Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3

boonfarmer · 11-04-2009, 07:33 PM

Hello all -

I'm new to the forum and was hoping someone here could shed a little light on an issue I'm trying to resolve on a friend's home network.

He has his network set up so that he can view his Speco CCTV DVR from outside the home via the Internet. I helped him with setting this feature up previously and everything was working great, until the other day when he changed internet providers. Now, we knew that some settings would need to be changed in the initial setup of the device to reflect the new provider, but I have run into a speed bump on the way to getting everything reconfigured.

I have been trying to ping the IP of the DVR on the network, to no avail. I have verified all physical connections, power-cycled all devices involved (DVR, router, modem etc), with no luck. Now, when I went into the BEFSR41 router settings to verify everything (port open, etc), I noticed that under "setup" the subnet mask is listed correctly as 255.255.255.0, but when I went to see the "status" page, it was listed as 255.255.254.0. I have not seen this before and I'm wondering if this may be the culprit. Everything else on the network is listed as having the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask.

Again, if anyone has an idea, I'd be grateful. Let me know what other information I can give (unfortunately, as I'm posting this, I'm at home and away from his network, so I will have to make suggested tweaks periodically as time permits). Thanks in advance!

**johnwill** · 11-05-2009, 01:00 PM

That subnet is not correct for a standard router if that's what you're asking.

boonfarmer · 11-05-2009, 04:46 PM

I didn't think it was; that's why I'm thinking there's an issue. I'm wondering if the router is bad? It is an older model obviously. The only areas I can find in the router to adjust the subnet is in the "setup" area, but it doesn't even provide an option for 255.255.254.0, and that's why I don't know why it's reading as such in the status field.

**johnwill** · 11-05-2009, 05:20 PM

It sounds like it may have a problem.

My RX for this would be to reset it to factory defaults and see if it returns to sanity.

boonfarmer · 11-06-2009, 06:20 PM

Ok thank you for the input, john. That's where I'll start at my next opportunity and go from there. I already told him if there were an unresolvable issue he may need to replace the router so he's ready for that. I'll post again here if I need further help ... thanks again!

**johnwill** · 11-07-2009, 12:29 PM

Let us know how you make out.

Suncoast · 11-08-2009, 01:13 PM

That particular model becomes very unstable when connected to a high speed provider. As you mention, it is quite old. The processor can't relay the data between the local network and the ISP quickly enough. For streaming CCTV, I would suggest replacing it regardless.

Edit/Addendum: In the networking world, the 255.255.254.0 netmask is valid. However it is something to be avoided in home networking.

**johnwill** · 11-08-2009, 04:09 PM

The subnet mask is valid, but it's not valid for 99.9% of the SOHO routers, which was my point.

Suncoast · 11-09-2009, 08:07 AM

I certainly have a lot of respect for you. When researching issues online, your handle comes up very often with the solution I seek. So my intent is to enlighten, not debate.

I had a long, detailed response here that I just deleted, as it diverts the original topic. If you need a larger subnet, a /23 mask will work. I know for sure it works on the WRT54G series. I used to use /23 subnets before I figured out a more efficient method for small office setups that include additional WAPs or VLANS. If the clients default gateway IP is proper, they will ignore any inconsistent net masks. (Edit: As long as the client IP is within the subnet/netmask for the LAN on the Linksys.)

**johnwill** · 11-09-2009, 08:49 AM

Hmm... I'll have to try that again. I know that I've never gotten anything but a standard class C 255.255.255.0 subnet mask to properly route through a SOHO router.

boonfarmer · 11-21-2009, 02:13 AM

Ok, so I was finally able to get back to my friend's house and check out the router; did the hard reset and it didn't seem to work at first, but then we decided to try another router I had (which didn't work for other reasons), and apparently leaving the original router unplugged long enough did the trick, because we put that one back into the system and it worked fine as before. Pretty bizarre I guess; we figure we'll keep an eye on it and if it gets weird on him we'll just get a brand new one and be done with it.

Thanks again for your help.

**johnwill** · 11-21-2009, 08:29 AM

Let us know.

11-04-2009, 07:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
boonfarmer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 Hello all - I'm new to the forum and was hoping someone here could shed a little light on an issue I'm trying to resolve on a friend's home network. He has his network set up so that he can view his Speco CCTV DVR from outside the home via the Internet. I helped him with setting this feature up previously and everything was working great, until the other day when he changed internet providers. Now, we knew that some settings would need to be changed in the initial setup of the device to reflect the new provider, but I have run into a speed bump on the way to getting everything reconfigured. I have been trying to ping the IP of the DVR on the network, to no avail. I have verified all physical connections, power-cycled all devices involved (DVR, router, modem etc), with no luck. Now, when I went into the BEFSR41 router settings to verify everything (port open, etc), I noticed that under "setup" the subnet mask is listed correctly as 255.255.255.0, but when I went to see the "status" page, it was listed as 255.255.254.0. I have not seen this before and I'm wondering if this may be the culprit. Everything else on the network is listed as having the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask. Again, if anyone has an idea, I'd be grateful. Let me know what other information I can give (unfortunately, as I'm posting this, I'm at home and away from his network, so I will have to make suggested tweaks periodically as time permits). Thanks in advance!

11-05-2009, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 That subnet is not correct for a standard router if that's what you're asking. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-05-2009, 04:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
boonfarmer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 I didn't think it was; that's why I'm thinking there's an issue. I'm wondering if the router is bad? It is an older model obviously. The only areas I can find in the router to adjust the subnet is in the "setup" area, but it doesn't even provide an option for 255.255.254.0, and that's why I don't know why it's reading as such in the status field.

11-05-2009, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 It sounds like it may have a problem. My RX for this would be to reset it to factory defaults and see if it returns to sanity. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-06-2009, 06:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
boonfarmer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 Ok thank you for the input, john. That's where I'll start at my next opportunity and go from there. I already told him if there were an unresolvable issue he may need to replace the router so he's ready for that. I'll post again here if I need further help ... thanks again!

11-07-2009, 12:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 Let us know how you make out. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-08-2009, 01:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Suncoast Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Largo, FL, USA Posts: 389 OS: XPP, Linux, 2003, Cisco	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 That particular model becomes very unstable when connected to a high speed provider. As you mention, it is quite old. The processor can't relay the data between the local network and the ISP quickly enough. For streaming CCTV, I would suggest replacing it regardless. Edit/Addendum: In the networking world, the 255.255.254.0 netmask is valid. However it is something to be avoided in home networking. Last edited by Suncoast; 11-08-2009 at 01:16 PM.

11-08-2009, 04:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 The subnet mask is valid, but it's not valid for 99.9% of the SOHO routers, which was my point. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-09-2009, 08:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Suncoast Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Largo, FL, USA Posts: 389 OS: XPP, Linux, 2003, Cisco	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 I certainly have a lot of respect for you. When researching issues online, your handle comes up very often with the solution I seek. So my intent is to enlighten, not debate. I had a long, detailed response here that I just deleted, as it diverts the original topic. If you need a larger subnet, a /23 mask will work. I know for sure it works on the WRT54G series. I used to use /23 subnets before I figured out a more efficient method for small office setups that include additional WAPs or VLANS. If the clients default gateway IP is proper, they will ignore any inconsistent net masks. (Edit: As long as the client IP is within the subnet/netmask for the LAN on the Linksys.) Last edited by Suncoast; 11-09-2009 at 08:16 AM.

11-09-2009, 08:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 Hmm... I'll have to try that again. I know that I've never gotten anything but a standard class C 255.255.255.0 subnet mask to properly route through a SOHO router. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-21-2009, 02:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
boonfarmer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 Ok, so I was finally able to get back to my friend's house and check out the router; did the hard reset and it didn't seem to work at first, but then we decided to try another router I had (which didn't work for other reasons), and apparently leaving the original router unplugged long enough did the trick, because we put that one back into the system and it worked fine as before. Pretty bizarre I guess; we figure we'll keep an eye on it and if it gets weird on him we'll just get a brand new one and be done with it. Thanks again for your help.

11-21-2009, 08:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Networking Issue with Linksys Router BEFSR41 v.3 Let us know. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience