Using a router, can I "dedicate" bandwith to a certain connection as needed?

I have a WRT54G router in my house with my computer, my 360, the house computer and a couple of wireless pcs at different times. I use netflix on my 360 and sometimes it gets a low connection but I can't locate the cause and can't really complain to anyone. I was wondering if there was a way to "dedicate" some bandwidth to my 360 whenever it is on so that other connection don't hit the cap and mess up the connection. It sounds underhanded I know, so if there isn't a way to do it without being obtrusive, I'll stick with what I got, which is 95% of the time a good connection.

Apparently the WRT54G supports such a feature, http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc/hardwa...w&model_id=171

Just limit the IP bandwidth of the other PCs, not sure if you can do it on a "timed" or "If X is connected" basis.

You mean bandwidth shaping?

I don't think it's possible using the stock Linksys firmware. They keep that function to their $2000 routers :).

It's possible using third-party firmwares, though, such as dd-wrt. I use it myself on my WRT54GL and it's great. Basically, you can classify traffic depending on source, protocol, etc, and assign them priorities. Give high priority to latency-sensitive (but doesn't use much bandwidth) applications like games, and low priority to things like torrent or ftp. It works incredibly well. That way, games have low lag (since they are high priority) all the time, even while downloading huge files, and no bandwidth is wasted (reserved) when not gaming.

I am not sure if you can flash third party firmwares onto your WRT54G. It would depend on the revision. Only older ones work because newer ones IIRC have tiny amount of memory. They are getting cheaper all the time :).

Thid party firmwares also add cool things like VPN, adjustable transmit power, better firewall etc. Well worth the small risk of bricking the router (won't happen if done correctly) IMHO =P.

*edit* according to the link zacs7 posted, it's possible with the official firmware?... never saw that option before I flashed mine */edit*

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Originally Posted by cyberfish

Thid party firmwares also add cool things like VPN, adjustable transmit power, better firewall etc. Well worth the small risk of bricking the router (won't happen if done correctly) IMHO =P.

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While trying to restore the original firmware of my WRT54G (v5), it actually got bricked. I was doing this so I could sell it... guess it won't happen any time soon. :)

I did follow the procedure but there was something abnormal with it. While restoring the original firmware, the light were supposed to stop blinking after a couple of minutes, but in my case, it was still blinking after more than 1 hour, so I decided to unplug/restart it, even if they were telling not to do so.

I have heard there's way to unbrick it, but I've never looked further.

Depending on the specific type fo EPROM the used, you could just dupe a workign chip onto it if its removable. There is usualyl a way to reprogram teh EPROM in circuit as well. Id have to physically have the router to tell for sure, which isnt going to happen, so just post some detailed photos of the circuit board and Ill see if I can tell from those. Specificalyl you want pics detailed enough to see the chip numbers and the overall circuit layout.

aww... I thought people would pay more for routers with custom firmware :P don't need to risk flashing themselves.

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aww... I thought people would pay more for routers with custom firmware :P don't need to risk flashing themselves.

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I believe that most users would find the plethora of options in dd-wrt rather intimidating. But yeah, I could have tried to sell it that way, if I knew I was going to brick it...

As for how to debrick it, I already found the information on the web, I'm just not interested much in debricking it. Guess I'm a bit lazy.