Dodgy aDSL: AR7 Allegation?

watty

If you are having intermittent DSL and your ISP says it's fine?

I've no opinion on this, I'm only pointing out the allegation.


From http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/22/zen_ar7_infineon_bt_fault/

Zen Internet has uncovered a potential problem with the Texas Instruments AR7. The chip is at the heart of about a third of routers in use worldwide today - including Linksys and Netgear kit.

Zen has told its customers not to buy models that contain the chip because they provide an unstable connection.

Phil Long, a technical support manager at the firm, said: "The evidence is saying there's something about these chips that causes intermittancy."

Long explained that Zen fingered the issue when BT engineers were called to test lines for subscribers suffering repeated disconnections. BT staff test for a wiring problem using hardware based on chips made by Speedtouch, a rival of the AR7.

In many cases, the BT man would report back that there was no problem with the line, and the customer would be stung with an £169 unnecessary call-out charge.

Devices based on the Texas Instruments AR7

* Actiontec GT701
* AVM Fritz!Box
* Aztech DSL-600E: 2Mb FLASH, 8Mb SDRAM
* Aztech DSL600ER: 2Mb FLASH, 8Mb SDRAM, 88E6060 Switch
* Aztech DSL600EW: 4Mb FLASH, 16Mb SDRAM, 88E6060 Switch, NETW1130
* Netgear DG834G
* D-Link DSL-xxxT
* D-Link DVA-G3342SB (DSL board only)
* ECI B-FOCuS combo 352+, B-FOCuS Router 312+A
* devolo dsl+ 1100 duo, dsl+ 1100 LAN
* Efficient Networks, Inc / ENI SpeedStream 5100
* LevelOne FBR-1416A: 2Mb FLASH, 8Mb SDRAM, 88E6060 Switch
* Linksys ADSL2MUE 4MB Flash, 16MB ram, USB + 1 Ethernet only
* Linksys AG241
* Linksys WAG54Gv2
* Linksys WAG354G
* Linksys WRTP54G
* Linksys HG200
* Paradyne (Zhone) Hotwire 6210-A2, 6211-A2, and 6381-A2
* Siemens SX541 uses realtime OS (SOHO.BIN) and BRN Boot Loader from the Broad Net Technology, Inc.
* Siemens SpeedStream 4100/4200
* Sitecom WL-108
* Solwise ADSL-SAR-600E
* Sphairon Turbolink JDR454WB WLAN ADSL Modem (2548 937939)
* T-Com Sinus 154 DSL SE
* T-Com Sinus 154 DSL Basic SE
* T-Com Sinus 154 DSL Basic 3
* Westell WireSpeed 2000 and ProLine 6100
* ZyXEL Prestige 660 Series ADSL 2+ Modem/Router - Prestige 660M-67 (Arcor-DSL Speed-Modem 50Z), article at OpenWrt
* 3com Officeconnect 3crwdr100x series 3com 3rcwdr100x series ADSL firewall router

and many more

Sponge Bob

watty wrote: »

If you are having intermittent DSL and your ISP says it's fine?

And they will

Devices based on the Texas Instruments AR7

* Actiontec GT701
* AVM Fritz!Box
* Aztech DSL-600E: 2Mb FLASH, 8Mb SDRAM
* Aztech DSL600ER: 2Mb FLASH, 8Mb SDRAM, 88E6060 Switch
* Aztech DSL600EW: 4Mb FLASH, 16Mb SDRAM, 88E6060 Switch, NETW1130
* Netgear DG834G
* D-Link DSL-xxxT
* D-Link DVA-G3342SB (DSL board only)
* ECI B-FOCuS combo 352+, B-FOCuS Router 312+A
* devolo dsl+ 1100 duo, dsl+ 1100 LAN
* Efficient Networks, Inc / ENI SpeedStream 5100
* LevelOne FBR-1416A: 2Mb FLASH, 8Mb SDRAM, 88E6060 Switch
* Linksys ADSL2MUE 4MB Flash, 16MB ram, USB + 1 Ethernet only
* Linksys AG241
* Linksys WAG54Gv2
* Linksys WAG354G
* Linksys WRTP54G
* Linksys HG200
* Paradyne (Zhone) Hotwire 6210-A2, 6211-A2, and 6381-A2
* Siemens SX541 uses realtime OS (SOHO.BIN) and BRN Boot Loader from the Broad Net Technology, Inc.
* Siemens SpeedStream 4100/4200
* Sitecom WL-108
* Solwise ADSL-SAR-600E
* Sphairon Turbolink JDR454WB WLAN ADSL Modem (2548 937939)
* T-Com Sinus 154 DSL SE
* T-Com Sinus 154 DSL Basic SE
* T-Com Sinus 154 DSL Basic 3
* Westell WireSpeed 2000 and ProLine 6100
* ZyXEL Prestige 660 Series ADSL 2+ Modem/Router - Prestige 660M-67 (Arcor-DSL Speed-Modem 50Z), article at OpenWrt
* 3com Officeconnect 3crwdr100x series 3com 3rcwdr100x series ADSL firewall router and many more

There are other reasons why a line may intermittently disconnect apart from an unspecified problem with a Chip .

I think its fair to say that

IF You have a problem with intermittent Disconnects

THEN It may be an idea to test the line with a DSL modem/router which is NOT on that list above to see if the chipset in the modem may be causing it .

An eircom badged Netopia for example .

watty

Unfortunately...
Netopia
3346N is Texas/Infineon AR7



Netopia
7247 ADSL2+ Ikanos Eagle4
2240N-VGx Texas /Infineon TNETD7300A


Also
With the Wireless off or changed to WPA

See http://www.iol.unh.edu/services/testing/dsl/testbed.php

Sponge Bob

off