Using Sagemcom 5364 firmware SG4K100174 with sagemcom 266 V2

[Anonymous]

@KeithFrench,

I have just seen your post about "Do not connect this new version of the FAST266 WiFi booster until you have checked the firmware version on your Sagemcom Wi-Fi Hub.".

I have a Sagemcom 5364 with firmware SG4K100174. I set up the Sagemcom 266 WiFi Extender, unaware that I needed to check TalkTalk had provided equipment that is compatible.

What damage may occur?

It seems to work okay. I am reluctant to have the firmware updated to SG4K100202, because it appears from what I have read it has not been properly tested before release. Version SG4K100174 clearly was not extensively tested either, but I have managed to work with or around its shortcomngs so far.

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Morning,

Thanks for the update. We're no longer going to use this firmware (202) and a new one is being tested at the moment.

Michelle

[Anonymous]

Keith has made these comments in regard to the WiFi Extender: "Alas, it is broken & needs fixing.", "at the very least you need router firmware V202, as you have lost all management of them within the UI", "if you have damaged the 266 by having V174 on there, which looks like the most likely situation now, ...". However, my observations indicate that the extender is performing the function of extending WiFi coverage. For example, when moving from close proximity of the router towards the extender, situated on a different floor of the house, I can see the signal strength from the router decreasing and the signal strength from the extender increasing. This applies to both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. That is by no means extensive testing, so I cannot say there is no loss of functionality, just that it appears to be working.

I do not feel that I have anything to gain from updating the router firmware to version SG4K100202 at this time, and hopefully it stays that way until such time the new firmware version is rolled out, which may be quite soon according to comments I have seen in the last day or so . Once the router firmware has been updated, I will take a look at the WiFi Mesh tab in the router UI to check whether the statistics are still missing, and update this topic accordingly.

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Morning,

Thanks @KeithFrench 

Michelle

[Anonymous]

@KeithFrench,

Thank you again for answering my queries.

It's good to know that any configuration changes should be preserved.

I am aware that the firmware will be remotely updated at some point.

Hopefully I will find a convenient time to have the firmware updated and check whether it resolves what's currently missing in the UI in a short while, rather than leave it until it's rolled out to everyone.

[KeithFrench]

Normally yes they are preserved during the update process @Anonymous. Whatever you think about new firmware, when put on general release (V202 or later), your router will be automatically updated, you have no choice in the matter. Only then will you find out if your 266 is not working correctly. I am merely offering you a way to get it all checked out & rectified if needs be. After all, you particularly sought out my help right at the very start of your opening post.

Your choice (for now at least).

[Anonymous]

@KeithFrench,

Thanks for your detailed response.

It would be good to know if it's working properly, which it seems requires firmware SG4K100202 in order to provide the statistical informaton.

It's working right now (properly or otherwise). That's why, unless it is likely to fail catastrophically, leaving it alone for now appeals. Anything else is likely to cause inconvenience one way or another.

Are configuration changes, which I have made, preserved during a firmware update, or is the configuration returned to factory settings?

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Anonymous 

Alas, it is broken & needs fixing.

I always do extra tests over & above of what TalkTalk do for every firmware update prior to it being rolled out. The only reason that I missed these two was that:-

1. The connection of VPN clients to IKEv2 VPN servers fails in V202, is that there are no free IKEv2 VPN servers on the internet for me to test with. I have been trying to find some for the last year. As I am just a customer & not paid by TalkTalk, I cannot justify subscribing to such VPN services. I do test a lot of other VPN clients using a mixture of VPN protocols & all of these pass my tests.
2. WiFi Calling - I have no need for this, although I am currently testing newer firmware than V202 & have proved that this service now works in newer versions.

All of my bug reports go directly to TalkTalk & they pass them on to Sagemcom for rectification.

What are you missing in the Wi-Fi Mesh Overview & Extenders tabs? This is it:-

1. You have no management/statistical information from your version 2 F266 in the router's UI, without firmware V202 as a minimum. Version 1 F266s do work fine with V174, V2 ones do not.
2. The overview tab should display the router along with however many 266s that are used in a network with a summary of what devices are connected to the gateway or extender mesh nodes. Crucially, where multiple 266s are implemented the network topology is displayed, this is very important as some topologies will lead to a speed reduction.
3. The extenders tab shows the firmware, connection methods, signal strength of the backhaul network & uptime between the gateway & all extender nodes.
4. Devices tab, as no visibility of the 266 with V174, therefore the information in it is unreliable.

Without this management being available, it is impossible to say if your 266 is working correctly.

Yes, there is a bug in the Overview tab, where changes that takes devices connected, the number of 266s connected & their topology over 24 hours to update. I have already reported this to TalkTalk.

What do you have to lose, if you don't like V202, it can be rolled back to V174? If you have damaged the 266 by having V174 on there, which looks like the most likely situation now, then TalkTalk will replace it for you. However, we cannot be sure, unless you allow TalkTalk to upgrade the router's firmware.

[Anonymous]

@KeithFrench,

Thanks for your response by private message.

I am responding here rather by private message so that others may benefit from seeing the discussion.

You said "If there is nothing below that on those pages when you scroll to the bottom, then at the very least you need router firmware V202, as you have lost all management of them within the UI, plus you may have inadvertently damaged the 266 permanently."

The screenshots that I provided showed the available brief details about connected devices. The only part of the bottom of the page that I did not include is the TalkTalk 2024 Copyright.

I would like to know more about what is missing. There is a Devices tab under 'WiFi Mesh' that allows renaming of devices. I did not expect to be doing more than that, so had not considered anything to be missing in the other Wi-Fi Mesh tabs, as you have commented.

One shortcoming that I have observed is the list of connected devices on the Overview and Devices tabs sometimes includes a device that has been disconnected, and sometimes does not include a device that is connected, even after refreshing the page, or even logging out and back in on the UI.

For example, I established a wireless connection from my laptop, and disconnected the ethernet cable between the extender and my laptop at the laptop end. The wireless device connection appeared on both of the Overview and Devices tabs, but so did the ethernet device connection. The next time I checked (with the ethernet cable still disconnected), the wireless connection had disappeared from both, but the ethernet connection was still there. Clearly the list of connected devices cannot be relied on.

I am still intrigued as to exactly how the permanent damage manifests itself.

I am reluctant to have the firmware updated without knowing what WiFi Mesh features are missing, and whether the current firmware is causing damage. All too often firmware updates can introduce new issues. TalkTalk has created me enough issues in the past 6 weeks. [First, there were various migration related issues, then it only took my agreement to 5 contracts to resolve issues with an order, that eventually involved a new account and therefore a new telephone number, and supposedly a new line, which was not required in reality.]

Unless there is evidence to suggest differently, I am adhering to the principal of 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'.

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Thanks for your help @KeithFrench 

Michelle

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Anonymous 

The last couple of people I have helped with an F266 with the router running V174 have been OK. I can easily check this for you if you can PM me (to preserve your privacy) two particular screenshots.

If you log into the router and assuming that you are using a desktop browser, not a mobile device, go to:-

Dashboard > See Wi-Fi Settings > Manage Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi 5Ghz gear icon > Wi-Fi Mesh > Overview

Then go to:-

Dashboard > See Wi-Fi Settings > Manage Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi 5Ghz gear icon > Wi-Fi Mesh > Extenders

In each case please make sure that you scroll to the bottom of the page, as I need information from both the router & F266, before taking the screenshot.

Thanks.