WRT54GX4 and RTP300

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 2

I found that you don't need to leave the firewall turned off. This appears to be a problem in the firmware.

Just turn it off, save the settings and then turn it back on (save settings again). This should improve the voice quality.

Until the router reboots, this should work. Either way, the products software is not ready for primetime so check Linksys for firmware updates periodically.

Leaving the firewall off is generally not a good idea...

Wolfman

Posts: 24 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Nov 18, 2003 Posts: 24

ColdGin wrote:

To get rid of the choppiness when your Vonage is behind the GX router, disable its SPI firewall. The firewall slows the data down to the point where some of it gets dropped. This is because the processor is woefully underpowered to try and do this kind of inspection on real time audio packets. Works everytime. There was a thread on here where someone got there motorola MTA to work behind the wrt54gx without disabling firewall, but I don't trust it.

Actually the processor is just fine and has nothing to do with it. The problem is the SPI thinks the small packets are a DOS attack and it starts PURPOSELY dropping packets. Turn on the DOS log within the router, make a call and watch the log fill up. This is why the choppiness is rythmic and not random.

From what I have read elsewhere, the ORIGINAL v1 SX model does not suffer from this problem, but the GX v2 and the GX2(GXv2 ^= GX2, they are different models) do suffer this issue.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 2

Interesting...

I have used the original SRX router which indeed worked perfectly. Unfortunately, a failed firmware update was the end of that box.

With the SRX400 I have numerous issues both on Vonage and using Skype.
Since the Firewall toggle seems to do the job, I am puzzled of why the stateful inspection would behave differently.

I will try that out and see if the log changes.

Wolfman

Posts: 24 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Nov 18, 2003 Posts: 24

FYI, linksys has a beta firmware, version 1.00.12 that they are sending to people with QOS issues(it's not on the website yet).

I have installed it but it doesn't fix the SPI issue with it treating Vonage as a DOS attack, however I have seen one person say it cleared up his Skype issues along with some QOS issues.

Even tho this firmware doesn't seem to clear up the SPI issue, it still may help you with Vonage by clearing up some QOS issues.

Posts: 49 · Full Forum Member Joined: Nov 15, 2005 Posts: 49

You should understand that turning off the "SPI Firewall" in your router *does not* disable its innate firewall ability as a NAT router. The NAT function provides basic firewall protection by protecting your network from unsolicited packets, port scans, etc.

Turning off SPI is not as severe as "turning off your firewall" seems to imply.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 24, 2006 Posts: 1

Just wanted to say that I have a WRT54GX4 Linksys Router and had all the problems listed in this thread.

I did not have to disable my firewall to fix the issue, I simply disabled the VPN passthroughs (PPTP, IPSec, L2TP) while leaving the firewall enabled.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 8

I just switched from a Netgear RangeMax to a new Linksys SRX400 and I wondering what is the best configuration. The discussion in this thread speaks to putting the SRX400 in front of the RTP300. When I had the Netgear router, I was successful in settng up that router as a WAP behind the RTP300 by using the information from another thread (search on: RTP300 + WGT654v2 Problem), in particular input from darin_n. I'm considering setting up the SRX400 the same way.

I'm just wondering what is the optimum configuration?

Posts: 323 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 323

I also have a GX4 but with a RT31P2 as my Vonage device.

I use it like this:

Cable Modem - WRT54GX4 - RT31P2

The problem I had with the GX4 was the DoS problems with the SPI firewall. I have this disabled and I also got Linksys to send me the beta firmware that is mentioned earlier in this thread by talking to support through their live chat.

I have also setup QoS on the GX4 to give my Vonage device the highest priority.

Hope this helps. All in all I'm a little disappointed with the GX4 and Vonage combination (which I attribute to the firmware for the GX4 not really being rock solid yet), but having the GX4 really improved my wireless coverage in the house.

-John

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:07 am Post subject:

I've never used the GX4, but the RTP300 is a great voice adapter, but is a terrible router. Definitely connect it Modem-->GX4---> RTP300, and have your computers connected to the GX4, *NOT* the RTP300.

Posts: 24 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Nov 18, 2003 Posts: 24

FYI, the beta Linksys firmware 1.00.15(and 1.00.13) DOES FIX(finally) the Vonage issue with the firewall treating it as a DOS attack(as I mentioned in my post above).

However, for it to work, after you load it, you MUST do a Master reset of the router, otherwise it won't weem like it worked. To do a master reset, I followed someone else's porcedure...

Press and hold reseb button on back of unit for 5 seconds, then kill the power to the router, while still holding reset button. Continue holding reset buttong for 5 more seconds then turn poer to touter back on and continue to hold the reset button for 10 more seconds. This will reset the router.

Since the firmware is only being given out thru Linksys tech support(it hasn't been posted to the website yet), you can obtain verison 1.00.15 from this thread: http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=13181