AnswersThatWork Blog April 2009 - Disastrous Netgear Firmware for the DG834G DSL modem router 5.01.14, 5.03.14

The AnswersThatWork Blog

Monday, 27th April 2009

More info on downgrading the Netgear DG834G v4 firmware down from 5.01.14 (5.03.14 in the US)

A little addendum to my blog entry below : when you downgrade the firmware as I suggest, you will find that if you had configured your router's wireless encryption to WPA-PSK+WPA2-PSK under the newer firmware, after the downgrade your wireless encryption will be changed to WP2-PSK and some of your wireless devices will no longer be able to connect to the Internet even though the WPA key stays the same. So, after performing the firmware downgrade do remember to check the Wireless Settings in case you need to re-do the wireless encryption properly.

—— (TUT) SpaceMan

Tuesday, 21st April 2009

Do not use or upgrade to Firmware version 5.01.14 (non-US) or 5.03.1 (US) for your Netgear DG834G v4 router

The latest firmware version (March 2009) for Netgear DG834G v4 DSL/ADSL 4-port modem routers is seriously buggy and can damage your health. Big time !

We recently experienced a catalogue of seemingly unrelated problems at various clients till we eventually realised one morning that all those problems were caused by version 5.01.14 (Europe and rest of the World) or version 5.03.14 (US) of the firmware.

Amongst the various problems :

Skype not working properly (you cannot hear the remote party who can hear you).
Voice-over-IP (VOIP) telephone systems malfunctioning (you cannot hear the remote party who can hear you).
Inability to Remote Desktop (RDP) back onto your server from inside the corporate network. You get the dreaded "The computer can't connect to the remote computer; Try connecting again. If the problem continues, contact the owner of the remote computer or your network administrator" error.
You can still, however, Remote Desktop onto your network from outside your network.
Occasional "PAGE NOT FOUND" errors when browsing the Internet.
Sluggish downloads of large files.

Yes, as you can see not a very clever firmware from Netgear (we have written to them with the above). So, if you are experiencing any of the above, immediately downgrade your firmware back to version 5.01.09 (Europe & Rest of the World) or 5.03.08NA (US).

Good Luck.

—— (TUT) SpaceMan

Thursday, 9th April 2009

Result

My Team Lost !

Stunned.

—— (TUT) SpaceMan

Wednesday, 8th April 2009

The Big Day !

A Big Day today. My team is playing THAT other team in the quarter finals of the European Champions League! My team has the momentum at the moment. My team is the best ever team in England. My team holds all records in England apart from the FA Cup.

I can't wait.

I reckon it will be a 2-0 or 3-0 win to My Team.

It's 19:34. Just can't wait.

My team is Liverpool FC.

See you later.....

—— (TUT) SpaceMan