As originally posted by Michael Codanti on the PTP list, the firmware updates to the Apple Airport, Lucent/Orinoco RG-1000, and Lucent/Orinoco AP-500 are all interchangeable. I have tested this now (2/3 I don't have a AP-500), and it was successful. This was all done using the FreeBase software. Tested: Hardware - Apple Airport Base Station 1. Upgraded to: Apple Airport 1.2 Firmware * Upgraded to: Lucent/Orinoco AP-500 Firmware * Upgraded to: Apple Airport 1.3 Firmware Hardware - Lucent/Orinoco RG-1000 1. Upgraded to: Apple Airport 1.3 Firmware This means that you can take a Apple AirPort, or Lucent/Orinoco RG-1000, or Lucent/Orinoco AP-500, and upgrade it to the functionality of any of the three since the firmware is all interchangeable. I can now change my AP recommendation that has NAT and DHCP to include the RG-1000 since you can update it to the functionality of the Apple Airport, my previous recommendation. I highly recommend updating the RG-1000 firmware to the Apple Airport Firmware, or AP-500 firmware (if you don't need NAT & DHCP) as the RG-1000 firmware is a pain to work with and doesn't support setting all the options that way you might want. Buying the RG-1000 instead of the Apple Airport saves you $70. Note: Nate Carlson is now maintaining an archive of firmware for various AccessPoints which might be useful. http://www.natecarlson.com/wireless/ From MichaelCodanti's post: Features: RG-1000, and AirPort * DHCP Server * NAT Server * Modem with dial out capability (Possible Dialin capability soon) * Cost: RG-1000 $229.16 / AirPort $299 AP-500 * 802.1x Support * Radius Authentication using client MAC and/or EAP * Better monitoring tools * A LOT of control over what is bridged * Link integrity testing (Takes the wireless down if the wired goes down) * Cost: $659.77 (Note: Prices are from CDW) The legality of firmware swapping is questionable at best, and hopefully will not be needed once Agere releases their Summer update for the RG-1000. -- TerrySchmidt Also note that you can now download Orinoco's AccessPoint software and use it to configure your RG-1000, having MANY more options, including the ability to change the AP name and run as a full public access point. I purchased the Compaq WL310 home office gateway and upgraded it to the Orinoco RG-1000 rom, then downloaded the AP-1000 software and upgraded to that included rom. -- Dan Kelly Q: Is there a magic site with all of the firmwares around? A: Found a site (http://www.aciri.org/fenner/airport/) that lists the Airport v1.3, v1.3.1, and v2.0 firmware. A1: This site is pretty magic: http://vilos.com/rg1000/ -PatrickSullivan -- RichardLangis Q: Rumor has it you can upgrade the RG-1000 to the AP-1000. Does this make it functionaly the same as purchasing an AP? A: This rumor is false, the AP-1000 is totally different hardware, and the firmware will not work on an RG-1000, RG-1100, AP-500, or Graphite AirPort (v1) Q: What advantages does (did) the Airport firmware have over the RG-1000? A: The ability to turn off WEP. The ability to specify your ESSID (this was originally why the RG-1000 didn't get the Wi-Fi Compliance certification, because you couldn't specify the complete ESSID, thus prohibiting proper roaming). Update: As of a a while ago I think the current RG-1000 firmware is better then the current AirPort firmware. The main differences that I know of: * Supports VPN (PTPP and IPSec) passthrough when operating in NAT mode * Updates the firmware on the 802.11b card (not the flash) * Fixes some problems * Uses Lucents new WEP Plus to prevent AirSnort attacks on traffic FROM the AP. * If you use current drivers/firmware on a Lucent card it too uses WEP Plus to avoid attack on the data to the AP --MichaelCodanti Jan 2002. Successfully tested RG-1000 with AP-500 firmware using JavaConfigurator. Upgraded to AP-1000 firmware and it killed the Ethernet port. Restored RG to original firmware using the Restore Firmware Configuration procedure outlined on Rg1000Comments page. -- BrianBarrera 2002-07-27 I tried uploading apple 2.0.2 (graphite update 3.84) firmware obtained from Bill Fenner's site into my RG-1100 using FreeBase and it fixes the closed wireless network bug that is present in all ORiNOCO firmware revs up to 3.95 (it still broadcasts beacons, but with blank SSID) - the AP is really invisible to NetStumbler now. The downside is AP Manager no longer works with it, so Freebase must be used to configure it, and I don't know if it supports WEP Plus. Although I haven't tried it, the Apple f/w is supposed to support MAC filtering, which is not supported at all with RG-1x firmware. I also successfully loaded the latest AP-500 firmware - ap05395.bin on it, which effectively turns it into an AP-500 bridge. w/ this firmware, you lose NAT but you gain RADIUS and 802.1x support, as well as a lot more configurability of the bridging functions. I think the MAC filtering should work as well, because the AP-500 is supposed to support it, but I haven't tested it (I've been told by ORiNOCO support that the RG-1x f/w doesn't support MAC filtering). -- lincomatic@hotmail.com 09-27-02 Looking for a little help with a "dead" rg 1000. About three months ago I effectively changed it to an ap 500 in order to be able to change the essid. Though in the process I lost the ability to communicate with it either by rg manager or ap manager - don't know how or what I managed to do. This evening I decided to go for a fresh start, performed a forced reload and loaded ap05395.bin onto it. Now I am worse off. The only way I can interact at all with the rg is via cross over cable and ap manager. In a wireless setting clients see it but are unable to connect. With cross over cable: when using ap manager I am not able to make any changes. The rg shows up when I first open ap manager, but I can not get into it. I also tried using rg manager and freebase, with similar results. freebase actually acts as if I have the wrong password "public". rg manager doesn't recognize the id/ssid I can pull this data using ap manager, but nothing else. Orinoco RG1-x00 XXXXXX is new Describption: rg1000 v3.95 sn 00ut31261054 ip: 153.69.254.254 Mac: 0061df7a4ef thanks in advance for any help getting this thing back up and running. eric bb5999@yahoo.com update - I now have the rg working as an access point I guess the forced reload did some good, xxxxx as an encryption code. I am still locked out of making any changes, ap manager, rg manager, freebase I can't get in to make changes. Ultimately I would like to use this ap as a bridge, but for now I am glad it is working as an ap. eric ---- [CategoryHardware][CategoryHistorical]