Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Linksys sucks

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-19-2008, 06:25 PM:

Seriously, I have gone through 4 Linksys wireless routers in the last year. The last one I purchased 3-4 months ago and it was their high end "N Ultra range plus" model WRT-310N and already it is dying, forcing me to reboot the damn thing every day.

Does Linksys just suck, or could I be doing something on my end with a configuration?

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-19-2008, 07:07 PM:

Check for a firmware update (if you haven't already). Those types of devices are typically shipped buggy and only marginally reliable until they've been in production for a relatively long time. Let the consumers be the beta testers. [Mad]

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-19-2008, 07:09 PM:

4 routers in a year sounds pretty unusual.

Generally, I've had good luck with Linksys products However, I've never had any luck with the stupid software discs that come with those devices. They're supposed to make installation easier but instead the software either has serious problems or just doesn't work at all. I saw it when setting up a router at a friend's house and then just recently at my Aunt's house. I even had the same problem when installing a wireless game adapter for my HD satellite receiver.

The solution in every case was connecting via hard wire and logging into the router or game adapter itself and changing the device's internal settings. It's not as easy as some CD wizard, but the end result is far more reliable.

The software that came with my Aunt's router had all sorts of overblown crap to it that didn't work. It seemed to do more to prevent my Aunt's notebook from connecting with the router than help. I simply uninstalled all the Linksys software and set up the router the old fashioned way. Worked perfectly.

I have a Linksys WRT54GS router and a Linksys WGA600N game adapter. I've had the router for something like 3 or 4 years and haven't had any serious problems with it. I did have to update its firmware to get my 80GB Playstation 3 to connect to it.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-19-2008, 07:35 PM:

I agree it's unusual. I've had a WRT54G for three years and until I needed to open several ports for my server it was fine. It didn't accommodate all the ports I needed so it sits on the shelf. I'd be happy to send it to you if you want it.

The "Home Router I bought and highly recommend is the Draytek Vigor 2820n You'd have to get into the Cisco routers before you'd find anything equivelent.

Mark

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 06-19-2008, 07:40 PM:

I agree; that's unusual. But awhile ago I got fed up with Linksys and changed to Netgear stuff, and I feel I've been better off.

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 06-19-2008, 07:59 PM:

Hey Brad,

The NYC apartment I'm renting out for the month came with a Time Warner Cable Modem connected to a Netgear wireless router; guess what happened?

A week or so ago, the Netgear router just flaked out completely. This was confirmed by connecting the cable modem directly to my computer.

I purchased an Apple Time Capsule router/hard drive (which I'm going to be taking home when I'm done here) and now everything is stable again.

Wireless routers do tend to crap out, yes. Probably not as much as you're experiencing, though.

Posted by Betsie Beadling (Member # 591) on 06-19-2008, 08:09 PM:

My Father always has to replace the
darn thing every year due to lightning
storms!!!!! [Mad]

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 06-19-2008, 09:51 PM:

Brad,
Are you going thru AT&T by any chance?

Posted by Andy Frodsham (Member # 4061) on 06-20-2008, 12:59 AM:

Don't mind most of the Linksys hard wired gear, but I've had a lot of trouble with the wireless stuff. They seem OK to srart with, then just appear to get increasingly unpredictable (until they end-up failing more often than working).

I've had Linksys wireless routers at both home and work and they've both behaved the same way.

Overall, I have gone-off the manufacturer and tend to avoid them.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-20-2008, 02:22 AM:

I've always had the best luck and reliability with Netgear...the WGT-624 series.

Tried the Linksys stuff but they have always failed for me after a few months.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-20-2008, 04:29 AM:

quote: Allison Parsons
Are you going thru AT&T by any chance?

Why yes I am. What do you know that I don't?

quote: Andy Frodsham
Don't mind most of the Linksys hard wired gear, but I've had a lot of trouble with the wireless stuff. They seem OK to srart with, then just appear to get increasingly unpredictable (until they end-up failing more often than working).

Yup, that is EXACTLY the problem I continually have.

I had Netgear before, but had problems with them too. Today I bought an Apple Airport Extreme, so I will report back and see how that holds up.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-20-2008, 05:02 AM:

I have a Linksys BEFSR41 (wired only). It has served me well for years, surprisingly. Every once in a long while it will need a reboot. Before this router, I went through two or three other Linksys's, each lasting about a year. This was to be my last one.

My friend Dave was having issues with his router a little over a year ago. I don't recall the brand. Anyway he replaced it with an Apple Airport. Not sure if it is the XtReM3 version or not (it doesn't have a spoiler or racing stripe on it). He has been very happy with it in both wired and wireless aspects.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 06-20-2008, 08:23 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
Why yes I am. What do you know that I don't?

ha, well not really. We had AT&T at the store. 3 laptops, all Dell, were running through Linksys wireless router. It started off great, then litterly about every other day, we had issues. Had to reset it about two times a day. Our poor employee that actually knows what to do with computers had to work on it constantly. It got so bad that we had to cancel AT&T and get Insightbb.com. Fixed the problem.....until Insight got bought out by Comcast and now it acting up every so often again.

In no way shape or form can I link AT&T with your issue, but like I said, we've had issues with both as well. (though we've had the same router for the past year or so and have not had to replace it)

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-20-2008, 09:10 AM:

I running a Linksys WRT54GL router that allows 3rd party software. I installed the freeware operating system DD-WRT and it has run flawlessly for over a year. This is great software, allowing for features not available on most routers.

You can go to the DD-WRT page for details on what routers it works with.

You need some tech skills with this, or you can brick the router.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-20-2008, 09:34 AM:

I have a Linksys wireless at home - it's been working fine for at least 4 years.

It fired up on my desktop PC with no problem but I had trouble getting it to work with my wife's laptop. I was on the phone with tech support for about an hour trying various things and it finally worked and has been fine since.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-20-2008, 10:54 AM:

quote: Allison Parsons
In no way shape or form can I link AT&T with your issue, but like I said, we've had issues with both as well.

One problem with the DSL service from AT&T is the various kinds of DSL modems they supply to customers. Some of the newer ones are little pieces of cheap, plastic shit. They often don't work with better quality after market routers worth a damn. AT&T is always trying to steer customers into some overprice 2Wire crap they sell.

I have an Efficient Networks SpeedStream DSL modem that's nearly 10 years old. It's a fairly large device, but has good build quality to it. Most of the time it works very well. The little black plastic doo-hickeys AT&T changed to years ago are less reliable.

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
I running a Linksys WRT54GL router that allows 3rd party software.

Be careful about applying any firmware updates for it. Your 3rd party software may stop working.

Just about any new Linksys router you buy is now unable to run 3rd party software due to some changes Linksys made in the firmware to prevent it. Some of this has to do with gouging customers for more money on other networking purposes, such as running game adapters.

I was looking into buying another Wi-Fi router to run in "bridge" mode so I could connect some Internet capable pieces of home theater gear. It used to be possible to take a Linksys WRT54G or other similar routers, hack the firmware and convert it into a wireless bridge. You get 4 more LAN ports jumping across Wi-Fi "g" to your main router for around $50. Linksys and other companies couldn't have any of that so they did what all they could to make it at least very difficult if not impossible to run 3rd party software on the device. They want you spending $70-$100 per LAN-connected entertainment device for Wi-Fi connection. It's just bullshit that will create more pressure for electronics companies to incorporate Wi-Fi into devices themselves. I'm glad my Playstation 3 already has Wi-Fi built into it.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-20-2008, 11:30 AM:

quote:
My Father always has to replace the
darn thing every year due to lightning
storms!!!!!

I had a WAG354G which failed during a thunderstorm. Immediately after a flash of lightning, the 'sync' LED went out, and no amount of rebooting could get it back again. It was replaced under warranty, but the replacement did seem to get gradually slower and drop the line more often as time went on. Eventually, wondering if the problem was my ADSL service or the router, I tried another router - a 3Com job a friend gave me after he changed ISPs and got a free router from his new one. It was (and still is) a significant improvement: while the service is still very slow at peak times (weekday evenings, mainly), the sudden line dropping has stopped. On that basis I'd be very unlikely to buy another Linksys.

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 06-20-2008, 11:36 AM:

I have a version 2.0 Linksys WRT54G that I've had for years and without any problems running either Linksys firmware or 3rd party.
I haven't had problems with any other Linksys equipment, other than a few power "bricks" going bad, but this isn't Linksys' fault and could happen to any manufacturer. The bad bricks started causing the need for frequent reboots.

When I upgrade to allow for 802.11n I will be using a Linksys for that. Deffinatly stay away from their software for easy configuration. Manual configuration is the way to go.

From what I have seen, now that Linksys is a division of Cisco the quality of their products has increased and has apparently been able to leverage some of Cisco's talent pool.

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 06-20-2008, 02:00 PM:

I've used two Linksys home routers, one of which is wireless and has been in use since January 2006, with no problems. The wired one served me well long before I got the wireless one, and it still works too.

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 06-20-2008, 05:40 PM:

A friend wanted to go wireless and we tried a Linksys. Couldn't get the darn thing to DHCP from the DSL modem. Tried planting an IP and that also was worthless. Finally went with Netgear -- No problems. When I tried to convert my home I tried a new out of the box Linksys and it wouldn't see the internet. Never mind that the internet light on the router was lit. They've dumbed them down so much you can't really get very far into the system. Returned it and got a deal on a MD'd GigaFast MIMO. That one was plug and play and no issues to date. Does Linksys suck? I'd have to agree.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-20-2008, 06:49 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Be careful about applying any firmware updates for it. Your 3rd party software may stop working.

The DD-WRT software replaces the standard firmware.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-20-2008, 07:03 PM:

Brad--you do realize that Linksys is just disposable consumer-grade stuff, right?

You should get a Cisco 1700- or 2600-series router off Ebay and a Proxim (or similar) wireless access point. Total overkill for what you want to do (which I assume is just NAT and wireless access for your home cable/DSL/whatever connection), but this stuff should be rock solid and only minimally more expensive.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-20-2008, 07:31 PM:

quote: Brad Miller
Today I bought an Apple Airport Extreme...

Too late! Besides, anything Steve Jobs releases HAS to be awesome, right? I mean, Apple products are perfect, just like anything digital, right? [Wink]

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 06-20-2008, 09:05 PM:

We had a Linksys router at work and had to replace it several times as well as reboot it all the time. I have one now and it is giving me fits. Model WRT54G.

I also have a cable company supplied cable modem (Scientific Atlanta) and I have to reset it every half hour. We also had a Scientific Atlanta cable box on our tv and we are on the fifth or six one in less than two years. Everything from locking up to cooling fans squealing. Scientific Atlanta sucks too! [Mad]

I'm actually in the market for a new all-in-one cable modem/4 port switch/WI-FI router right now. I would also like it to incorporate VOIP if possible too. Less hardware on my desk and less to go bad. We are going to switch our phone over to Time Warner and bundle our cable, phone and internet access to save money. Linksys is the only company I have found with a product to meet most of these requirements. Anyone have any suggestions on a manufacturer or model to look for?

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 06-20-2008, 10:08 PM:

So far, at least 7 years of good luck with a Netgear RP-114 "Web Safe" Router. Haven't had to reboot it thru anything it did (sometimes have to after my DSL modem burps) and it has an excellent domain blocking function that can do specific domain names or by keywords.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-21-2008, 02:01 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
Apple products are perfect, just like anything digital, right?

Yes. Take the Mac computer, for example. It does not crash, ever. In fact it is physically impossible for it to crash for any reason. It always does what you want, when you want and how you want it done all faster than you can imagine the result. If you have a Mac that crashes on you or does something odd, well, you must be dreaming or having a reeeeaaalll bad meth trip because Macs don't crash!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-21-2008, 08:05 AM:

You mean like when my Mac didn't crash the other night when I called you about it?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-21-2008, 10:53 AM:

Correct. We both had the same dream simultaneously from our own unique perspectives. Dreaming that a Mac crashes is like dreaming that we all have aardvark snouts for legs and eyeballs made out of cottage cheese... it's just so far disconnected from reality.

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 06-21-2008, 01:22 PM:

Our VP of IT at work bought a Mac Notebook when Vista first came out. He was hearing about all of Vista's problems and was looking into going to all Mac. Last week when I saw him I asked why he was still using his old Dell and he told me he gave the Mac notebook to someone else. He said it crashed all the time and gave him lots of problems. In his opinion it wasn't any better than any PC he had ever used.

Anyone have any experience with the Linksys WCG200 ?

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 06-23-2008, 01:39 PM:

I've been extremely pleased with both my Apple MacBooks, my Mac Mini, and my newest iMac, but that Apple wireless router (Airport Extreme or whatever they call it) was the biggest piece of crap I ever tried to use. I went back to my Linksys because my Winders box could not see the Apple router no matter how I tinkered with the settings. My friend's Linux laptop couldn't see it either. The option of attaching an external drive and accessing it through the wireless network is why I bought it, but it just wouldn't work reliably (not even with my Macs!). It worked sometimes, but most of the time, it would not. It was the biggest piece of dung I ever bought with an Apple logo on it.

But for the Mac computers, yes, Joe and Brad, they do not crash. If something were to be trying to cause a Mac to crash, Mr. Powdered Toast Man himself would appear and divinely intervene and prevent the kernel fault.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-23-2008, 01:49 PM:

Has everyone already forgotten the orignal iMac? What a POS that thing was. Apple has foisted its share of bad products on the public.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-23-2008, 02:05 PM:

Mike, This musta been the upport guy you talked to....

Posted by Paul J. Neuhaus (Member # 3205) on 06-27-2008, 10:22 AM:

Brad,
One thing to keep in mind is the settings you have on the router regarding connections. Allot of these draft N products look for compatible gear for them(other draft N devices) This can slow down performance unless A -you have a draft N compatable NIC for your laptop(highly unlikely). B -the router is setup for only G connections.
I have found with draft n and super G devices that unless they are setup correctly for your equipment they will drop signals looking for that better higher connection.

I have also been running a WRT54G for a couple years with no problem!!

Paul