nrudish
join:2001-08-15
Canton, MI
| Motorola WR850G w/ 6.1.4 Firmware and DNS server issue
Motorola WR850G, 6.1.4 Firmware. Ever since upgrading it, I can't edit the DNS servers under the WAN tab. We need to use an alternate from what our ISP provides. I can change connection to "Static" here (rather than DHCP), but the connection drops, even though our IP address with the ISP remains the same.
Am I better off with an alternate firmware, or is there another way I can get this to work as it should? I don't want to downgrade firmware, as I recall I may have had a connectivity issue with one of my devices under the older firmware. The unit works fine now, except for this one hiccup.
I think you can also adjust the signal strength with the alternate firmware out there. It's tempting since I can't quite get a good signal across the house in certain spots. |
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baysoor
join:2002-03-12
San Jose, CA
 ·VoicePulse for Bus..
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| I moved on to dd-wrt on my wr850 V3, about two years ago and have been happy with performance and features. It even works for VOIP without opening any ports. I use opendns instead of at&t dns servers (hard coded, same as you want to do). It is fairly easy to install and use. Give it a try.
Be sure to read all the instructions as there is always a chance that you will kill it while upgrading. (It can happen with factory firmware upgrade too btw). I always connect my router and computer to UPS when upgrading firmware to make sure that there is no power glitch while upgrading. |
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nrudish
join:2001-08-15
Canton, MI
| Thanks much. I've read positive things about DD-WRT in the past, and I'm glad to hear I can specify my own DNS servers (as we use OpenDNS here at the house).
One thing I'm concerned about is that some of the screens I've seen for DD-WRT look a bit confusing. I can usually figure out this stuff over time, but don't want to change a setting that brings the whole thing down.
I suppose it's easy to flash back to the factory firmware if I don't really like DD-WRT. Just don't want to brick this thing. |
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baysoor
join:2002-03-12
San Jose, CA
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·AT&T Yahoo
| I kept everything default except my ISP login info, dns, wpa2 AES and my own passkey. I have never gone back to motorola firmware so I am not sure if it goes back but docs say it does. Make sure you factory reset before you flash and then again once you flash to clear settings. Also remember that default ip address of router (LAN) changes with dd-wrt. As I remember this is two step process. Once with mini firmware and then with whatever image you like or you can keep the mini firmware. I have tried voip and vpn images although, now I am not using either features through router.
Post here if you have question about a setting. Screenshot would help too. There are other users who also use DD-WRT firmware. I was in your boat two years ago and somebody reassured me that dd-wrt works on wr850. |
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nrudish
join:2001-08-15
Canton, MI | Thanks much for the info--I'll have to install that on one of my "down" weekends.  |
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Boomerang86
Got FUD?
Premium
join:2002-10-18
VampireState
clubs: | reply to nrudish
I'm also using FW 6.1.4; just loaned the router (v.1, IIRC) out to a friend with an Xbox 360 and they're having trouble connecting to XBox Live. Tempted to try DD-WRT; think it will help?
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Don't pay ME back, pay it forward. |
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nrudish
join:2001-08-15
Canton, MI
| said by Boomerang86  :I'm also using FW 6.1.4; just loaned the router (v.1, IIRC) out to a friend with an Xbox 360 and they're having trouble connecting to XBox Live. Tempted to try DD-WRT; think it will help? I don't know the answer, but I had the same problem with my better half's son, who brought over his 360 and could not get it to connect through the router. Plugging the 360 directly into the cable modem work. At his dad's house, they have a different router and it works fine. (This is via ethernet, not wireless, BTW.) I did find some threads out there about this modem and the 360, but none really helped. (Most were unsolved, but I don't think any mentioned trying the DD-WRT firmware.) Since DD-WRT is supposedly better, I can't see the harm in trying it.
I am curious about one thing in DD-WRT though: can it still filter out MAC addresses for wireless? Right now, I have the router set up to accept connections only from approved MAC addresses (it's under the "Filters" tab). If it can do this easily, I'll be happy. |
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