Netgear RangeMax Next (WNR834M) Highly Unstable

I recently tired of my flaky LinkSys WCG200 and bought a new Netgear
WNR834M. I was not looking for great improvements in speed/coverage,
just a more solid 802.11b/g AP / firewall router.

Anyway, after reading generally pleasant things about Netgear products,
I decided to give the WNR834M a whirl. Turns out, it is so flaky, it
makes the LinkSys seem like a rock.

I have upgraded the WNR834M to its latest Firmware 1.3.04 (dated Sept
12, 2006). Followed all the instructions. Status shows the box is
running the latest version.

A few things I note:

1. The netgear totally reboots every few minutes. Looks like a hard
crash. All the port lights light up (even though only one has a wire
in it), then the box completely goes through its power full up cycle.

2. Running the Router Ugrade -> Check for new version utility it keeps
saying it found a new version but listing the same version I am running
1.3.04 NA as both the current and the new. Just for yuks, I tell to go
ahead and upgrade .... but the box always reboots while trying to
download/install the new (same?) version.

If I download the img and upgrade from my PC I can make it work.

Anyway, for a router/AP that I bought to improve stability, I am quite
disappointed.

I have read there are two different chipsets used in the WNR834M.
Maybe I got the bad chipset.

Has anyone else found this product to be so flaky?

Anyone recommend a rock solid b/g AP/firewall product?

thanks
dougm

Hi,

You can divert to the MIMO wirless technology this time, I am sure it
will out perform all traditional Wi-Fi AP/Routers which you already
used.

I have tried ZyXEL X-550 and it was powerfull and stable.

To get more info, check the following link:

http://www.networkingland.com/wifi_special.htm

Panda,
www.networkingland.com


DougM.Home@gmail.com wrote:
> I recently tired of my flaky LinkSys WCG200 and bought a new Netgear
> WNR834M. I was not looking for great improvements in speed/coverage,
> just a more solid 802.11b/g AP / firewall router.
>
> Anyway, after reading generally pleasant things about Netgear products,
> I decided to give the WNR834M a whirl. Turns out, it is so flaky, it
> makes the LinkSys seem like a rock.
>
> I have upgraded the WNR834M to its latest Firmware 1.3.04 (dated Sept
> 12, 2006). Followed all the instructions. Status shows the box is
> running the latest version.
>
> A few things I note:
>
> 1. The netgear totally reboots every few minutes. Looks like a hard
> crash. All the port lights light up (even though only one has a wire
> in it), then the box completely goes through its power full up cycle.
>
> 2. Running the Router Ugrade -> Check for new version utility it keeps
> saying it found a new version but listing the same version I am running
> 1.3.04 NA as both the current and the new. Just for yuks, I tell to go
> ahead and upgrade .... but the box always reboots while trying to
> download/install the new (same?) version.
>
> If I download the img and upgrade from my PC I can make it work.
>
> Anyway, for a router/AP that I bought to improve stability, I am quite
> disappointed.
>
> I have read there are two different chipsets used in the WNR834M.
> Maybe I got the bad chipset.
>
> Has anyone else found this product to be so flaky?
>
> Anyone recommend a rock solid b/g AP/firewall product?
>
> thanks
> dougm