Linksys Router problems/questions

by **Sonny** on Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:02 am

My home Linksys 802.11B Router/Switch doesn't work any longer. None of the lights light-up on the router anymore. When you plug it in, a few of the lights flash on quickly and then shut off.

When I plug my network cable (from the jack) directly into the network card on my computer, the light on the rear of the network card turns on (indicating a proper "sync" for my broadband connection).

Thoughts? Could it be a faulty power supply cable? Or should I just buy a new router/switch? Any suggestions on how to test it? I already tried to reset the router manually, to no avail.

P.S. This happened sometime yesterday when we did have some storms roll thru, so I don't know if this is related to the bad weather (possibly electrical damage). All my other devices in that room power up fine (TV, printer, satellite receiver, monitor, computer, etc.)

**Sponsor**

by **mbuff** on Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:26 pm

Flag down Sonny, you failed to tell us the model.

In the mean time, try to get it to enter mangement mode by:
Unplug the power cord
Press & hold the reset button while plugging up the power cord
Wait a bit & see if it comes up

To get it out of management mode, unplug it for 30 seconds the plug it back up. If the firmware finds no errors, it should come back up in normal mode.

Without the model, hard to tell if you can update the firmware. Linksys is consumer stuff & I don't think that you do much with it except limited firmware things. Can't telnet into them like you can the good stuff; Cisco.

by **Sonny** on Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:15 pm

mbuff wrote:Flag down Sonny, you failed to tell us the model.

In the mean time, try to get it to enter mangement mode by:
Unplug the power cord
Press & hold the reset button while plugging up the power cord
Wait a bit & see if it comes up

To get it out of management mode, unplug it for 30 seconds the plug it back up. If the firmware finds no errors, it should come back up in normal mode.

Without the model, hard to tell if you can update the firmware. Linksys is consumer stuff & I don't think that you do much with it except limited firmware things. Can't telnet into them like you can the good stuff; Cisco.

Ok, ok. Will try that later tonight.

If it won't power back up, is there an easy way to determine if they power supply is faulty? Or do we automatically assume that the router is fried? Isn't there some sort of fuse in the power supply?

by **mbuff** on Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:58 pm

I don't think that there is a power supply in the unit. Your power supply should be from the "brick" that plugs into the wall. I'm looking at the only linksys we have laying around here (a BEFSR41 V.2) Etherfast/Cable DSL Router. This one has the reset button recessed into the front but I think the wireless are on the back.

The only way I can think of to test the power brick is with a multimeter. If you have a meter, then you should be able to read the voltage output and that should match +/- what is labeled on the brick. The brick I'm looking at is 120VAC/60 Hz in and 9V, 1000mA out. I set my meter on AC Voltage and I'm reading 11.8 on the meter. One probe up the middle and one on the outside. Has to be an AC brick or there would be a diagram on the brick telling me what's + and what's - and that's usually a DC brick. The brick model for this Linksys is AD9/1C. So if you have the same brick, let me know and I'll send you this one if your's is bad.

If you don't have a meter, try taking the brick to Radio Shack**
and seeing if sales kid can test it for you. This is assuming that he knows the difference between the latest camera phone and a multimeter. Tell him you may have to buy a universal converter but would like to know if your brick is dead first.

If the reset does work and you get lights, open a browser and try http://[IP address of router] and see if you get a page. I can do this with our Cisco routers and wireless access points so it might work with your Linksys.

**This reference herein in no way constitutes an endorsement of this evil retail outlet that only wants your personal information for the express purpose of sending you hords of junk mail and spamming you until you die.

by **Sonny** on Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:57 pm

mbuff - Thanks for the advice. I got a new Netgear router/switch from BestBuy and it works like a champ. (My old one was simply fried.) The new routers are pretty cheap ($30) ane easy to set up. I remember 2-3 years ago when they were pretty expensive and difficult to work with.

by **benji** on Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:08 pm

Sonny,
Did you ever have connectivity problems with your LinkSys router? Mine keeps dropping the signal and seems to constantly need to be 'repaired', usually 4-5 times a day.

by **Sonny** on Sun Dec 11, 2005 4:21 pm

benji wrote:Sonny,
Did you ever have connectivity problems with your LinkSys router? Mine keeps dropping the signal and seems to constantly need to be 'repaired', usually 4-5 times a day.

Not when it was working properly. My DSL connection would flake out from time to time though. My new NetGear routers seems rock solid and they are pretty cheap these days.

by **benji** on Sun Dec 11, 2005 5:13 pm

NetGear, hmm... Might have to look into that.