NETGEAR DG843 Authentication problems after power removed?

[Barry]

I have tried to get a NETGEAR DG834 v3 router to work reliably on behalf of a colleague.

When it does not work the "symptoms" are as described by n1hilist
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=89957
as follows -

" My router syncs with the exchange, the link LED is on, the status says it's synced at 384/128, the SNR and line attenuation seem normal.

My router (Netgear DG834) attempts to init the PPPoE but gets as far as "Initialize LCP" .............

.......Normally the Netgear's log should read:

Initialize LCP
LCP is allowed to come up
Authentication successful
etc;

So I assume the other side is not handshaking/answering, is this a Telkom exchange issue?"

What appears to happen on this particular unit is that the multiplexing method (ADSL Settings in the WEB interface) reverts from LLC-Based to VC-Based. I am almost certain that this only happens after period of time without power.

It is strange to me that the login and password fields (Basic Settings in the WEB interface) appear to be retained, whilst MUXing settings revert to default.

Any help or comments very welcome - especially whether this be replicated on other units? The unit in question is running firmware V4.01.28

Of course I must give ESKOM thanks and attribution for revealing this arcane behaviour!

As a n00b poster I may have done the wrong thing starting a new thread but I really tried without success to find an appropriate place.

 

[Gambit]

my buddy had the exact same problem with his netgear after a power outage. after a couple of days of trying to fix it (this included resetting the router to factory defaults using the web interface) he took it to duxbury (the netgear importers) and the technician there simply reset the router by pressing the small little button at the back of the router with a pin. He then installed the latest firmware and all was good again. My friend said he thinks it was already working properly after he did the reset.

 

[diesel]

I get the same problem quite often, i believe its an issue with the exchange as i just leave it and it always seems to sort itself out sooner or later.

 

[mancombseepgood]

Mine reverts to VC when reset, but not after power cycles. The settings are fine, but I believe there are various versions of firmware, so make sure you are using the latest one for our region, not necessarily the latest version fullstop...

 

[Barry]

Thanks so much for some heavyweight input - you guys ROCK!

I'll try to find a firmware revision that defaults to LLC and post for other forumites.

After an outage last night the router told me that (ADSL Settings in WEB interface)
Multiplexing method - LLC Based
VPI - 8
VCI - 35
DSL Mode - Auto

I hit apply and was reconnected.

I mention this for future users and support staff to know to distrust the status reporting under V4.01.28
I also was concerned that if you backup your settings username and password are stored in clear text.