squab
join:2001-09-13
Arvada, CO
|  WRT54GS connected to ZyXEL modem - 100M LAN light blinking
I've got a WRT54GS firmware ver. v2.07.1 connected to a ZyXEL Prestige 642M-11 DSL modem. My ISP is Earthlink via COVAD.
About a week and a half ago the performance became pretty sketchy - time-outs on web pages and email - then fairly "normal" performance - then back to sketchy. I checked with the COVAD Direct forum and they said my circuit checked okay. The COVAD tech recommended I ask for help on the Linksys forum.
One thing that appears to have changed is that my 100M LAN light on the ZyXEL modem is blinking constantly at about 3 to 4 blinks per second. My recollection is that this light only blinked when there was activity on the LAN. The lights are not blinking on the WRT54GS except to indicate activity and the PWR, SYS, & ADSL light are on steadily on the modem - the ADSL light flashes when there is activity.
I turned off the wireless feature of the WRT54GS and un-plugged all of the wired devices - then I power-cycled the router and when it came back up the 100M LAN light resumed its rapid flashing. The flashing stops when I unplug the WRT54GS from the modem and resumes immediately when I plug the WRT54GS back in.
I reset the WRT54GS, power cycled the router and the modem and the flashing continues.
When I bypass the router and plug one computer directly into the modem the 100M LAN light only flashes to indicate activity.
I disconnected the telephone line from the modem - the ADSL light goes out but the 100M LAN light continues flashing.
It seems to me that the WRT54GS is constantly communicating with the modem in a manner that is affecting my internet communications and dragging down my performance.
Any ideas? |
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squab
join:2001-09-13
Arvada, CO |  I upgraded the WRT54GS firmware to v4.71.4 - light is still blinking on the modem. |
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tenmachan123
join:2008-04-24 | Try changing the Local IP address of the WRT54GS to 10.10.10.1. |
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squab
join:2001-09-13
Arvada, CO
| said by tenmachan123  :Try changing the Local IP address of the WRT54GS to 10.10.10.1. Thanks for your help! Before I make the change (I'll have to change the gateway on a number of devices) - can you explain why changing the IP will help - or point me to an explanation? |
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Bill_MI
Bill In Michigan
Premium,MVM
join:2001-01-03
Royal Oak, MI
 ·EarthLink
| Hi Squab, Some open thoughts...
I'm wondering if this flashing is an ethernet status instead of activity. I know many ZyXEL modems of that era are network uplinks (needs a crossover cable) and I'm not sure even the latest WRT54GS auto-negotiates ethernet uplink/downlink. Yet, if you're getting data through that interface it can't be the wrong cable.
ZyXEL is also somewhat "picky" about ethernet levels or subtle timings. Maybe it ends up 1/2 duplex or something. My P645 was "picky" (some things just have trouble talking to it).
Just curious if this spurs your thoughts. Does it look like it could be a status flash?
I was also wondering if it's as docile as a fast loop trying to get to a time server. The WRT54GS has no non-volatile clock and needs to get the time every boot. |
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squab
join:2001-09-13
Arvada, CO
| Hi Bill_MI, thanks for your thoughts.
My memory tells me that the 100M LAN light used to blink intermittently with LAN activity. Now it's blinking rapidly (3 to 4 times per second) and constantly - and my performance seems to be comprised.
I disconnected the router, dug out my old cross-over cable, and plugged one computer into the modem. The 100M LAN light stopped it's constant flashing and returned to an intermittent flashing seemingly indicating LAN activity - more like what I THINK I remember (I wish I was more positive about this - but I'm as sure as I can be without being absolutely positive).
My connection works - just not as well as I'm used to - it really appears that the WRT54GS is bangin' on the modem and taking up resources even when nothing is connected to the WRT54GS. |
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Bill_MI
Bill In Michigan
Premium,MVM
join:2001-01-03
Royal Oak, MI
·EarthLink
| How's performance with 1 PC connected?
I'm suspicious that blinking 100M light is a status and not activity. I could be full of beans, too.  It's been too many years since I looked at ZyXEL but either the forum (»ZyXEL) may be able to help or the ZyXEL site have info in a manual. Perhaps the WAN port of the WRT is bad and the struggling connection makes the flashing AND struggling connection.
I was on Earthlink/Covad for many years. Is my memory wrong or is the 642M-11 a full router? My 645M-11 from years ago was NOT a router but I recall the 642 was. |
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tenmachan123
join:2008-04-24 | reply to squab
It could be that there might be an IP address conflict. If it did not work, then you can set back the local IP address of the router to 192.168.1.1. |
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BLUNTED 1
join:2003-11-13
Floral Park, NY | reply to squab
Try a different cable and it might work because I had an issue once where it did that and it was the cable that was causing the problem |
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