Firmware upgrade or not?

I've got a Solwise SAR-660E modem router on MAAF 8Mb Max account. I get
a download speed of around 5Mb. I also use Voip.co.uk.

According to Solwise's website I've got the original firmware and there
have been three releases since;

Firmware 38.68.1
Original

Firmware 62.2.2
Adds QoS and better firewall filtering.

Firmware 62.68.1
Includes upgrade instructions and new manuals.
New screen design and also adds extra features like QoS and advanced
filtering on the firewall.
Please note you MUST upgrade to 62.2.2 first of all if your current
version is 38.68.1

Firmware 62.68.2
Upgrade above 62.68.1 which has SNMP removed. This gives better, long
term, stability on higher speed lines.
Please note you MUST upgrade to 62.2.2 first of all if your current
version is 38.68.1

Would anyone recommend a firmware upgrade?

In message <(E-Mail Removed) >, Bypass
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>I've got a Solwise SAR-660E modem router on MAAF 8Mb Max account. I
>get a download speed of around 5Mb. I also use Voip.co.uk.
>
>According to Solwise's website I've got the original firmware and there
>have been three releases since;
>
>Firmware 38.68.1
>Original
>
>Firmware 62.2.2
>Adds QoS and better firewall filtering.
>
>Firmware 62.68.1
>Includes upgrade instructions and new manuals.
>New screen design and also adds extra features like QoS and advanced
>filtering on the firewall.
>Please note you MUST upgrade to 62.2.2 first of all if your current
>version is 38.68.1
>
>Firmware 62.68.2
>Upgrade above 62.68.1 which has SNMP removed. This gives better, long
>term, stability on higher speed lines.
>Please note you MUST upgrade to 62.2.2 first of all if your current
>version is 38.68.1
>
>Would anyone recommend a firmware upgrade?

The standard advice re. anything to do with computers is that if it
ain't broke don't fix it, (because one fix invariably has unforeseen
consequences which may break something else). If you don't need the new
features/instructions then you'd be best leaving it as it is. OTOH, if
Firmware 62.68.2 has been available for a while then any newly
introduced bugs have probably already been recognised...

--
dave @ stejonda

"dave @ stejonda" <no$spam!delete&abuse%(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:Qfcdc$(E-Mail Removed)...

> The standard advice re. anything to do with computers is that if it ain't
> broke don't fix it, (because one fix invariably has unforeseen
> consequences which may break something else). If you don't need the new
> features/instructions then you'd be best leaving it as it is. OTOH, if
> Firmware 62.68.2 has been available for a while then any newly introduced
> bugs have probably already been recognised...

I agree. Unless there are stated security issues that really need to be
fixed, then sometimes things are best left as they are.

I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when "Beck" <beck@none>
opened his gob and said:

>I agree. Unless there are stated security issues that really need to be
>fixed, then sometimes things are best left as they are.

Allow me to disagree.

It has been my experience that when a piece of firmware has been
updated, there are many more enhancements than are publicised.

Just make sure you can roll pack to older firmware if problems...one
invariably can.

--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

On 01 Jan 2007, Dr Teeth wrote:

>It has been my experience that when a piece of firmware has been
>updated, there are many more enhancements than are publicised.

Unless you know of an enhancement which will make a difference for you,
it seems a simple "if it ain't broke, there's no fix needed" and I'd be
of the group that leaves it working as is and forgets any upgrades which
might be suggested by others... Upgrades (and roll-backs) can go wrong,
and could leave a person with non-working equipment. I would never do
any upgrade without some alternative kit to plug in (eg a spare router)
so as to still be able to read about methods of curing problems which an
"enhancement" (or attempt at doing it!) had caused. Seems a bit like a
guy hacking at the bridge he's standing on, such that he'll destroy it
with no way to reach the other side for repairs, if it's the only kit
one has available and one gets ready to make it potentially "dead"!

"Dr Teeth" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:(E-Mail Removed)
> I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when "Beck"
> <beck@none> opened his gob and said:
>
> > I agree. Unless there are stated security issues that
> > really need to be fixed, then sometimes things are best
> > left as they are.
>
> Allow me to disagree.
>
> It has been my experience that when a piece of firmware
> has been updated, there are many more enhancements than
> are publicised.
>
> Just make sure you can roll pack to older firmware if
> problems...one invariably can.

Not always easily though. Many devices will not accept an upload of an
earlier version of their firmware. You sometimes have to go to the
manufacturer's tech support and get a software tool to enable you to do
this, which isn't always easy..!

Ivor

I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when NoNeedToKnow
<(E-Mail Removed)> opened his gob and said:

>Unless you know of an enhancement which will make a difference for you,

That's my point, many enhancements are not publicised. With some
companies, one is lucky to get a changelog.

--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.