D-Link Forums
The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => Routers / COVR => DIR-655 => Topic started by: teknomedic on April 26, 2009, 06:09:07 AM
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I just joined to get some comments on this... I'm not sure if official D-Link support vists here or not, but hope they do.
WHY have they removed wireless B AND removed the downgrade option?? I was told to upgrade to v1.30 due to some issues that were fixed (I was having those issues and needed the fix), but wasn't informed about the these changes. Now I can't use ANY of my wirelss B devices (I have about 10) and to top it off I can no longer downgrade!!
1) I bought the DIR-655 because it supported N, G AND B. If the DIR-655 doesn't supprt B it's useless for me. Having an all in one package was and still is ideal for me in my situation. If the DIR-655 didn't support B from the beginning I never would have bought it... dito if I had known they were going to remove B at a future date.
2) Just because a firmware is newer doesn't mean it's better for everyone. Locking down the "downgrade" option is very short sighted, especially when in the same firmware you remove a key feature of the router. Who made that choice and why???
I can see no good reasons for locking down the router in these ways... we could already turn off "B" ourselves AND downgrading is needed at times after a new firmware causes new issues for the end user.
Is there any hope that B and downgrading will be added back for one last firmware so that I can have the new fixes AND start using the router again with my "old" devices?? v1.30 sounded good with all the fixes, some of those I needed, but not if it ment turning off "B" forever.
I'm at the point of never buying a Dlink product again. I already jumped ship from Linksys for their similar tactics... please don't force me to find yet another company for my needs. The DIR-655 was exactly what I needed, but without B it's crap.
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The issue has been discussed to death already. Both here and elsewere. You can only blame yourself for upgrading because the changelog states very very clearly that you cant downgrade and that b is gone. No worries though, cause D-link already said B is coming back in the next firmware.
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it's good it's coming back... but please don't blame me for this. Blame the tech support person that emailed me the firmware to fix my issues without telling me about the key changes.
Also, can you point me to previous discussions on this issue? I tried a search but came up empty... which is why I posted.
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http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=5085.15
Is just one thread but you'll find more discussion burried in other 1.3 threads
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it's good it's coming back... but please don't blame me for this. Blame the tech support person that emailed me the firmware to fix my issues without telling me about the key changes.
The firmware is only available in a zip file.
Said zip file has the firmware and a text file with the release notes of the changes so yes you are at least partly to blame.
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The firmware is only available in a zip file.
Said zip file has the firmware and a text file with the release notes of the changes so yes you are at least partly to blame.
would be nice if the tech person had pointed this out to teknomedic in his email as well. You trust a doctor to give you the right medication, and point out any side effects. Same when you get advise from tech support. Yes, we all should read everything, every line, but how often have most people read every line in a software disclaimer before installing?
Yes, our fault, but...
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would be nice if the tech person had pointed this out to teknomedic in his email as well. You trust a doctor to give you the right medication, and point out any side effects. Same when you get advise from tech support. Yes, we all should read everything, every line, but how often have most people read every line in a software disclaimer before installing?
Yes, our fault, but...
Yep, the doctor does tell you there could be some side effects. But you still need to read the enclosed leaflet yourself. He does not spell it out for you.
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Yes, I should have read it and I didn't.... but when was the last time an entire wireless mode was removed from a product. It would be like updating your TVs firmware and have the color RED removed.... who does that?! (d-link I guess).
Are there any other threads related to this... I'm loving the complaining.
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It would be like updating your TVs firmware and have the color RED removed.... who does that?! (d-link I guess).
Actually in this case it's more like removing the option of having a black and white picture which has done a long time ago! Wireless B is an antique protocol and devices using it need to be upgraded.
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Actually in this case it's more like removing the option of having a black and white picture which has done a long time ago! Wireless B is an antique protocol and devices using it need to be upgraded.
As soon as Sony upgrades the PSP I'll make sure to get it. Until then, I'm stuck needing 802.11b for it to be able to access the internet.
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the argument that b is outdated sucks, maybe it means dlink gets kickbacks from other companies to remove b so people will update there old devices and spend alot of mone. or may mean more business for dlink cause people are still using older wifi cards but it meets there needs, like I have a Pocket PC 4 years old with only b and it still meets my needs so why upgrade in my point of view, it would cost 300-400 to buy anew one when the 1 I have works fine
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Actually in this case it's more like removing the option of having a black and white picture which has done a long time ago! Wireless B is an antique protocol and devices using it need to be upgraded.
I'd say a more apt anology (using TV) would be removing stereo sound.
5.1 AND 7.1 suround sound exist and many people have them, lets get rid of stereo.
with the analogy going to show that 90% of the people just listen to mono and stereo still these days.
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Well said everyone - but I believe the real point is that, even if teknomedic HAD read the attached warning, he would have still had only the options to live with the problems he was having, or fix them with 1.30 and lose b.
Anyway, as stated earlier in this thread, to give D-Link credit, it seems they have acknowledged these points, with the proposed 1.31. returning b to the 655. I hope for all of you using b protocol units that the full release is soon. Now, if they can just move 1.30 out of beta to a full release version..... ;)
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I'd say a more apt anology (using TV) would be removing stereo sound.
5.1 AND 7.1 suround sound exist and many people have them, lets get rid of stereo.
with the analogy going to show that 90% of the people just listen to mono and stereo still these days.
That's a perfect example.
Also, I like how someone previous said we should just upgrade and drop "B"... why??? If I as a consumer didn't have any use for "B" I would NOT have bought a router that supports "B", but I did because I have a NEED for it. I have a few devices that not only us "B", but can't be upgraded by me to support anything else such as PSP, DS and Wii. I also have a few laptops that have built in "B" cards as well as a few PDAs (PDAs are what adults used before "smart phones" BTW)
Long story short is that I bought a router that supported everything I needed so I wouldn't have to go through the expense to either upgrade and/or replace all my "old" hardware. Will I use this hardware forever, no... and when that day comes I'll buy a router that only has N & G.
...I guess I'd simply like to ask those that don't use "B" and don't understand our issue how you would feel if this firmware had simply removed "G" instead (or removed both "B" and "G"). I mean "G" is old and outdated as well with "N" around so why split hairs. Just because you have a use for "G" doesn't mean it's not an old standard.
...while you're at it, you should probably just buy a new hybrid car as well since your current one is so yesterday and the highways can no longer support your type of car as it interferes with the hybrids on the road.
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I'd say a more apt anology (using TV) would be removing stereo sound.
5.1 AND 7.1 suround sound exist and many people have them, lets get rid of stereo.
with the analogy going to show that 90% of the people just listen to mono and stereo still these days.
And there the analogy goes wrong: 90% of the people is not using b anymore.
But enough of this crap since you already had the chance to figure out that there will be a 1.31. version with b enabled.
And if you took a look around the 655 forum you might also have found out/read that a newly added feature causes the code to be locked, making it non-downgradeable. I'll request the thread to be closed since it is not very useful anymore.
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Sure 90% is a high number and probably not correct, but to say that you "KNOW" that not many people use "B" anymore is a very short sighted and ignorant. :P I would think that all the complaints on these boards alone would make you think twice about such a statement.
Did you even consider for a moment that MAYBE... just MAYBE, I had gone through the phone support options BEFORE searching out the message boards... and MAYBE, just MAYBE.... I had not read anything about all the issues until after my update from phone support??? ::)
EddieZ... I've only been here a short time, but I can already tell you're a bully and try to conform the boards to your will. Are you bucking for a mod position or something? I certainly hope you never get one because this board would be nothing but threads you agree with. Why don't you just start your own boards where you can enjoy the threads you start and agree with yourself in. :P
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You're taking it very personal. Watch the bloodpressure and dry your tears, my little troll. ;)
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I'm not taking anything personal. I'm just telling you what I've observed in the short time I've been here. Anytime someone has an opposing view point you start whining and complaining about it... THEN, when it's clear you're in the wrong you threaten to have threads locked and posts removed.
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EddieZ has no power to lock threads or remove posts, thats up to the DLink Forum admins. Also I don't remember and posts ever being removed unless they violated the terms of the forum.
In the long run eveyone is forgetting one thing, this whole router experience with the DIR-655 is one big beta test. The N spec for wireless is still in a draft form and will probably not be totally finalized until the first part of 2010. So expect more changes to come down the road.
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EddieZ has no power to lock threads or remove posts, thats up to the DLink Forum admins. Also I don't remember and posts ever being removed unless they violated the terms of the forum.
In the long run eveyone is forgetting one thing, this whole router experience with the DIR-655 is one big beta test. The N spec for wireless is still in a draft form and will probably not be totally finalized until the first part of 2010. So expect more changes to come down the road.
And threads are closed when their usefulness has ended. There are plenty useful posts that address this issue and if you think a personal outcry contributes to other users...be my guest and add to those. But you will find that all your words have be written down numerous times already, which does question the added value.
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It's just a conversation, and the value of the written words is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe if there's such a huge issue with the DIR-655 and the v1.30 firmware maybe a full discussion about all the issues should be made a sticky so new people like myself can easily find the topic and we can have one place to vent and discuss. As you say all my words have been written down numerous times before so there's an obvious issue that many of people here seem eager to discuss.
After I joined I tried a couple of searches to see if my topic had been talked about and I didn't find anything so I started one. I'm sure it's a combination of my search and the search engine that nothing came up.
I also know that EddieZ has no power to just lock a thread, but I'm quickly growing tired of his threats of reporting posts and threads to mods to request they be locked or removed. I fail to see why EddieZ feels the need to police the boards and be a snitch. We all like clean boards and all replies to be 100% on topic, but that's never happened on any board I've seen yet. Conversations evolve as subjects and ideas are put forth. This being "my" thread... I have no issues that the topics have moved away from my original post and find the current conversations interesting and dare I say.... useful.
I fully understood the concept of "Draft N" and of course figured on changes to the "N Spec" (as well as more to come). What I did not expect was the removal of the "B spec" from a device that states it fully supported the "B spec" on the box when I bought it. If D-Link wishes to remove the "B" from new revisions of the hardware so be it, but my "A3" hardware fully supports the spec and disabling it by an firmware "upgrade" is uncalled for. I certainly wouldn't expect buying new tires for my car would remove the cruise control.
Lastly, from my perspective it's unclear if the v1.30 firmware is beta or not. I've seen discussions where D-Link tech support says "the v1.30 firmware is official and NOT a beta" AND "v1.30 was not ready for release and is to be considered a beta".
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Well I can sooth your worries, EddieZ will never be a mod or directly have any of the powers you are discussing, all the mods are, as stated, on the payroll. Which is also why this debate could rage stupidly all weekend, without someone coming in and doing this.
I understand your upset about the 1.30 fiasco, as you have been told a new firmware is on the way restoring IEEE 802.11b.
What do you hope to accomplish here, or what do you want out of this?
It doesn't bother me if you all act nasty at each other all day, but it tends to offend the sensibilities of those that sign my pay checks. As such unless we have a more meaningful line of discussion than which analogy is better I see no reason to leave this open.
As far as I can tell the original post has been answered and discussed to conclusion and all that remains is a certain amount of an ego battle between certain parties. Prove me wrong, what remains unanswered?
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This article, http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30798/100/, says it all really. Everything except reminding people that are actually responsible for their problems (ones who actually decided the rest of the world, literally, as wrong) are not necessarily the ones being vented at, those are mostly just people who have to handle the fallout.
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Awe I expected a little more professional insult from fatman! Lol
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That was a fairly amusing read, most of his information is a good read if nothing else, however it is worth noting that the reason it is not downgradable has been covered elsewhere.
The other fixes requires a major OS version change, which is a one way path on this platform. Posting a one way firmware has never been unusual for this product.
The implication that we are trying to force someone's hand by not offering them product support (new code) unless they remove b is plain false. As has also been stated repeatedly, there will be a IEEE802.11b (and still non-downgradable AFAIK) code available in the near future.
Anyone else have any closing words or unanswered questions?
P.S. Sorry to let you down lotacus, I didn't really feel this thread rated my A game, especially not at 0800 on a Monday morning.
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Yea, Fatman saves his best stuff for his fellow Mac users ;D
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Why is is that in the one thread I attempt to not be an utterly derisive and vitriolic my reputation has preceded me?
One more reply that doesn't address a new concern and I am locking this up.
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Why is is that in the one thread I attempt to not be an utterly derisive and vitriolic my reputation has preceded me?
One more reply that doesn't address a new concern and I am locking this up.
Fatman,regarding the final releases of 1.30, can you tell me if there are still some tweaks to be done, or is it just held in Beta until 1.31 is ready for release?
I ask because, as a Mac user, I have followed the Shareport issues - it seemed for a while that that this was down to printer drivers, but now another thread has someone having problems using a Memory stick as back up.
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I have no information as to features tweaks and home class firmware. The only reason I am even in this board is because I have this dream of one day helping someone.
As for mac Shareport issues, there is another thread for this (at least 2 come to mind that I am participating in right now). I have not had problems in my limited testing, and I know of no in house test that have had issues, that said testing Mac issues in house is not our top priority (sorry guys the numbers don't lie was are at best 10% of the market).
Given our only direction was away from topic I am locking this thread, feel free to PM me teknomedic if you have some valid discussion you want me to re-open the thread for.