LinkSys Problems

Both pieces of LinkSys equipment caused problems, and I eventually decided to replace them.

Access Point

The WAP-11 v2.2 has the most problems. It worked fine when using it in "out of the box" mode, i.e. as pre-configured from the factory. However, that's a dangerous mode, and not acceptable to me.

While I was attempting to make WEP operate, the WAP-11 decided to re-configure itself, including setting the wireless MAC address to all zeroes! This is not a good thing (I don't know if there is some significance to an all zeroes address, as there is for IP addresses, for instance.)

It's behaviour was sufficient for me to upgrade the firmware. It came with version 1.009, and 1.01c was available from the web site. Upgrading is done via the web browser interface. As the other configuration program requires Windows, I have no idea whether it can also upgrade. I presume it can, but have no experience.

I downloaded the file from the LinkSys web site, and unzipped it. It recovers a file called linksys_nml.bin which I presumed is the file to use. Note that it has no version number, nor (an obvious) product name in the file name. And there are dire warnings that replacing the firmware with that for another product may render the AP useless. It'd be a pity if they put some elementary checks in.

Upgrading the firmware was an interesting experience. Let's just say sufficiently interesting that I went and bought a NetGear access point! I uploaded the file (via the browser) numerous times, only to be presented with the upload screen again. This, I presume, means the upgrade failed, for some definition of failed. In addition to uploading the file, I hit the reset switch numerous times (and also discovered that it tended to jam in the reset position!), power cycled it, waited over night etc.

Ultimately the planets must have been in the correct alignment, because instead of getting the upgrade screen, the login message appeared! Hallelujah.

Alas, the new firmware was worse than the old, at least in the sense that I could not get the card to connect to the hub when using WEP. I've heard that 1.01d is out; perhaps that is better.

PCMCIA Card

The WPC-11 is also not without problems. While it works for a while, it just randomly stops after some time, and the configuration information reported by iwconfig clearly indicates there has been a major reset of its state. I doubt that the about 2.4 GHz frequency has really shifted to 42GHz. Apart from being a prodigous feat of RF engineering, it's also the reason the link fails - the access point is still stuck at 2.4GHz!

Conclusion

The above indicates why I no longer use the LinkSys equipment. I also have a LinkSys (wired) hub, and it has worked without trouble for a couple of years. The NetGear access point uses the same chip, but appears to have much more robust firmware.


Version: $Revision: 1.1 $; Updated at 15:47 EST on Tue Apr 11, 2006
Copyright (C) 2002 - 2006, Lindsay Harris