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Sagem F@ST 2504 Solid as a Rock

02 December, 2007 19:51:00 NewsreadeR

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Sagem F@ST 2504

Well after 48 hours of use on the Netgear V2 router, I am happy to report that it is 100% rock solid in my testing.

I have just connected the Sagem F@ST 2504 router and will have a play with the GUI hopefully this evening.

Again this router has the same login details

http://192.168.0.1 username admin password sky

Once logged into the Sagem F@ST 2504 router, the GUI is nearly identical to the Netgear V2 minus the typos that are apparent in the Netgear GUI.

Initially, the first thing I have spotted is the Wireless set-up menu. This is slightly different to the Netgear in respect of a few more options in the drop down list.

Secondly, the FW revision appears to be numbered completely different, obviously as a different supplier has written it. Firmware Version - 1.5Sky

Also, the Wireless Access list is slightly different as well.

Sorry to report however, on Auto and 54g performance (the defaults) the wireless reception on my laptop, which is in exactly the same place, (the kitchen table) reports a poor reception. I will have a play with the settings over the next few days.

To set-up the Wireless Access list is on first impressions, not as easy to use as the Netgear. In the Netgear it is just a case of enabling and then selecting the MAC of the PC that you wish to allow, whereas on the Sagem F@ST 2504, you have to type it in.

Sync speed up and down has certainly changed, and lower than the Netgear V2, although it is a very cold night and I appreciate that this could contribute to that. My attenuation has however dropped from 46 / 47 to 45.5 db

My initial impressions, are that the Netgear is easily more user friendly in respect of advanced wireless setup, especially for a newbie to broadband.

Watch this space.

Update: Changing the Wireless from auto to Channel 11 - my laptop now reports an excellent signal, which I have never before achieved on either the Netgear V1 or V2.

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Comments (11 posted):

Ginno on 03 December, 2007 19:55:52

I have this router aswell, was quite troublesome at first but wit a little mess around and changing the channel as you said i achieve excellent signal aswell now. And also [eventually] can get onto xbox live. Still have the odd disconnection though which is annoying. A last note: Sky customer services are AWFUL, I couldnt have my network up and running if it wasnt for this site. Thankyou very much!

jomuir on 05 December, 2007 09:33:59

Should we look for a specific type of wireless network card for these routers or would any 108 card do?

toppam on 08 December, 2007 22:57:12

I guess I would have been one of the very first to have received one of the Netgear DG934G, and I have to say I have been extremely unimpressed. I have previuosly used a Belkin Wireless G High Speed (FD7633UK) which was extremely reliable and offered a good range in a much larger (and more solid) house than the one I am in now. I didn't want the Netgear, but had it forced on me by Sky. I would go back to the Belkin at the drop of a hat (and if things don't improve with Sky, I will anyway, but with a different ISP!) I was suspicious about the lack of aerials on the Netgear, and I wonder whether this is an issue.

Boomint on 12 December, 2007 18:36:00

Have you tried setting up a VPN? From my efforts it's a no-go. Allowing IPSEC L2TP and PPTP using the in-built rules fails, as does manually adding them. Opening all ports in and out doesn't help, putting the PC into DMZ still fails and it seems like it's a black hole for traffic, NAT broken?

There's lots of bug comments in the html source, commented out links to pages that aren't displayed by default (sky_email.html, sky_static_routes.html etc.)

IMHO the firmware is bugged and for me, a new user/customer to Sky since 6th Dec, a service breaker. I can't VPN to work.

Tech support will only say that VPN isn't supported, fine. I don't have a problem with techies not tech enough to support certain set-ups or protocols, but when they categorically will not confirm that VPN traffic is/is not allowed over their network, or if there is an issue with the router that will be fixed, then it's a poor show.

blondejon on 02 January, 2008 12:55:47

im new to sky and was hoping to get a netgear to hack, i have to say that apart from a rather convoluted way of port forwarding im pretty happy with the sagem.

KieranR on 02 January, 2008 15:50:39

I'm also new to Sky (December), and have found that although the router generally works okay, any configurations changes made don't survive a powercycle - factory defaults are restored on powering back up. It also occasionally defaults back to factory settings without powercycling. I've yet to speak to Sky about a replacement

pmctech on 07 January, 2008 12:26:01

Again another newbe. I have been online since the 24th Dec. but with problems, occasional disconnects, slow speed and only being able to get a couple of web sites at times (Very Strange). I have talked to support and am expecting a replacement Sagem router any day to see if this resolves my issues. I did though have no problem with my VPN connection to work as this would have been a main concern for me also..

blondejon on 08 January, 2008 13:13:42

In addition to my comments of the 2nd, I am now getting random intermittent disconnections and this morning launching my browser took me straight to a router error page. As I work for an ISP on tech support I like to think that I know what im doing when it comes to setting up a router, and i help to configure many different kinds in a day but I feel that the sagem is just too locked down to be able to tweak effectively and its just not user friendly in its layout, but maybe thats the idea with this firmware.

Interestingly when the sky engineer came round to install my digi box he told me that they were well aware that the current version of the firmware is about as stable as Britney right now but an update is being worked on to resolve the intermitency issues.

NewsreadeR on 09 January, 2008 00:39:51

The engineer must have been on about the V1 routers, the V2 are very stable.

blondejon on 03 February, 2008 13:21:48

:( the wireless died on mine yesterday and even prayer isnt bringing it back

dudett on 19 September, 2008 16:57:45

hi could anyone help i have the sagem2504 and i live in a 3 storey house the pc and sagem are on the top floor and i wanted to connect my ps3 wirelessly to the sagem but i only get 7% or 0 signal strenth is there any way of boosting this? thanx