New TPLink Router is doing strange things

[Compton_effect]

I don't know whether I need a refund, or a exorcist. (Or a hammer)
I bought a new Modem Router yesterday - a TP-Link TD-W8961ND. My trusty Billion had died on me (I blame Telkom - intermittent connectivity for the past few weeks.)

Nice little unit - easy to set up. But when I started to make the finer settings - it went a little strange.
I can't change any of the LAN settings. Device IP, change DHCP settings. It won't let me change the DNS servers at all - so no Unotelly.
It gives you the option to make the changes, then you click save, and when the screen refreshes - its back to the default settings.
I could go into advanced and set up Static Routing.

And the strangest bit. This morning when I connected to the interface - the encapsulation had changed from PPPoA/PPPoE to Bridge Mode. But I'm still connected to Webafrica.

It seems to have the latest Firmware, and it doesn't look like it can be flashed with DD-WRT or OpenWRT.

Does anyone have a idea WTF is going on?

(On the Plus side - the WiFi signal strength is incredible.)

 

[RoganDawes]

I don't know whether I need a refund, or a exorcist. (Or a hammer)
I bought a new Modem Router yesterday - a TP-Link TD-W8961ND. My trusty Billion had died on me (I blame Telkom - intermittent connectivity for the past few weeks.)

Nice little unit - easy to set up. But when I started to make the finer settings - it went a little strange.
I can't change any of the LAN settings. Device IP, change DHCP settings. It won't let me change the DNS servers at all - so no Unotelly.
It gives you the option to make the changes, then you click save, and when the screen refreshes - its back to the default settings.
I could go into advanced and set up Static Routing.

And the strangest bit. This morning when I connected to the interface - the encapsulation had changed from PPPoA/PPPoE to Bridge Mode. But I'm still connected to Webafrica.

It seems to have the latest Firmware, and it doesn't look like it can be flashed with DD-WRT or OpenWRT.

Does anyone have a idea WTF is going on?

(On the Plus side - the WiFi signal strength is incredible.)

Unfortunately, OpenWRT support for ADSL routers is quite limited (and hence, similarly for DD-WRT, etc). I suspect that the only way you will find to make those changes permanent may include opening it up, hooking up a serial console to it, and seeing wtf it is doing "under the hood". Either that, or return it as faulty.

My personal preference is to use a cheap ADSL modem in bridge mode (eg. DLink 2500U), and a standard WAN router behind it running OpenWRT handling the PPPoE, and whatever else you want to throw at it.

 

[DA-LION-619]

I don't know whether I need a refund, or a exorcist. (Or a hammer)
I bought a new Modem Router yesterday - a TP-Link TD-W8961ND. My trusty Billion had died on me (I blame Telkom - intermittent connectivity for the past few weeks.)

Nice little unit - easy to set up. But when I started to make the finer settings - it went a little strange.
I can't change any of the LAN settings. Device IP, change DHCP settings. It won't let me change the DNS servers at all - so no Unotelly.
It gives you the option to make the changes, then you click save, and when the screen refreshes - its back to the default settings.
I could go into advanced and set up Static Routing.

And the strangest bit. This morning when I connected to the interface - the encapsulation had changed from PPPoA/PPPoE to Bridge Mode. But I'm still connected to Webafrica.

It seems to have the latest Firmware, and it doesn't look like it can be flashed with DD-WRT or OpenWRT.

Does anyone have a idea WTF is going on?

(On the Plus side - the WiFi signal strength is incredible.)

Does your settings look like this?

 

[NomNom]

I don't know whether I need a refund, or a exorcist. (Or a hammer)
I bought a new Modem Router yesterday - a TP-Link TD-W8961ND. My trusty Billion had died on me (I blame Telkom - intermittent connectivity for the past few weeks.)

Nice little unit - easy to set up. But when I started to make the finer settings - it went a little strange.
I can't change any of the LAN settings. Device IP, change DHCP settings. It won't let me change the DNS servers at all - so no Unotelly.
It gives you the option to make the changes, then you click save, and when the screen refreshes - its back to the default settings.
I could go into advanced and set up Static Routing.

And the strangest bit. This morning when I connected to the interface - the encapsulation had changed from PPPoA/PPPoE to Bridge Mode. But I'm still connected to Webafrica.

It seems to have the latest Firmware, and it doesn't look like it can be flashed with DD-WRT or OpenWRT.

Does anyone have a idea WTF is going on?

(On the Plus side - the WiFi signal strength is incredible.)

Did you try a different web browser? We only use TP-Link products for our client base, and I have never had this problem before.

 

[Compton_effect]

View attachment 231326

Does your settings look like this?

Yes. But the interface is different. Seems they've switched to the same firmware as Billion. This is what it keeps on reverting to.

 

[Compton_effect]

Did you try a different web browser? We only use TP-Link products for our client base, and I have never had this problem before.

You have to be kidding me. The settings work if you use IE. But not Firefox. Thanks.
That is the one mystery solved.
Now - To see if this also solves the Bridged Mode one.

 

[SYNERGY]

You have to be kidding me. The settings work if you use IE. But not Firefox. Thanks.
That is the one mystery solved.
Now - To see if this also solves the Bridged Mode one.
View attachment 231358

I have had the exact same experience with IP Camera's etc. Have to use IE only.