Netgear DG834G v5 showing as unsecure default wireless network.

[Tonka777]

I have a DG834g v5 here that was sent by virgin a little while ago to replace my older DG834v3. This v5 seems a lot less stable than the v3 version, every now and again the wireless network loses its channel and stops showing a SSID name.

Its just done it now, other half turned the laptop on, plugged in her wireless dongle and our network isn't there. I hit the 'Re-Scan Now' button in the wireless options dialogue, and the network has come back as an unsecure network with the SSID name Default!

The router page shows the correct SSID and the WPA2-PSK security is showing as turned on. Does anyone have any idea what's going on here? It certainly doesn't seem right that the network should suddenly have no security and a different SSID. Do i need to get this replaced?

I am using the latest firmware, and considering trying an older firmware, even though the router has had the current firmware on it from new (i.e. i haven't upgraded the firmware, so can only assume that the older version will be ok)

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[peterb]

You might try raising the issue with virgin to get it replaced - although I don't know how good Virgin CS are! Otherwise you could try reverting to the older firmware.

It sounds as if the router has partially reset itself to the default state. It may be customised firmware (by Virgin) but not being a VM customer myself, I can't give you an authoritative answer!

[Tonka777]

Thanks for the reply Peter. I think i am going to contact Virgin and possibly Netgear directly later today, hopefully i can get a sensible answer about this and get it replaced.

[kalniel]

Is there a possibility that when re-scanning you're actually picking up someone else's unsecured network?

[scaryjim]

Is it possible that someone has got the same model router set to the same channel and your networks are interfering with each other? Have you tried changing the channel on your router and seeing if that makes any difference? When you view the router pages do you do that wirelessly or using a wired connection from a different computer?

[Antagram]

I had problems with wireless on a DG834G V5.

When enabling wireless using the side button the network couldn't be found if the router had been on a while, and wireless had been turned on/off previously. Only way to get wireless working again was to turn router off and back on again, which defeated the point of getting the V5. As I wanted to leave router on continually and just turn wireless off without accessing router admin.

Tried going through all channels, and downgraded to the original firmware version (was only one listed at Netgear at the time).