TP Link W8968 issues.

prabs

prabs

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I bought a W8968 today and am having some problems with it.

The Web interface stops working after a few minutes. The internet connection keeps working normally. I updated the firmware but the problem remains. Only after restarting the router can I see the interface.
I connected a pen drive and setup the mediaserver. I can see the files in VLC. When I try to play them in VLC it doesn't work. On mediamonkey it gets stuck on some line keeps repeating. In both cases you can't see the mediaserver after the problem prompts up.
I am transferring files between 2 laptops through IPMessenger via WiFi but the speed never goes beyond 1 mbps.
Is there a way to increase the range?

This barely seems like an upgrade from my trusty old Beetel 450BXI.

+
I think the piece is damaged or something - After the first few minutes if I try to connect a new device it won't get an IP address even after authentication. 2 or more devices causes it to crash. If I try to disconnect & reconnect a device it just won't connect to the router again the router is restarted.
 
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Try updating the firmware to the latest version again. Also, check whether the issue is related to WiFi only or also on LAN. This smacks of a firmware issue. Else defective piece.

As for speeds over WiFi - if the laptops are near the router, then 1 Mbps is too less.
 
Had updated to the latest firmware. It didn't solve the problem.
Have switched back to the old router for now.

I tried manually setting ip address for each mac. But that too only works at the start.
The only way I can connect to the router after a while is if I have set static ip on the device. This is not possible for my phone.
I also noted that download speed that I am getting on doing a Internet connection test on my ps3 is around 700 kbps instead of 3 mbps.
Please advice.
 
prabs said:
Had updated to the latest firmware. It didn't solve the problem.
Have switched back to the old router for now.

I tried manually setting ip address for each mac. But that too only works at the start.
The only way I can connect to the router after a while is if I have set static ip on the device. This is not possible for my phone.
I also noted that download speed that I am getting on doing a Internet connection test on my ps3 is around 700 kbps instead of 3 mbps.
Please advice.
Click to expand...

Device specific problem as I do not face this.

Also which version is it?

V1 or V2,wherr did u get it from and for how much?
 
prabs said:
The Web interface stops working after a few minutes. The internet connection keeps working normally. I updated the firmware but the problem remains. Only after restarting the router can I see the interface.
Click to expand...
means the router's web server that serves up the config pages is crashing or becomes unreachable for some reason. Why would it do that. What is the static lan ip address of the router ? is there any other device with the same address. Is there any way to reserve IP addresses so that you can allocate them from a pool say for mobile devices.

prabs said:
I connected a pen drive and setup the mediaserver. I can see the files in VLC. When I try to play them in VLC it doesn't work. On mediamonkey it gets stuck on some line keeps repeating. In both cases you can't see the mediaserver after the problem prompts up.
Click to expand...
Is this smb sharing or dlna ? If you cannot access the config page reliably then this part will never work reliably either.

prabs said:
I am transferring files between 2 laptops through IPMessenger via WiFi but the speed never goes beyond 1 mbps.
Is there a way to increase the range?
Click to expand...
You mean speed. Is there a ftp server you can enable either on the router or on a pc connected to the router. Use ftp to transfer files over.

prabs said:
I think the piece is damaged or something - After the first few minutes if I try to connect a new device it won't get an IP address even after authentication. 2 or more devices causes it to crash. If I try to disconnect & reconnect a device it just won't connect to the router again the router is restarted.
Click to expand...
It sounds like you have a combination of problems here
- distance - how far away are you from the router and are there walls in between.
- ip address clashes -start with just one device attached and then add more. Personally i prefer static addresses for wired devices and to allocate dynamic ones for mobiles from a pool.
- unstable firmware - only if previous tests do not reveal much.
 
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first of all... welcome to the club :p


many ppl are affected due to the firmware prob..
i have only registered into this forum to answer your question(hope to stay as a reg member in the forum) and as i also faced the same prob
i found a solution... and im not having any prob since yesterday

follow these steps

First reset you modem....
config ur modem manually without using the quick setup option...

Then go to network- basic settings in modem page... Then first change region to india.. Change mode to 11bgn mixed.. Then change both the drop down to auto...
Then change ssid and setup wpa if u need...

Then open usb settings... Select storage, ftp, media, print and all other usb options and disable them...

Then try connecting your devices...

I ve done the above steps and right now im prob free.. Try n let me know...
 
And indicate WHICH method solved the problem.

- disable usb settings or

- setting idle time to 0 ie unlimited.
 
I dont think 0 can be set - so IMO setting it as high as possible is better. Also, sharing is usually SMB - have never seen DLNA sharing. Finally, check speed from LAN to WLAN domains, that should give an accurate speed of WiFi.
 
@krishnandu - Thanks for the link. Good to see I am not the only one.

Confused now whether I should take it back or wait for a firmware fix. The problem it has been troublesome out of the box.

Unable to set value to '0' so that won't work. Have disabled USB, keeping my finger crossed and window closed (in case I feel like chucking it out).

------

Update -
Over an hour and I can still access 192.168.1.1 and reconnect my mobile.
This workaround is hardly a fix though rendering the USB port useless :(

@dinjo - Around 5-6 meters via a wall lined with wooden cupboard. A second wall at that distance kills the signal. Till around 4 meters through the wall the signal appears good. This is based on the experience yesterday.
 
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prabs said:
Unable to set value to '0' so that won't work. Have disabled USB, keeping my finger crossed and window closed (in case I feel like chucking it out).
Click to expand...
It'll keep resetting to 15 because you probably have "Always On" selected

If you select "connect manually" then you can change the idle time to whatever you want.
Click to expand...
 
@blr_p , @krishnandu , @kvsandeepreddy , @vivek.krishnan - Thanks a lot guys. The USB settings seems to have done the trick.

I have enabled 'Storage sharing' through anonymous access, disabled accounts and enabled Media Server.
FTP and Print Server is still off.

The range is really bothersome is there a way to increase it?

@kvsandeepreddy - Welcome to TE mate. Thanks for helping out. For a while I thought I had bought a Lemon.

@prateekS - Bought V2 from a shop called A&A at Andheri West for Rs.2300/- + Rs.26/- for using a card to purchase.
 
@prabs... glad i could be of help....

try to point the antenna to the direction required...(or use a aluminium foil to direct the signals in a direction, dunno if it works or not :p)
 
@vivek.krishnan - The router is placed in my room which is in one corner of the house.The living room is at the center and my parent's room and my sister's room is across the living room. The wall between my room has a wooden wardrobe lined along the wall. The signal in the adjacent room i.e., the living room is really weak. The signal is little to none in my parent's room with the door open. Non-existent in my sister's room.

I don't mind moving the router to the living room but looking at how hapless the connection is I am not sure I want to do that.

I have a few devices in my room and the connection is a must for those especially the PS3 proxy trick which requires me to have a wired connection between PC and PS3.

Can I use my old Beetel 450BXI ADSL router as a repeater?
 
prabs said:
@vivek.krishnan - The router is placed in my room which is in one corner of the house.The living room is at the center and my parent's room and my sister's room is across the living room. The wall between my room has a wooden wardrobe lined along the wall. The signal in the adjacent room i.e., the living room is really weak. The signal is little to none in my parent's room with the door open. Non-existent in my sister's room.
Click to expand...
Put up a floor plan, i find these description very difficult to visualise. Indicate where the router is, where the signal is good and where its bad, where you would like it to be better and indicate if you can strength of signal on it as well. in dbm, get inssider on an android from the playstore. Indicate distances on the plan and thickness of any walls in between. (6, 9 or 11 inches).
 
@blr_p - I do apologize for my poor Paint skills but that is somewhat how my house is.

I haven't mentioned my laptop because I either use it in my room or living room.

FP.png
 
prabs said:
@blr_p - I do apologize for my poor Paint skills but that is somewhat how my house is.
Click to expand...
Its good enough. So much easier now for everyone to see & understand. So lets get into your previous post.

The wall between my room has a wooden wardrobe lined along the wall.
Click to expand...
If i understand correctly, the wodden wardrobe covers the entire part where your room's wall adjoins the living room. Entrance to your room is at the bottom leading into a corridor.

The signal in the adjacent room i.e., the living room is really weak. The signal is little to none in my parent's room with the door open. Non-existent in my sister's room.
Click to expand...
It would seem that wardrobe is absorbing a lot of the signal than expected.

Going from your plan, can you indicate the distance in feet between.
- Router & WD Live
- Router & laptop in sisters room

Thickness of the wall in inches between your room & living room
Thickness of the wall in inches between your sisters room & living room

Do you have any android device with which you can measure signal levels in the living room where the wdtv & the laptop are ?

I don't mind moving the router to the living room but looking at how hapless the connection is I am not sure I want to do that.

I have a few devices in my room and the connection is a must for those especially the PS3 proxy trick which requires me to have a wired connection between PC and PS3.
Click to expand...
if you move the router to your living room then the signal in your bedroom will be weak as the wardrobe will absorb it.
 
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@blr_p - Sorry for the late response.

The distance between the WD Live and the router is about 23-24 feet. Wall can be discounted as the door can stay open and though there is no straight line of sight I don't think there should be much of a problem.
The distance between my sister's Laptop (provided she uses it on desk) is about 22 feet. It includes 2 walls. The wall between my room has wooden wardrobe on 1 side and a cupboard on the other side. My sister's room too has a wooden wardrobe lined against the wall.

I think the walls are around 9 inches in thickness.

Apologies for not drawing the doors. The entrance to my sister's room is at the top and my parent's room is at bottom right.

I do have an android phone. Could you please name the app that is required?

@kvsandeepreddy - I thought the signals are always lateral and hence to be kept vertical.
 
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