New Router

[net91]

Microsoft Messenger on my mac now works. (I was previously unable to sign in using it.) So I guess it was an issue with my old router causing it after all. 

[Rik]

Hi Rik. I've found out now by checking the browsing history from the initial setup of the router. You log into the router's settings by going to divice.lan in a web browser.

That's a new one on me, thanks. 

[Rik]

Microsoft Messenger on my mac now works. (I was previously unable to sign in using it.) So I guess it was an issue with my old router causing it after all. 

Pesky machines!

[net91]

That's a new one on me, thanks. 

NP

Pesky machines!

Indeed   

[Steve]

From Zen forum setup pdf here http://www.thomsontelecompartner.com/dsl-modems-gateways/products/product-detail.php?id=161  try release 7.4

Firmware here http://www.thomson.net/GlobalEnglish/broadband-uk/Pages/home-uk.aspx

Thomson are making it very difficult for anyone except a partner to get info or firmware

[Sebby]

Microsoft Messenger on my mac now works. (I was previously unable to sign in using it.) So I guess it was an issue with my old router causing it after all. 

I haven't heard of routers causing problems with MSN Messenger for years, and then it was only concerning file transfer anyway. Still, I'm glad it's sorted.

[net91]

Are you using vista? If so would be interested in the 585v7 vista compliance especially the UPNP functionality, you can check here via www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/default.mspx ( site not available this evening). Thanks.

I have tried running this but keep getting stuck at an error message.

[Rik]

Can you remember what it says?

[net91]

I was just a error code. If anyone is particularly interested in the results of the test I will try and make it work.

[Rik]

I'm guessing Steve is.

[net91]

It worked when I used a computer connected via ethernet rather than a wireless laptop.

I have coped the results below. (I can't copy the detailed results because it is too long for the post.)


 
<sub>Basic Internet Connectivity Test

This test is intended to ensure that your computer has basic Internet connectivity, which is needed for the rest of the tests.

A result of "Supported" indicates that your computer has basic Internet connectivity.  Supported. 
Network Address Translator Type

One primary function of most home Internet routers is Network Address Translation (NAT). Routers providing NAT support assign private IP addresses on the local network. NAT maps these private addresses on the inside network to a public IP address on the outside network so that computers behind the Internet router can communicate with the rest of the Internet. Since Network Address Translators can work in different ways, this test uses Microsoft servers to identify your router's NAT type. Some protocols work better through routers that act as cone-type NATs than routers that act as symmetric-type NATs.

A result of "Not supported" in this test does not impact your basic Internet connectivity. One possible reason for this result may be that your computer is connecting through an Internet router that acts as a symmetric NAT (view the detailed report to determine if this is the case). Microsoft has determined that symmetric NATs can block the traffic of programs that use IPv6 tunneling over IPv4 (see Teredo Overview for details of how this works). Failure to connect using IPv6 may cause these programs to not run or to have a degraded experience. It is also possible that the servers used to determine the NAT type are temporarily unreachable, in which case running the test again later will give a more accurate result.  Not supported. 
Traffic Congestion Test

Internet routers sometimes lose information that is being transferred across the Internet when they experience congestion (full router queues). This loss of information is known as packet loss. Internet protocols like the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) can use packet loss as a congestion indicator. Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) is a mechanism that provides routers with an alternate method of communicating network congestion. This notification effectively reduces TCP retransmissions and increases throughput. This test attempts to download a short Web document, first with ECN enabled and then again with ECN disabled. If both downloads succeed, the test passes, which indicates that your Internet router successfully allows packets through with ECN options set.

A result of "Supported" indicates that your router can work with this new Vista Feature to improve download speeds and increase endpoint connection reliability. Note You would need to explicitly enable ECN on Vista to take advantage of this feature.  Supported. 
TCP High Performance Test

Window scaling is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP) option introduced for addressing performance problems. Some Internet routers cause TCP data transfers that use window scaling to fail, particularly when there's a mismatch between the scales chosen by two computers transferring the data. This test downloads a series of Web documents of increasing length until either an incomplete download is encountered or all downloads succeed. Success indicates that your router allows Windows Vista to negotiate the best data transfer rate and help improve download speeds.

A result of "Supported" means that Windows Vista automatically uses window scaling to negotiate the best/largest data transfer rate and help improve download speeds.  Supported. 
UPnP Support Test

Many applications need to open ports (allow incoming traffic) through an Internet router, particularly when both communicating endpoints are behind different NATs. Modern routers allow hosts to create such open ports using Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). This test ensures that the router has UPnP enabled, can support a reasonable number of open ports, and can maintain these settings.

The test was not run, possibly because the tool was unable to detect a usable Internet connection. Please verify that your Internet connection is working and try running the tool again. If this does not resolve the problem, read the detailed report for more information.  Not Run
Multiple Simultaneous Connection States Test

This test creates 80 concurrent TCP connections to external Web servers and keeps them alive over the period of two minutes by attempting continuous data download using HTTP. Passing this test indicates that your router robustly supports multiple computers or programs accessing the Internet simultaneously.

A result of "Supported" means that your Internet router can handle a large number of simultaneous connections. This will enable you to connect to the Internet reliably using multiple applications or multiple computers. Also, your experience with applications that use multiple network streams (like some file download/sharing programs) will be enhanced.  Supported. 



Congratulations! You have basic Internet connectivity and browsing, and your Internet router should work just as well with Windows Vista as with your current/previous operating system. However, some of the new Windows Vista features are not currently supported by your router.

The More Information link above can give details about the features of your router tested by this tool, and the Windows Vista features and scenarios which can be enabled. If you are interested in getting the most out of Windows Vista networking, your router's manufacturer or your Internet Service Provider may have an update for your router that will enable these features. There is also a link below that can help you to find Internet routers that are tested and certified by Microsoft to give the best experience with Windows Vista.</sub>

[Rik]

Thanks, Dan. 

[net91]

I've attached a copy of the detailed results in a word document to this post as the layout goes a bit odd when it's copied into a post.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Steve]

Thanks Dan for your efforts shame about the UPNP test though. It appears UPNP is not enabled either on your laptop or router or both.I would not wish you to break your system either by further messing.Certainly in vista if network discovery is enabled UPNP should be avaialble and I presume if like version 6 there is a tick box in the router for UPNP. UPNP can be b****r to get working but it is useful for msn messenger, xbox and PS3 etc.Otherwise you have to mess around with fixed/static ip addressess and multiple port forwards, being inherently lazy it too much of a faff for me.

[net91]

NP Steve

The option was indeed disabled on the Vista machine, so I assume it would pass if I ran the test again.

[Steve]

NP Steve

The option was indeed disabled on the Vista machine, so I assume it would pass if I ran the test again.

Well if it's like version 6 it will fail if my experience is anything to go by, but what the relevance of this is I am not sure as UPNP functions well on my network apart form the Windows Home server, which needed port forwarding set up.

More importantly is it stable? Any resets? Wireless strength o.k?

[net91]

It all seems ok so far.

[net91]

I do find the odd hiccup occurring with 585v6's DHCP server and the occasional reset for no apparent reason I am sure we would be keen to hear how you get on with it once its up and running.

I have just had one of these resets. Do they happen on yours frequently enough to cause a problem or be particularly annoying?

[Steve]

The 585v6 which I used on my line for about six months behaved very well,it did however reset itself on occasions about once every 5 to 10 days but never affecting sync rate so no issues with BT profiles.The DHCP server seemed to confuse itself with odd double entries for the same device.I think what worries me is  thomson are making it so difficult for the user who didn't get it as part of his ISP package to upgrade. It is possible to upgrade the firmware but you have to dig around to find it.
It did seem to get a bit hot at times and wonder whether this may be the cause of the odd reset.

[net91]

Thanks for your reply Steve.

The wireless seems to have died since the reset.    I'm fiddling about, trying to figure out whats going on, now.

[Steve]

I wonder if the wireless was the cause for the reset any competing wireless routers around on the same channel? If all else fails do a factory reset and start from scratch. If your using vista I would recommend deleting the previous connection> Network sharing center>manage wireless clients. I find it much easier than trying to get an existing entry to work. When it finds your SSID name then you dont have to specify the encryption type just enter the password.

[net91]

I have tried the steps you have suggested with no luck, although the router says the wireless is working no computers seem to be picking it up. Also I have had a few more random restarts, plus what seemed to be the router freezing. I have had to reconnect my old router to gain a more stable connection again.

TBH I am not very happy with this router given it is only a week old and seems to be acting very odd. I think I may return it, if possible, and look at a different router.

[Sebby]

I'm surprised, Dan, it's usually a very reliable router. I'd suggest a hard factory reset (hold the button in on the back for about 10 seconds I believe), then set it up again. If it's still no better, it sounds like it's faulty to me.

[net91]

Hi Sebby. I used the hard factory reset method to start off with as I could not access the configuration page.

[Steve]

Thinking out loud if you have some "radar" software i.e toshiba has "config free" see if you can spot the wireless SSID and see which channel its broadcasting on.Your previous connections maybe looking elsewhere..

I am now using a Netgear DG834N which for some users the wireless part has been less than stable.But so far so good.I got an adaptor thrown in so it wasn't quite as expensive as it could have been.