Hi Ronni, No, I'm still with the firmware that came with it (5.04k).
I was very unwilling to upgrade firmware after reading many of the forums (both Billion & Whirlpool) where many people were having problems with the later firmware - particularly with myNetphone (who have a couple of interesting plans in their Whirlpool specials - I'm not using them at present but I don't want to exclude myself by upgrading to buggy firmware). My set-up is all working fine except for the wireless part and I would hate to mess it up (especially the VOIP which is great and was simple to set-up but seems to be a bugger to troubleshoot if you do have problems (just from reading all the forum posts). The forums are full of posts from people who have rolled back from 5.5... To 5.07 or 5.08 to solve problems - unfortunately rolling back involves using a PC and the console to PS2 connection cable - and it's not just a case of usb/serial adaptors, the rollback software (recovery utility) is apparently windows only - as some Mac users had found out :( The trouble is, many of the posts seem to have conflicting info - or rather the problems do not appear to be consistent (Billion say they can't reproduce them so can't fix them) some have had fixes which haven't worked for others - and they all seem to have a better handle on how it all works than I do!! If I knew definitively that my problem was due to 5.04 firmware and would be fixed by just going to 5.07 or 5.08, I might be willing to try it (I'd be a lot more willing if it was easier to go back - but some users report "bricking" their routers when they attempted to downgrade the firmware - even with the billion recovery tool). The general consensus (but not universal!) on the forums SEEMS to be that 5.07 is rock solid but is not the best wireless perfomance, 5.08 is better at wireless but is the version at which some people started having the problems. Then was the jump to 5.5... Which was when a lot more people started having problems. Looking at the firmware page which you linked they have a 5.07 available but no longer have 5.08 - though it may be available elsewhere. I know the later firmware gives extra features like adjustable transmission power and people have gotten improved range but that isn't really an issue for me. Maybe I'll see if I can get any info on the billion forums (it's just the WAMUG speaks my language!!) - otherwise I might just live without wireless - I don't think I could handle the grief I'd get from the other half if I mess up the VOIP!! Cheers Neil -- Neil R. Houghton Albany, Western Australia Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on 11/9/08 2:53 PM, Ronda Brown at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hello Neil, > > Are you using the latest firmware for your Router ... > <http://au.billion.com/support/bipac7402vgp.php >> > There were issues with earlier version firmware not being able to use > WPA2. > >> I had no problems with the airport express - other than complaining >> that it >> wasn't connected to the internet (wireless not working on Billion, >> no spare >> ethernet to connect to it) I set up a network OK, I have successfully >> streamed the iTunes and printed to the attached printer and >> connected to the >> Express wireless network from a second computer. > > To join the Billion's wireless network you need to use the AirPort > Express in 'Client Mode'. > In client mode the ethernet port is not used. It can still act as a > print server and connect up to speakers for AirTunes. > <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2272?viewlocale=en_US> > > Cheers, > Ronni > On 11/09/2008, at 1:16 PM, Neil Houghton wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> Anyone using a Billion 7402VGP (or similar?) and connecting with WPA2 >> security? >> >> My problem: >> >> I've been using the above ADSL2 modem/router/VOIP for quite a while >> now >> without using the wireless (since the computer is right next to the >> router, >> I just used ethernet) - all has been well (only ADSL here in Albany, >> still >> waiting on ADSL2) with internet, networking and VOIP. >> >> Recently I decided it would be good to try the wireless: >> >> 1) to stream iTunes to the stereo via an Airport Express (bought >> with the >> iMac in November but not tried until now) >> >> 2) to let me wander around with the laptop (bought in May for >> overseas trip) >> >> Here's where I'm at: >> >> My first try at setting up the billion met with mixed success: >> >> - Turned on the wireless feature and could connect up and browse >> the net >> OK - but default was unsecured - not a state I was happy with. >> - Turned on WPA2 (I thought) and connected up again - but was not >> asked >> for a password and the network showed up without the "secured" padlock >> - Rechecked the router config via browser and sure enough security was >> disabled - turning it on and "applying" did not seem to take. >> >> I turned off the wireless till I had time to research. >> >> I had no problems with the airport express - other than complaining >> that it >> wasn't connected to the internet (wireless not working on Billion, >> no spare >> ethernet to connect to it) I set up a network OK, I have successfully >> streamed the iTunes and printed to the attached printer and >> connected to the >> Express wireless network from a second computer. >> >> I won't go into all the interminable forums I checked out - but I >> finally >> got WPA2 security turned on for the Billion - It turns out Safari >> doesn't >> talk well to the Billion - just for wireless security, it seems, I >> had had >> no problem setting everything else up! >> >> Anyway after much resetting of the router, saving of configuration >> files >> (checking them with BBEdit to check what had changed) changing >> parameters >> incrementally and using Firefox to apply the WPA2 settings - it all >> seeemed >> to have worked - after a restart the setting have all "stuck" and >> when I >> turn on Airport, the network is scanned and shows up as a "secure" >> (padlocked) network. >> >> I just can't connect to it!! >> >> When I try, I get a message "connection timeout" - it obviously is >> talking >> to the Billion because if I use the wrong password it tells me >> "Invalid >> password" so when I use the correct password, it is accepting that - >> but >> then some process is timing out before I get properly connected. >> >> I have tried this from both the 24" Intel iMac and the 20" G5 iMac >> and the >> behaviour is the same in both cases. >> >> And, remember, I had no problem connecting before I turned on the >> security - >> so there is no basic incompatibility with the wireless on the Billion. >> However, I am obviously not happy to just turn off the security! (I >> had >> thought prematurely that I had wireless working when I selected WLAN >> in the >> airport list - till I realised I hadn't actually switched mine on - >> it was >> just an unsecured network in the area! - if I figure out who, I'll >> alert >> them!). > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
