Problematic DIR-655 require assistance please

[mark0326]

First wireless router, all new to me - how difficult is it really?

Had this router a couple of days, day 1 did everything by the book, loaded the CD, followed the instructions but the program runs so far then it all goes pear-shaped and I get a program has stopped responding message.

After this the router has to be powered off for about 3 minutes before I can get a flashing staus LED again, if I don't get that I can't access it at all.

I try this a few times disabling anti-virus etc without any luck.

So I try web based setup utility, I realise I need to clone my mac address so do that first, save changes and green progress bar at bottom of IE window slowly creeps along then I get some cannot connect to 'whatever the last page was called'. Connection is lost so I have to go through 3 minute power off cycle.

I persist with it and find there are some changes I can make and even that a reboot is possible but committing some changes just makes the thing drop the connection, these include changing any passwords or anything security related.

Anyway, I spent about an hour on the phone to D-Link tech support and his method is just plug everything in and power up - it should just work like that... easy! But it doesn't, after several failed attempts he informs me I need to upgrade the 1.11EU A3 firmware.

After this call I found I could no longer log on to the router, password not accepted. Power off doesn't cure it nor does a reset. In desperation I did a crash reset but when it powered on I didn't get any message about loading new firmware, the lights all worked but no connection.
After a few hours off the mains it works again, funny I thought it didn't have any firmware loaded?
I try to load new firmware but either I get a incorrect firmware message or it drops the connection while it's uploading new firmware.
After a power off cycle I try the web based firmware updater and it finds the latest A4 firmware whereas the router is A3 but I let it get on with it and - you guessed it - the connection drops.

I guess you're getting bored reading this now, guess how frustrating this has been for me. End result, I'm using it now but it's not set up properly at all, no passwords and at whatever standard/default security settings are, if I try to change anything important it drops the connection. Basically I'm not secure.

Can anyone give me any pointers or clues as to make any progress with it before I RMA it after the weekend?

Tried it on Vista Home PC and a XP Home PC, frustrated as I haven't even got the wireless USB gizmo out of the box yet let alone try to install or use it.
I have no problem connecting directly to the internet through the Telewest/Virgin modem.

Knowing my current luck, if I return it they won't find a fault with it.

Help!

 

[thiggins]

You might have a bad router. Try:

1) Reset router to factory defaults following procedure in the User manual.

2) You don't need to clone a MAC address to connect to the router.
All you should need to do is to set your computer to obtain an IP address automatically and plug it into one of the router LAN ports. If you don't get a valid IP address in the 192.168.0.X range, then run a repair on your computer's Network connection. Once your computer has a valid IP address, just aim your browser at 192.168.0.1 and you should be able to log into the router admin screens.

3) The router WAN port just connects to your broadband modem Ethernet port. Depending on the type of Internet connection you have, the router might just lease a proper IP and you'll be connected. Or you might have to enter login information.

 

[mark0326]

Thanks for your reply.

I pressed the reset button for 20 seconds, the manual says 10 seconds, the tech guy says 20 seconds, who is right - does it matter?

Anyway, what am I supposed to observe? I would expect the lights to go out and come back on again as it goes through the reset procedure. On mine the lights stayed on, the status LED was blinking but that went off.
I lost my connection to the router and Windows was unable to repair the connection, in the end I had to do the power off for 3 minutes thing to restore order.
Having done a reset I see the name I previously managed to assign to Wireless SSID (and a few others) still exist - aren't they all supposed to be reset to manufacturers defaults?

This thing just doesn't seem to respond correctly, pity I can't flash the firmware to try another.

Am I missing something? Is there a PC setting that's not right or is it all down to the router?

 

[thiggins]

The tech support guy is just being cautious. Each router's reset routine is different, but usually when the router resets, all the lights come on, then go out, then the status light will blink while it boots.

But if you saw settings that you had previously programmed, then the router didn't reset.

Does the computer that you are trying to set up the router from have proper IP address info? It should have IP address of 192.168.0.100 , gateway and DNS of 192.168.0.1.

I suspect you will be doing an RMA on Monday.

 

[mark0326]

IP address is different - it's 192.168.0.199.
I thought I read anything between 192.168.0.100 and 192.168.0.199 was alright?

Edit: Changing IP address to 192.168.0.100 has had no effect, still unable to change certain things like Admin password without losing the connection and needing to go through 3 min power off cycle.
Would there be any point in installing a fresh OS and trying it on a 'virgin' install... just trying to rule out anything on my PC not causing the problem.

 

[thiggins]

Yes, 192.168.0.199 is fine. But it's curious that the IP assigned is at the top of the DHCP server range. Usually addresses are leased starting at the bottom.

If you are running a software firewall on your client, disable it.

Since you have a router, don't you have another PC that you can try?

 

[mark0326]

Thanks for your help, have already tried disabling my firewall.

I have also tried it with a XP computer but just got the same results.
I was wondering if anything installed since was interfering with the process.

First thing in the morning I'm going to ring D-Link for an 'incident number' which I require in order to apply for a RMA with the retailer wher the router was bought.

 

[mark0326]

Finally got my router replaced, glad to say the new one does what it says on the tin.
So, thanks for your help.

Any reason not to upgrade the firmware to the latest 1.21?
Also on D-Link site I select A3 revision but it downloads A4 revision firmware, is this normal procedure?

 

[tipstir]

Finally got my router replaced, glad to say the new one does what it says on the tin.
So, thanks for your help.

Any reason not to upgrade the firmware to the latest 1.21?
Also on D-Link site I select A3 revision but it downloads A4 revision firmware, is this normal procedure?

Good your problem with hardware related so you replace it. So you have A4 or A3 hardware? It should say it on the box in the white area or on the unit or in the Web Admin page before you login.

A4 1.20 you can't use A3 1.11 because of the didn't hardware you now have in A4. They changed the PCB and chipset for the wireless. I would recommend if you're not having issues don't upgrade the firmware. Current firmware is beta.

 

[mark0326]

Just to clarify - I have revision A3 hardware.
If I download firmware it turns out to be for revision A4.