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Linksys WRT54G v8: crap, or greatest crap?
Frem
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
LONG VERSION:
So, my family wanted better wifi security than the basic WEP on our old Linksys BEFW11S4 v3, and bought a Linksys WRT54G router based on all the great reviews we saw of it. Unfortunately, Linksys appears to have substituted a completely different router in place of the great one everyone loved and forgotten to rename it. We've got version 8.0.
So, it's started crashing randomly several times a day. When it crashes, both wired and wireless connections will appear connected for a period of time, but no internet access or LAN access (printing to the shared printer, etc.) will be possible. It is also not possible to access the router's control panel at http://192.168.1.1 as the request will time out. Oh, and all the little green lights stay on, "as if it was actually working", to quote a 1 star review on NewEgg.
I have upgraded the firmware to the latest available on Linksys's website, 8.0.0.5, but this does not seem to have helped.
We have had this router for about six months, and it was behaving itself until I came home from college and started accessing the wifi network on my Linux laptop. I'm not sure if this is what is causing the crashes, but it was not crashing while I was away. Unplugging and replugging in the router resets it and fixes the problem temporarily.
We are using Bellsouth FastAccess DSL in the South-East US area. We've called their tech support line and they claim that they aren't having any downtime or trouble with the lines.
These are bizarre crashes, btw. Once, NetworkManager crashed at the exact same time the router died. Both computers running different Linux distros, making it even stranger. (Though that only happened once)
The router also likes to die on the hour; definitely a firmware thing.
So. Any suggestions? Should I look into putting a different firmware on the thing? Is there a built in warranty?
TLDR VERSION:
Linksys WRT54G v8 router locks up at least once a day; it's definitely a firmware thing. Should I dump DD-WRT on it or what?
So, my family wanted better wifi security than the basic WEP on our old Linksys BEFW11S4 v3, and bought a Linksys WRT54G router based on all the great reviews we saw of it. Unfortunately, Linksys appears to have substituted a completely different router in place of the great one everyone loved and forgotten to rename it. We've got version 8.0.
So, it's started crashing randomly several times a day. When it crashes, both wired and wireless connections will appear connected for a period of time, but no internet access or LAN access (printing to the shared printer, etc.) will be possible. It is also not possible to access the router's control panel at http://192.168.1.1 as the request will time out. Oh, and all the little green lights stay on, "as if it was actually working", to quote a 1 star review on NewEgg.
I have upgraded the firmware to the latest available on Linksys's website, 8.0.0.5, but this does not seem to have helped.
We have had this router for about six months, and it was behaving itself until I came home from college and started accessing the wifi network on my Linux laptop. I'm not sure if this is what is causing the crashes, but it was not crashing while I was away. Unplugging and replugging in the router resets it and fixes the problem temporarily.
We are using Bellsouth FastAccess DSL in the South-East US area. We've called their tech support line and they claim that they aren't having any downtime or trouble with the lines.
These are bizarre crashes, btw. Once, NetworkManager crashed at the exact same time the router died. Both computers running different Linux distros, making it even stranger. (Though that only happened once)
The router also likes to die on the hour; definitely a firmware thing.
So. Any suggestions? Should I look into putting a different firmware on the thing? Is there a built in warranty?
TLDR VERSION:
Linksys WRT54G v8 router locks up at least once a day; it's definitely a firmware thing. Should I dump DD-WRT on it or what?
Frem on
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I've been perfectly happy with the vanilla WRT54G I've been using since then (about 5 months now). No problems at all. So call Cisco and bitch at them that you got a defective router.
They actually released a special version for the Linux firmware hacking community. It's called the WRT54GL.
Guess what the L stands for. Still not as generous as the 1v-3v revisions, but the standard 5v+ revisions pale in comparison to the L model.
Here it is at Newegg: WRT54GL
You give them too much credit. The decline in onboard memory is purely a monetary thing.
I had all kinds of problems with my version 6 router (similar issues as yours). Then I installed micro DD-WRT and haven't had a problem since. The install is kinda tricky, but there are a few nice guides out there that'll walk you through it. Even though it's the "micro" edition it still gives you a lot of nice features, much more then the standard linksys firmware anyway. Highly recommended.
I think Eggy's problems may have been with the router itself and not the firmware. Mine is rock solid. If the power ever goes out it comes up just fine.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
At that point I realized I didn't need the extra features and would just use the vanilla router. It's been fine, so I haven't really thought about it.
You'll thank me later.
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Absolutely no issues, ever.
I love the thing, and can't see myself upgrading it until it breaks.
So yeah. The router has locked up again once since then, but then again I forgot to "powercycle" it, so there still may be hope.
Also, I messed around some more and discovered a few more interesting bits of info.
- Web browsing and everything else will be borked when the router dies, but a previously connected Xchat IRC session will still be live; I can continue talking to people with no lag or anything.
- Other computers on the network can be contacted if I use an IP address.
- Next time it goes down, I'ma try to get to google using an IP address. Dunno if it'll work or not, but it seems somewhat feasible if there's some sort of strange problem with the DNS.
But yes. If this thing fails again, I'm probably going to have to start looking into new routers. I've heard that Dlink in good?
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Is that the 7.0, or the 7.2 revision? They used the atheros chipset for 7.0, but switched back to broadcom for 7.2, and as far as I'm aware, there isn't any third party firmware that supports the atheros revision. DD-wrt doesn't support the V7 revision at the least.
I was so annoyed to find that I got stuck with the 7.0 revision when I unboxed my WRT54G. I might be getting a WRT300N second hand from a mate though, so there is still hope.
/eyebrow
I've been using V5/V6 units (VxWorks-based) just fine for years with DD-micro. Perhaps ur doin it rong somehow during the installation process and not fully wiping out the existing firmware?
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Yeah, that puzzles me too.
There is one essential tweak that you need to do if you are running torrents though:
change your maximum ports and TCP/UDP timeout settings.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Router_Slowdown
(see solution 1)
Before I did this my router would crash when using torrents.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer