Router Kaput!

[conrod]

Guys,

If anyone has been trying to contact me by email over the last couple of days, my router packed up on Monday morning. I've given up trying to fix it, so I've just bought a new one which I'll hook up tonight. I'll catch up on any emails then!

Eric/Tony - it must be catching!

[conrod]

Well, after three hours of faffing about with the new modem/router tonight, I'm finally back online. All I can say is, if any of you are tempted to buy a D-Link DSL-320T modem/router, look elsewhere. The firmware is an absolute crock of $h*t!!!

I couldn't understand why I kept getting IP address conflict error messages. A look at the system event log showed that these were all my static IP address as assigned by my ISP. I eventually discovered that the DHCP server in the router was assigning this address to every device on the network - feckin' unbelievable!

I won't bore you with the other bugs I found - suffice it to say I'm not relying on any of its router functions.

But the good news is that my old router had obviously been on the way out for some time, as my download speed has now gone up from 1.5 Mbps to 2.0 - and hopefully might climb even higher.

Oh the need for speed!!!

[dingocooke]

Just when is the computor industry going to make this stuff truly plug and play? Instead of plug, play for ages, get nowhere and call IT for help??
Imagine if setting up a telly and DVD was this hard. ridiculous.

[conrod]

Originally Posted by dingocooke

Just when is the computor industry going to make this stuff truly plug and play? Instead of plug, play for ages, get nowhere and call IT for help??
Imagine if setting up a telly and DVD was this hard. ridiculous.

I was thinking the same myself. I've been in the IT industry for 34 years, and given the grief this gave me, how the average man in the street is supposed to get these things working is beyond me.

Anyway, suffice it to say that it ran OK for about an hour, then I lost Internet access again from all the PCs on the network. After 45 minutes on the phone to a Demon support technician (who I must say impressed me with his knowledge and helpfulness - now that's a refreshing change!), we both reached the inevitable conclusion that the router was garbage - it had simply stopped allowing traffic through. A power off and on, and further configuration has got it working again for now. This piece of junk will be going back!

There is a potentially happy ending though. A bit of Googling came up with a general recommendation for Speedtouch ADSL modems, particularly for long distance connections from the exchange. An eBay search then found a guy selling new Speedtouch 510v6 modem/routers for £2 (yes, £2!!) each, plus £4 p&p. So I've ordered two of them, will limp along until they arrive, then kiss goodbye to the D-Link.

Mind you, talking of setting up TVs and DVDs - you won't believe this! Spookily I spent three hours earlier in the week trying to figure out why I had a lip sync problem with a new upscaling DVD player, only to discover that this is a known and common problem. When the video bit rate rises (which happens in particular on close-up face shots), the processing load on the upscaler gets higher, so the video lags behind the sound, until the bit rate drops again. Net result - great picture quality, but at the expense of the sound being out of sync! Jeez!!!

Oh well, rant over. I'm off to bed, probably to dream of bl00dy PCs!

[tourdefrance]

Who is this router kaput, it sounds like a horrible foreign desease(can you get a cream for it).
Anyway mate as long as your other bits are working (use it before you loose it !!)
Have not heard from Jeff about this flying Dax he was going to see.
What is this rumour that you and Eric have been seen bulk buying wax polish.
Steve

[conrod]

You're in soooooo much trouble now!

[Miket]

Originally Posted by conrod

I was thinking the same myself. I've been in the IT industry for 34 years, and given the grief this gave me, how the average man in the street is supposed to get these things working is beyond me.

Anyway, suffice it to say that it ran OK for about an hour, then I lost Internet access again from all the PCs on the network. After 45 minutes on the phone to a Demon support technician (who I must say impressed me with his knowledge and helpfulness - now that's a refreshing change!), we both reached the inevitable conclusion that the router was garbage - it had simply stopped allowing traffic through. A power off and on, and further configuration has got it working again for now. This piece of junk will be going back!

There is a potentially happy ending though. A bit of Googling came up with a general recommendation for Speedtouch ADSL modems, particularly for long distance connections from the exchange. An eBay search then found a guy selling new Speedtouch 510v6 modem/routers for £2 (yes, £2!!) each, plus £4 p&p. So I've ordered two of them, will limp along until they arrive, then kiss goodbye to the D-Link.

I have a Speedtouch 576 V6 (free from AOL) sat under my desk, I've never used it as I thought it would be crap, I would be interested to see how yours performs before I try and connect it.

[jeff]

Qoute "Just when is the computor industry going to make this stuff truly plug and play? Instead of plug, play for ages, get nowhere and call IT for help??
Imagine if setting up a telly and DVD was this hard. ridiculous."


I hope they dont sort this out, if it all become's plug and play for real I will be out of work

[jeff]

Hey guys the visit to see the Dax booked for next wednesday, hopefully next time i see you I willl have added £10K to my overdraft

[conrod]

Originally Posted by jeff

I hope they dont sort this out, if it all become's plug and play for real I will be out of work

Eric/Tony - so, another TV region PC guru has just come out of the closet! You know who to call ...........!!!!