ? I have ADSL connection (WAN) and some clients connected via WIFI. Should I do it?

Does anyone have the answer to this question?

[Inertial]

Hello!

I've checked R17 on my router and it's 62 ohms allright, the wi-fi card reads "WL-120G V2A R1.01" the mainboard reads "WL-500G PREMIUM R1.14" the unit's serial number begins with "79..." the firmware was :) Oleg's ver. 1.9.2.7-9 ;)

Greetings

Inertial

[poiu]

Mundu,
If your router is affected by this bug the benefit will be on wireless module with everything involved (wifi clients - wifi bridge - ap) because radio receive sensitivity is improved
The routing part is not involved by any means on this.

[Bohlendach]

Yes it's possbile and it work!
I changed the mini pci original card with a standard BCM94318MPG found on ebay, it's incredible, I gain about 10db on my wds link!

Mimmopoli

P.s:For other info please refer on the original topic on dd-wrt forum...

I just bought a standard BCM94318MPG and want to install it in my wl-500gp.

Should I just replace it? No need for drivers?

On the BCM94318MPG it is possible to connect the external antenna to two connectors. One called MAIN (J1) and other AUX (J2). On the original asus pci card they are called MAIN (J2) and AUX (J1).

To which one should the external antenna be connected?

Thank you

[Oyabun]

You should conect the built-in antenna to main antenna connector.

[Cowgoesmoo]

Hi,

I have 2x wl500gp bought before August 2007 that are showing "noise is 0 (off)" for wl noise command. What does this mean? How can it be "enabled"?

Thanks.

P.S. I am not sure if it is related or not, but both are performing quite bad in terms of coverage.


My router is also giving this reading. Can someone tell us why?

[Aser]

When I use the wl noise command, my router gives me a value of -24. Is this good or bad?

I checked the resistor using a multimeter, and it gives me a value of 3.66 kOhms. My router however is a bit older than the ones talked about in this topic. The number on the back starts with 67 which suggests it was made in July 2006.

Should I still apply the fix or not? Also, what is the physical size of these resistors? Is it 0402?

[lly]

When I use the wl noise command, my router gives me a value of -24. Is this good or bad?
If Wi-Fi is turned ON on router, this shows that there were strong noise source near router, i.e. this value is very bad.


Should I still apply the fix or not? Also, what is the physical size of these resistors? Is it 0402?

Your router is buggy, but fix it is up to you - to make decision you have to reread threads on this forum and OpenWRT forum. R17 size is 0402.

[Aser]

If Wi-Fi is turned ON on router, this shows that there were strong noise source near router, i.e. this value is very bad.



Your router is buggy, but fix it is up to you - to make decision you have to reread threads on this forum and OpenWRT forum. R17 size is 0402.
Thanks for the information. Do you have any idea what could cause this much noise?

[vaikis]

Have wl-50gP serial begins with 77, wl noise shows -98
I need to change resistor R17, right ? Mesuring the R17 value I found a strange value 3.6 kohm, strange :confused:

[Floche]

Yes you have to change R17.

if you mesure R17 on the board, you are mesuring also all components connected to R17, so it's normal.
:)

[C4Vette]

When I use the wl noise command, my router gives me a value of -24. Is this good or bad?

I checked the resistor using a multimeter, and it gives me a value of 3.66 kOhms. My router however is a bit older than the ones talked about in this topic. The number on the back starts with 67 which suggests it was made in July 2006.

Should I still apply the fix or not? Also, what is the physical size of these resistors? Is it 0402?

I'm lost :confused:
Mine tells me it is -12

If -89 is good and lower is bad (if I understand this topic correctly...) than mine must be OK, right......?

Don't know the s/n right now because I'm at work.

Edit:
Well, I've got two. One s/n starts with 68 (oldie...) and gives -12
The second one is newer; 75 and is completely default and telling -98

The latter I modified by placing a correct R17 and now it says: -85
So I guess things are improved, right ?

But what about the first one giving the -12 ???
The two are wireless connected using WDS and both react to 'wl rate' with 24 Mb. I'm told this is normal for WDS (?)
This box is a little modified end is running OpenWRT WR-0.9

any ideas?

[skyraven]

Hello all,


Don't know if this is the right place to post but..

My Asus serial number starts with 77 => July 2007.

The Asus official communicate stated that the problem existed for units manufactured before July 2007 => my unit needs the mod or not ?
I'm not very sure if it gets on the good side :)

Also, what txpwr should I use or what else can I change (I already placed an ANT-150 antenna from Asus instead of the default one) ?
With the default setting I get full signal in my room, but only 1 line of signal in the kitchen and 1 / none sometimes in the living room (small 2 room apartment).

Thanks,
Mihai

[skyraven]

I just removed the cover from the unit and saw:

WL-120G V2AE R1.00 and WL-120G V2A R1.01 on it.
serial begins with 77 => July.

On another thread here I saw that the board it I mentioned above is the right one.

Do I require the change of the resistor ?

(the only indication to this is the wl noise command which gives average -96 and Oleg said that with the right resistor it should be -87 or close to).

[choariwap]

Great,
my unit was march2007, so a "defective" one...
Just for your info on my "new" BCM94318MPG REV4 the output of "wl noise" is:
noise is -97
Hope this help,
Mimmopoli


i tried to do it this way and bought one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BroadCom-BCM94318MPG-4324A-BRCM1016-Mini-Pci-FCC-CE_W0QQitemZ150250685624QQihZ005QQcategoryZ45001QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638 Q2em118Q2el1247

BroadCom BCM94318MPG 4324A BRCM1016 Mini Pci + FCC CE


but when i plugged it in, it didnt work (i'm using dd-wrt v23 standard). any idea what i need to do to get it to work? is it the right model? do i need to switch to oleg?

[P Still]

My router is also giving this reading. Can someone tell us why?

Same question !
With a router marked/from 67 I also have this reading on "wl noise".
noise is 0 (off)

Anyone ?

Good - bad - don't worry - don't bother ?

[skyraven]

Hello,


This disappears if you upgrade firmware.

This was how I solved it :)

But I also changed the broadcom wifi with atheros and I have much better signal.

-
Mihai

[P Still]

I have 1.9.2.7-7f-pre8 installed.
Isn't that one good enough / updated ?

[goraith]

Same question !
With a router marked/from 67 I also have this reading on "wl noise".
noise is 0 (off)


What does it mean? How to turn it on?

Goraith

[IRONICK]

BCM94306MPSG working on WL-500gP?

10x

[AlexPPC]

Just to confirm my experience on repairing teh factory fault on the PCI card on an Asus WL-500gP.
The SN started wit: 66.. So it meaned the defective series.
The on-site check (http://my.router...) showed 97dB, so again: defective.
I used method with replacing the defective resistor.
Unfortunately in teh store they didn't have the right size of the 62 Ohm ones: they offered 0603 instead 0402. So, I buy it. Price: 0.02E.
After replacing it as above instruction the coverage has been increase by 6-7 meters. And in the mean time the signal is much more stable and good.
Thank you for the method, guys !
Best regards
AlexPPC

P. Just wanted to ask: If I connect to the PCI card a second antenna to the "AUX" connector, do I need any firmaware changes?
I am now with the original 1975 firmware from Asus.

[gouryella]

wl-500gP pre 2007 version
-99dB has dropped to -85dB, 68R standart size resistor, thanks for this great mod/bug repair.
http://home.karneval.cz/10102207/68R.jpg

[preacher@wl500g]

Thanks to this forum I also solved an issue described in here: http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?p=221271#post221271
With my notebook using an Intel 5350 WiFi card I got a stable connection, but not in another room, as mentioned in the thread I had problems with my girlfriend's notebook and also my mobile phone didn't work.
Because of this I had to use a second access point to get her into the Web.

I didn't have a 68 Ohm resistor here, but adding a 82 Ohm resistor also worked.
After boot I still had a noise level of about -96, but after some minutes it went down to -86 to -84 and now my mobile phone works, I got full 54Mbit in all rooms an my girlfriend's notebook is working now without any problem.
Big thanks to you about investigating about this problem and finally finding a solution!