Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Vemmef]

I recently purchased a DIR-825 to replace a dead DGL-4500 (OOP), which ran like a top for years. Setup was easy, and everything ran fine (and we have a LOT of electronic devices) until my wife tried her Acer Aspire One - it linked up quickly and easily (54M/100% signal), but it refused to access the Internet.

I checked the router, and the Acer netbook showed up perfectly, with its own DHCP assigned IP, but again, packets were going out, but nothing coming in. Like the DIR-825 was stopping any and all transmissions to the AA1.

So naturally, I upgraded to the latest firmware - same deal, so I started fooling around with settings, trying all the N/G/A options, then changing all the security settings (WPA 1/2, AES/TKIP) in order, with the AA1 sitting on my desk. Still no change, the netbook linked up quickly and easily, but there was no data coming from the router. Trust me, I methodically used ALL WPA/2/AES/TKIP combinations (Open and WEP are *not* viable options) and there was no change - the AA1 linked up perfectly each time, but no physical access.

We also had two other AA1 devices, with the same Atheros AR5007EG network cards (since upgraded and out of use) I tried those thinking my wife's netbook was faulty, but the *exact* same thing happened with both machines - link up perfectly to the router, but no data coming down the pipe.

I then tried downgrading the router firmware and seeing if a change was made along the way, but again, no change to the outcome. There are also no driver updates for this card on the Acer website past what we are using, and any attempts to update using online drivers has not worked either. I also updated the AA1 BIOS to current and upgraded any other drivers - no luck.

Router Info:

DIR-825 Rev B
Firmware used:   2.03NA, 2.05NA, 2.06NA
Security Setting Tried: WPA/WPA2 and AES/TKIP all combos
Wireless N/G/B Settings Tried: All
2.4/5 GHz Networks active/inactive: all combos

Aspire 1 Network card: Atheros AR5007EG
Security Setting Tried: WPA/WPA2 and AES/TKIP all combos

Now, as I stated before, the router seems to be working and functions absolutely perfectly with the following hardware in our household, so it seems to be a specific problem with the AA1 and/or its Atheros network card:

D-Link DAP-1522 Bridge
Multiple HP, Dell and Toshiba notebooks (G/N)
2x MSI Wind netbook
Dell Mini
Multiple 2nd-gen to 4th-gen iPod Touch
iPad
iPad 2
4x HP Touchpad
2x PS3 Slim (120GB and 320GB)
Xbox 360 Phat (wireless G adapter)
Xbox 360 Slim (integrated N)
Wii
2x DSi
2x DSi XL
4x PSP
2x Wireless HP Printers
Asus O!Play
and probably more I am forgetting.

Everything works perfectly, *except* the Acer AA1's, which seem to link perfectly, and show up in the Wireless list, but are not able to access the Internet/network/any data stream.

I am just posting this as a last-ditch effort to get a potential solution (although I realize there probably isn't one) before taking the DIR-825 back to BB, as I like the router otherwise.

[Vemmef]

Also, we have a backup integrated modem/router from the DSL provider that we use as a backup - it worked perfectly and three AA1's linked up no problem, with full Net access. I also installed a cheap Wireless-G router that we keep around in case the main one burns out, and it too worked perfectly with the AA1's.

In fact, now that I think about it, after owning these for years and having traveled/upgraded routers/used it on many different WLANs, this is the first time I or my wife have ever had trouble accessing wireless with the AA1's.

[Vemmef]

SOLVED by myself, as one of the (literally) thousands of Atheros 5007EG updates *finally* took (7.7.0.233 from the Toshiba site) and I immediately had Internet/Network access.

My God is Acer a lazy company when it comes to driver updates, and I knew there was a reason I stopped buying electronics from them. 

If anyone else is having problems with a similar network card in their AA1, here is the link I finally found:

http://askiris.toshiba.com/ToshibaSupportSite/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=2399465xml&sliceId=&dialogID=96173230&stateId=0%200%2096171396

[FurryNutz]

Glad you found the problem. I was going to say that if all of your other devices are connecting correctly, that there Acer would be a point of interest I would look at and upgrade the drivers. Have seen some issues with various drivers not working right for the HW they are designed for. Glad you found the problem.

Some Tips if you need them:
Router Troubleshooting Suggestions and Tips

Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing.
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.

[Vemmef]

I was going to say that if all of your other devices are connecting correctly, that there Acer would be a point of interest I would look at and upgrade the drivers.

Obviously, but like I said, there are no driver updates from Acer, and all the 3rd-party ones I tried either errored out, didn't support my "specific hardware" or didn't change anything. Acer is *really* bad for never updating drivers, and I won't be buying another.

Only after testing out all the Toshiba drivers (yes, I was up to "T") did I finally get one that worked. What a ton of searching and research though, as I literally spent a good part of the long weekend looking for a solution, which doesn't help when any Acer device is orphaned the moment it's produced.

From my web searching, I found a TON of people with my exact problem, on my exact AA1 (it was a hot seller at the time) and Atheros WLAN card, which has serious troubles with newer routers (though my old D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme N Dual Band Gaming Router worked perfect) and I hope some of them find this thread and the Toshiba link to the drivers.

[FurryNutz]

I'm curious if there is a 3rd party card you could use instead of what came with the AA1?

Also, what happened to the 4500? Just curious.

[Vemmef]

Sure, but I don't want a USB module sticking out, or would I *ever* want to open up the Acer after adding an SSD to it a few years ago (it's hardly upgrade-friendly) so it was probably easier for me to just waste a few days testing our Atheros WLAN drivers at the various laptop manufacturers. :>

As for the DGL-4500, it just stopped transmitting, which usually happens to wireless routers after 3-4 years in hard use. It was a real workhorse otherwise, and had I know then what I know now, I would have ordered another one from Amazon for $100 and waited the 2-3 weeks delivery time while using my backup router.

But the DIR-825 seemed so inviting, with concurrent dual-band + Gigabit LAN + instant availability...

[FurryNutz]

Have you fully reset the 4500 or reloaded FW to see if you could get it working again? Is it the entire radio thats down or just 2.4Ghz or the 5Ghz band? Just curious. What HW version is it?

[Vemmef]

No, it's 100% dead - it got real hot and I even opened it up (burning smell, so something definitely blew). I'm not destitute enough to fool around any more replacing capacitors or checking circuit boards, so I just bought a new one.

As for the revision, it would definitely be the first one, as I bought it right after it was announced - late-2007, I think. Ran like a champ up til now.

[FurryNutz]

wow, should take some pics and post for us over on the 4500 forum. Would like to see. Guess you got some good use out of it. Still have 2 of them and a 3rd in box cuz it was cheap. HEHE. Well keep us posted on the 825. I actually use the 825 now as the host router and one 4500 in AP mode. Still a great router though.