Telkom D-Link modems causing Internet connection problems

There are two issues here.

There is a perfectly good router.

There is a not so good installation.

The issue is as far as I can read, a configuration issue, on Telkom ISP installations of the router supplied from Telkom. And in this case the D-Link brand, Telkom use a variety of brands.

I doubt a non Telkom ISP supplied router will provide the same issues, if it was secured properly in the first place - read properly installed.

A good workman never blames his tools - establish first and foremost if the problem is not workman related, my guess is that it is...

Furthermore - did anyone consider finding out WHICH specific router they are referring to, no mention of that made in the article at all.

The very first thing you should do when getting a new router from anywhere - is to change all and every default password to your own.

Not doing so - is simply setting yourself up to fail. The brand of router doesn't matter.
 
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Please disclose who wrote the original article. Telkom?

Telkom D-Link modem Internet connection problems
Telkom is working on a fix for D-Link modem users who are experiencing Internet connection problems
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Furthermore poor connectivity issues that result from attenuation problems are not device related....its usually related to a poorly maintained WAN, beyond one's premises. And if you never maintained the WAN and upgraded it - it will fall over, no matter what router of choice you decide to use.

The new D-link routers all have the ability to detect exactly where the connectivity issue lies....read the manual and email your diagnostic results to Telkom, see if they can understand the REAL problem.

At least some of their techies know you cant bullsh*t all people all of the time. Unfortunately all cabled DSL router users are dependent on Telkoms deteriorating cable infrastructure no matter what ISP one uses in RSA.
 
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DeSLAM if D-LINK provide routers to Telkom with the flash your own firmware feature they should have checked Telkom did not stuff this feature up. But if you want a good example of terrible D-Link kit try their Websmart switch range - those things are plain bad.

It seems at this point the other brands Telkom uses (with custom firmware configurations) don't do this, so hence D-Link being singled out here. Telkom 90% to blame, D-Link 10% for not thinking to make sure Telkom don't screw up their kit.
 
Firstly, I don't work for D-link or Telkom. But I've been involved in the SA IT industry for more than 30 years now.

Knowing full well that Telkom's infrastructure which forms the core of SA's internet or (WAN) is archaic for the most part; I would not lay the blame at the foot of D-Link so easily as some of you do.

Again - read the article - whomever wrote it cant even identify WHICH D-link router they are referring to. Poor journalism or bias.

We're not talking about switches here. We are talking about ADSL routers used on a very old an aging WAN
(The Telkom infrastructure which we all rent on a monthly basis - which we all paid for).

The first thing Telkom (in my experience) tell their customers to do is throw away their own modem, in the attempt to sell them a new one. I know this from customer feedback.

I wonder how many perfectly good modems and routers have been thrown away simply because South African customers don't understand the reality of the infrastructure beyond their router?

For the most part they don't understand attenuation; latency and poor DNS propagation on a WAN either.

Telkom make a lot of money out of those people...selling them new devices, and almost always blame the client's device first...and 99% of the time refuse to admit how poor and old their own (WAN) network is, especially in residential areas.

No person using DSL in South Africa (irrespective of what ISP you buy your data CAP from) can do without the infrastructure Telkom sells one at monthly rental fee, that is a stable income stream for Telkom.

Without access to that infrastructure (as poor as it often is) your DSL router wont have access to anything...Telkom know that, so you are at the mercy of their infrastructure (originally paid for by the SA tax payer). No matter what brand of router you use.

To secure your router - any brand - and to ensure its secure - you always need to change the default settings to suit the level of security you need on your connection , to protect you from issues mentioned here.

Its networking basics...lock it down - make sure you have control of your network devices including the router that gives you internet access, or face the consequence of not doing so.

Never leave a router's passwords default, for a start.
 
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DeSLAM said:
Firstly, I don't work for D-link or Telkom. But I've been involved in the SA IT industry for more than 30 years now.
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Okay, man.

DeSLAM said:
Please disclose who wrote the original article. Telkom?
Click to expand...

DeSLAM said:
Again - read the article - whomever wrote it cant even identify WHICH D-link router they are referring to. Poor journalism or bias.
Click to expand...

Telkom issued a press release late on Friday afternoon, which a MyBB journalist rewrote. Bog standard stuff. The model isn't mentioned because Telkom didn't mention it and the journalist on-deck didn't want to make any assumptions.

Now with the information I have on-hand due to previous articles I've done, and for someone with as much experience as you, it should be pretty easy to figure out that it's the D-Link 2750U.

That said, expect a follow-up. While this D-Link router might work just fine, D-Link (and to a degree Telkom) are not innocent in this.
 
DeSLAM no one is claiming Telkom is not a major part of the problem, but D-Link should make sure their client (Telkom) knows how to implement the custom firmware in a safe manner. Remember most Telkom clients are not doing the install, they are getting a Telkom technician to come out to the house, install the line and the modem. Thus it is a managed install and they have a fair expectation for the device to be secured.

If you buy a modem yourself and connect it to your ADSL it is a different story, but that is not what was posted here.
 
Self install is the best way to go... especially if ISPs lock the modems they buy and then bundle to their clients with their own code.

And even more so if some of the technicians and consultants know less about network security of routers (any brand) than your dog. ;)

Drew - you should speak to Telkom, they sold you that router - it wasn't free.

Call Dlink here from RSA... they are in Centurion.

08600 DLINK (35465)

Good luck...the 2750U is not a poor/inferior router, however any hacked router could be...
 
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DeSLAM said:
Self install is the best way to go... especially if ISPs lock the modems they buy and then bundle to their clients with their own code.

And even more so if some of the technicians and consultants know less about network security of routers (any brand) than your dog. ;)

Drew - you should speak to Telkom, they sold you that router - it wasn't free.

Call Dlink here from RSA... they are in Centurion.

08600 DLINK (35465)

Good luck...the 2750U is not a poor/inferior router, however any hacked router could be...
Click to expand...

The Telkom D-Link firmware implementation IS inferior however, thus do not get a Telkom installed D-Link modem. If you possess the skills rather do it yourself as the "technicians' Telkom send out generally have no knowledge.
 
Most routers have a internet set-up whizard , so does the 2750U router, so if you are not sure, call the ISP you are a client of, and follow the internet access install whizard using the promps given by your ISPs support consultant.

The router's access password issues are a separate issue, but you should address it first

So change that as soon as you login to your router the first time. Then go set-up your internet access and DNS set-up.

Good luck.
 
Have had 2 D-Link modems over some 6 years. No issues. 2750U is a good modem with good range and stability.

If you're having problems with disconnects etc. it's either the local firmware or external issues. I've read reports on this modem from all over the world and the overwhelming opinion is very positive.

It is standard practice to ship routers with obvious passwords. Admin/admin etc. Any password a manufacturer or ISP decides to use will be generally known in 2 minutes flat. I don't understand the logic, or lack thereof. Do you expect them to sit and create individual passwords for every item they ship?
 
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Budza said:
To confirm, it's more DLINK than Telkom?

So the Netgear Routers should be fine?

http://www.do.co.za/broadband/modems/n300-wireless-adsl2/
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No, it is the Telkom default setup on the D-Links where they leave internet access to the management interface open. For some or other reason this seems to only be on the D-Links.

Thus the hardware is fine, just make sure if you do go for one of these that you check the settings. Turn off TR-069 as well, otherwise they can send updates that open the WAN access again. In fact flash it with the latest firmware from D-Link to get rid of all Telkom stuff.
 
DeSLAM said:
Self install is the best way to go... especially if ISPs lock the modems they buy and then bundle to their clients with their own code.

And even more so if some of the technicians and consultants know less about network security of routers (any brand) than your dog. ;)

Drew - you should speak to Telkom, they sold you that router - it wasn't free.

Call Dlink here from RSA... they are in Centurion.

08600 DLINK (35465)

Good luck...the 2750U is not a poor/inferior router, however any hacked router could be...
Click to expand...

I have a Telkom branded unit but I'm going to give the retail firmware a bash and see I can upload it. I can't even find the telkom version 1.67 they keep speaking of. Latest version on D-Link FTP is 1.66 and on Tellumat site is 1.64....
 
I have a D-Link 2750u which I bought from takealot before Telkom were offering them... it's passwords were user and support.
 
Drew

D-link have explained it very well on their FTP site... READ the notice, use the CORRECT firmware update. On the back of the 2750U is the Hardware version - its on the sticker top right "H/W" followed by a code.

If you are in doubt you can phone D-Link support in SA, I've always found them helpful.

Choose the correct firmware for your version - if its Hellkom branded I would simply get Hellkom to fix their problem at their expense. You paid for the installation - if they stuffed it up with their own code or poor installation - its their problem; not yours.

ftp://ftp.d-link.co.za/dsl2750u (Retail)/Firmware/

I believe you will find this router to be a very reliable unit - I bought mine, from my own company and the device itself works perfectly - cant say the same for the Telkom infrastructure beyond the premises.

If you need to do a firmware update, it doesn't take more than 2 minutes.
 
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DeSLAM said:
Drew

D-link have explained it very well on their FTP site... READ the notice, use the CORRECT firmware update. On the back of the 2750U is the Hardware version - its on the sticker top right "H/W" followed by a code.

If you are in doubt you can phone D-Link support in SA, I've always found them helpful.

Choose the correct firmware for your version - if its Hellkom branded I would simply get Hellkom to fix their problem at their expense. You paid for the installation - if they stuffed it up with their own code or poor installation - its their problem; not yours.

ftp://ftp.d-link.co.za/dsl2750u (Retail)/Firmware/

I believe you will find this router to be a very reliable unit - I bought mine, from my own company and the device itself works perfectly - cant say the same for the Telkom infrastructure beyond the premises.

If you need to do a firmware update, it doesn't take more than 2 minutes.
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I don't doubt that for a second, however version 1.67 that everyone is referring to is NOT on the Dlink FTP under Telkom firmware. None the less I have updated to the retail version 1.70 with no problems. Will see how that goes, I don't need to have Telkom firmware on a Dlink product.
 
Something very interesting, on the D-Link FTP if you download the firmware version 1.70 the password for the Support accounts is TelkomDlink12345. Even more interesting under Advanced-> Network Tools-> TR-069 when you try open this it tells you this is for Telkom remote config.

So that being said how can 1.70 be a "retail" version?
 
drew137 said:
Something very interesting, on the D-Link FTP if you download the firmware version 1.70 the password for the Support accounts is TelkomDlink12345. Even more interesting under Advanced-> Network Tools-> TR-069 when you try open this it tells you this is for Telkom remote config.

So that being said how can 1.70 be a "retail" version?
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OK that sucks! TR-069 leaves a remote management vector open, not ideal that you can't turn it off.
 
all my problems were fixed when i upgraded to firmware 1.70.

Go to the D-Link site, contact info and email marilize truter.
 
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