newbie wireless problems with USR8054 router (long)

Hi,

I'm having problems setting up a WLAN, with a USR8054 Turbo Router and a
USR5416 Wireless Turbo PCI card. I wanted to use my old ethernet NIC first
to setup the router properly, and install the wireless card later. So I
began by plugging in the WAN cable from my modem (broadband with dynamic IP,
PPPoE) into the router's WAN port. Then I connected the router's LAN1 port
with my PC (NIC), resulting in a green led at the front. The WAN led next to
it was orange btw.

The trouble started when I tried to connect to my router at it's address
(192.168.123.254), I couldn't get in. There was no login window, page just
wouldn't load. I tried several things at this stage, like removing my old
dial-up connection, disabling ethernet 1394 (my firewire card) which is
listed in Network Connections, disabled DHCP, entered a static IP
(192.168.123.101, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0), setting up the DNS servers.
Still no go.

Next I reset the router, the lights kept flashing, I unplugged/replugged the
power, lights came back normal, and /finally/ I got my login screen when I
connected to the router. I logged in, looked around in the menus, changed a
few things, but lost connection to the router after a short while (like a
minute or so). I couldn't get back in at this point, only after a new reset,
or - as I found out later - after unplugging/replugging power from the
router and refreshing the menupage (CTRL+R). After logging back in, I lose
connection to the router again after a short while, and I repeat the
unplugging/replugging power procedure, log back in, lose connection,
unplug/replug power, etc. In the end I managed to enter (what I believe to
be) the right settings in my router, but it would never connect to the
internet, and the connection with the router itself was always dropped after
a short time.

I then installed the Wireless PCI card, to see if that would work at all. It
installed ok, but it remains disconnected. I figure it can't see the router.
I adjusted some settings for the card, about the same as for my NIC, also
made sure that things matched with the router's wireless settings, like WEP
(disabled), MAC filtering (disabled), entered the SSID, checked
infrastructure mode, disabled the Windows wireless auto-configuration. It
didn't see the router, the tray icon had a red cross.

So thanks for reading all that :-) My guess right now is there's something
wrong with the router, and it needs to be repaired or replaced. That said,
any other advice or hints are welcome.

Ice D

Sounds like the hardware is faulty.

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

> Sounds like the hardware is faulty.

That's what I think too. Right now the situation is that I get a 'Cable
Disconnected' warning for my NIC, every twenty seconds. At the same time the
lights on my router blink shortly. It's going back to the store.

Ice D

I have exactly the same problem with my usr8054 bought today. Did you find a
resolution yet? I will contact customer support tomorrow.

"Ice D" <(E-Mail Removed)> schreef in bericht
news:4016f354$0$25253$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I'm having problems setting up a WLAN, with a USR8054 Turbo Router and a
> USR5416 Wireless Turbo PCI card. I wanted to use my old ethernet NIC first
> to setup the router properly, and install the wireless card later. So I
> began by plugging in the WAN cable from my modem (broadband with dynamic
IP,
> PPPoE) into the router's WAN port. Then I connected the router's LAN1 port
> with my PC (NIC), resulting in a green led at the front. The WAN led next
to
> it was orange btw.
>
> The trouble started when I tried to connect to my router at it's address
> (192.168.123.254), I couldn't get in. There was no login window, page just
> wouldn't load. I tried several things at this stage, like removing my old
> dial-up connection, disabling ethernet 1394 (my firewire card) which is
> listed in Network Connections, disabled DHCP, entered a static IP
> (192.168.123.101, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0), setting up the DNS servers.
> Still no go.
>
> Next I reset the router, the lights kept flashing, I unplugged/replugged
the
> power, lights came back normal, and /finally/ I got my login screen when I
> connected to the router. I logged in, looked around in the menus, changed
a
> few things, but lost connection to the router after a short while (like a
> minute or so). I couldn't get back in at this point, only after a new
reset,
> or - as I found out later - after unplugging/replugging power from the
> router and refreshing the menupage (CTRL+R). After logging back in, I lose
> connection to the router again after a short while, and I repeat the
> unplugging/replugging power procedure, log back in, lose connection,
> unplug/replug power, etc. In the end I managed to enter (what I believe to
> be) the right settings in my router, but it would never connect to the
> internet, and the connection with the router itself was always dropped
after
> a short time.
>
> I then installed the Wireless PCI card, to see if that would work at all.
It
> installed ok, but it remains disconnected. I figure it can't see the
router.
> I adjusted some settings for the card, about the same as for my NIC, also
> made sure that things matched with the router's wireless settings, like
WEP
> (disabled), MAC filtering (disabled), entered the SSID, checked
> infrastructure mode, disabled the Windows wireless auto-configuration. It
> didn't see the router, the tray icon had a red cross.
>
> So thanks for reading all that :-) My guess right now is there's
something
> wrong with the router, and it needs to be repaired or replaced. That said,
> any other advice or hints are welcome.
>
> Ice D
>
>
>
>
>

Have you checked the US Robotics web page for their updated install manual
for PPPoE ?
"Maarten" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4032b081$0$560$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have exactly the same problem with my usr8054 bought today. Did you find
a
> resolution yet? I will contact customer support tomorrow.
>
> "Ice D" <(E-Mail Removed)> schreef in bericht
> news:4016f354$0$25253$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm having problems setting up a WLAN, with a USR8054 Turbo Router and a
> > USR5416 Wireless Turbo PCI card. I wanted to use my old ethernet NIC
first
> > to setup the router properly, and install the wireless card later. So I
> > began by plugging in the WAN cable from my modem (broadband with dynamic
> IP,
> > PPPoE) into the router's WAN port. Then I connected the router's LAN1
port
> > with my PC (NIC), resulting in a green led at the front. The WAN led
next
> to
> > it was orange btw.
> >
> > The trouble started when I tried to connect to my router at it's address
> > (192.168.123.254), I couldn't get in. There was no login window, page
just
> > wouldn't load. I tried several things at this stage, like removing my
old
> > dial-up connection, disabling ethernet 1394 (my firewire card) which is
> > listed in Network Connections, disabled DHCP, entered a static IP
> > (192.168.123.101, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0), setting up the DNS
servers.
> > Still no go.
> >
> > Next I reset the router, the lights kept flashing, I unplugged/replugged
> the
> > power, lights came back normal, and /finally/ I got my login screen when
I
> > connected to the router. I logged in, looked around in the menus,
changed
> a
> > few things, but lost connection to the router after a short while (like
a
> > minute or so). I couldn't get back in at this point, only after a new
> reset,
> > or - as I found out later - after unplugging/replugging power from the
> > router and refreshing the menupage (CTRL+R). After logging back in, I
lose
> > connection to the router again after a short while, and I repeat the
> > unplugging/replugging power procedure, log back in, lose connection,
> > unplug/replug power, etc. In the end I managed to enter (what I believe
to
> > be) the right settings in my router, but it would never connect to the
> > internet, and the connection with the router itself was always dropped
> after
> > a short time.
> >
> > I then installed the Wireless PCI card, to see if that would work at
all.
> It
> > installed ok, but it remains disconnected. I figure it can't see the
> router.
> > I adjusted some settings for the card, about the same as for my NIC,
also
> > made sure that things matched with the router's wireless settings, like
> WEP
> > (disabled), MAC filtering (disabled), entered the SSID, checked
> > infrastructure mode, disabled the Windows wireless auto-configuration.
It
> > didn't see the router, the tray icon had a red cross.
> >
> > So thanks for reading all that :-) My guess right now is there's
> something
> > wrong with the router, and it needs to be repaired or replaced. That
said,
> > any other advice or hints are welcome.
> >
> > Ice D
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

You might have a defective USR8054. I've been reading the past posting and
there seems to be a fair number of defective USR8054. I had the pleasure to
work with a Dell wireless router and it was truly painless in comparison to
the USR8054. My power LED periodically turns yellow and I have no idea what
that means. My status LED is currently unlit and I'm not sure what that
means either. Help!

Ted.

"Maarten" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4032b081$0$560$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have exactly the same problem with my usr8054 bought today. Did you find
a
> resolution yet? I will contact customer support tomorrow.
>
> "Ice D" <(E-Mail Removed)> schreef in bericht
> news:4016f354$0$25253$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm having problems setting up a WLAN, with a USR8054 Turbo Router and a
> > USR5416 Wireless Turbo PCI card. I wanted to use my old ethernet NIC
first
> > to setup the router properly, and install the wireless card later. So I
> > began by plugging in the WAN cable from my modem (broadband with dynamic
> IP,
> > PPPoE) into the router's WAN port. Then I connected the router's LAN1
port
> > with my PC (NIC), resulting in a green led at the front. The WAN led
next
> to
> > it was orange btw.
> >
> > The trouble started when I tried to connect to my router at it's address
> > (192.168.123.254), I couldn't get in. There was no login window, page
just
> > wouldn't load. I tried several things at this stage, like removing my
old
> > dial-up connection, disabling ethernet 1394 (my firewire card) which is
> > listed in Network Connections, disabled DHCP, entered a static IP
> > (192.168.123.101, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0), setting up the DNS
servers.
> > Still no go.
> >
> > Next I reset the router, the lights kept flashing, I unplugged/replugged
> the
> > power, lights came back normal, and /finally/ I got my login screen when
I
> > connected to the router. I logged in, looked around in the menus,
changed
> a
> > few things, but lost connection to the router after a short while (like
a
> > minute or so). I couldn't get back in at this point, only after a new
> reset,
> > or - as I found out later - after unplugging/replugging power from the
> > router and refreshing the menupage (CTRL+R). After logging back in, I
lose
> > connection to the router again after a short while, and I repeat the
> > unplugging/replugging power procedure, log back in, lose connection,
> > unplug/replug power, etc. In the end I managed to enter (what I believe
to
> > be) the right settings in my router, but it would never connect to the
> > internet, and the connection with the router itself was always dropped
> after
> > a short time.
> >
> > I then installed the Wireless PCI card, to see if that would work at
all.
> It
> > installed ok, but it remains disconnected. I figure it can't see the
> router.
> > I adjusted some settings for the card, about the same as for my NIC,
also
> > made sure that things matched with the router's wireless settings, like
> WEP
> > (disabled), MAC filtering (disabled), entered the SSID, checked
> > infrastructure mode, disabled the Windows wireless auto-configuration.
It
> > didn't see the router, the tray icon had a red cross.
> >
> > So thanks for reading all that :-) My guess right now is there's
> something
> > wrong with the router, and it needs to be repaired or replaced. That
said,
> > any other advice or hints are welcome.
> >
> > Ice D
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

This problem i had with the usr8054 router is solved by selected
another
broadcast channel (1 instead of 11) in the wireless configuration.

Obviously another wireless network in the neighbourhood is
transmitting on
channel 11 and is disturbing my wireless network running on the same
channel. A mimium of five-channels separation is said to be advised in
such a case.

When the usr8054 gets disturbance from another network on the same
channel, it is not configurable (only for about half a minute after
power
on) anymore by accessing 192.168.123.254 with a webbrowser (even with
cable connection to LAN port). After about a minute, it tries to
restart
and tries again and it is then accessible for about half a minute.

When this problem is happening i suggest the following:

1. Remove the antennas, so that the other network cannot disturb the
usr8054

2. Change to another channel in the configuration utility (which
should
now be available as long as desired) and update the change

3. Reconnect the antennas and check if the router is accessible and
not
disturbed

Of course it is better that in a new Firmware upgrade the
vulnerability of
neigbour networks on the same channel is fixed, so that the router
configuration tool is always available with a LAN-cable connection no
matter
what disturbance exists on the wireless side (and show the user a
warning and an advise to change the broadcast channel). I hope USR
will be fixing this soon, so not too many customers think their router
is faulty.

I've encountered similar problems when initially setting up my USR 8054. It
took me the most part of a day to setup the WLAN. After the initial setup,
things are running smoothly and I can switch to any channel regardless of
interference without a problem. I've encountered what appears to be a
performance limitation on the part of the USR 8054 though. Tell me if you
are successful in using MAC filtering and WEP 256. Initially, the setup
appears to run fine. After a couple of hours, the unit slowly degrades with
any number of the following symptoms.

Power LED turns yellow.
Status LED is no longer lit.
Cannot the browser interface.
Cannot FTP to Websites.
Log starts displaying "AP mode ready".
Unit locks up and ceases routing traffic.

Resetting the unit or power the unit on and off to solves the problem just
temporarily. There is a note in the USR 8054 help that indicates WEP 256
uses a lot of processing power. I noticed that if I turned MAC filtering
off, the router functions fine. If I drop WEP to 128 and enable MAC
filtering, things seem to be fine so far. I noticed the status LED blinks a
bit in this configuration though.

There is a real lack of correct documentation and the user interface could
really be improved. I too, pray for good firmware and better documentation
to show up.

Ted.


"Maarten" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) m...
> This problem i had with the usr8054 router is solved by selected
> another
> broadcast channel (1 instead of 11) in the wireless configuration.
>
> Obviously another wireless network in the neighbourhood is
> transmitting on
> channel 11 and is disturbing my wireless network running on the same
> channel. A mimium of five-channels separation is said to be advised in
> such a case.
>
> When the usr8054 gets disturbance from another network on the same
> channel, it is not configurable (only for about half a minute after
> power
> on) anymore by accessing 192.168.123.254 with a webbrowser (even with
> cable connection to LAN port). After about a minute, it tries to
> restart
> and tries again and it is then accessible for about half a minute.
>
> When this problem is happening i suggest the following:
>
> 1. Remove the antennas, so that the other network cannot disturb the
> usr8054
>
> 2. Change to another channel in the configuration utility (which
> should
> now be available as long as desired) and update the change
>
> 3. Reconnect the antennas and check if the router is accessible and
> not
> disturbed
>
> Of course it is better that in a new Firmware upgrade the
> vulnerability of
> neigbour networks on the same channel is fixed, so that the router
> configuration tool is always available with a LAN-cable connection no
> matter
> what disturbance exists on the wireless side (and show the user a
> warning and an advise to change the broadcast channel). I hope USR
> will be fixing this soon, so not too many customers think their router
> is faulty.