I recently tired of my flaky LinkSys WCG200 and bought a new Netgear WNR834M. I was not looking for great improvements in speed/coverage, just a more solid 802.11b/g AP / firewall router.
Anyway, after reading generally pleasant things about Netgear products, I decided to give the WNR834M a whirl. Turns out, it is so flaky, it makes the LinkSys seem like a rock.
I have upgraded the WNR834M to its latest Firmware 1.3.04 (dated Sept
12, 2006). Followed all the instructions. Status shows the box is running the latest version.
A few things I note:
- The netgear totally reboots every few minutes. Looks like a hard crash. All the port lights light up (even though only one has a wire in it), then the box completely goes through its power full up cycle.
- Running the Router Ugrade -> Check for new version utility it keeps saying it found a new version but listing the same version I am running
1.3.04 NA as both the current and the new. Just for yuks, I tell to go ahead and upgrade .... but the box always reboots while trying to download/install the new (same?) version.
If I download the img and upgrade from my PC I can make it work.
Anyway, for a router/AP that I bought to improve stability, I am quite disappointed.
I have read there are two different chipsets used in the WNR834M. Maybe I got the bad chipset.
Has anyone else found this product to be so flaky?
Anyone recommend a rock solid b/g AP/firewall product?
thanks dougm