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rage2021
@199.198.251.x

rage2021

Anon

[DSL] Smart RG 505N

How good is this modem/router from TekSavvy? My use will be for the 25/10 VDSL which connects directly to my PC and then enable WiFi on the SmART RG for my Roku/phones. i.e im not going to setup hardwired LAN.

Are there better options out there I can purchase from third-party that is compatible with Teksavvy that may be better/cheaper?
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
Premium Member
join:2009-06-17

MaynardKrebs

Premium Member

This is probably the best DSL modem available from any indie ISP at the present time IF you are in Bell territory and run the risk of getting connected to a 'Stinger'.

So bottom line: get this modem if you're in Bell country (ON & QUE). Bell Aliant territory is a whole other kettle of fish.

No idea if the modems available in Telusland are any better.
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

reiyu to rage2021

Member

to rage2021
Right when you get the SR505N, update the firmware to what Start has:
www.start.ca/files/srupdate

And get Tek's config file here:
»help.teksavvy.com/hc/en- ··· on-Files

This is one rock solid router/modem.

Guspaz
Guspaz
MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC

Guspaz to rage2021

MVM

to rage2021
What's newer about the Start firmware than the latest version TekSavvy distributed?

digiwth
join:2012-09-21

digiwth

Member

I believe the biggest thing is being able to disable the TR-069 stuff that was being exploited (Changing DNS servers)
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

1 recommendation

reiyu to Guspaz

Member

to Guspaz
said by Guspaz:

What's newer about the Start firmware than the latest version TekSavvy distributed?

TR-069 Issue Fixed
IPv6 Tunneling + UPnP Fixed

the IPv6 + UPnP bug is the most horrible bug TSI firmware has, since it crashes the modem whenever you have a IPv6 tunneling service running and the range is outside your IPv6 DHCP, whether IPv6 is turned on or off, it'll crash it.

Guspaz
Guspaz
MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC

1 recommendation

Guspaz to rage2021

MVM

to rage2021
That bug would not affect users in bridged mode.
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

1 recommendation

reiyu

Member

yeah, it mostly affected users in routed mode.
JMJimmy
join:2008-07-23

1 recommendation

JMJimmy to reiyu

Member

to reiyu
said by reiyu:

said by Guspaz:

What's newer about the Start firmware than the latest version TekSavvy distributed?

TR-069 Issue Fixed
IPv6 Tunneling + UPnP Fixed

Hrm. This is rather annoying to see start has fixed it and TSI has not.

digiwth
join:2012-09-21

digiwth to rage2021

Member

to rage2021
Annoying yes, but you CAN just use the Start firmware, and upload the Teksavvy config files.
JMJimmy
join:2008-07-23

JMJimmy

Member

said by digiwth:

Annoying yes, but you CAN just use the Start firmware, and upload the Teksavvy config files.

True, however, that would likely void TSI's warranty on them.
iamhere
join:2013-01-26
canada

iamhere

Member

If you have a problem, just put the TSI firmware back on and they will be none the wiser.
JMJimmy
join:2008-07-23

JMJimmy

Member

said by iamhere:

If you have a problem, just put the TSI firmware back on and they will be none the wiser.

Unless you brick it.
iamhere
join:2013-01-26
canada

iamhere

Member

Well, it might have well been bricked with the TSI firmware... who's to say?

Anyway, the firmware comes from SmartRG anyway via TSI. It's all the same no matter your ISP.

The only customization is in the configuration files.
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

reiyu

Member

said by iamhere:

Well, it might have well been bricked with the TSI firmware... who's to say?

Anyway, the firmware comes from SmartRG anyway via TSI. It's all the same no matter your ISP.

The only customization is in the configuration files.

+1. when you brick a device, there's almost no telling what it bricked with.
JMJimmy
join:2008-07-23

JMJimmy

Member

said by reiyu:

+1. when you brick a device, there's almost no telling what it bricked with.

JTag+dump?
iamhere
join:2013-01-26
canada

iamhere

Member

if that even worked, they would only see that you were using a smartrg f/w...
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

reiyu

Member

said by iamhere:

if that even worked, they would only see that you were using a smartrg f/w...

exactly.
i_pk_pjers_i
join:2007-04-20
none

i_pk_pjers_i to reiyu

Member

to reiyu
said by reiyu:

Right when you get the SR505N, update the firmware to what Start has:
www.start.ca/files/srupdate

And get Tek's config file here:
»help.teksavvy.com/hc/en- ··· on-Files

This is one rock solid router/modem.

Is this safe? Like, what are the chances of bricking the modem? Also, what issues are there by flashing this firmware? Like, would TSI know, etc? Finally, is it possible to downgrade the firmware version back to TSIs version if I have any issues with the Start version?

Teddy Boom
k kudos Received
Premium Member
join:2007-01-29
Toronto, ON

Teddy Boom to JMJimmy

Premium Member

to JMJimmy
SPI flash, so any of the cable modem firmware flashing people will be able to unbrick.
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

reiyu to i_pk_pjers_i

Member

to i_pk_pjers_i
It's 100% safe, a bunch of people in the forums including me have done this. I wouldn't have done it myself without confirmation. The fixes are absolutely wonderful.
i_pk_pjers_i
join:2007-04-20
none

i_pk_pjers_i

Member

said by reiyu:

It's 100% safe, a bunch of people in the forums including me have done this. I wouldn't have done it myself without confirmation. The fixes are absolutely wonderful.

Thank you. I did it just now, and it worked just fine. My connection speeds are the same, it seems perfectly stable (even though I still have the slow sync issue but personally I don't mind since I keep my modem up 24/7 for weeks at a time), and I didn't even have to restore my configs, and it still has the Teksavvy branding even though the software build date and software/driver versions have changed which I believe means it worked just fine.
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

reiyu

Member

I suggest you update the config file as well and reset it after. Teksavvy made some changes with their config file hence the name v1.1 and you might want to reap the benefit of the new version.
i_pk_pjers_i
join:2007-04-20
none

i_pk_pjers_i

Member

I don't understand... Wouldn't the v1.1 config be for the older firmware, not the newest firmware?
reiyu
join:2014-01-08
North York, ON

reiyu

Member

the config files are for any firmware. it's basically just a configuration preset.