Buyer Beware

[Wolfie]

I was having problems with my Wireless D-Link modem/router, so i decided to go buy a new router. So i went and bought the Linksys WAG160N unit, thinking a cisco based unit should be reliable and worth the extra few $$$, right?

Well, after 6hrs of f*cking about with it, i'm ready to throw the dam_n thing out of the window.

I am having major problems maintaining an active internet connection, i have configured the settings as per my provider and yet the internet connection drops every 10 mins or so. I've searched around various forums and have found other people have similar problems, i've been onto Linksys live agent support and they suggested i upgraded the firmware... after doing this i still get the same problem. Looks like i have just wasted 4200b!

I will try to take the unit back to the shop i bought it from and get a refund, but as it was purchased from Pantip i very much doubt the shop will give a dam_n or be helpful in anyway whatso ever

[Crushdepth]

I'm a recent convert to the Linksys WRT54GL with tomato firmware (based on other posters advice here!). It works flawlessly but need to buy a separate modem. SSH access with key-based authentication is nice and will try to get the OpenVPN working on it this weekend!

Cheap as hel_l - 2,000 baht or less.

[Jungian]

I have been using a Wireless D-Link modem/router for the past 3 years and have never had a problem. I tend to download on the average of 150 hours per week and I can see my download rate is exactly what I am paying for. On the other hand my employer has a Linksys/cisco type system and the thing crashes a few times a day not to mention we have the fastest available internet in the city but I'm lucky if I can load 2 web pages at the same time. Sometimes less truly is more.

[khunjake]

Stay clear form the Linksys WAG54G2 as well. Wi-Fi goes up/down constantly with no FW fix from Linksys yet. Had bought a number of the older Linksys routers and worked very well but the new form factor with internal antennas are crap.

[Wolfie]

Actually the WiFi is about the only thing on the WAG160N that works well... providing i dont want internet access.

I have an XBox360 which i use to stream movies/tv series from my main PC - i had a solid stable clear WiFi connection all night long, just my internet connection dropping every 10mins was frustrating. If i can overcome the internet stability issue then this would be a good modem, however, like so many others i have recently discovered, this is a known problem and linksys seem unable/unwilling to deal with it

[Veazer]

I'm a recent convert to the Linksys WRT54GL with tomato firmware (based on other posters advice here!). It works flawlessly but need to buy a separate modem. SSH access with key-based authentication is nice and will try to get the OpenVPN working on it this weekend!

Cheap as hel_l - 2,000 baht or less.

I'm doing the same. I just switched to the Keith Moyer VPN firmware (here) last weekend but i haven't tried anything with it yet. Are you doing site-to-site VPN or is this so remote clients can get access?

BTW, if you haven't already switched to the new firmware, i would recommend against trying to save and restore your settings from the non-vpn firmware. I tried several times and the PPPoE connection refused to work. I started from scratch and everything was fine.

If it's not too much to ask, please let me know the results and what steps you took to get it up and running. There doesn't seem to be much info about it out there. Good luck!

edit: typo

Edited April 28, 2009 by Veazer

[Wolfie]

Well afgter a lot of messing around with various firmwares and all kinds of settings - i'm no further forward.

Seems the problem is something to do with the LCP connection

These log file entries occur at the time the connection drops;

Serial link appears to be disconnected.

Couldn't increase MTU to 1500.

Couldn't increase MRU to 1500

LCP down

I've manually changed the MTU setting, but regardless of what i set it to the log file always says MTU 1500

[guava]

I'm using the Linksys/Cisco WRT310N Wireless-N Gigabit Router and haven't had any significant problems with it apart from the occassional need for rebooting - it does run very hot and I suspect this is the cause. Very happy with range, performance etc - shame it didn't have an ADSL modem built in, and a shame it doesn't have USB options for NAS, printer etc.

Anyway, I think this is pretty similar to your model but with the gigabit ethernet, so here's my set-up/config just on the off chance any of it helps.

I'm using True ADSL and I'm in BKK.

The ADSL modem I'm using is a Level One (FBR-1416A) 4 port modem/router. It's at least 3 years old now but it rarely drops a connection. All MTU settings etc are automatic defaults detected/supplied when connection is negotiated. I'm only using the modem functionality with only 1 LAN cable connected to the WRT310N router's Internet port (yellow).

The modem is set up in bridge mode - I can't access it directly (without plugging another LAN cable into it), as the router is the network gateway now. I can kill and restart the internet connection via the WRT310N router's web interface (Status page).

In the WRT310N web interface I've added a PPPoE connection type, ADSL user name (xxxx@truehisp) and password. Keep Alive 30 seconds. MTU in this interface is set to Auto (1492 shows but greyed out).

I installed but don't really use the LELA software that came with the router - seems rather unnecessary.

Do make sure you have a strong admin password, and a very strong WEP/WPA2 password set up - the increased range of the routers means 100s of people will be able to detect your network in urban areas.

[guava]

Sorry - minor confusion with models there. I thought you had the WRT160N which is router only (no modem) and assumed you were still using a separate modem or router/modem. WAG WRT <deleted>.

So basically - ignore my last post.

If the modem still works on the D-Link you may be able to continue to use it (in bridge mode or regular mode) and just use the Linksys as the Wi-Fi/LAN router. Or is the D-Link completely borked? I know it sounds stupid, and means you have 2 devices cluttering up the office, using power etc, but if you can't get a refund, or get the Linksys working otherwise......

I had few options because I wanted the wireless N, and I needed the gigabit ethernet - the WRT310N was the only router available at the time with both and it did get great reviews, and it does looks pretty mean. Well I could have got a separate gigabit switch and a Wireless N router/modem, and retired the old modem I guess.