D-Link router 614+ wireless

[sirjinx1974]

I have a D-Link 614+ Wireless router and i have it set up to be a DHCP server. The question is, the router only leases my ip address from comcast for a week only. there is no other option in the router to permantly hold an ip address without causing problems. My fiance is getting very angry at this because every Sunday I have to reset the router and change all of the settings. Does anybody know how I can fix this minor problem? I am getting very unhappy also because Every Sunday I cant get on the internet unless I reset the router. Can I set it up with Static ip address with static ip addresses on both my puters? If so, can someone please send me an E-Mail and tell me step by step on how to do this? I looked on the D-link web site and they have a firmware upgrade and one of the in their it says this:

firmware 2.18
Supports 4X Mode
Supports auto-detection of WAN connection
Added MTU value for all WAN types
Added option to enable/disable wireless feature
Improved Scheduling Rules
Fixed Trace Route issue


firmware 2.20
Added Static DHCP
Xbox Live Compatible


firmware 2.20cm
Locks the WAN port speed to 10 Mbps
Same firmware as 2.20. Use only if you are having connectivity issues with your modem.


Which one should i download? I was thinking about the 2.18 because it has the improved scheduling rules. Maybe that will fix the problem?
Another question, will upgrading the firmware harm the router?
Please let me know?

Jesse

[hkgonra]

I have that same router set up at my paren't s house. We have it set up the same way and it automatically checks with our rpovider and renews thr ip on it's own.

[don256us]

Update to the latest firmware! It will include all of the updates from the older ones. The list of updated stuff that you are reading is what was updated from the last version. Looks like that would be 2.20 and not the 2.20cm unless you have the reason listed for the cm version. It will not harm the router if you follow the directions fully. Read through the directions before you start so that you know what to expect and it will go smooth.

I too have this router and I like it a lot. I still have yet to read the manual. It's near the top of my 'to do' list. Until then, I don't know what to tell you about the rest. I expect to have it read by this weekend.

[pik4chu]

I would guess there is (or will be after firmware upgrade) an option on the WAN connection to use DHCP, that will fix it. :)

[sirjinx1974]

I updated the firmware 2.18 because I it looks like it changes a lot more to the router. The instructions say to download and the firmware and save it to your puter with a WIRED connection. Then, it says to update it by using the update feature in the routers web based config. The instructions say if the firmware is downloaded with a wireless conection the router might not work causing the router to be dead.:eek: I did this last night and it worked wonderfull.:D I now have a full 22mbps tranfer rate off of a standard 802.11b:cool: THe firmware included the option to turn off the wireless signal so that you could use it as an wired router only. The update also changed some performance settings making the throughput faster. Another setting it added was an option to change the wireless transmitters % from 100% 17dbm down to none %. I dont know why I would do this, but there is a reason. The firmware also added the ability to disable the WEP encription. Again, I dont know why anybody would do this, but there is a reason. One more thing, it also disabled the Gamer mode causing the router to inspect the incoming packets differently than before. I dont understand this option? Anyways I am very pleased with the update. I also updated both of my wireless nics and I have a full 22mbps network.:D One bad thing about the update is that if you use any other wireless card with the router I must disable the 22mb setting because the router will drop the none 22mb cards from the signal???

[don256us]

Very good to hear. Thank you for the update.

I don't understand all of the features either. I can say, that changing the % of signal strength can be a useful security tool. People can't snoop into your wireless network if your network doesn't reach outside your walls. For me, I live in an apartment complex. I don't want too many people able to 'steal' my bandwidth. I could turn down the signal strength so that it does not penetrate my outer walls.

I could turn off WEP if I wanted to allow other users access to my broadband.

The gaming feature is one that I ran into last night. That was what sparked me to want to read my manual. I also found that I can turn off my wireless. It was funny because I was using my wireless when I turned it off.:D

[sirjinx1974]

The gaming mode is worthles unless you play on-line games. In the config section of the setup there is a list of gaming services like: Gamespy and the Starcraft game network. The manual says if you are not using these services; turn off the gaming mode because it will slow down the throughput of the WLAN.

[don256us]

Now that I'm at home, I see that my firmware is 3.20 made 1 Jul 03. I don't know what difference that makes. I also found that I have revision B. The one with only one antenna.

I still haven't read the manual but I will by the end of the week.