Equipment Support > Hardware By Brand > Netgear > WGT624 firmware upgrade

WGT624 firmware upgrade

The WGT624 is a piece of ...

The firmware upgrades don't work on all units, did you check your serial numbers against the Netgear support site?

»my.netgear-support.com/wgt624/default.asp

Netgear knows about it, yet they haven't done anything in a long time to fix it.

I had a WGT624 and it was the worst experience ever. I since moved to a Linksys WRT54G and I love it. You can't beat the fact that it is Linux based, the code is available so people can fix the firmware and add new features to it. The signal strength on the WRT54G is a little weak with the factory firmware, but with a custom upgrade you can boost it as much as you want. In my case I went the other way, I lowered it even more so that the signal doesn't "get out" of my house -- added security.

Yes I checked and found the serial number on Netgear site. What am I supposed to do now? I myself have a WRT54G but wanted a better WLAN transfer that's why I opted for WGT624.

Any idea which wireless router of Netgear has or will have Prism Nitro XM chip for 140Mbps ?
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The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss

reply to Asterix
No idea, but getting true transfer rates of 30-35Mbps with the new Broadcom AfterBurner (soon to be released WRT54GS) is pretty good. Don't just buy the highest number you see printed on the box, instead look for actual throughput and features. What good is Netgear's 108Mbps if it restarts every 3 minutes?

I don't know of any wireless routers that use the Nitro 140Mbps chipset but I would love to see a test between the 2 "fast" chips: AfterBurner, Atheros, Nitro. One thing is for sure, the Atheros seems to be very noisy and it's not a good neighbor to other wireless networks.

As for the serial number, if it's on the Netgear list your are out of luck, they have been promising a new firmware "really soon" for the past 2 months or so. I think that's why they disabled the firmware auto update servers, so that they prevent more routers from being returned.

Netgear has some serious issues, I've been using their products for a long time and they've gotten worse and worse each year, for example MR814 > WRG614v1 > WRG614v2 > WGT624

No more Netgear for me, I've had enough with the WGT624.

said by SirDSL:

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Netgear has some serious issues, I've been using their products for a long time and they've gotten worse and worse each year, for example MR814 > WRG614v1 > WRG614v2 > WGT624

No more Netgear for me, I've had enough with the WGT624.

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Thanks for the positive feedback about your netgear products. You are ONE in a BILLION who actually has a working unit. Every unit that I have had the opportunity to troubleshoot...the 624 sucks!

Constant reboots and speed problems going out to internet with SPI enabled. How can you say yours work? It is a known bug about not having web page blocking having SPI disabled. Just try it before you say your 624 works! Just disable it and block a site...it does not block!!!

Also when you disable SPI, try benchmarking it w/ and w/o it. You will see some performance difference. Have you seen [initialize] on your router log? I question if you have really looked at your log and to see if you IP address changed (given Idle Timeout is set to 0).
About your 614's. Were they v1 or v2, etc?
V1 worked out okay...I have to admit. But the heat problem was too much for me to handle (12VDC) P.S (Intersil chipset). V2 and up are Atheros w/ 5VDC requirements.
Believe me whan I say Netgear Sucks. I have used their products for quite some number of years now...I have decided to support my customers with Linksys now and save them from the headaches...and my own. Sounds like this is something Netgear managers should consider before managing by Microsoft Project. Quality counts. Period!
Oh...and BTW...as I have said this over and over again.
Simple have one s/w engineer in one enf of the room and the router in the other. SImple as that...TEST IT!
I think if they actually have someone touch the keyboard to even log in a test bench that just maybe...just maybe, they will even test their products.

The bottom line is: Support your customers with quality products...then just maybe....there's no need for customer support.

Well said Mr. NetgearSucks! I completely agree with you.

All the problems experienced with the WGT624 are also experienced by the user of D-Link DI-624, both of them are built on the same Atheros chipset and they have the same product number ... Maybe Netgear is not fully guilty for a totally crappy WGT624, but they should assume full responsibility for not testing their products before releasing them and worse yet for their Customer Support being clueless and refusing to admit to the existing problems that everyone is complaining about, not to mention that they've promised a firmware upgrade "real soon now" for the past 2 months ... Maybe they simply can't fix the WGT624 with a firmware upgrade, that's why they have a WGT624v2 now, so the current users of WGT624v1 who can't return it any longer are screwed. I, on the other hand, voted with my checkbook and return the crappy WGT624 in favor of the WRT54G that I love.

Funny thing, right after I finished my post above I got an email from Netgear offering $30 off to try their crap.

»www.netgear.com/promotions/email···rm_b.pdf

I will not touch their wireless routers even if they pay me to!

reply to Asterix
My first 624 died while attempting to upgrade firmware through upgrade utility. I exchanged for a second one and the upgrade worked. I am going to give this thing a few days to see if any problems arise...was not aware of the widespread problems of this model.

I have owned a RP614, it was a nightmare. It would constantly lockup until a newer firmware came out in dec '03. I was interested in the WGT624 but have decided to try the usr wireless router.

reply to Asterix
If there is no WGT624 V2 on the market, why are they advertising about version 2 and even posting a separate firmware for it?
If there is a version 2 how do I distinguish between the old and new versions?
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The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss

reply to NetgearSucks

With SPI Disabled
With SPI Enabled

Thanks for sharing the results with us. You have a good router for your usage. Unfortunately, the majority of "average" users who buy the 624 do not have static IP addresses. So this problem is more of value for us. Every time the router reboots, a new IP is re-assigned. Even if
Idle Timeout = 0

The router should not be rebooting. Here is what I am observing. If I "overload" the router, beside the usual slowdown, it will reboot. period.
I am using a polycom viavideo II unit and during video conference conversations, the call session is killed. And guess what...new IP!
I can see this happening for games as well. And most folks who use the internet extensively.

In addition, I have and ATI video card which allows TV sharing via ethernet for other PCs. It uses up about 40Mbps of the 100Mbps throughput. I thought the 624 had a very suitable switch configuration. Guess what...while using the line, router reboots and going outside to internet slows dramaticly. If netgear is going to put a switch, why not have it a dedicated de-coupled switch to the router side? Their switch/hub is very poor quality for this fact. Is's published as 100Mbps...it should have been advertised as "Up to 100Mbps, but will affect outgoing packets and will initiate a reboot".

I agree, heat is not an issue. Please see my previous post about the Athoeros requiring 5VDC P.S. and not the Intersil's 12 VDC P.S. (which was hot).

I really think they should have advertised the 624 as a AP and not a router. If the router side is enabled, user beware of the performance, or there lack of it.

I just got a 624v2 in france and i need to reset it whenever my ISP changes my dynamic IP address.

Usualy i import a back up and its all fine, no shutting down, but it was a pain in the neck trying to trouble shoot all this for hours before i realized i needed to reset it ;/

but no other problems like here so far

WGT624
Firmware Version
Version 3.0.2 Nov 13 2003

reply to Asterix
OK.. I just got my third WT624. "Should" I upgrade the firmware on it to the latest? OR should I skip for the time being?
I am really in no position to loose another router, 2 have died during firmware upgrades. Netgear customer support takes like 30 mins to get someone on the phone.. the wait time is too lengthy to hang on to.
Also is there a way to find out if its version 2 or not?
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The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss

reply to Asterix
OK, I have a new problem now. My new WGT624 has a mind of its own. It reboots all of a sudden. Sometimes once in an hour and sometimes almost 4 times in 15 mins. Its getting irritating now. I am returning this router and never ever gonna buy a netgear product again.
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The art of flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss

birar, welcome to the club ...

reply to Asterix
hi..

if its asks you to upgarde donot URGARDE the firmware... then ..
go the official website & then download the latest firmware.. if you face any issues you can call there support ar 1-888-NETGEAR or email them for the same at esupport@netgear.com

Cheers
Amit Bhasin

I did that. I downloaded flashed with firmwares for both version 1 and version 2 to see if it makes a difference. But its still the same. Its better I return it. Calling customer support is of no use. I was waiting for some support person to come on the phone.. but for 30 mins all I heard was "We appreciate your patience...blah blah blah".. Cant take it anymore.

reply to Asterix
Despite what was said on this board, I purchased a a 624V2. It already had the latest firmware when I purchased it this past Monday.

So far I haven't had any trouble. I could not get the scheduled blocking feature to work but...

There have been no reboots, I checked the log. It doesn't get hot and the range is fantastic. I had a D-Link 614+ located on the second floor and it had trouble reaching the basement. Lot's of lost packets and dropped links. With the NetGear, which only has one small antenna, I get 60-70% signal strength in the basement and 11Mbps. I don't have a NetGear Super-G card yet so I can't comment on "G" or "Super-G" speeds.

I tried a WGR614V3 and returned it in favor of the 624 -- even though they appear to be the EXACT same unit. The 614 didn't have any better range than my D-Link 614+.

At this point, I'm satisfied with my 624 purchase.

My primary phone is Vonage and if the router is not stable, Vonage has trouble receiving incoming calls (the SIP ports get closed when the router reboots and until the ATA re-establishes them, incoming calls don't work.) My wife is a stay-at-home mother of three and a significant portion of her life is calling other stay-at-home moms. I don't need to monitor the router. When the phones don't work, she calls me on her cell phone.