ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
|  Hard Resetting Westell B90-36R516
After a "botched" attempt at upgrading the firmware on my Westell Wirespeed B90-36R516, the "Ready" LED was red and flashing green indicating the modem had failed power-up diagnostics. The "Link" LED was off, so there was no way to re-flash the modem via my Ethernet adapter. Since the modem has no hard-reset button to reset the modem's firmware to factory default, it seemed like a hopeless situation.
Knowing that the modem wasn't really "broken", I opened it up in search of a way (i.e. jumper or switch) to hard reset it to factory state. Unfortunately there were no jumpers or switches, but after some experimentation, I found that by shorting some traces reserved for a jumper block on the circuit board, I was able to "hard reset" the modem and return it to a solid green "Ready" state.
I found two pairs of pins on J601 (see attached photo) that when shorted for a few seconds then released (with modem powered ON), caused the modem to reset to it's factory state (i.e. no flashing red "Ready" LED). I shorted the pairs by holding the tips of a pair of insulated tweezers on the soldered contacts. I'm not sure which pair actually did the reset, so I've documented them both.
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AS IT COULD DAMAGE YOUR MODEM OR VOID THE MODEM'S WARRANTEE!!!
[text was edited by author 2003-06-11 01:45:24]
[text was edited by author 2003-06-11 02:19:03] |
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jtudor
Xm 60's On 6 Freak
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-07
Morganton, NC
| 3 questions:
What version of firmware are you now running?
What version did you attempt to load?
Were you able to successfully flash the firmware after reset?
Thanks for the tip!
--
Best of luck
"Do, or Do not, there is no try!" Yoda |
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ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
|  I'm currently running the following firmware:
Bootstrap VER.01.00.02
Modem Alcatel VER 3.8.124
Application Bridge(DMT) Ver 06.01.02
Which I successfully installed after the hard reset using ModemUpgrade.exe (1,069,056 bytes), the program found on Westell's site under the downloads for Verizon customers. Previous attempts to install this version requested a "Software Encryption Key".
The screwed up version that caused all of these problems and firmware corruption was ModemAlcatel367 (Ver 3.6.70), which was installed by using a combination of Westell608.exe (1,468,782 bytes) and the transceiver software that was installed by WestellPVCutility.exe (1,425,408 bytes).
If you're having problems, as I did, I would recommend avoiding Westell608.exe and WestellPVCutility.exe. Instead, if you're willing to hard reset using my technique, run ModemUpgrade.exe found at:
"https://www.westell.com/content/verizon/ModemUpgrade.exe"
You can use WestellPVCutility.exe to set the VPI/VCI, but DO NOT perform the transceiver transfer that comes with this program, as it seems to cause problems.
Hope this information helps. |
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KAIFS
V I P
Premium,MVM
join:2001-01-11
CHEEEESE WI
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to ChiDSL66
John, this is a first report of ModemUpgrade.exe causing this sort of problem. There are numerous users, including myself on 3 Modems whom were able to upgrade without a difficutly. You have to make sure that your Modem is plugged in directly to PC (no router or switch in between) other then that no one had any problems. I will see if I can find another modem without upgrade and simulate your results, as time permits. Feel free to send me an email (just as you did few minutes ago) with a step-by-step firmware upgrade process. Thanks, KAIFS |
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dementor
Dementor
join:2002-07-30
Montreal, QC | reply to ChiDSL66
What does firmware upgrade do?
I have a C90-36R516 will it work for this model as well?
Please let me know, THANKS! |
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ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
| reply to KAIFS
KAIFS,
ModemUpgrade.exe was never the REAL problem. In fact, the firmware installed using ModemUpgrade.exe is what finally "fixed" my Westell WireSpeed 516. Unfortunately, prior to "hard resetting" my modem as outlined in my original post, I was unable to install the firmware included in ModemUpgrade.exe because it requested a "Software Encryption Key" to proceed. Several people have posted messages about ModemUpgrade.exe (and other Westell upgrades) requiring a "Software Encryption Key", so the inability to use ModemUpgrade.exe is not unique to my modem or setup. I don't use a router or switch; my modem is directly attached to my PC's Kingston KNE111TX Ethernet adapter.
I think what screwed up my modem was the combination of firmware included with the "Westell ADSL Management Utility V2.2" (Westell608.exe) and the "ModemAlcatel367 Bridge(DMT) Transceiver" application installed by WestellPVCUtility.exe. It seems like using a variety of Westell programs found on the internet resulted in mismatched versions of software components on the modem, causing it not to work correctly. Somewhere in all of these attempts to flash my modem with these mismatched firmware utilities, the firmware became corrupted such that the modem would no longer power-up to a "Ready" state.
My email certainly wasn't intended to challenge you or the software & information on your website. Thank GOD for websites like yours and forums like dslreports.com! Like you, my posts are intended to help others experiencing similar problems. I blame Westell for their lack of adequate support. Except for their "hidden" Verizon-specific 516 software, Westell's support site doesn't include any updates or useable support information for the WireSpeed 516. Westell needs to provide WireSpeed 516 customers with a single, up-to-date upgrade containing current bootstrap, core and bridge DMT firmware (similar to ModemUpgrade.exe) that doesn't require some ridiculous "Software Encryption Key". |
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ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
|  reply to dementor
DSpect,
Have you heard the old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Take if from someone who learned the hard way; If your WireSpeed DSL modem is working correctly, DON'T UPGRADE THE FIRMWARE!!!!
If you obtained this C90-36R516 from your ISP, it was probably flashed with firmware designed to work with that ISP's equipment. You can check your modem's firmware version with the utilities found on sites like this, but again, I wouldn't upgrade the firmware unless you're having problems -or- your ISP has provided upgraded firmware to fix specific problems (i.e. the upgrades provided for Verizon customers, etc).
I'm not sure about the C90-36R516, but the B90-36R516 does not have a hard-reset button. Without a hard-reset button, a botched upgrade attempt could "trash" your modem. It was my personal "botched upgrade" that prompted me to rip apart my modem, figure out how to "hard reset" it and write my original post. |
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ice_neo2k
join:2002-09-20
00000
| reply to ChiDSL66
Re: Hard Resetting Westell B90-36R516 on the A90
I tried the above on the Westell A90. They seem almost identical inside so I thought it might work. When I connected the jumpers shown above, all the LEDs went out, I left it a few seconds, then let go of the jumpers. The LEDs came back on, including the ready one… I also tried to update the software after this and it came up with an error message, unable to connect to device or something like that. I have enclosed a short video of all of the above in Windows Media Format (WMV). Thanks all for the ideas.
P.S. I now have another router, so its not urgent matter to get it working, I just like to mess. |
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ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
| I watched your video, but I couldn’t make out the error messages from the ADSL Management Utility v2.2. If the utility couldn't connect to the device, it's likely that there was no IP address assigned to your Ethernet adapter. All of the Westell utilities for this modem require that the modem be attached to the Ethernet Adapter with a static IP address assigned. Most of these programs will assign a static address of 192.168.0.250, subnet 255.255.255.0 if there is no address currently assigned.
I believe it was the firmware in that utility(westell608.exe) or the software itself that screwed up my firmware in the first place. Another thing I noticed is that your model actually HAS a jumper block at J601, where mine didn’t.
If possible, remove the jumper block, then the with the power on, short the first pair for about 10 seconds – then repeat this with the 4th pair. Leaving the jumper block removed, try running ModemUpgrade.exe (not the Westell ADSL Management Utility v2.2). ModemUpgrade.exe contains known “good” firmware and it’s what finally fixed my modem after I hard-reset it. You can download ModemUpgrade.exe from:
'»https://www.westell.com/content/verizon/···rade.exe'
Let me know if this works.
[text was edited by author 2003-06-22 01:47:33] |
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ice_neo2k
join:2002-09-20
00000
| Ooops
I tried all of your suggestions above. I removed the jumper block, shorted the first pair then the fourth pair for ten seconds. Assigned myself a nice static IP address, then used the software you provided. Still noting, attached is a picture of the message I get when attempting to update the firmware, "Upgrade FAILED". Surprisingly, it did detect the router automatically.
Unfortunatly, in the mist of confusion I let go of the peice of wire I had in my hand, it fell on the the circuit board and there was a small spark... Now the LEDs do not turn on... and the chips get very hot, very quickly... So i'm thinking that i've broken it. Oh well, i doubt it was ever going to work anyway. |
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ice_neo2k
join:2002-09-20
00000 | Thanks
Thanks for all the help and suggestions you've given on this topic. |
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ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
|  reply to ice_neo2k
Re: Ooops
ice_neo2k,
Yeah - no LEDs is not a good sign. It's unfortunate because it looks like the upgrade would have otherwise worked. Since your board had a jumper block installed at J601, you could have used jumpers to short those pins instead of wire, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. As you can see from the photo in my original post, my WireSpeed didn't have a jumper block, so I shorted the pairs with the tips of pair of insulated tweezers.
Before you dropped the wire on the circuit board, what was the state of your modem's "Ready" LED? I ask because I'm curious what prompted you to perform the "hard-reset".
What prompted me to "hard reset" my modem was when on power-up, my "Ready" LED was red, intermittently flashing green and the "Link" LED was OFF. Prior to my "botched" firmware upgrade with the Westell ADSL Management Utility v2.2, my "Ready" LED was always OFF, even though the "Power" and "Link" LEDS were consistently GREEN ("Link" GREEN when attached to my PC's Ethernet Adapter).
The "hard-reset" stopped the flashing RED "Ready" LED, re-enabled the modem's Ethernet port ("Link" went from OFF to GREEN) and allowed me to successfully run ModemUpgrade.exe, which previously required a "Software Encryption Key".
I believe that the "hard-reset" forces the modem to bypass the firmware stored on the external flash RAM chip, and boots with the Alcatel Dynamite chip's internal ROM firmware. |
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ice_neo2k
join:2002-09-20
00000
| LEDs
The "ready" LED was always green, with the "link" LED flashing green. But the reason I wanted to perform a hard reset was to get around the encryption key problem. In all of the other firmware upgrade I’ve tried, they have always asked for an encryption key. I thought that by hard resetting the router, it might get around that problem.
The program you gave me the link for does not ask for an encryption key, but it also doesn’t want to upload the new firmware. I thought that maybe hard-resetting could solve this problem, so either I didn’t hard reset it, or I did and it didn’t solve the problem.
Thanks again for the help and ideas. |
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dagheart
join:2003-06-24 | reply to ChiDSL66
Re: Hard Resetting Westell B90-36R516
is it possible for this modem to work with a service provider using PPPOA? |
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ChiDSL66
join:2002-12-27
Chicago, IL
| I believe the WireSpeed 36R516 models only support PPPoE & RFC 1483 Bridging.
Based on the following Westell PDF file, the Westell WireSpeed 36R517 model does support PPPoA:
'»www.westell.com/content/support/···tref.pdf' |
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