Bloody LinkSys piece of @*!%

My LinkSys router + 4port switch (BEFVP41) went tits up yesterday evening. Working fine one minute, dead to the world the next. Just sits there with the red "diag" LED lit and there's absolutely no connectivity to it - doesn't even acknowledge a network cable's been plugged into it. The support site says "try re-flashing the firmware"....well, that only works if you can communicate with it doesn't it . (yes, I've tried the reset button, leaving it powered off for a while etc. etc. - no joy).

That's the second bit of LinkSys kit that's suddenly become a useless bit of blue plastic for no apparent reason (I had a wireless access point do the same thing not long ago) so that's the last time I'm buying any of their gear

Bought a D-link integrated ADSL modem/router/switch/wireless AP thingy yesterday evening to replace it but didn't realise that IDSN phone lines (like mine) need special ADSL modems (even though the connections are identical) so I'll have to exchange it for just a router+switch and stick with my existing (Portugal Telecom provided) ADSL modem.

Michael.

 

Does it have a USB port on it? Some have so you can flash it that way. I fixed my old router for a few weeks by taking it apart and shorting to the CMOS (it told me how to to this on a website) but it only cured the problem for a few weeks and then the DNS tables would go funny every 30 minutes again.

I have replaced it now.

I used to have a Linksys hub but it was just a dumb thing with a simple amplifier built into it so there was nothing that could go wrong as it had no packet switching.

 

Nope. No USB port or other means of flashing. Would have to take it somewhere to get it repaired (if that's even possible) and that is bound to cost more than buying a replacement.

Michael.

 

If you don't get a link light from an ethernet connection it sounds more widespread than a software problem. Surely its worth taking the cover off and looking for fuses and measuring the supply voltage? I presume the main box runs on a safe low voltage from a wallplug transformer?? Also, I guess its not a 'real' switch with spanning tree protocol, where the ports could get blocked internally in error? Even if it was, a link light should show somehow [maybe a different colour LED]

 

You have catagorically established its the modem and not the ISP.

When ever I would get frustrated with these things, it would normally be intermitent problems with the network. On the mac it shows you what services are running, when I had issues it would show the Server and Internet as down, not the router.

Just a thought

 

Not very helpful this, but I have to say, after my experience with a Linksys router, I wouldnt touch them with a bargepole.

 

About to go and install a wireless cable router (Netgear) for a mate in about half hour. Will let you know how the install goes. I use Netgear switches at work and have to say they are decently priced and just seem to work.

 

Draytek for me now and nothing else, 5 months with no down time what so ever on wireless.

 

Hmm - just back from installing the router. Firstly, I couldn't get in on wireless, despite having been told you could - I even RTFM beforehand, which is unsual for me! So emded up going in on wired. Then the wizard didn't pick up the NTL connection as using DHCP to get it's IP address.

A reset of all gear (plus a beer - which was needed, whilst the kit was resetting) seemed to cure the internet connection aspect. Wired access was fine after this, as was setting up wireless - and securing it properly.

Then wasted nearly an hour trying to get WinMX to work (his dauighters use this). No joy, despite enabling port fowarding and enabling the DMZ options, but MSN messenger worked OK. I suspect a stuffed WinMX install - only after an hour of arsing around, did his daughter casually say that she couldn't use WinMX much recently - Arrgghh - if only I'd known earlier. Not sure whether i'd buy again.

In conclusion, I suspect NTL/home routers are not all plain sailing - setting up two networks with Belkin gear about 2 years ago wasn't that straightforward either. And this from someone who deals with networks/TCP/IP as part of my job!

15-30 minutes install time (as stated in the manual)? My arse.....

Now to spin a few tunes and have a few beers to unwind! Damn NTL and routers.....

 

i've used a linksys router and ntl for over 2 years now. the only problems i've had have been due to either isp down time for upgrades or external forces such as lightning damaging the cable system. the router's crashed once but a simple unplug / plug in sorted that. still if people are having problems then fair enough.

 

I must admit NTL was great for me as well, on the mac just plug the ethernet cable in then open a browser, it went straight to ntl to register the computer then you were away.

 

Graham C - TBH if it's at the point where I've got to take the cover off and start messing about with a multimeter and/or soldering iron then it's not worth the hassle.

Gary - yes, it's definitely the router, not the modem or the ISP. Until I got my new router (D-Link DI-824VUP+) setup yesterday I was connected straight to the ADSL modem and that was working fine. The old LinkSys router is definitely deceased.

I don't actually need wireless at home but the router I got has a built in wireless AP (there weren't any non-LinkSys plain routers in the shop). For the time being I've left the wireless wide open broadcasting it's SSID. I'm curious to see if anyone attempts to use it. Given the very poor wireless reception in my building I seriously doubt it but the first time I see someone using it I'll secure it

Michael.

 

Without wanting to p*ss on your parade we've found Netgear products to be unreliable. The switches we have tried out contained firmware bugs and the wi-fi firewall router I bought for home has some fundamental hardware bugs. Just my experience.

 

Greg,

No problems. The switches we buy in are unmanaged, so obviously aren't as sophisticated as the ones you've used. As for their routers - after the agro last night of setting one up, I can't say I'd either rush out and buy one or recommend one to anybody.

 

My Belkin ADSL/Wireless Router was installed in 15 minutes including setting up 128-bit WEP and has performed flawlessly so far.

Michaelab, I hope you have a good firewall on each of your PCs and are not sharing anything you wouldn't want to make public

Only public wireless operators need to broadcast their SSID. Private users should disable this feature. And use WEP.

 

I've been using a Safecom 4114 ADSL modem/4 port router since Nov 2004 with no problems. They also have a very helpfull online support forum ( not had any major problems , but good for background stuff about the product)

I've Just bought my eldest daughter a Laptop last night as part of her birthday pressie ( 18th at the end of the month), now thinking that perhaps i should have gone wireless with the router, rather than the wired on that i got.

Oh well time to get the tool box and drill out again ( her bedroom is upstairs , router is downstairs ).

 

Yep - good firewall running on both PCs. But here there really is no risk. Only my neighbours directly above and below would have even the remotest chance of getting a signal and both of them wouldn't know a wireless network from a table leg . Might go and disable SSID broadcast though and turn on WEP.

Michael.

 

I've had to disable WEP on the home Netgear Wi-Fi router as it is one of the causes of failure. Measures I've implemented a) it's set not to broadcast the SSID b) the SSID is not the default c) I've employed a MAC Address access list and selected the MAC for each network card in the home. I think without using WEP its a bit faster and the MAC address ACL achieves, if anything, greater security.

 

I'm also not a huge fan of WEP as it's a right PITA to setup - writing down and typing in a 256bit HEX WEP key into every wireless PC is not my idea of fun, even 64bit is bad enough.

I agree with greg that if you've got a known set of wireless devices it's easier and possibly even more secure to just use MAC address ACLs.

Michael.

 

I really don't want to keep on, but wireless for all its simplicity is infact quite complicated, yet people attempt to pay the smallest amount of money possible then moan when it all goes wrong.

I plumbed for a draytek vigor 2600, it cost £150 and has been flawless, easy to set up and has undergone various power cuts with not a single skip. It tells me if people have attempted access, it has a big old bunch of security features which are easy to set up, and its wireless sees me to the bottom of the garden and beyond.

Sometimes, just sometimes its pays to pay.