DIR-655 resets during downloads

T

Terpfen

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Oct 29, 2004
Messages
6,079
Okay, I'm fed up enough with this thing to try and get some help.

Background info that's probably unnecessary: I've got a DIR-655 (firmware 1.32NA) connected to a 2Wire 2701 DSL modem. The 2Wire is in bridge mode, and the DIR-655 handles DHCP, ISP connection, etc. I have six devices on the network: a late 2008 unibody MacBook connected wirelessly, a Windows gaming PC (that's almost never on) connected by Cat5, a PS3 connected by Cat5, a Wii connected wirelessly, and an iPhone 3G.

Over the last few days, whenever I download a decent-size file over HTTP, the damn router will usually (but not always!) see fit to reboot itself mid-download. Torrents also are apparently too much for this thing to handle, even though I've got my Transmission settings throttled pretty reasonably. (50 connections max global, 25 per torrent, 2 simultaneous torrents max.)

This isn't the first time either. It displayed similar symptoms a few weeks ago, but a hard reset coupled with manually re-entering all my settings seemed to clear it. Not anymore!

How do I make my router not suck anymore? Or should I just ditch the damn thing? The Linksys WRT310N or WRT400N look pretty good in comparison...
 
does it do it only if you have torrents going at the same time? or does it not matter?
most routers don't play nice with the number of connections torrenting opens.

latest firmware on the router?
 
j-sta said:
does it do it only if you have torrents going at the same time? or does it not matter?
most routers don't play nice with the number of connections torrenting opens.

latest firmware on the router?
Click to expand...

This router is suppose to support more concurrent connections then the average router.

I think something like 900-something.
 
j-sta said:
does it do it only if you have torrents going at the same time? or does it not matter?
most routers don't play nice with the number of connections torrenting opens.

latest firmware on the router?
Click to expand...

It does this even with just one download over HTTP. I almost never have a torrent program open simultaneously with an HTTP download.

The latest firmware is 1.32NA. I'm up to date on that.
 
I had a DIR-655, replaced it with an Airport Extreme Base Station and couldn't be happier. Never had any torrent problems with mine though.
 
andymodem said:
I had a DIR-655, replaced it with an Airport Extreme Base Station and couldn't be happier. Never had any torrent problems with mine though.
Click to expand...

I'm having problems with large downloads period, not just torrents. Torrents are particularly nasty at times, but the thing has a good chance of rebooting whether I'm downloading a 2GB torrent or a 100MB file over HTTP.
 
see I had the same issue with my linksys router. try lowering your open connections or if you have a old computer with some extra nics download smoothwall then you wount have that problem that is what I have for my router now.
 
timreichhart said:
see I had the same issue with my linksys router. try lowering your open connections or if you have a old computer with some extra nics download smoothwall then you wount have that problem that is what I have for my router now.
Click to expand...

I'm getting reboots not just with torrents but with HTTP downloads. I'm not aware of any way to adjust open HTTP connections, especially on Snow Leopard. Further, I've already limited torrent max connections as mentioned in the OP.

It's not like I've got excessive throughput here. I torrent a handful of times a year, and I self-throttle. I don't routinely download large files through HTTP. I don't even share files over my home network as often as I thought I would when I bought the -655, mainly because the router has a decent chance of choking in the process. I don't even want to risk buying a NAS box on the off chance that the -655 will erupt in a cloud of soot and cheap Chinese capacitors.

Is there a way to fix this thing or all?
 
I have that same router and mine is like a rock regardless of torrents, etc. If it's only been flaky with this firmware it might pay to try to re-download and re-flash it incase there was a problem with the downloaded firmware that you flashed it to originally.
 
I'll agree with StarTrek4U since you say what's running is irrelevant to the issue.

you may also just try resetting the router to factory defaults and reconfiguring.

I've also seen issues like this when the wrong (too low amperage) power supply was being used :eek:
 
I've reflashed it twice, and both times I configured settings manually, rather than loading an old configuration profile.

The power supply is something I didn't think of, but I'm using the exact power supply that came with the router. Shouldn't be an issue.
 
at that point, just sounds like hardware failure. If nothing else changed around the time it happend the first time, or this last time.
 
I can revert as far back as 1.30, but it's not as if I flashed to this firmware and then started experiencing problems immediately after. I'm reluctant to identify the firmware as the culprit just because of that.
 
I'm going to say it sounds like the router is just failing under load; time for a new router IMO.

Though, it wouldn't hurt to try a firmware rollback as mentioned above.
 
Electrofreak said:
I'm going to say it sounds like the router is just failing under load; time for a new router IMO.
Click to expand...

This is the one answer I didn't want to hear. So much for the $120 I paid for this thing. :(

Maybe I can find a nice deal on a WRT610N.
 
Terpfen said:
This is the one answer I didn't want to hear. So much for the $120 I paid for this thing. :(

Maybe I can find a nice deal on a WRT610N.
Click to expand...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124296&Tpk=wrt610n

$139.99 in the cart, free shipping, includes a free wireless adapter.

I'm guessing the DIR-655 is outside of any warranty? If it was me, and I didn't have any other option, I'd probably crack it open and take a peek inside. I would say it's a router CPU overheat issue or possibly a memory problem, but I really don't have any idea how much heat a SOHO router CPU can generate under load... I can't imagine it would be much.
 
Electrofreak said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124296&Tpk=wrt610n

$139.99 in the cart, free shipping, includes a free wireless adapter.
Click to expand...

I've been looking at that. Don't really need the wireless adapter, but maybe I could put it on FS/FT for 10 bucks.

I'm guessing the DIR-655 is outside of any warranty? If it was me, and I didn't have any other option, I'd probably crack it open and take a peek inside. I would say it's a router CPU overheat issue or possibly a memory problem, but I really don't have any idea how much heat a SOHO router CPU can generate under load... I can't imagine it would be much.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's out of warranty. I bought it around two years ago, give or take a few months. It's a revision A3.

The thing DOES get very warm, but it's done that as long as I've had it. If it's overheating, then it really is junk my eyes, and it's time to move on regardless. How's the 610N with regards to heat?
 
Terpfen said:
I've been looking at that. Don't really need the wireless adapter, but maybe I could put it on FS/FT for 10 bucks.



Yeah, it's out of warranty. I bought it around two years ago, give or take a few months. It's a revision A3.

The thing DOES get very warm, but it's done that as long as I've had it. If it's overheating, then it really is junk my eyes, and it's time to move on regardless. How's the 610N with regards to heat?
Click to expand...

Dunno, I haven't touched one yet. But it'll take DD-WRT, which is a real plus. If the DIR-655 supported DD-WRT I woulda recommended flashing to that firmware and seeing if you could make it run properly that way, possibly even by downclocking the router etc.
 
Electrofreak said:
Dunno, I haven't touched one yet. But it'll take DD-WRT, which is a real plus. If the DIR-655 supported DD-WRT I woulda recommended flashing to that firmware and seeing if you could make it run properly that way, possibly even by downclocking the router etc.
Click to expand...

I've done some reading: the WRT610N v1 has DD-WRT support, but the v2 doesn't, at least not fully. If I go this route, hopefully I can win the lottery.

Last question: anyone know CompUSA's price match policy about in-store purchases versus online pricing? I'd rather drive down there and find a v1 router in person, then pay the Amazon or Newegg price, rather than order online and risk getting a unit that won't work with DD-WRT.
 
Terpfen said:
I've done some reading: the WRT610N v1 has DD-WRT support, but the v2 doesn't, at least not fully. If I go this route, hopefully I can win the lottery.

Last question: anyone know CompUSA's price match policy about in-store purchases versus online pricing? I'd rather drive down there and find a v1 router in person, then pay the Amazon or Newegg price, rather than order online and risk getting a unit that won't work with DD-WRT.
Click to expand...

http://www.compusa.com/sectors/aboutus/legal.asp

CompUSA.com'S PRICE GUARANTEE: Shop with confidence, our price guarantee includes time of sale price matching as well as 30 day price protection.

CompUSA.com’s point of sale price match policy: At point of sale we will match any competitor’s price on identical offers or items. The item must be in-stock, available for immediate shipment and be in the same condition as the CompUSA.com advertised item. Price matched items are limited to one per household. Sorry, but we do not offer price matches on any item that is advertised below CompUSA.com’s actual cost.
CompUSA.com’s 30 day price protection policy: In the event our regular advertised price on an item falls within 30 days of your purchase date simply E-Mail us within 30 days of your original purchase date and we will issue you a CompUSA Credit in the amount of the price drop good toward the purchase of anything else we sell. This price protection policy only applies to regularly advertised products and doesn't apply to limited time sales, instant savings offers, instant or mail-in rebates, private offers, auctions, open box items, limited quantity and close out items or other promotions or offers and may not be used in conjunction with other discounts. Due to fluctuations in the industry, CPU’s, Memory, and products or bundles containing a CPU or Memory (ex. Desktop and laptop computers) are not included in our price protection policy. Prices on CPU and Memory are subject to frequent change and we cannot offer price protection on these items and products containing these items in the event prices rise or fall.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming that means you can swagger into the store with a printout of the Newegg.com basket price and tell em to beat it or eat it. The only thing that remains unclear is whether or not CompUSA.com is considered seperate from an actual CompUSA retail branch.
 
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Right, that's the unclear part. I know Best Buy weasels out of things by only honoring print ads from retail locations, rather than online prices. I was hoping CompUSA wasn't the same way. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Thanks for the help. No more D-Link for me.
 
The DIR-655 is still one of the best on the market, so before you drop $150 on a replacement why don't you try popping the case open and try to fix it? At the least you could then keep it until a nice sale came up or even sell it.
 
novadude said:
The DIR-655 is still one of the best on the market
Click to expand...

Are we talking about the same product? I've never thought the -655 is worth the price I paid. It's not bad, but I see it as inferior to something like the AEBS. It's never quite performed the way the reviews claimed it would.

Might as well take this chance to get a dual-band router.
 
you could always find a fan to blow air onto the router, see if it still reboots, then know whether or not it's an overheating issue.
 
Never had an issue here, even with 2 gigabit NAS connected to the same device, and ~6 or so varying types of G/N devices.

Revision A2, bought it from Fry's for 130usd.

However, it does get horrid WiFi performance, especially when it's 'crowded'.

I disabled QoS engine, because.... it's dead useless.
 
QoS on the -655 is definitely useless. It only works one way, IIRC. Sort of pointless.

I've decided to take the top half of the -655's plastic shell off to see if heat buildup is the reason for rebooting. If it lasts through the weekend I'll probably hang on to it, otherwise the WRT610N looks like it has a place in my house. Anyone know if the WRT610N is prone to excessive heating?
 
Okay, I ran a torrent on the MacBook via wireless with a max peer connect of 25 and set up an HTTP download on a Windows 7 PC via ethernet. The torrent choked, the HTTP download kept on going.

What the hell is going on?
 
QoS has been disabled ever since I got this thing. WISH might still be enabled, I haven't checked.

I'm using AT&T Southeast in South Florida, 3m down/384k up. (Terrible rates, I know. But the alternative is Comcast. NO THANKS.) No torrent throttling here that I'm aware of, except client side by lowering max peer connections. I could institute a download rate cap of, say, 100Kbps, but I suspect reboots would still happen.

Also, it's worth noting that reboots usually reset my internet connection. Looks like this specific time the wireless radio rebooted, rather than the entire router.
 
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