Do Mentor suck or are all routers like this?

I'm trying to enable a port range on my Mentor 4 port modem router (MR4C Conexant) and I can't figure out how you are meant to do it. The Virtual Server page has the following:

ID: default of 1
Public Port: blank
Private Port: blank
TCP/UDP toggle
Host IP address: blank

I am trying to open a port range for a start not just one port, which doesn't seem to have been allowed for. It runs from 1023 to 12500 and that's quite a vast range to have to enter each one individually.

I also don't have a specific IP address, it is cycled frequently anyway and I am told I shouldn't need to enter it for what I am trying to log into. (It's a MMORPG btw.)

Either I am missing a fundamental or Mentor have a unique way of doing things that makes it impossible to get something like this set up. Their tech support is laughable too. Maybe I should try a different brand?

Any suggestions?

Cheers
Jay

 

So far I have found out that the IP address I am supposed to be putting in is actually mine!!!!!!

I have also discovered that I need to upgrade my firmware or my chipset or both. ???????!?!?!?!?!?!

Apparantly the newer version/s allow whole port ranges to be configured. Upgrading doesn't seem to be particularly straightforward though. Anyone able to get me going in the right direction here I'm completeley lost on this one. Trying to upgrade from the link in the Conexant set-up pages gets 'Firmware Upgrade Error! Cannot connect with server'. Great start!!
Jay

 

Upgrade your Chipset?!?!! WTH? This isnt an industrial router is it??

Well, i cant even find the website for "mentor", let alone search for your model number. But if you can find it, try downloading it manually, then updating from your PC.

 

Upgrade your Chipset?!?!! WTH? This isnt an industrial router is it??

No, I'm just very confused and bewildered about it all so I guess I just need to upgrade the firmware then.

Well, i cant even find the website for "mentor", let alone search for your model number. But if you can find it, try downloading it manually, then updating from your PC.

Hold on, it isn't that easy, I know that much. Even if I did actually get past the stage of actually obtaining the upgrade file I know 'updating from your PC' involves altering config files amongst other things and it says big and bold on most peoples websites who tell you how that this may all go pear shaped in a big and horrible way. Besides Mentor don't have a proper website because they are some tinpot far east outfit who sell cheap crap to the western market. I could do this the hard way and try and upgrade the firmware with above zero knowledge, below zero tech support and only what I can piece together from forums and the websites of people who have done it on other modems with the same chipset (phew) or I buy a decent brand. Netgear models actually upgrade themselves. Heaven.

 

From what I can tell it looks like you got this free with a broadband deal. I would very much recomend you get a better one, if you are looking for more advanced features.

My personal choice was a Netgear DG814+, and you can open port ranges with this. Its an ADSL router, available in the UK. Im not sure where you come from, so I cant really say much else. Netgear KB is decent... not tried the support yet.

In my other house i have a D-Link wireless router. The manual is a bit of a nightmare (its all in Engrish!) but it performs pretty well overall. Good coverage, pretty tweakable (ive got the transmitter overvolted for about 150% extra coverage ) and good speeds from it.

Shop around, by try to stick to good name brands.

 

Neither could I. All I found was this ad.

It should be a simple process of just reading the User manual and following the directions. Those are usually in .pdf format on the manufacturer's website as well as on the CD that comes with the device... but we can't fine the site.

 

The company is Bona and they do have a site, http://www.bona.com.tw:8888/index.htm. It also has downloadable firmware updates! Why didn't I see this before and more to the point why do they make it so hard to find! There's no mention of Bona Computech on the bloody box or in the manuals.
For anyone in the know its customer software version:
ARTCX-UBN.072403.00FA
It's dated 15/12/2003 which I'm sure is gonna be newer than the one installed, even though I didn't buy it that long ago.

As for reading the user manual, simple process? If I understood networking jargon like most people here do I'm sure it'd make a lot of sense. But it's way too technical for me! It's borderline Engrish too, understandable but a little unprofessional IMHO and somewhat offputting.

It wasn't a freebie, I was just trying to save a few quid. If I'd realised the hassle I was going to have I'd have taken the US Robotics model they offered in the package deal. Maybe £70-£80 wasn't so unreasonable. If I don't get this firmware to work I'm going to go for a Netgear as well, the DG834 (it's won awards too!). Netgear seem to have put some effort into making upgrades painless and their site seems very well maintained which always says to me 'we care about our customers'.

Now, I have two systems here, one for gaming and one I do all my emailing and web surfing from and both are hooked up to the router. If I install the firmware on the gaming one first and screw up I will still have access with the surfing one won't I or will this change things for both of them???

 

Hi, I didnt read this thread before I replied your other thread. You can install firmware on either pc. It for your router. If you format/reinstall window, firmware will be still in your router, you wont need to reinstall the firmware. Glad you have the site.

 

Lol! Interesting, a completley irrelevant name! Now THATS what I call helpful!

I said it might be a freebie because my friend who has NTL cable got one of the same make which was a complete nightmare to manage (especially when he was running his server on the network..)

 

Considering what I paid for it I suppose I shouldn't be surprised it's a pretty basic no frills model and expect it to do much more than connect me to the net. I wasn't aware when I bought it of the array of configurations possible with ADSL so I just assumed what you were paying for with the more expensive models were the brand and better quality components I suppose. I figured that as long as it worked what else would I need?! Always the way with building and modifying systems, you don't always see the flaws and limitations of the compnents you have bought straight away.