D-Link Forums

The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => Routers / COVR => DIR-655 => Topic started by: cc999 on January 30, 2009, 02:43:49 PM

Title: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 30, 2009, 02:43:49 PM
I am on the fence here. Seems that 1.11 has a stronger wireless signal. Can anyone
verify this? If I am not interested in securespot or the USB share option
is the 1.21 OS any better then 1.11????

   It does seem that 1.21 Beta may be a bit quicker. Please advise...

Thanks
Charlie
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 30, 2009, 02:47:25 PM
You measured that through the wirelesss status. In reality there is no difference between the signal strengths. In fact I think that the newer firmwares present a more honest picture.
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 30, 2009, 02:49:24 PM
Eddie is the DNS relay fixed in the latest 1.21 Beta????
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 30, 2009, 02:50:03 PM
Yes it is. ;D
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 30, 2009, 02:57:53 PM
Great, ok is it worth it to goto 1.21 beta or stay with 1.11???
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: Lycan on January 30, 2009, 03:03:04 PM
Firmware can't really dictate the radios broadcast ability. They can change things about the broadcast pattern and the sensitivity to other radios and that can have adverse effects.

Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 30, 2009, 03:18:05 PM
Great, ok is it worth it to goto 1.21 beta or stay with 1.11???

Missing Lycan's point here... ???

"If it aint broke, don't fix it". It is still beta. If you have no use for Shareport or the Guest option, stick to 1.11.
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: Lycan on January 30, 2009, 03:19:32 PM
just a general statement about firmware and wireless performance.

Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 30, 2009, 03:20:23 PM
just a general statement about firmware and wireless performance.


aha...slow day?  ;)
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 30, 2009, 07:08:02 PM
OK experimented 2 times to make sure.
 
Ver 1.11 - 3  connections 100% 1 connection 90%

Ver 1.21 - latest Beta 1 connection 100%, 1 connection 87%, 1 connection 80%, 1 connection at 60%

   I tried twice with basically same results, I did NOT move any wireless connecting in, all I did was reset and re-flash to the firmwares above.

   Using Time Warner speed tests, ver 1.11 consistently was faster. No question in my mind that ver 1.11 is the best out period.

Charlie C
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: MitchSchaft on January 30, 2009, 09:07:34 PM
I would hardly consider that a "real" test.
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 31, 2009, 02:45:06 AM
the 1.21 firmware is more accurate in measuring the signal strength. So there is no real difference in actual strength...  Trust me, you will see when you measure the signal on the client side.
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 31, 2009, 04:21:51 AM
Eddie then how do you explain consistently better d/l u/l speeds from each computer? I would also mention that the streaming video is better on 1.11. Not sure if I buy that statement.

Charlie
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 31, 2009, 05:19:21 AM
Eddie one more note.

2 computers with wireless are withing 5 and 15 feet of the DIR-655 with no obstructions.
On 1.11 the signal is 100% on both with 1.21 one is 100 and the other is 87%. Looks to me like the
1.11 is the correct signal strength and the 1.21 is NOT correct.

Charlie
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 31, 2009, 08:56:45 AM
Eddie one more note.

2 computers with wireless are withing 5 and 15 feet of the DIR-655 with no obstructions.
On 1.11 the signal is 100% on both with 1.21 one is 100 and the other is 87%. Looks to me like the
1.11 is the correct signal strength and the 1.21 is NOT correct.

Charlie

Unless they are placed exactly next to each other and the antenna's heve the same alignment  that comparison would be right. Since from your lines I assume they are not (5 - 15 feet), the reported difference is correct. Why? See below

I will try to explain in a simple way:
There is a lot more to it then just the distance. The radio signal is transmitted through the antenna's and that signal has a certain pattern ('spread'), ans has a certain shape. Omni directional does not mean that the signal is equally spread in every direction. The signal is donut shaped around the antenna. Also, the MIMO requires the 3 antenna's to be aligned in a certain way to optimize the strength: they depend on each others send/receive direction to supply more spread through the house. This does not mean that you will get 300 mbps all over the place. Although the reach is bigger, there will also be more static in the signal which limits the connection speed.

This means that even though the distance is about the same, the alignment of antenna's is crucial and if the clients are placed in a different angle to the router/antenna's there will be a difference in connection speed and transfer speed.
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 31, 2009, 08:59:09 AM
Eddie then how do you explain consistently better d/l u/l speeds from each computer? I would also mention that the streaming video is better on 1.11. Not sure if I buy that statement.

Charlie

1.11 is the most stable release so far. 1.21 has added more features, but also has to be compliant with the A4 version, which has a changed radio. This means that the driver inside the firmware still needs some optimization. (1.11 firmware is also non-compatible with A4 hardware  :) )
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 31, 2009, 09:49:47 AM
Eddie,

  I will put this as simple as possible. Router position and computers connecting to the router do NOT change. The ONLY variable is the router firmware period. How you can come to a different conclusion then I did is beyond me.

Charlie
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 31, 2009, 10:52:10 AM
If you think that the firmware influences the radio strength and that it's not a measurement issue: fine with me. Looks like your mind is set to this, so I won't be putting in more effort into explaining to you how things work.
Besides, what's your point complaining about it this way? Just turn back to 1.11 if you think that one's better and wait for more optimized firmware.

And just shoot me if you don't like the reply  :D
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: cc999 on January 31, 2009, 11:38:41 AM
LOL sorry I don't mean to sound harsh..... Just sharing my findings with the group.....

Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on January 31, 2009, 12:25:00 PM
No offense taken, but sharing your thoughts is a one thing. Listening to people who are not guessing for the solution or origin of the phenomenon (see Lycan's remark). Willing to discuss, but there's not a lot of evidence to support your point other then your observation that the 2 measurements in firmwares differ. Just don't say the observation is also your evidence, since that is not a proper discussion. That's more like saying: God exists *because* it is written in the Bible, and the Bible is the word of God.  ;D
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: pbodq on February 21, 2009, 10:37:45 PM
If you think that the firmware influences the radio strength and that it's not a measurement issue: fine with me. Looks like your mind is set to this, so I won't be putting in more effort into explaining to you how things work.
Besides, what's your point complaining about it this way? Just turn back to 1.11 if you think that one's better and wait for more optimized firmware.

And just shoot me if you don't like the reply  :D

I see that other brand with Tomato MOD can change the transmission signal strength through firmware.

(http://www.hkepc.com/forum/attachments/month_0902/20090218_88861f9c098ae5e6c6ddAWhiCocJapvU.jpg)
Title: Re: DIR-655 Firmware 1.11 vs 1.21 latest Beta
Post by: EddieZ on February 22, 2009, 02:54:38 AM
Yes and if you would have looked at the wireless setup of the DIR you might have seen that you can set the radio strength to High, Medium and Low. But that is not what I mean with firmware version degrading a wireless radio signal.