back to list| Mailing List os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com Archived Message #389 |
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[Primarily to Lewis R., but anyone should feel free to jump in.]First, it is entirely possible that your BEFW11S4 is actually suffering a hardware failure, and it will likely stop handling wireless traffic entirely in the near future. This has been my experience with these (they don't brick entirely; typically, the wireless goes first). None of the available open (or closed) source third party firmware works with this model, so a new router is your best bet.
I have seen comments in the past about replacing the firmware provided
in Linksys Router/APs. I've never felt a real need to do so in the
past, but after installing the latest/last level available for my:
Firmware Date : April 7, 2005... I'm not convinced it is not causing more problems than I had with
Current Firmware : Version 1.52.02
Product PartNo : BEFW11S4 ver.4
the 1.50.14 level.
So, I have some questions about the replacements that have been
mentioned here.
1) Where would I get the replacement?
2) Is there a charge for the replacement? If so, how much?Only the hardware cost. DD-WRT is free, as is OpenWRT. There are "subscription" firmwares available, such as the Talisman firmware from SVEASOFT, but I canceled my subscription some time ago (they automatically charge your PayPal account $25 every year, which is most annoying). There are others, I'm sure, both free and subscription-based.
3) Probably most important: Why would I want to do theDD-WRT provides more functionality and flexibility than what LinkSys offers. In addition, for LinkSys, the WRT54GL is a dead issue. They are still manufacturing them (I believe), but they haven't upgraded the firmware in a dog's age. With DD-WRT, you get a host of new features, including the ability to do a site survey form the router itself, which is very handy when selecting a good channel. You get included bridging and WDS functionality, in the event of having to add another AP to your environment. There are other reasons (good user-to-user support, and the developer actually answers questions - and takes suggestions - in the forum, just to name a couple). Read more at http://www.dd-wrt.com .
upgrade (?) versus what Linksys provides?
4) Are there any downside issues to consider?Bricking the router during the upgrade process can be a pain. By "bricking" we mean rendering the router unresponsive on any and all ports. Ugh. It *does* happen. you need to read the docs on the Wiki very carefully before starting the procedure or you'll likely run into trouble. I would also suggest trimming your output power if you don't need the additional signal to accomplish two goals:
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