I’ve recently just upgraded to the TP-Link TD-W8960N Wireless-N ADSL Gateway from my 2Wire 2700HGV-E Mio Box. When i first installed it, performance was good. The startup time was quick from first power on, taking only <60 secs to enable the wireless radio and establish DSL connection. Gone are also the random DSL line disconnection problem that i had when using the Mio box. It was very frustrating having to reboot the Mio box every time the DSL light goes “red”. It sorta just hangs. So it appears that most of my problems went away, until my mate started complaining about his W8960N having problems when more than one wireless machine is connected, particularly his iPhone.
I didn’t experience this problem myself — all the 5 devices in my house are on wireless, and they worked flawlessly. But something went wrong when i made a slight change to my router’s DNS proxy hostname, and poof — my DNS stopped working. DHCP would lease out all the correct settings, so it wasn’t a DHCP problem. I tested with the standard ping test and dig lookups:
Ping to SingNet DNS:
eddie-tans-macbook:~ eddie$ ping 165.21.83.88 PING 165.21.83.88 (165.21.83.88): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 165.21.83.88: icmp_seq=0 ttl=55 time=10.139 ms 64 bytes from 165.21.83.88: icmp_seq=1 ttl=55 time=8.889 ms
That looked ok. DSL line appears to be working normally.
Checking DNS lookups on the router address:
eddie-tans-macbook:~ eddie$ dig @192.168.1.254 www.singtel.com ; <<>> DiG 9.4.3-P3 <<>> @192.168.1.254 www.singtel.com ; (1 server found) ;; global options: printcmd;; connection timed out; no servers could be reachedAhh.. DNS lookups were timing out.eddie-tans-macbook:~ eddie$ dig @165.21.83.88 www.singtel.com ; <<>> DiG 9.4.3-P3 <<>> @165.21.83.88 www.singtel.com ; (1 server found) ;; global options: printcmd ;; Got answer: ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 29837 ;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;www.singtel.com. IN A ;; ANSWER SECTION: www.singtel.com. 318 IN A 203.208.248.10Dig @SingNet DNS resolves www.singtel.com correctly. So when i set my Mac Book’s DNS manually to include 165.21.83.88, my webpages resolves properly, but experiences problem with the default DNS leased by out the DHCP server (192.168.1.254).
So for some reason the DNS server on the router when there are multiple clients connected to it. After mucking around for a bit, i think i found the fix to the problem.
To work around this problem, make sure you have your LAN setup properly check under Advanced Setup -> LAN and “Enable DHCP Server” is checked. Fill in your start and end address (if unsure, just fill in 192.168.1.100 for Start IP Address, and 192.168.1.200 for End IP Address)
Next, go to Advanced Setup -> DNS -> DNS Server and see that “Obtain DNS info from a WAN interface:” is selected and make sure you choose your WAN interface from the dropdown list.
Lastly this is where i was stucked. Under Advanced Setup -> DNS Proxy, checked Enabled or disable DNS Proxy, under “Hostname” key in your router’s IP address, which should be 192.168.1.1 by default. (mine was 192.168.1.254). For the “Domain name of the LAN network“, you may key in any name that you fancy. Then click Save/Apply.
And viola! For some reason, this appears to work around the problem.
Magic!
Okay so i recently bought a TD-W8960N Wireless n ADSL2+ Modem Router. I plugged in everything etc,network works fine, then there is this installation CD,sure I put it in to check if there was something,then Network stopped working,Windows Diagonse says its a DNS error. I contacted the manufacter that the Wan Connection type,VPI,VCI information got changed, but except that in Finland where i live we did not get any such information from our ISP,since the information is intergrated in the router..
Any way to Reset the information to its original info? Factory Reset does not work,ty!
Hi,
I have the same router as you. Got everything working except MioTV. My MioTV box is connected to the ADLS modem thru a Powerline Ethernet. All the LED on the powerline ethernet are green indicating connection is OK, but the I think the data is not being transmitted to the box. Is there any setting on the router that I should be using in order to make it work? Thanks for your help.
This sounds like my exact problem, but I cannot see “Advanced Setup -> DNS Proxy” on my modem set-up anywhere. I have “Advanced Setup – DNS – DNS Server” and “Advanced Setup – DNS – Dynamic DNS” but I see no reference to “proxy” at all. My problems also seem to relate to an Apple Mac issue – all my PCs are fine but the Mac continually drops off and reports funny IP addresses sometimes that don’t match what shows up in the DHCP server of the modem – not sure what is happening but agreed the DHCP looks fine – I just need to know how to find the DNS “Proxy” section – any help would GREATLY be appreciated 🙂
Nigel, what firmware is your W8960N on?
Vincent – You mean on the LAN? For LAN traffic, no routing should be required. If you plug your laptop directly to the TP-Link, does it lease out the correct DHCP settings?
Liliangrail, usually for VPI/VCI, depending on ur circuit and the type of line you’re subscribed to, it differs. For Finland, i would hazard a guess of VPI: 0, VCI: 100 for your normal DSL connection. You will need to set the Encapsulation type as well.
Hi Eddie – thanks kindly for the response, it is using 1.3.3 Build 100113 Rel.75742n – I checked last night on the TPLink website and it seems to be the current one
hi i have tp-link td-w8960n router soo when i insert the cd driver & when it’s cheking for network con – it said cheak your dhcp server soo how can i fix that please help me
Hi.. i just brougt tp-link td-w8960n,
My problem is.. I cannot make coonection..
i already run setup… and key in everything that need…
After reboot… I still cannot connect to internet…
Anyone.. can help me?
Im still new with this… product.. and no experence on I.T.
Mybe can teach me step by step..
Thanks..
Hi Eddie,
I’ve got the same router recently and it had the same problems, but it fixed itself… weird… NOW I’ve got another problem which I hope you can help me out with… it seems that I’m only getting 50% to 60% of the connection speed from my modem through the router. When testing speed direct to the modem I’m getting close to 99% of the connection speed that I’m subscribing for.
Please help… Thanks!
This is supposed to be an ADSL gateway — the modem is built in. What do you mean by direct to the modem? You should use the modem that comes with this ADSL gateway.
2ndly, wired or wireless connection?
IT didnt work for me but thanks.
Hi Eddie, chanced upon yr blog when I was researching on making MioTV work with my new setup. I used to connect the Mio STB directly to the 2-wire ADSL modem, but because of a new TV, I had to move my Mio STB away from the modem. I put in homeplugs and it worked perfectly. Since I had to also connect other equipment to the network (media player, TV, BR player, …), I installed a TPLink router (WR841ND), with the WAN input from the homeplug, and fans out to feed my media players, TV, BR player, … Everything worked except to MioTV STB, which showed that the link is active, but the screen is just showing the violet screen. Do you have similar experience on this & is there something else I should try?
Strauss, perhaps try the below?
“If you keep seeing the purple screen with “Mio TV” on it, for more than 5 minutes. Do a reset by holding the power button for 5 seconds.
If the problem persists, switch off the modem and set top box. Switch on the modem first and wait for the lights to be stable (not blinking), then switch on the set top box.
If the problem persists, restore factory settings. Hold power button + “ok” button + the down-arrow button until all the 3 lights (in the middle of the set top box) are lit. Wait for the box to load.”
hi eddie, my tplink w8960n was facing the same problem just now and i’ve fixed it but the problem is i can’t seem to connect my laptop to this modem wirelessly. i’m using cable line now. what should i do?
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally visit my site =). We may have a link trade contract between us!