New WRTP54G purchased Jan 2006 --- 1.00.20. OUCH!

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 06, 2006 Posts: 9

Hi,

I purchased a WRTP54G about 3 weeks ago. It's on 1.00.20. Let me describe the woes I'm having:

[please note, I hadn't really tried using the Vonage phone aspect of it much, as I have been waiting for 3 weeks for the 'number transfer' to take place. That took place yesterday]

(1) Since day one --- router will not pass DNS addresses to my PC. In the web screen, I can see it learns two DNS addresses from my provider [adelphia]. However, "ipconfig /all" on the PC shows that the DNS address is the same as the default gateway. That could potentially work, I suppose, if the WRTP54G actually implemented DNS proxy correctly, but it never *ever* works. IP addresses area reachable, NO hostnames can be resolved... ever. Worked around problem by configuring static DNS servers on my PC to 4.1.1.1 and 4.1.1.2. To me, this is an undesireable WORKAROUND, not a fix.

(2) Since day one: web interface to router stops working every few days. If I try to log in, it waits for a minute or so, then says: "internal communication problem, exiting". (or something like that). Internet access remains fine --- just logging into the router doesn't work. This is temporarily fixed each time it occurs by hitting the reset button on the router.

(3) now that I've tried the phone service: when we receive a call, our call waiting beep kicks in, and it becomes a one-way call. I can hear the person (original call) that called me, but they can't hear me. I have not tried accepting the new incoming call yet. In the meantime, without accepting the new incoming call, this is the behavior.

I know (based on reading these forums today) that I'm on ANCIENT firmware. I WILL upgrade (am going to try tonight). Questions:

(a) should my router have upgraded automatically? Or, do they only auto-upgrade after a certain version, and 1.00.20 is too old to support the autoupgrade?

(b) Does anyone KNOW if the problems I have described above are addressed by the firmware fixes past 1.00.20? I don't really mind upgrading, as I'm sure I'm on a buggy release. However, I would feel much more comfortable knowing that these issues are SPECIFICALLY KNOWN ISSUES THAT ARE FIXED in the firmware upgrades.

Thx much for your help. I'll try and check this forum for any responses, but I can also be reached @ stjamestexas@hotmail.com

Thanks!!!!

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 06, 2006 Posts: 9

Hi,

1 more question:

Are there any tools/links to downloading firmware that someone can point me to? I found a link to the tool and the 1.00.37 image, but I cannot find any other tools or any other images. Do you recommend manually upgrading to 1.00.60 or must I wait for it to autoupgrade (which I will assume will start happening at some point... maybe after I upgrade to 1.00.37 lol! Smile

Thanks

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject:

1.00.20 is easily new enough to support an autoupgrade, however it takes a lot of memory to do so. So, what you want to do is go into the router and turn off wireless. Then pull the power and plug it back in and let it sit for a while. That *should* be enough to force the upgrade and allow enough memory for the upgrade to actually take place. When the power light starts blinking away, you know it's working. Or you can turn off wireless and call Customer Service and they can force it to you.

The DNS proxy may, in fact, have been resolved. I don't know, I stopped using my WRTP54G as anything but a Vonage device back in October, since it is a relatively weak router and I needed a better one to try and get QoS running on my meager 256k upload.

The WRTP54G/RTP300 are *wonderful* Vonage adapters, but as routers? No. Not so much, except for the lightest use and in applcations where either it can figure out your upload bandwidth, or you always have the slack bandwidth for Voip.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 06, 2006 Posts: 9

I've never tried to disable wireless re: helping autoupgrade. Will try that tonight prior to using the tool, maybe that will work.

Thanks for the advice. Would love to still hear addl' feedback re: the other questions I had. Are there release notes anywhere for the firmware versions?

Thx.

Posts: 423 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 423

don't use that tftp upload tool that linksys provides - i haven't ever made that work successfully. instead try this:

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic9581.html

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject:

(1) DNS proxy on that box stinks. Maybe 1.00.60 has fixed it...

(2) Never run into that one. How are you wired? Straight from Modem -> WRTP54G -> Computer(s)? Maybe that will be fixed in the new firmware.

(3) I know there were a LOT of call waiting issues as recently as the 1.00.50 releases, 1.00.20 probably was rife with them.

Release notes? Never seen 'em. Sometimes one of the reps from Vonage posts some tidbits here and their on their own volition, but usually we just grit our teeth and hope. They generally fix more than they break.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 06, 2006 Posts: 9

I'm up to 1.00.60 now, will let you guys know if I still see any problems. Used s/w tool to go from 1.00.20 to 1.00.37, then the upgrade.html to .55 and to .57, then a power down -> power up brought me to .60, so auto-upgrade is working.

-mike