qworster
join:2001-11-25
Los Angeles, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
·Brand X Internet
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Vonage
4 edits |  Airlink AR430W seems pretty good.
My Buffalo router died and my back up Linksys WRT54GX2 is a real piece of crap (when it loses power it takes 10 minutes of plugging and unplugging the power to get it to restart-and Linksys says this is normal, so they won't RMA it), so when Fry's had this unit on sale today for $19.99 with a ten dollar mail in rebate, I bit.
At first it performed so poorly that I thought to myself: "What did I get myself into?". It kept rebooting over and over.
So, I went to the Airlink 101 web site and found a new firmware, v 1.01 dated 7/23/2007. I downloaded and installed the firmware, reset the unit to factory defaults and tried again-BINGO! That fixed it. It's running great and has very good throughput (even wirelessly).
For ten bucks after rebate, you can't go wrong with this unit!  |
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srl99
@pacbell.net | I get the feeling this little box can't keep up w my DSL speed, with multiple computers (less than a handful) sharing the connection. I am running the .1 version of the firmware. |
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Scruge
@sbcglobal.net | reply to qworster
BTW, the AR430w has other problems which may or may not impact your needs.
1. The VPN feature doesn't work
2. The DHCP IP pool can't be changed.
Both were confirmed by tech support 9-1-07 |
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JTS33
join:2003-05-03
USA
1 edit | Just picked up this router for $9.99 at Fry's Black Friday sale. Works far better than the D-Link DI-624 it's replacing. Came with v1.00 firmware, and updated it to v1.01. v1.01 adds new features such as QoS and WPA/WPA2 hybrid mode, and seems more reliable. Supports Atheros SuperG 108mbps and should use the latest Atheros SuperG System-on-a-Chip.
Anyone else using this router? |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX | I got one at Fry's BlackFriday sale, too, along with the AWLC4130 PCMCIA card. Just got it installed - replaced a SpeedStream 2601 (which nobody admits ever existed) and a NetGear switch. |
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Anilj
@iplanet.com
| reply to qworster
Got one at Frys too. I think I am seeing some odd behavior when using anything other than WEP encryption (w/o encryption works fine). I don't have any 5.8ghz phones in the house, so don't know about interference.
When I use the other WPA2-PSK etc encryption, my laptop has problems connecting *sometimes*. I think our Mac also had this same problem - it wouldn't recognize the "PIN" number. |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX
·AT&T Southwest
| Haven't tried the wireless stuff yet. However, since I bought the companion PCMCIA card (to replace an existing WiFi card that seems to have bitten the dust), I shouldn't have any compatibility issues.
I'll let you know in the next day or so when I get time to drag the laptop out and try it. |
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JTS33
join:2003-05-03
USA | reply to Anilj
I've tried WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK and they both work fine for me (v1.01 firmware). I don't use the PIN number at all as that is for Atheros JumpStart. |
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tenson
join:2005-08-15
Hillsboro, OR | reply to qworster
(still Rebooting) I got the same router at fry's too, after updated firmware 1.01 still rebooting... Please help. |
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preacherphil
join:2004-07-20
Willshire, OH | Tenson if you want ot sell the AR430 cheap let me know?
I was at Fry's on black Friday and can kick myself for not getting one. I live to tinker on these things. Let me know |
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JTS33
join:2003-05-03
USA | This router has been working great for me. Hasn't rebooted on me once since I set it up a week ago.
My only gripe is that Atheros xR (eXtended Range) support is missing from the Airlink firmware (the chipset supports xR). |
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Zydaco
Workingman's PhD
Premium
join:2006-10-07
Taylorsville, NC | Put the dd-wrt firmware on it and pump it up some!  |
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ctillman
join:2006-02-13
Riverside, CA | What is the procedure for installing dd-wrt firmware? and where can I find the firmware for the AR430R?
Cliffton, |
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Zydaco
Workingman's PhD
Premium
join:2006-10-07
Taylorsville, NC | Look 5 threads down on the list. |
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mattack1
join:2008-01-16
Sunnyvale, CA
| reply to qworster
I know little about wireless networking, so I'll probably use the wrong terminology.
Basically my question is -- can I use the AR430W as a "wireless gaming adapter"? That's the best description I can use.
Technically, I want to connect my Tivos upstairs to my wireless network downstairs. There's actually a Buffalo 'gaming adapter with 4 port switch' that sounds exactly like what I want, but based upon searching a few months ago, they're involved in a patent dispute, and the device I found went from $60-ish to the stratosphere on ebay, etc..
I tried a D-link gaming adapter but I couldn't even get the config web page to come up when I was directly connected to it. (I think I was following the instructions properly.)
Today I actually got the 431W from Fry's since it was $29.99. But (I knew beforehand) that it has only one ethernet port and I would need a switch or router to connect several devices to it.
I happened to see that the AR430W was actually $19.99. They look *essentially* identical -- except for the front plastic being a bit different and 4 ethernet plugs vs 1. The AR430W box said nothing about being a repeater or AP Client (which is what they call using it as a game adapter)..
I strongly suspect they're essentially the same hardware.
Can the AR430W be made to do what I want? (Be an "AP Client" for multiple devices.)
Thanks. |
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fred_p
join:2003-12-26
Plano, TX | You can't configure an AR430W running the Airlink firmware as a wireless client. But if you can use DD-WRT firmware for the AR430W (as mentioned in another thread) and configure "Wireless Bridge Mode", it should do what you describe. |
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