[robbo100]

Hi all,

Mine is working well and I have only had one internet drop off in 3 weeks (reconnected after reboot).

However I can not get the USB share to work.

Question: Will the USB port work with a memory stick? I have tried two different sticks and neither seem to be seen in the USB configuration area.

Any tips?

Thanks

Robbo100

[CyberDog666]

Originally Posted by weeeck

Nice one, keep us posted on the outcome.

I'm currently testing a beta firmware (I'm afraid I can't share it) and it seems to fix my disconnects. I've stressed my line throughout the night and I haven't disconnected yet. I'm stressing it for 24 hours before I report back to Netgear.

I haven't checked if its fixed any of the web interface bugs.

Update: I can finally now disable RIP.

[weeeck]

Nice to hear that Netgear are doing something about this problem.

I wish they would let all users have a copy of the beta Firmware to test, as it would thrash it to death.

In fact I have had to go back to my old router, (Draytek 2800) to send this as the DGN3500 keeps dropping the line.

I may add that the Draytek has been running faultlessly over many years.

[mark.carline]

Does anyone know if this beta firmware being released here has been make public ?

I am just about to replace my ever faithful DGND3300 with a DGN3500 as I need to get gigabit between my media pc and my readyNAS NV+ so looking for a faster ethernet solution.

Only thing I am worried about is losing any kind of wireless performance as my "old" DGND3300 was a "dual band" router and I guess the DGN3500 isnt dual band (I am using an Intel 5300 Mini PCI card in a Dell XPS studio laptop).

[mickevh]

If you simply want to avail yourself of (wired) GBit ethernet pathway from source to sink devices, and you're happy with the wifi & DSL perfomance of your existing router, it would be easier and cheaper to add a simple GBit switch to your existing router than buy a new router.

[psikey]

Originally Posted by mickevh

If you simply want to avail yourself of (wired) GBit ethernet pathway from source to sink devices, and you're happy with the wifi & DSL perfomance of your existing router, it would be easier and cheaper to add a simple GBit switch to your existing router than buy a new router.

I did this with my old Netgear with the Netgear four port Gigabit switch, but seeing as I want Wireless N for my new laptop I've decided to order one from Scan for delivery tomorrow (£89). Less cables & clutter too.

[mark.carline]

Originally Posted by CyberDog666

I'm currently testing a beta firmware (I'm afraid I can't share it) and it seems to fix my disconnects....

whats the version number that you are testing ?

I have managed to get hold of a 2nd hand DGN3500 and it seems to be ok andi ts running 1.1.00.16.

Are you testing a newer version ?

[LOXjet]

Originally Posted by LOXjet

I just find the Wi-Fi light doesn't always change when it's switched on\off.

Turns out this was failing hardware, the light stopped working all together in the end

Saying that, have been using Netgear routers for years and this is only the second problem I've encountered.

Returned to Novatech and hopefully a new one is on its way back!

[weeeck]

I must thank "roseway" from the Netgear forum for this nugget of information in how to obtain some sort of stats from the DGN3500 in relation whether the line is in "Fast Mode" or "Interleave Mode" on the users ADSL line.

I thought I would pass this on.

Quote
The information is (sort of) available. In the telnet interface, type

cat /proc/driver/drv_dsl_cpe_procfs_linux/avsar_modem_stats/00

This command is clearly incomplete, because most of the information is shown as n/a, but near the end you'll see something like this:

[Upstream (TX) Interleave path]
CRC: 7067 FEC: 53495881 NCD: n/a
LCD: n/a HEC: n/a

[Downstream (RX) Interleave path]
CRC: 8 FEC: 3 NCD: n/a
LCD: n/a HEC: n/a

[Upstream (TX) Fast path]
CRC: n/a FEC: n/a NCD: n/a
LCD: n/a HEC: n/a

[Downstream (RX) Fast path]
CRC: n/a FEC: n/a NCD: n/a
LCD: n/a HEC: n/a

As there are figures in the Interleave section, but not the Fast path section, you can infer that the connection is interleaved (which I know to be correct in my case).
Unqoute

Again all thanks to "roseway" for this information

[CyberDog666]

Thank you for sharing this weeeck.

I am running V1.1.00.22_1.00.22 with Modem firmware 4.4.4.1.3.1

I am little disapointed Netgear doesn't get this released already.

Hopefully they can sort out the gaps.

[t72bogie]

Originally Posted by CyberDog666

Thank you for sharing this weeeck.

I am running V1.1.00.22_1.00.22 with Modem firmware 4.4.4.1.3.1

I am little disapointed Netgear doesn't get this released already.

howe long you had the beta?

it usually takes around 1-2 months to get a full release from a beta

..and of course, if any bugs are found at beta stage they have to start again with the release process

[CyberDog666]

Got it on the 13th March

[t72bogie]

ah..well, Id expect to see a public release on the website in the next month or so

its pretty normal to see a maintenance release within 3-4 months of a new product launch ...no matter how much lab testing you do, and betas etc, as soon as you sell 100k units, you will get all sorts of weird stuff reported

usually after 6-12 months, a router selling in decent numbers should be pretty bug free...

[CyberDog666]

Disconnects are back after a month and few days later.
My old router still syncs faster and has a 2db higher noise ratio. I can't tell if the DGN-3500 router is using ADSL1 or 2+. I force my old router to use G.DMT due to the distance from my exchange but the DGN-3500 has no such option and could be what is causing the connection to drop and the poorer stats.

[inkheart]

Originally Posted by CyberDog666

Disconnects are back after a month and few days later.
My old router still syncs faster and has a 2db higher noise ratio. I can't tell if the DGN-3500 router is using ADSL1 or 2+. I force my old router to use G.DMT due to the distance from my exchange but the DGN-3500 has no such option and could be what is causing the connection to drop and the poorer stats.

I think it is best to wait for the DGteam to develop a firmware for DGN3500 and the DGND3300 since it is highly unlikely that Netgear will release a new firmware for both modems before the beginning of 2011.

[CyberDog666]

They did release a gold North American version of the "beta" firmware I was given. However it may cause problems with WiFi if it were to be applied to European routers. Besides I don't see what improvements I'd see if they are the same.

[t72bogie]

strange how it runs fine for a month then disconnects are back.

that would indicate to me something has changed in the network (again) - the software in the modem isnt changing ...

it really is a never ending game of catch up/changes with the chip guys on the modems and the DSLAMs ...usually by the time you get a full release, there have been another 2 or more datapumps released by the chip vendors, which may or may not have been implemented by the ISPs

in an ideal world, to maintain good interop , it needs the ISP to control the software version at both ends ...which is what BT, Sky etc try to do by supplying their own modems

in the old days of 2 Mbps ADSL it wasnt a big deal, but as they push the boundaries, the fine tuning gets more important....

[majnu]

I was thinking of buying this modem/router but after reading this thread, I think I will stay well clear. My hunt continues but I am more inclined to a bufalo or billion at the moment

[t72bogie]

Originally Posted by majnu

I was thinking of buying this modem/router but after reading this thread, I think I will stay well clear. My hunt continues but I am more inclined to a bufalo or billion at the moment

I think you may find them just the same if its down to chip interoperability ...theres only 3 main chip vendors used by mainstream vendors, so make sure you use a different one, to one youve tried so far

[mark.carline]

Just noticed that a US firmware (version 1.1.00.22) has been releaed for use in the US:

Answer

Interesting that the latest "outside the US" firmware is version 1.1.00.16

I assume everyone here thats having disconnect issues are using the version 1.1.00.16 ???

Has anyone here tried the US firmware on their routers ?

I am very tempted as I understand the US firmware is set to output a max of 30dBi WiFi signal power where the non-US firmware is limited to 20dBi

[t72bogie]

US firmware may be worth a try as it will have a different datapump tuned for US ISP DSLAMs deployed..you may get lucky

[majnu]

Netgear DGN3500 first impressions

[mark.carline]

Originally Posted by majnu

Netgear DGN3500 first impressions

thanks - interesting last quote on the above link:

Re: Netgear DGN3500 first impressions
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2010, 06:49:47 PM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For me it's performing faultlessly, but there are various complaints on the Netgear forum about connection drops. Netgear have released new firmware which is supposed to fix the reported problems, but at the moment only the North American version is available; a European version is expected shortly. The NA version probably works fine in the UK, but very probably isn't legal, because of wireless channels and powers.

[gregh]

I'm looking at getting one of these routers, is there any news on the updated firmware for Europe?

From reading lots of reviews all the top rated routers in mags like PC Pro seem to get a very bad press from actual users.....

regards,

Greg

[leoncope]

Originally Posted by mark.carline

thanks - interesting last quote on the above link:

Hope the firmware release is soon, mine drops noticeably more than my DG834N, and its even on a 6db profile so there shouldn't be a problem imo.

[aliasojo]

I'm about ready to chuck mine out the flipping window! Mine is ridiculous now, if I see Internet Explorer telling me there's no connection just one more time.............

[t72bogie]

last I heard its "in progress, due for release shortly" 1-2 weeks

its the Infineon (now known as Lantiq) adsl modem chip driver (datapump) - its obviously not as good as the broadcom one is on UK networks, and they are fine tuning it now, and then it will get built into some new firmware and released

this is all pretty normal for new ADSL products ....they usually take 3-6 months to settle down in all markets......its just that weve been spoilt for a few years as Broadcom has had a head start as their chips are in the Sky, AOL, Talktalk, BT routers etc

...so naturally Broadcom spent a lot of time in UK ISP labs ....but wind the clock back 3-4 years and it was the other way around...>Texas Instruments (later Infineon) were the big selling modem chips on the UK market and had the best interop/performance

it changes ....and manufacturers like Netgear, D-link, Linksys etc have to choose which chip to use etc.....

..this is why big ISPs like to give away their own modem - so that they control the modem at both ends and the software on it and try to give the customer the best performance ....unfortunately, this takes a long time testing, and costs lots of money, so the ISPs never seem to offer the latest kit....

[gregh]

I decided it wasn't worth the risk so have gone for Billion 7800N which seems to well thought of.....

[t72bogie]

Originally Posted by gregh

I decided it wasn't worth the risk so have gone for Billion 7800N which seems to well thought of.....

dunno what chip it has in it, but if its the same, its unlikely to be different

...9/10 for ADSL issues its not the make of router thats important, its the modem chip it uses .....

in an ideal world, the best for interop is usually the router your ISP supplies

or one that is sold in big volume in the market you live in ....something that works great in one country may not in another....

best place to check is probably your own ISP support forums, to see what everyone else is using on their network

[gregh]

Originally Posted by t72bogie

dunno what chip it has in it, but if its the same, its unlikely to be different

It is different (broadcom), hence one of the reasons for choosing it