More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1)

from "Ian B. Jacobs" <[email protected]>, Wed, 29 May 2002 11:56:34 -0400

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  • None.
Hello all,

In March I wrote [1] about the new Linksys BEFW11P1 I purchased.
Since then I have been somewhat dissatisfied with it due to
the periods when I lose connectivity (can't ping
outside world or machine on internal network).

Pulling out the PCMCIA wireless card from my laptop and putting
it back in seems to reset something and I generally get connectivity
back. The problem seems to get worse over time. Apparently, one
can also reset the router to clear up the problem. The situation
is manageable, but far from ideal. I don't think there should be
any connectivity interruptions for more than a few seconds.

I installed another one of these devices at a friend's house with
two Windows machines. They have already encountered the same
problem (and have disconnected the router for now).

I called Linksys to talk about this, but they won't talk to
me as a Linux user or even as a user of a dual-boot machine:
I offered to reboot in Win2000 and they said "Oh, we can't
help you if it's a dual boot machine. The machine has to be
single-boot Windows only." So Linksys won't help me trace
source of lock-ups.

I looked around the Web for reviews and most criticize the
same problem: frequent lock-ups ([2], [3]).

I would like to advise my friend to return his router
and get a different kind. Does anyone have any good experiences
with wireless routers?

Thanks,

 - Ian


[1] http://impressive.net/archives/fogo/[email protected]
[2]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/electronics/B00005BHPZ/customer-reviews/ref=cm_rev_sort/002-6808222-1167216?show=-submittime&Go.x=7&Go.y=5&Go=Go
[3] http://www.practicallynetworked.com/opinions/index.asp?pid=363
--
Ian Jacobs ([email protected])   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Tel:                     +1 718 260-9447

D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from "Ralph R. Swick" <[email protected]>, Wed, 29 May 2002 14:15:36 -0400

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At 11:56 AM 5/29/2002 -0400, Ian B. Jacobs wrote:
> Does anyone have any good experiences
>with wireless routers?

I'm experimenting with a D-Link DL-714.  (I had decided to
avoid the Linksys and SMC devices based on your prior
comments.)

I chose this device because I wanted the analog modem
dialout capability (marketed as 'backup' connectivity but
very useful when you're at a meeting in a random location.)

Too soon for a thorough report, though I can say I'm pleased
so far with the ease of configuration.  The analog dialout
worked just fine.

http://www.dlink.com/products/broadband/di714/

Re: D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from Joseph Reagle <[email protected]>, Wed, 29 May 2002 14:41:03 -0400

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On Wednesday 29 May 2002 02:15 pm, Ralph R. Swick wrote:
> At 11:56 AM 5/29/2002 -0400, Ian B. Jacobs wrote:
> > Does anyone have any good experiences
> >with wireless routers?

We use the Linksys: BEFW11S4 with the latest software without problem.

Re: D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from Joseph Reagle <[email protected]>, Wed, 29 May 2002 15:31:34 -0400

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Parents:

On Wednesday 29 May 2002 03:09 pm, Ian B. Jacobs wrote:
> I have the BEFW11P1 (with print server). I was unable to find
> the latest firmware revision on their web site, but they have
> emailed it to me.

I'm using 1.39.2, Oct 09 2001 . I had some problems prior to this with the
link being dropped for the linux machine, but now I have none.

>   a) Always do the firmware upgrade from a wired machine.

Makes sense.

>   b) There may be a problem of MAC address. I first used
>      my laptop directly connected to road runner, and rr
>      may have recorded my laptop's MAC address. I was under
>      the impression that I could clear their caches by turning
>      of my cable modem, but not sure about that.

Not with mediaone/AT&T. You have to call them up and tell them a new MAC
address -- remember, you're not formally supposed to have more than one
machine on the network anyway!

>      But the Linksys people have a *hidden page* to configure
>      the router to lie to road runner: you can plug in a different
>      MAC address if need be.

It's never been hidden. In my screen, there's an "advanced" tab for MAC
cloning. Always worked well.

Re: D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from "Ian B. Jacobs" <[email protected]>, Wed, 29 May 2002 19:02:51 -0400

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Parents:

Joseph Reagle wrote:
> On Wednesday 29 May 2002 03:09 pm, Ian B. Jacobs wrote:
>
>>I have the BEFW11P1 (with print server). I was unable to find
>>the latest firmware revision on their web site, but they have
>>emailed it to me.
>
>
> I'm using 1.39.2, Oct 09 2001 . I had some problems prior to this with the
> link being dropped for the linux machine, but now I have none.
>

I tried to do the firmware upgrade from a Windows machine.
The machine went into standby mode with about 2% of the
upgrade process left.

The result is that the router bios is shot. I need to
return it to Linksys.

Sigh. Good old wired hub works just fine, fortunately.

 _ Ian




--
Ian Jacobs ([email protected])   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Tel:                     +1 718 260-9447

Re: D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from Snake Djip <[email protected]>, Mon, 3 Jun 2002 05:28:33 -0700 (PDT)

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Parents:

I too have had problems with a Linksys product : the
BEFW11S4...

It was working fine for 6 months, then boom, no more
wireless connectivity...  Tried upgrading the
firmware, and still nothing.  I have to return it to
the States... what a pain.

Has anyone seen 802.11a routers on sale anywhere in
Canada ?

--- "Ian B. Jacobs" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Joseph Reagle wrote:
> > On Wednesday 29 May 2002 03:09 pm, Ian B. Jacobs
> wrote:
> >
> >>I have the BEFW11P1 (with print server). I was
> unable to find
> >>the latest firmware revision on their web site,
> but they have
> >>emailed it to me.
> >
> >
> > I'm using 1.39.2, Oct 09 2001 . I had some
> problems prior to this with the
> > link being dropped for the linux machine, but now
> I have none.
> >
>
> I tried to do the firmware upgrade from a Windows
> machine.
> The machine went into standby mode with about 2% of
> the
> upgrade process left.
>
> The result is that the router bios is shot. I need
> to
> return it to Linksys.
>
> Sigh. Good old wired hub works just fine,
> fortunately.
>
>   _ Ian
>
>
>
>
> --
> Ian Jacobs ([email protected])  
> http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
> Tel:                     +1 718 260-9447
>
>


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Re: D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from Hugo Haas <[email protected]>, Fri, 31 May 2002 10:43:02 +0200

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  • None.

Parents:

* Joseph Reagle <[email protected]> [2002-05-29 15:31-0400]
> Not with mediaone/AT&T. You have to call them up and tell them a new MAC
> address -- remember, you're not formally supposed to have more than one
> machine on the network anyway!

Actually, I remember seeing something about how to setup networks in
AT&T's FAQ, which suggests that it's OK.

--
Hugo Haas <[email protected]> - http://larve.net/people/hugo/
Am I to understand there will be no side dishes?

Re: D-Link DL-714 (was: Re: More notes on wireless router (Linksys BEFW11P1))

from Hugo Haas <[email protected]>, Fri, 31 May 2002 10:41:41 +0200

Replies:

  • None.

Parents:

* Joseph Reagle <[email protected]> [2002-05-29 14:41-0400]
> On Wednesday 29 May 2002 02:15 pm, Ralph R. Swick wrote:
> > At 11:56 AM 5/29/2002 -0400, Ian B. Jacobs wrote:
> > > Does anyone have any good experiences
> > >with wireless routers?
>
> We use the Linksys: BEFW11S4 with the latest software without problem.

I have seen lock-ups with the BEFW11S4, although it seems to be less
frequent with the latest firmware, and I guess that most of the
outages now come from AT&T...

--
Hugo Haas <[email protected]> - http://larve.net/people/hugo/
I ain't afraid to fly, and I ain't afraid of no monkeys either. -- Mr.
T

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