D-Link Forums
The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => Routers / COVR => DIR-890L => Topic started by: Blueyed1 on December 27, 2016, 04:17:01 PM
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My wifi signal has gotten worst with every firmware update, I think. I don’t know why I didn’t noticed before. Maybe it is because its the 5Ghz that is the worst, but also the 2,4 Ghz drops signal strength from it goes from -48 to -60. on firmware 1.03 and up. So I went back to ver. 1.00 and suddenly the wifi signal was the best ever on the 2,4 Ghz, but also the 5Ghz has improved.
I did a few short test every firmware with Acrylic WiFi Home and with my laptop apro. 10-15 meters away from the router in my house.
I would really like to use the lates firmware, but not if gives me this pure signal. Maybe DLINK should test the firmware better? Well I don’t know why the 890L deliver such pure signal, with the latest firmware, but works well with ver. 1.00. On all other firmwares the 2,4 GHz band strength is -60 -62 from where I was was testing, but with 1.00 I was -45-48
Ver. 1.00
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW_1.00.JPG)
Ver. 1.03
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.03.JPG)
Ver. 1-06
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.06.JPG)
Ver. 1.07
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.07.JPG)
Ver. 1.08
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.08.JPG)
Ver. 1.09
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.09.JPG)
Ver. 1.10B07
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.10B07.JPG)
/Blueyed1
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hmm... since FW 1.00 does not work well with my 890L, iphones can not connect to 5Ghz and have troubles with 2,4 i'm back with 1.10. Maybe I need another router :(. The FW 1.00 did seam to have the best WiFi signal strength compared to all other firmware version on the 890L
I previos had a linksys wrt 1900acs, but it rebooted frequently, so that did'nt work as well.
DLink 6555 VS Dlink 890L on 2,4Ghz band.... :o
655 almost as god as signalwise as the 890L :-\
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/DLink890L_VS_Dlink655.JPG)
/Blueyed1
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What are some sample captures with SC enabled?
What is the distance in between you and the router when you capturing this?
Might try FW from the EU region to see if there maybe any differences since you are in the EU region.
I know from what I was told that Broadcom had introduced some bad wireless behaviour in the Smart Connect feature a while back thus SC was broken. Not sure if there was more to this as well.
I've only seen bad behaviour in an early FW version and have not see issues since then with my 4 iPhones and other wireless devices along with my 2008 Mac Book Pro which is getting old now. I have had two 1300Mb AC class bridges online at the same time streaming my DISH tv service to my two Joeys. Two NEST controllers have been nothing but stable. I've even seen some good speeds with my new DWA-192 adapter:
http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=66011.0 (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=66011.0)
Bar some initial setup issues I had.
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FW 1.10 with SC on, connectet to 2,4Ghz measured at same distance/place as before, 15meters from router. Difference between FW 1.00 and all other FW are signal loss of -10db to -20db on the 2,5Ghz band. I think thats a lot.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/890L/FW%201.10%20SC%20on.JPG)
No improvement with SC on I think.
/Blueyed1
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Might try FW from the EU region to see if there maybe any differences since you are in the EU region.
There was some issues with the broadloom drives, not sure if things were really resolved or not. This maybe something we need to contact D-Link support about and let them know.
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Well, the firmwares I have tried was from this ftp: ftp://ftp2.dlink.com/PRODUCTS/DIR-890L/REVA/ for the first testing, is that US?
When using the update feature of the router, I would asume that it downloads fw from eu?
Did a quick test with EU FW 1.01, 1.02, 1.06, 1.08 and 1.09… signal strength are similar to the test with US FW. FW 1.01 gives the best signal on 2,4Ghz and 5Ghz.
EU ftp://ftp.dlink.eu/Products/dir/dir-890l/driver_software/DIR-890L_fw_revA_1-09_eu_multi_20160512.zip
Stopped as FW 1.09 EU for now,
/Blueyed1
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Yes ftp2.dlink.com is the USA FTP site.
Yes I believe the update feature of the router is regional and should find updates from the EU region for your region.
So those versions you tests from the EU site are having better results than from the USA site?
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No. There is no differens in signal strength in the firmware from eu site. They are doing as good or bad as the eu firmware.
Theres is some differens in FW version numbers and sizes. FW version 1.01 EU deliver the same really good signal as 1.00 US firmware.
I wonder is DLink has turned down the signal strength of the 890L in all other fw versions on purpose?
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Anything is possible...may have been turned down my the WiFi driver Mfr, not D-link.
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Maybe its the Wfi driver?
I wonder what to do get better WiFi signal stregnth. To me it looks like the 1.00 US firmware and the 1.01 EU firmware has a better signal strength in my setup, all other firmare versions delivers a lower signal strength. Not that I really want to, but I am tempted to try out the DD-WRT firmware for the 890L, but it may be risky?
/Blueyed1
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There is code with in the FW that comes from Broadcom and other 3rd party Mfrs depending on which chip set D-Link uses. In this case, Broadcom is the Mfr.
Would be worth a try for DD-WRT and see. You can always revert back to D-Link FW. Just know that WRT maybe using same drivers. ::)
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I have written to DLINK, but not with high hopes :) but I have to try that, before doing DD-WRT, since I dont know what to do
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Let us know how it goes. I would try phone support for more immediate information.
I have written to DLINK, but not with high hopes :) but I have to try that, before doing DD-WRT, since I dont know what to do
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The answer from support was to install FW 1.11, but it it just as bad as all other firmware versions but 1.01.
New test 1.01
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/FW%201.01_new.JPG)
Test with 1.11
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/FW%201.11.JPG)
About FW 1.11
On the EU FTP there is 2 different FW 1.11 they are also different in filesize 19.565KB and 19.441
ftp://ftp.dlink.eu/Products/dir/dir-890l/driver_software/
On the US support site the DIR-890L is named DIR-890L/R and on the US FTP there is 2 folders, with different FW contens
ftp://ftp2.dlink.com/SECURITY_ADVISEMENTS/DIR-890L-R/REVA/ 19.590KB
ftp://ftp2.dlink.com/PRODUCTS/DIR-890L/REVA/
The new FW 1.11 that I got from dlink support "DIR890LA1_FW111b01.bin" has filesize 19.593KB.
So none of the FW 1.11 has the same filesize ???.
/Blueyed1
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Ya, I wish D-Link wasn't so regional. To many differences especially with it comes to devices that are globally sold.
Only think I can think of is that they may have had the power up at one point then were made to back it off some here. Or the change came in from Broadcom and D-Link has nothing to do with it.
I would pass this back to D-Link support if you can with your results.
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I have tried to pass this on to D-Link, only suggestion has been changing channels, n only and so on, but that did'nt help. Changed channel from 1 to 11, and the signal og 2,4Ghz got even worst... let see what's next.
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I have written to DLINK support, they are going test this in Taiwan, I hope they come up with something good. :)
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Awesome, thank you for taking this one up. Hope they find the issue. ;)
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I have got reply from Taiwan support, It looks as this is a intentionall design and is regulated by European rules.
The 890L firmware V1.01b01 first shipping did not including EU power table(Europe transmit power), it use default power table. Final EU wireless TX power table was added at f/W V1.02b01. That is why user find out different signal strength from different firmware.
So the error is not a error but a limation :(
I testet D-link890L with DD-WRT software, and is deliveres much higher signal strengs on all bands, 2,4 and 5Ghz!! But only if it is set NORDAMERICA REGION. Changing to Denmark (EU), and the signal drops. In the DD-WRT there is also a possibility for setting the TX power and changing it from default 71 mWto 1000mW - 100Mw is EU standart! I did not test to see if that would boost signal strength.
So.... I went back to D-link fw. 1.11, for now. Considering my options.
The DD-WRT firmware looks promising, but there are also some problems. All status lights appear does not work as they should, and also I can not see mac addresses from each of the devices on the network in the router interface so I can easily book ipadresserne to the devices.
So I dont know what to do... Buy a new router?
/Blueyed1
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Thanks for posting the results. What I was thinking it was.
DD-WRT has it's place and is good if you want all the additional advanced features. There are some draw backs.
Other than the power out put limitation, is the router working for you? If the router is working other wise, I wouldn't see a need to get something else. You might be getting into something that has the same limitation. I would presume so as all router Mfrs have to follow these policies and rules. These rules are in place for a good reason.
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The router works, but does not do what is says on the box
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/18099693/Dlink/box.JPG)
Our home is not that big,, still it does not deliver a much stronger signal than the D-link 655 I have, the 890L is however more powerfull otherwise.
TX power can not be the only thing that is responsible for at strong signal, now that I have testet the 890L, I am a bit disappointed on the 890L.
/Blueyed1
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I presume that your region will be impacted by this for any router Mfr:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-related_products (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-related_products)
I would not fault the router HW or design only that this policy seems to be effecting the signal strength. ::)
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Have you any idea on what firmware version to use with DD-WRT on the 890L? I tried to ask this on the DD-WRT forum, but there has been no reply yet. I would consider to use DD-WRT if the led's where working and I could reserve ip's for client on the lan side..
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Let me go check and see. I know there maybe a WRT LED UI configuration that may need to be set up with in it's UI like here:
This is for OpenWRT
http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=64561.0 (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=64561.0)
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This is listed for the 890L if you type in dir in there router database search and select the DIR-890L:
http://dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/D-Link/DIR-890L/A1/factory-to-ddwrt.bin/4421 (http://dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/D-Link/DIR-890L/A1/factory-to-ddwrt.bin/4421)
Dated: 2015-04-09
However looking at there beta repo under Other Downloads: http://dd-wrt.com/site/support/other-downloads (http://dd-wrt.com/site/support/other-downloads)
http://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2016/12-15-2016-r30949/dlink-dir890l/factory-to-ddwrt.bin (http://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2016/12-15-2016-r30949/dlink-dir890l/factory-to-ddwrt.bin)
Dated: 12-15-2016
I don't see anything new for 2017 as of yet. I don't know how these FWs work in regards to operation and performances with the 890L.
You have to use the Factory to ddwrt.bin files. If you use the other webflash, you'll loose the ability to revert back to OEM fw as I believe the webflash over writes the OEM nvram partition used for recovery. Please review DDWRTs web pages for migrating to there FW and coming back. I usually just use the routers recovery process to load OEM FW when coming back from DDWRT.
Emergency Recovery Mode (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=44909.msg163599#msg163599)
OpenWRT or LEDE FWs doesn't support the 890L.
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Hi FurryNutz
Never got DD-WRT to work like I wanted to, flashed with both Factory and webflash, but was still able to revert to stock firmware, I guess I must settle with that. DD-WRT did give much better signalpower TX, but there was to many isues with DD-WRT that I did not like.
Back on DLINK FW 1.11
/Blueyed!
This is listed for the 890L if you type in dir in there router database search and select the DIR-890L:
http://dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/D-Link/DIR-890L/A1/factory-to-ddwrt.bin/4421 (http://dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/D-Link/DIR-890L/A1/factory-to-ddwrt.bin/4421)
Dated: 2015-04-09
However looking at there beta repo under Other Downloads: http://dd-wrt.com/site/support/other-downloads (http://dd-wrt.com/site/support/other-downloads)
http://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2016/12-15-2016-r30949/dlink-dir890l/factory-to-ddwrt.bin (http://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2016/12-15-2016-r30949/dlink-dir890l/factory-to-ddwrt.bin)
Dated: 12-15-2016
I don't see anything new for 2017 as of yet. I don't know how these FWs work in regards to operation and performances with the 890L.
You have to use the Factory to ddwrt.bin files. If you use the other webflash, you'll loose the ability to revert back to OEM fw as I believe the webflash over writes the OEM nvram partition used for recovery. Please review DDWRTs web pages for migrating to there FW and coming back. I usually just use the routers recovery process to load OEM FW when coming back from DDWRT.
Emergency Recovery Mode (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=44909.msg163599#msg163599)
OpenWRT or LEDE FWs doesn't support the 890L.
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Roger that.
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Care to try the new v1.11 B02 Beta build?
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Sure why not. I am on v.1.11B01 (DIR890LA1_FW111b01.bin, 19.593kb) that I got from DLINK support 03/01/2017.
Where do I find the new version and do you know whats changed?.
I do belive that TX power in the firmware is reduced due to EU rules.
Using ddwrt firmware does increase signal strengt a lot, but adds many non-working things to the firmware/router that I dont like. I wish there was a way to bypass the limitation, since the router deserves to performe better than this 8)
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ftp://FTP2.DLINK.COM/SECURITY_ADVISEMENTS/DIR-890L-R/REVA/DIR-890L_REVA_FIRMWARE_PATCH_v1.11B02.BETA01.zip (ftp://FTP2.DLINK.COM/SECURITY_ADVISEMENTS/DIR-890L-R/REVA/DIR-890L_REVA_FIRMWARE_PATCH_v1.11B02.BETA01.zip)
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Info here too:
http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=66984.0 (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=66984.0)
:P
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Upgraded the router, no change in signal strengt, but it also says in the release notes that its a security update, no enhancements:
DIR-890L/R Firmware Patch Notes Firmware: FW1.11b02_beta01 Hardware: A1 Date: 2017/05/19 Note: Reported by: Igor Kirillov (i.kirillov at embedi dot com) from EmbediProblems Resolved:
1. Cgibin file incorrectly parses parameters sent by POST-request thus it allows an unauthorized user to execute php-sqript which discloses admin login and password.
Enhancements:
None
Known Issues:
None
/Blueyed1
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Was wondering if there was any changed for EU. Seems not. Yes we know about the security fixes.
There seems to be additional improvements on the wifi here though. Much better behavior.
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Input here please:
http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=67095.0 (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=67095.0)