problems with Linksys BEFW11S4 v.4

Windows XP home SP2...Cable Modem

I recently installed this router and it works fine except for one quirk. It
will intermittently lose its connection to the internet. To reconnect I have
to momentarily unplug the power to the router.

Spoke with tech support and they told me to upgrade the firmware and that
would correct the problem. I did the upgrade and it did not help.

Is this a known bug with this router or could I have a defective one.

Thanks,

Roy

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 00:39:53 GMT, "Roy Colson"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Windows XP home SP2...Cable Modem

Maker and model of the cable modem?

>I recently installed this router and it works fine except for one quirk. It
>will intermittently lose its connection to the internet. To reconnect I have
>to momentarily unplug the power to the router.

I have exactly the same router. Works fine except it hangs every few
days. I've seen variations on the same problem ranging from hangs
every few hours to hangs once per week. Seems to be chronic with this
router. The new firmware 1.52.02 didn't help. Sorry, I don't have a
fix.

The router is also susceptible router exploits. Go unto:
http://www.pcflank.com/exploits.htm
and run all the tests. Mine hangs on two of them (I forgot which
ones).

>Spoke with tech support and they told me to upgrade the firmware and that
>would correct the problem. I did the upgrade and it did not help.
>
>Is this a known bug with this router or could I have a defective one.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

The modem is an RCA DCM425 supplied by Road Runner.

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 00:39:53 GMT, "Roy Colson"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Windows XP home SP2...Cable Modem
>
> Maker and model of the cable modem?
>
>>I recently installed this router and it works fine except for one quirk.
>>It
>>will intermittently lose its connection to the internet. To reconnect I
>>have
>>to momentarily unplug the power to the router.
>
> I have exactly the same router. Works fine except it hangs every few
> days. I've seen variations on the same problem ranging from hangs
> every few hours to hangs once per week. Seems to be chronic with this
> router. The new firmware 1.52.02 didn't help. Sorry, I don't have a
> fix.
>
> The router is also susceptible router exploits. Go unto:
> http://www.pcflank.com/exploits.htm
> and run all the tests. Mine hangs on two of them (I forgot which
> ones).
>
>>Spoke with tech support and they told me to upgrade the firmware and that
>>would correct the problem. I did the upgrade and it did not help.
>>
>>Is this a known bug with this router or could I have a defective one.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed)> on Sat, 19 Nov 2005 19:32:47
-0800, Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have exactly the same router. Works fine except it hangs every few
>days. I've seen variations on the same problem ranging from hangs
>every few hours to hangs once per week. Seems to be chronic with this
>router. The new firmware 1.52.02 didn't help. Sorry, I don't have a
>fix.

One work-around is to put the router on a timer that briefly turns it off and
then back on at the least inconvenient time on a regular basis.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

That is a very easy and simple solution. I could do it manually once a day
without a problem. I sure will give it a try.

Thanks,

Roy

"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:az0gf.135319$(E-Mail Removed)...
> [POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <(E-Mail Removed)> on Sat, 19 Nov 2005
> 19:32:47
> -0800, Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I have exactly the same router. Works fine except it hangs every few
>>days. I've seen variations on the same problem ranging from hangs
>>every few hours to hangs once per week. Seems to be chronic with this
>>router. The new firmware 1.52.02 didn't help. Sorry, I don't have a
>>fix.
>
> One work-around is to put the router on a timer that briefly turns it off
> and
> then back on at the least inconvenient time on a regular basis.
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS
> John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 15:50:17 GMT, "Roy Colson"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>That is a very easy and simple solution. I could do it manually once a day
>without a problem. I sure will give it a try.

Methinks not. I tried that for about 2 weeks with a BEFW11s4 v4 at a
local hotspot. The timer was set to reboot every 24 hours. I setup
MRTG to ping the router over the internet and check if it was alive.
It still managed to hang at random times during the day. I could see
no obvious pattern related to usage, traffic, internet attacks, power
glitches, or position of the moon. I didn't check for mystic
enchantments or demonic presence. The most expedient move was to
replace the router with a different model. End of problem.

The reason my home router is a BEFW11s4 v4 is that one of my customers
was having similar problems resulting in my ending up with an
unsellable router. So, I used it myself. Lots of my computer stuff
comes this way, which might explain why my equipment looks (and
sometimes works) like a pile of junk. One thing nice about the
BEFW11s4 is that it has good range through the trees when compared to
other wireless access points and routers I've tried. I would have
recycled it long ago except that I have one marginal path to the
neighbors that tends to fail when I tried other routers.

Recently, I found myself at a local coffee shop late one weekday
night. I noticed a BEFW11S4 on the shelf and was curious if it was
hung. I dragged my laptop out of the car, tried to connect, and
couldn't connect. It worked after they power cycled it. The coffee
clerk said it hangs "sometimes" and that they were told to just cycle
the power every few hours. I left a note for the manager, but nobody
called.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 15:50:17 GMT, "Roy Colson"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> That is a very easy and simple solution. I could do it manually once
>> a day without a problem. I sure will give it a try.
>
> Methinks not. I tried that for about 2 weeks with a BEFW11s4 v4 at a
> local hotspot. The timer was set to reboot every 24 hours. I setup
> MRTG to ping the router over the internet and check if it was alive.
> It still managed to hang at random times during the day. I could see
> no obvious pattern related to usage, traffic, internet attacks, power
> glitches, or position of the moon. I didn't check for mystic
> enchantments or demonic presence. The most expedient move was to
> replace the router with a different model. End of problem.
>
> The reason my home router is a BEFW11s4 v4 is that one of my customers
> was having similar problems resulting in my ending up with an
> unsellable router. So, I used it myself. Lots of my computer stuff
> comes this way, which might explain why my equipment looks (and
> sometimes works) like a pile of junk. One thing nice about the
> BEFW11s4 is that it has good range through the trees when compared to
> other wireless access points and routers I've tried. I would have
> recycled it long ago except that I have one marginal path to the
> neighbors that tends to fail when I tried other routers.
>
> Recently, I found myself at a local coffee shop late one weekday
> night. I noticed a BEFW11S4 on the shelf and was curious if it was
> hung. I dragged my laptop out of the car, tried to connect, and
> couldn't connect. It worked after they power cycled it. The coffee
> clerk said it hangs "sometimes" and that they were told to just cycle
> the power every few hours. I left a note for the manager, but nobody
> called.

I'm wondering if the AC adapter output is spotty? Back at the beginning
of time I had both a Linksys ethernet router and a Linksys ethernet
print server and both had power supplies that were minimally capable of
supplying sufficient power and would frequently go off-line. I spliced
the adapter jacks onto larger power supplies and the problems
disappears. Well, the print server really was junk, but the router was
OK after that.

Q

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 17:20:50 -0700, "Quaoar" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I'm wondering if the AC adapter output is spotty? Back at the beginning
>of time I had both a Linksys ethernet router and a Linksys ethernet
>print server and both had power supplies that were minimally capable of
>supplying sufficient power and would frequently go off-line. I spliced
>the adapter jacks onto larger power supplies and the problems
>disappears. Well, the print server really was junk, but the router was
>OK after that.

It's possible but I don't think so. The AC adapter delivers 12VDC
unregulated at 1A. The BEFW11S4 have a nifty switching regulator that
allows it to operate at anything between about 4VDC and 18VDC. If the
router were sensitive to brown outs, drop outs, hiccups, and glitches,
the wide voltage range should minimize (but not eliminate) the
possibility. It's possible for perhaps one or two power adapters to
be flaky, but I've seen about 6 flaky BEFW11S4 routers, which suggests
that it is more than a minor power supply production issue.

As for power handling, you can easily tell if it's insufficient. The
xformer in the wall wart will saturate and get hot. Mine is stone
cold. Also, I measured the BEFW11S4 current drain and it only draws
about 0.4A at 12VDC input, which is more than enough headroom on a 1A
power supply.
BEFW11S4v4
voltage * current = watts
3.7VDC 0.70A 2.6W
5.0VDC 0.62A 3.1W
13.8VDC 0.4A 5.5W
If the switching regulator had been perfect, the power dissipation
would all be a constant.

http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/drivel/low-volt.jpg
It's kinda difficult to see, but the meter on the HP power supply
shows 3.5VDC running the BEFW11S4 without problems.

What model print server? I've had some rather bad experiences with
EFSP42 print servers but never bothered to check the power supply.

Incidentally, the 5VDC 3A switching power supply used by Netgear for
their ethernet switches is pure junk. I now have 5 dead power
supplies waiting for my attention. I saw them apart, replace all the
electrolytics and they usually work again for about a year. Crappy
design plus crappy components.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed)> on Sun, 20 Nov 2005 17:22:53
-0800, Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 17:20:50 -0700, "Quaoar" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>wrote:
>
>>I'm wondering if the AC adapter output is spotty? Back at the beginning
>>of time I had both a Linksys ethernet router and a Linksys ethernet
>>print server and both had power supplies that were minimally capable of
>>supplying sufficient power and would frequently go off-line. I spliced
>>the adapter jacks onto larger power supplies and the problems
>>disappears. Well, the print server really was junk, but the router was
>>OK after that.
>
>It's possible but I don't think so. The AC adapter delivers 12VDC
>unregulated at 1A. The BEFW11S4 have a nifty switching regulator that
>allows it to operate at anything between about 4VDC and 18VDC. If the
>router were sensitive to brown outs, drop outs, hiccups, and glitches,
>the wide voltage range should minimize (but not eliminate) the
>possibility. It's possible for perhaps one or two power adapters to
>be flaky, but I've seen about 6 flaky BEFW11S4 routers, which suggests
>that it is more than a minor power supply production issue.
>
>As for power handling, you can easily tell if it's insufficient. The
>xformer in the wall wart will saturate and get hot. Mine is stone
>cold. ...

Won't happen with switching-type wallwarts.

I'm saying the OP is correct, but I've seen lots of problems when switching
wallwarts haven't been capable of delivering enough power.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 16:13:10 GMT, John Navas
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>As for power handling, you can easily tell if it's insufficient. The
>>xformer in the wall wart will saturate and get hot. Mine is stone
>>cold. ...
>
>Won't happen with switching-type wallwarts.

True. But the wall wart for the BEFW11S4 is a transformer type, not a
switcher. It's easy enough to tell by the weight. The switcher is
very light weight, while the xformer type has far more iron in the
xformer and therefore weighs more. Also, switchers have overload
"fold back" protection, where drawing excessive current will cause the
output voltage to decrease to a safe dissipation level, or simply turn
off. If such a switcher ever became warm, it would be from component
failure, not excessive load.

>I'm saying the OP is correct, but I've seen lots of problems when switching
>wallwarts haven't been capable of delivering enough power.

I have many large cardboard boxes of wall warts in both my office and
house. I seem to collect them as various pieces of consumer
electronics fail. If I can't fix it, I cannibalize the guts, and save
the wall warts. I substitute wall warts all too often. I'm fairly
careful about insuring that the polarity and current drain (except
where I blew up an HP Omnibook because they use 12VDC positive
ground). To add to the confusion, the labels on most devices are the
rating of the wall wart, not the actual current drain of the device.
Most of my substitutions are successful, but sometimes I run into
problem. Methinks we can assume that the power supply is the stock
Linksys device and therefore adquate for handling the load.

I have a special place in hell reserved for manufacturers that don't
properly label their power connectors and that use exotic power
connectors.

I've done a bit of experimentation with WRT54G radios, which has a
power supply circuit similar to the BEFW11s4. It will run on just
about anything from 4VDC to 18VDC. I tried it running on 5V from my
computah for a while. Worked fine. What I was muttering previously
was that the BEFW11s4 and friends has the most voltage tolerant
regulator that I've seen and that most any wall wart that can deliver
the current will work.

Incidentally, my BEFW11s4 has been up for about 3 days. However, this
morning, it was hung and had to be power cycled. Oh well.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558