Belkin Issue - Who Has One

[thenry]

Hello all,

A few weeks ago my Belkin F5D8233 router starting dying, dropping the wireless connection > requires reboots daily which steadily started increasing so I got in touch with Belkin with its warranty and they offered me a replacement which was the Belkin Play Max F7D4301. I've literally had it 3 days now and its disconnected from the net and dropped the wireless connection which required reboots to get it working again. Before accepting the replacement offer I read loads of reviews and they all stated the Surf, Share and Play routers in the UK range all have connection issues as well as heating up a bit. I've updated the firmware on the router, tried a few work arounds with its settings but it still does the same thing. I don't use the CD setup with routers as its plug and play with its web interface so I didn't bother but with the issues I tried with installation of set and the same happened.

I accepted replacement Play Max for my old faulty router because I came across 1 comment on amazon review that said the new firmware release fixed connection issues but thats obviously wrong, it looks fake and is a fake as it doesn't do what its suppose to do.

How can Belkin have a whole range that has major issues! A routers prime purpose is to split 1 IP into 'xxx' amount of IPs allowing loads of devices to connect to the internet at once. Its flawed before even taking it out the box.

Now, I've again got in touch with Belkin and hope for another replacement but I just cannot accept a router from the UK range,

http://www.belkin.com/uk/networking/compare/wireless-routers

they all have bad feedback and personal experience with the best router in the range pretty much summed it up. Not even a day old and it lost the connection once, second day it played up the whole day and now I'm onto the third, the day I've had it with a brand new router. It needs to go back.

Belkin have a new generation of routers but there only sold in the US at the moment if I'm correct,

http://www.belkin.com/networking/wireless-routers/compare/wireless-routers/

Could someone please correct me if I'm wrong, is the link above to the new generation of routers Belkins has made?
I've googled the range and I haven't found one review on amazon or any other site suggesting it drops the connection, heats up or needs several reboots. With the router being sold in the US only and not over here, do you think I've got a chance of getting on the new range/generation routers from Belkin as the replacement I have doesn't work and has way too many problems.

Lastly as the title stats, has anyone got a play max - or better yet one from the new US range? Could you please offer your opinions on this please.

As I have this warranty, I might as well get a working replacement from Belkin rather than buy one but this is incredible.

[Mick Fisher]

I wouldn't entertain Belkin anything if it was given FOC.

Bite the bullet and go buy something that works.

[thenry]

I'm not surprised mate. My old one was doing ok but nothing lasts forever so its understandable. The new range on the other hand is shocking. Why Belkins have not discontinued the products I'll never know, if their new US range is better then it should be shipped over here.

Belkins refused to send me the new US range router by the way, they said the US distribution centre cannot post anything to anyone outside the states, only the European distribution centre can send me a replacement. I've given up and asked for a refund. I was willing to stay a Belkins customer but reboots daily? unstable connection, no thanks.

I've googled till I got a bad headache, the routers I'm currently looking at are;

Not completely sure these ZyXELs support IPv6 but anyway,

ZyXEL NBG4604 or NBG4615
Problem with this is not many people are selling this model plus I'd rather it in black.

ZyXEL NBG-419N
Has excellent reviews but doesn't support gigabit

Netgear, D-Link, Buffalo, Linksys all make my mind spin, not sure which one to get.

[Mick Fisher]

reboots daily? unstable connection,

Well I am stuck with a vm superhub so I know exactly what you mean. Unstable connection? My superhub has rebooted itself 5 times since midday. I did have an uptime of 6 days plus once but mostly the uptime is just a few hours and sometimes just a few minutes.

This router was recommended by some OP's on this forum. It seems to tick all the right boxes and is reasonably priced. It's one of a few I would consider should VM ever get their ass in gear and deliver the modem mode firmware upgrade hopefully stabilising my hopeless superhub.

[Ramrod]

I had a Belkin printer router thingy once. I finally took it outside and smashed it with a hammer.

[thenry]

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

Well I am stuck with a vm superhub so I know exactly what you mean. Unstable connection? My superhub has rebooted itself 5 times since midday. I did have an uptime of 6 days plus once but mostly the uptime is just a few hours and sometimes just a few minutes.

This router was recommended by some OP's on this forum. It seems to tick all the right boxes and is reasonably priced. It's one of a few I would consider should VM ever get their ass in gear and deliver the modem mode firmware upgrade hopefully stabilising my hopeless superhub.

I have a superhub too but thankfully my area is ok and the hub isn't doing too bad. I get the odd disconnection but it isn't anywhere near as bad as most other connections. Only reason why I want a second router is because the range on the hub is crap as you'll know.
The unstable connection on the Belkin router has nothing to do with the hub by the way. I've checked logs and even monitored the hub, everything leads back to the belkin router.

I've come across threads suggestion TP-Link over the net, that one looks great is it top spec? I'll seriously consider that mate, thanks.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I had a Belkin printer router thingy once. I finally took it outside and smashed it with a hammer.

I'd do the same but I've got to push for a refund.

[thenry]

I just came across this review for the TP-Link (Use Google to translate the page)

http://tweakers.net/productreview/19...-wr1043nd.html

I think I'll go for it. Cheers Mick Fisher

[Mick Fisher]

Originally Posted by thenry

I just came across this review for the TP-Link (Use Google to translate the page)

http://tweakers.net/productreview/19...-wr1043nd.html

I think I'll go for it. Cheers Mick Fisher

You're welcome.

Hopefully you will be able give us a glowing review of the device after you have used it for a while.

[thenry]

Will do.

With regards to the superhub, I don't have many disconnections but I do get the odd one now and then. This new firmware set to be released soon, will it fix these issues or it is hardware related?

[Mick Fisher]

Originally Posted by thenry

Will do.

With regards to the superhub, I don't have many disconnections but I do get the odd one now and then. This new firmware set to be released soon, will it fix these issues or it is hardware related?

Hopefully the problems are with the router.

The firmware update to enable modem mode will effectively turn the SH into a dumb modem and hopefully stabilise it.

My feeling is the problems are firmware and hardware based. I say hardware because of the wireless problems that IMO can only be hardware based unless the firmware is limiting the strength of the signal, crazy but anythings possible.

[qasdfdsaq]

I think it's a combination, less-than-robust firmware coupled with poor hardware quality control.

[thenry]

The hub itself doesn't heat up much if any at all. I have mine on 24/7 as do many others and it doesn't seem to heat up at all. With no real skills to back this statement up, would that suggest the hardware is being capped to perform no where near the max limit. If true then its understandable with VM already spending so much money, the last thing they need is hardware failing as a result of max'ing the hub. The easiest option being buying a second router but as mentioned, could they at least improve it somewhat or would they rather play it safe fixing the other bugs.

[Mick Fisher]

Who knows? I think we can be certain that VM took the lowest tender and taking advantage of the Global recession may have even driven the manufacturer down even further. The manufacturer may have tried to recoup a bit by removing any quality controls from the manufacturing process.

Assuming there was any quality control to start with. I mean we are talking Netgear here.

[thenry]

They should of done a deal with Belkin

[Mick Fisher]

Rumour has it that a second manufacturor has been contracted to supply superhubs.

The identity of this manufacturor, for some obscure reason, is a closely guarded secret.

So yes, maybe it is Belkin.