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Networking - Speedtouch router/modem making upgrades dificult for linux

titan - 04.11.2006, 14:23 Uhr
Titel: Speedtouch router/modem making upgrades dificult for linux

I have just bought a Speedtouch 546i V6 modem/router it works fine, simple to set up like all routers with Linux. However I was looking through the menus and can't find any entry for upgrading the firmware, further investigation shows that firmware is now digitally signed and is installed via the loader on the supplied CD, which is for Windows only the upgrade option has been removed from earlier menus. It says upgrades can be done via bootp but I have no intention of supporting Thompson with this nonsence and it will be going back Monday. Their web interface also won,t work with IE7 so its not just Linux users moaning.

edit

More googling has found telnet is available but why take this route when Linksys and Zyxel for example are so simple to upgrade. certainly not user friendly.well not if you don't use windows

h2 - 04.11.2006, 20:06 Uhr
Titel: RE: Speedtouch router/modem making upgrades dificult for lin

Zitat:

why take this route when Linksys and Zyxel for example are so simple to upgrade

You're right, why take it? In other words, buy products that work with Linux and don't require Windows only solutions.

I just tried the linksys firmware update on one wireless router, pleasant, easy, and, much to my surprise, the new firmware even retained almost all the old settings somehow, which was not even claimed as a feature.

And, by the way, tne new linksys stuff, created by Cisco, is much more professional in terms of interface for web admin than the old linksys was.

titan - 04.11.2006, 20:42 Uhr
Titel: Re: RE: Speedtouch router/modem making upgrades dificult for

h2 hat folgendes geschrieben::

Zitat:

why take this route when Linksys and Zyxel for example are so simple to upgrade

I was meaning why do Speedtouch take this route. I downloaded their manual the day before I bought it and it showed an upgrade option, this GUI change seems to be only in their very latest versions. Zyxel are OK but linksys are getting worse not better. I had a AG 241 which was very good but it packed up after six months they replaced it with a WAG 200 ( not making AG241 anymore) which is poor, my line sync kept dropping and there is no power off switch real cheapskate. I let them know my disapointment in their product and they are now taking this back and replacing it with something else. It has taken 5 weeks to get this far,and probably another 5 weeks for the next replacement, Linksys have poor customer service.
Speedtouch has been solid so far s/n has just moved 1.5 db and sync speed has not moved at all, better than either Zyxel and Linksys. If it is simple to upgrade via telnet I may continue as I think they may revert to a better GUI because of all the flak they are getting with IE7 problems.

wegface - 05.11.2006, 14:34 Uhr
Titel:

Should IE7 users even be messing with there routers settings? Winken

I'd say thats not a bug- its a feature
haha

NeroZero - 05.11.2006, 14:56 Uhr
Titel:

It be interesting to hear what their support got to say to all this! If you hurry you get an email response before you bring it back on Monday: It may be the case they offer a temporary solution to this, you know...

piper - 05.11.2006, 18:48 Uhr
Titel:

I love my linksys/cisco

h2 - 05.11.2006, 19:23 Uhr
Titel:

I have two linksys routers, both I got used for almost nothing. The only thing I would ever need customer service for from something that even new is this cheap is rma for failed hardware under warranty, so that seems like a more or less non issue.

It's unfortunate when companies make these decisions, but when they do, just stop buying their stuff, and consider returning the stuff you did buy if you can, since it doesn't actually work for you.

But since the linksys supports updating, does not require windows, it seems the better option. Customer service is something I worry about with major ticket items like computers etc, not with something that is so cheap that my time is worth more than the product being serviced in terms of the time I'd spend getting through to customer service.

titan - 08.11.2006, 18:59 Uhr
Titel:

Just had an e-mail back from Speedtouch , and tech support where I bought it from, both confirming the router is only upgradeable with windows or Mac. Seems odd, this is only with the latest models as either telnet tftp or ftp can be used if the normal GUI can't be used. Their sales bumpf now says

Multi-User Router
• OS independent on the Ethernet interface
• Easy set-up wizard
• Advanced Management via telnet, http, snmp, event log
• Integrated firewall
• Easy SW upgrade wizard
• Interfaces:
- LAN:
• 10/100Base-T (RJ45)
• MDI/MDI-x autosensing
• 4-port Ethernet switch
- WAN:
• ADSL line (RJ11) for ADSL/POTS or ADSL/ISDN

I don,t know if Thompson ( Speedtouch) are available in the states but they are popular in Europe ( based in Belgium) and Australia.

their e-mail

Hi Ian

All comments duly noted (they are not unknown)
At present to upgrade the router you need either a Windows PC or an Apple
OSX machine

Kind Regards

SpeedTouch UK Sales

I have now sent it back

mzilikazi - 08.11.2006, 21:32 Uhr
Titel:

Well it's a shame that you have to go through all of this nonsense but I'm glad you are not bending over and taking it!