[TelstraClear] WRT54G v7 connection problems

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sjadd

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Topic # 15224 10-Aug-2007 11:50

Hi, I hoping someone might be able to help here. Basically I don't know what my next plan of action should be..

I've been using a LinkSys WRT54G (v7) with a TC cable modem for the last 4 months (with 1 PC connected wirelessly and 1 wired). In the past couple of weeks I've been having major connection headaches, i.e. internet will drop randomly for minutes/hours at a time.

I have upgraded the router's firmware to the latest version and have done numerous reboots/resets/channel changes, basically every suggestion you'll find on the Linksys forums. Sometimes I can get the connection back for a while, but it never lasts more than a day. Now through all this, I've always been able to get internet if I connect a PC directly to the modem so this would imply that it's definitely a router problem.

So is the next logical step to replace my router? (it's still under warranty) Call Linksys support? Should I even bother calling TC support at this stage? I have had the odd problem with the cable modem in the past, like the time it stopped working for 2 days and when it came back up my 10Gb/4Mbps plan had suddenly reverted back down to 10Gb/2Mbps (i.e. pre-free-speed-upgrade).

I just want to make sure I focus my energy in the right direction. This is very frustrating as there are so many possible causes for this and I don't have a lot of spare time to spend on this. Maybe someone else here has been through the same thing with this type of router (which from what I've heard is a bit of a lemon)?

Thanks in advance for any comments. Sorry for the length of this post!

grant_k

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Reply # 81893 10-Aug-2007 11:57

Because of this:

sjadd: ...Now through all this, I've always been able to get internet if I connect a PC directly to the modem so this would imply that it's definitely a router problem.

You have proven that it's not a TelstraClear problem, so no point in calling them.

sjadd: So is the next logical step to replace my router? (it's still under warranty) Call Linksys support?

You could try Linksys support -- it's possible they could help but it sounds to me as though you have already been through all likely steps to solve the problem and it hasn't helped.

I would go back to the retailer you bought the WRT54G from and explain the situation, then request an exchange for a new unit. If the new one does the same, then clearly this type of router is not going to work for you.

Myself, I have had nothing but good experiences with Linksys gear, so I'm surprised that you say: "from what I've heard is a bit of a lemon". Everyone has different experiences though I guess.

sjadd

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Master Geek

Reply # 81896 10-Aug-2007 12:15

Thanks for the reply, I was talking about the v7 model specifically as it has a different chipset to all the other models (so it IS different) and I've seen posts on other forums singling it out a few times.

Nety

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Reply # 81906 10-Aug-2007 13:24

I have the WRT54G V1. It has always worked faultlessly. I managed to almost brick it (destroy it) with a firmware upgrade. Infact I thought I had and brought a new WRT54G which happened to be the V.7.

It was abolute rubbish. Like you I tried everything on the formums to sort it out but it still dropped off the net randomly. (just a note you will find that if you reboot it when it falls over it will start working again).

In the end I took it back to DSE and asked to exchange it. They found a V.5 one and I tried that. It was better and with the forum fixes (think it is number of connections that is the problem) it was kind of OK.

In desperation I had another go at the V.1 and managed to unbrick it..

I switched back and have not had any issues since.

So in sort if you cant get V.5 or ealier I would be pushing hard to return it and get something else.

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sjadd

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 81917 10-Aug-2007 15:34

Cheers, will have a think about it. Just saw a couple of v5s on trademe, might be a bit of a mission getting anything earlier these days.

There's also a v7 for sale, which the seller says "isn't available in NZ yet". If only...

sbiddle

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Reply # 81919 10-Aug-2007 16:03

WRT54G's V2-V4's are rock solid routers once you install some 3rd party firmware such as Sveasoft Talisman on it. Linksys switched to a different chipset for the newer routers and installed less RAM so you can't install any 3rd party firmware on them. After a lot of complaints they then started selling WRT54GL's which are the old WRT54G but these cost slightly more but allow you to load 3rd party firmware.

I run Sveasoft Talisman on a WRT54G at home and have never had a single issue with it locking up. I've played with several newer Netgear routers and had nothing but trouble.

Nety

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Reply # 81922 10-Aug-2007 16:22

I must say I was horrified when I found that the later versions were not improvements but in fact was Linksys trying to cripple the router so that people could not put 3rd party firmware on them that made them a lot more powerful.. I run DD-WRT on mine and it is much better the the Linksys one.

Just before you ask though I did try on the .7 which will take a mini image of DD-WRT and it still did not fix it.