moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL
| Parental Control
I think this is a Firmware problem, but sure it is a combination of Firmware, Hardware, and Other.
I have the F5D7230-4 Belkin Wireless Router.
I originally enabled the Parental Control because my niece was staying with us over the winter.
Well, long story short - it never did really work and I had to be sure to be in the area whenever she wanted to use the computer...
I just let the subscription expire. Turns out that even though it is expired, the darn thing is still 'reporting'.
The only buttons I have on the Parental Control screen are Refresh Account Information and Renew. And neither does anything. Yes, I even disabled my firewall on the PC and the Belkin router.
I called Belkin and the networking tech support line said '...we can't do anything...it has to be escalated...' and they gave me a ticket # 1950633 and said the people that handle the Parental Control server would call back.
Well, someone named Jason left a message on my answering machine at 3am one morning. Gave me a number to call back, 800.223.5546, ex. 2879. I called back at 5pm EST because they only answer the phone between 8:30am and 4pm PST.
After over one hour on hold, I got a very pleasant fellow that said, '...oh, no problem...yes we know there is a problem with the Parental Control database/server...it just didn't register right...I'll enable the account again and all you have to do is Refresh and then you will get the button to Disable Parental Control.' When I tried, it don't work... 'oh, it will take a while to get through the system... try again in about an hour...' Well, I did, and it still didn't work. Next day I called at a little before 5pm EST again, this time I was on hold for over 3 hrs - my cordless battery was almost dead (it holds 5hrs), and then their phone rang and I got a message that they were closed!
Well... I called the usual Belkin # 877.736.5771, and again hold time was about 20mins... when I got a tech it was the same story...'...we can't handle that...but I'll gladly have them call back...' Needless to say its been a week and now call back.
So, anyone have any insight as to what is going on with Belkin Parental Control? There is nothing on the Belkin site. I've searched with Google and all I find is irate customers complaining how Belkin s*#ks and Parental Control doesn't work - but nothing about how to get rid of the darn thing. It wouldn't be a big deal except it does not block porn sites BUT pops up at the most inopportune time, like when I'm trying to do my work on legitimate web sites AND it won't even let me bypass with my password (which I know worked before the subscription expired) and gives me a message that the 'Parental Control server cannot be accessed...'
I've seen some posts that say the company that really embedded this in the Belkin product doesn't even exist anymore.
I'm still waiting for a call from Belkin about returning the router for my money back or at least a clean one that I won't even bother to enable Parental Control on...
Of course, if I had money to throw away I'd just buy another router and throw this one away... I worked to hard for the little I have.
So, let me say in advance, any Constructive comments/suggestions/anything will be appreciated. |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | Have you tried a reset of the router,back to factory defaults? |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL
| I've got a lot of dependencies going on right now and was hoping that I wouldn't have to do such a drastic measure.
WEP key, a whole list of MAC addresses, etc.
If I have to redo all that stuff, it would take me quite awhile. Are you sure that a reset to factory defaults will work to get rid of Parental Control settings? |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | reply to moot9
It should return it to just like it was when you first got it.Also what version is your unit,and what firmware is on the router now? |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL
edit:
January 1st, @10:32PM
| Version Info
Firmware Version
4.03.03
Boot Version
v1.03.09.t2
Hardware
F5D7230-4
whoops, v1112
I guess the key is 'should'. Know anyone that has had to do it? Anyway, if I have to, I have to... right now it is an annoyance. But typing in all those MAC addresses again... |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | reply to moot9
OK,it will return it to factory defaults.And there is a newer firmware 4.05.03 »networking.belkin.com/update/fil···ter.html |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL
| Thats very interesting. Belkin tech had me update my firmware with F5D7230-4_4.03.03.bin, on Thursday, December 22, 2005, 12:54:00 PM
This one Release Date : 09/30/2004.
This was not there last week was it? In fact that page was not there was it? When did you get this update? |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe
edit:
January 1st, @11:21PM
| reply to moot9
I updated my firmware back in May,05.Oh,and I'm using the european firmware,and running my router in access point mode. |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL | Interesting. I talking to belkin right now and those poor people don't even know about this version, USA or European.
Can you use your router in the normal mode, i.e., DHCP server? What are you using for your DHCP router? |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe
edit:
January 1st, @11:48PM
| Yes,I used it in normal mode for about 3 months,while my main router was being replaced under warrenty.Right now I have a Dlink DI-704P as my main router,and the Belkin is an Access Point |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL
edit:
January 2nd, @12:18AM
| So was you other Belkin a v1xxx
How 'bout the one your using as a access point?
whoops, sorry I misread that. You only have one Belkin, using it now as an access point, but used as main router previously.
What ver. is it? |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe
edit:
January 2nd, @12:10AM
| reply to moot9
v1001. It's the only one I have. |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL
| Ok. I got to a level 2 tech - he did know more. According to him I 'should' be able to load the 4.05.03 and it 'should' leave my WEP key, MAC address list, etc. alone.
And, he assures me that it 'should' fix the Parental Control issue - reporting 'should' be gone...
I have to get up in the morning so I'll leave this for tomorrow.
By the way, did you ever have the Parental Control enabled?
I'm going to have a beer and try wind down for a few minutes.
I'll post my results as soon as I can get online after doing the firmware upgrade. |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | reply to moot9
I have had no problems with the newer firmware. |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL | By the way, did you ever have the Parental Control enabled? |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | reply to moot9
No,I never use the Parental Control feature. |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL | Ah, well I'm not able to bring the router down right now to try the upgrade to see if it gets rid of Parental Control Reporting... I think I'll have to wait till lunch break - everyone can have a longer one today... |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | reply to moot9
Are you using this router for a business? |
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moot9
Premium
join:2005-12-23
Pompano Beach, FL | And that would make a difference to this issue? |
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Mountaineer1
Big WVU Fan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-12
Universe | reply to moot9
No,I was just curious.The way you described your problem in your first post,I thought it was a home network. |
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