DIR-655 Firmware v. 1.30 removes 802.11B

[smapdi]

So over at the DLink forums (forums.dlink.com) we were notified that a new firmware was released for the DIR-655. The changelog shows that 802.11B has been removed. When asked, one of the DLink admins said:

Somebody's got to be the first...the forced 802.11b compliancy restricts G/N capabilities (regulations!). Some of you have encountered that issue (friendly neighbour restrictions etc) already. Other than removing 802.11b there is just no way around that Wifi alliance regulation!

If the ancient 802.11b is being kept alive this will obstruct future N developments/performance. Progress can only be made when the old is out of the way. If they had to wait until all 802.11b devices were gone we would still be waiting in 20 years. It's a cruel world out there...

Is there any truth to this explanation?

[thiggins]

If 11g is still supported then the "friendly neighbor" protection will still need to be in effect, which will still cause performance degradation with mixed 11n and 11g clients. But some of the protections for 11b that were built into 11g will be able to be bypassed, which could slightly improve performance.

This is the first that I have heard of this. Can you give me a link to the D-Link forum thread? I am going to follow up with D-Link and the Wi-Fi Alliance to dig a bit further and will report back. Thanks for the heads up.

[smapdi]

Here is the link to the discussion:

http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=5062.0

[thiggins]

Thanks. There is also a thread over on DSLreports.

I have requests for comment out to both D-Link and the Wi-Fi Alliance.

[thiggins]

Wi-Fi Alliance says:

11b support remains mandatory for all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products, and failure to support 11b would invalidate or prevent certification per our policies.

Waiting response from D-Link.

[smapdi]

Looks like DLink changed the Wi-Fi Alliance logo on the DIR-655 product page to only show 802.11g and draft n.

Does anyone have a good alternative to the DIR-655 which has N as well as gigabit ethernet?

I was thinking the Linksys WRT310 or 610 and putting DD-WRT on it.

[thiggins]

That is interesting and contradicts information that I have from D-Link.
The Wi-Fi Cert still shows 11b certification.

[thiggins]

Article posted.

[tipstir]

Originally Posted by smapdi

Looks like DLink changed the Wi-Fi Alliance logo on the DIR-655 product page to only show 802.11g and draft n.

Does anyone have a good alternative to the DIR-655 which has N as well as gigabit ethernet?

I was thinking the Linksys WRT310 or 610 and putting DD-WRT on it.

Putting DD-WRT on the these models are fine..

I've flashed the 1.30NA onto the DIR-655 that has stop the leak problem where you disable the wireless dlink would still broadcast a wireless signal. Now that's gone. Thus my wireless access point as gain 10% signal strength measured.

DIR-615 C1/3.10 firmware also has 802.11g dropped..

[tipstir]

Firmware 1.31 suppose to come out with 802.11b feature enabled.. No confirm on that though..