How to configure a Linksys Router for
BigPond Cable
Update (Aug '06): Telstra have announced
that the Heartbeat system will be gradually retired over the next
9-12 months. See Whirlpool
for more. While many people may still find the information on
this page relevant for the time being, those who are switched
over to the new system will find connecting now to be much the
same as for Optus Cable subscribers. (No username & password
required but Mac address can play a role. See tip
on the heartbeat page.)
Note: Some people have reported getting regular dropouts after
being changed over to the new system by still running a login
client, so if you previously had a router working happily that
now has a bad case of dropping out, this may be why.
Background
Instructions for Firmware with built-in
Login Client
Alternate instructions using BPALogin
Setting up Windows 95, 98 or ME for the
alternate BPALogin method
Setting up Windows 2000/XP for the alternate
BPALogin method
Configuring the Router for Heartbeat pass-through
with BPALogin
 Background
Linksys is one of the most popular Routers on the Marketplace
today due to it's high performance, low price and support for
MSN Messenger with File Sharing capability.
Below is instructions for configuring PCs using both the firmware
with the built-in login client, or the alternate method if the
built-in login won't work or is unreliable. This workaround is
fairly simple and the same technique and principles are applicable
to any other Router not using a built-in login client.
BigPond Cable Firmware Update
Firmware versions which include built-in BigPond Cable login
clients are available* for BEFSR41, BEFSX41, BEFVP41, BEFSW11S4,
WRT54G & WRT54GS but support for Aussie users is a bit thin
on the ground and it's not always easy to find them, although
most versions are available on their International
FTP site.
There are a few versions for the BEFSR41 (1.42.7HB5, HB6 & 1.42.9HB1)
and people report better success with one over the other for some
reason I have yet to determine.
* Warning:
Check your Router version (usually written on the bottom) before
you attempt to upload firmware. Hardware versions for many Linksys
models change from time to time and if you upload a firmware version
for the incorrect hardware version you might kill your Router.
In most cases it will reject if do try to upload a wrong version,
but if you do manage to get it uploaded and it won't boot up anymore,
there is a recovery process as mentioned at practicallynetworked.com.
If this fails it'll have to go back to Linksys under warranty
to be repaired.
Also, if you experience reliability problems with the most recent
firmware version, try going back to an older version.
Warning:
If using the heartbeat signal WAN connection type, it is best
to use the keep alive option but do not set it any lower
than 30 secs. Setting this figure to zero will kill the Router
by putting it in perpetual reboot mode which is unfixable!
Instructions:-
First, it comes "zipped", so you'll need www.winzip.com
installed.
Within the Zip, you'll find a
"tftp.exe" and a ".bin" file.
Place both of these on your desktop
and double click the tftp.exe.
Enter your Router's IP address
(192.168.1.1 is the default) 
Enter the Router's password (admin
by default)
Browse to where the Bin is. (eg
c:/documents and settings/user/desktop)
Click "Upgrade" and
away it'll go..
Once installed, login to the router
http://192.168.1.1
and select "Heartbeat Signal" as the WAN connection type.
Enter your Telstra username &
password.
Set Login Server appropriate
to your state.
Select the Keep Alive bit, with a Redial Period of 30secs.
Not any less or you'll kill your Router!
Go to the Status Screen http://192.168.1.1/Status.htm
and click connect.
If it won't connect, copy your
Mac address from the Network card that used to connect to Telstra.
See the
glossary for how to find your Mac address
And copy it to the Mac Address
Clone page in the Advanced section. http://192.168.1.1/wanMac.htm
And try connect again.
If still not successful and you've
tried both firmware versions (BEFSR41), go and have a cuppa
and check back on it in an hour or so. Perhaps even leave it
overnight if you can.
Ensure that
you do not have Launchpad or BPALogin running simultaneously when
using the built-in login client or your connection will not be
stable and time out every 5 - 7 minutes.
Alternate instructions using BPALogin
This
is an alternate method for people who don't have success or experience
reliability issues with the built-in login client, and necessitates
that one PC has a static IP and is always on and running BPALogin,
with a port forwarding rule for the Heartbeat in the Router's
rules.
Any reliability issues are generally caused by inconsistencies
in Telstra's service and are not the fault of the Router manufacturer.
See also the
Heartbeat Page for more detailed, but general instructions
for common problems when you're sure you've done everything right
but it still won't go.
Download and install BPALogin from sourceforge
(Just install it as a standard program. Don't bother with the
service unless you particularly need it and would enjoy the
challenge of installing it as such.)
Run it and click on "configure"
Enter your username and password
Set the port to 5050
Note: BPALogin is an alternate login client to the Telstra
Launchpad. Don't bother trying this with Launchpad as it won't
work*.
For more about BPALogin, see the Cable
FAQ Section.
*Update: Telstra have released a
new login client for BigPond Cable users, and this one is
also suitable to use in this application. Unlike the old "Amicus
Launchpad", this new one (termed "BigPond Broadband
Cable Login") allows for specification of the port for the
Heartbeat, can run as a Windows NT Service, will auto connect
& reconnect with error logging, and integrates with the Usage
Meter Toolbar.
Setting up Windows 95, 98 or ME for the alternate
BPALogin method
Go to your "Control Panel"
Choose "Network"
Choose the "Configuration" tab
Highlight the TCP/IP on the
network card which is connected to the Router.
Click "Properties"
Choose the "IP Address" tab
and give it a static IP of 192.168.1.100
Set the subnet mask to
255.255.255.0
Select the Gateway Tab, and specify a Gateway address of
192.168.1.1
Select the DNS Tab, and tick Enable DNS
Give it a host name (Can be anything. I usually use "host")
Enter DNS Server Search Order IP addresses appropriate to
your state. See the DNS Page.
Enter the DNS Suffix appropriate to your state.
You can either leave the other PCs with automatic settings (recommended)
or set them up exactly the same as above, except with incremental
IP addresses of 192.168.1.101, 192.168.1.102 etc. Don't give two
of them the same number or they'll conflict and won't function
on the Network.
The DNS Suffix
will still be necessary for all PCs whether they have Static or
Dynamic IP addresses if they need to send email through Telstra's
mail server or need access to BigPond Account Management and usage
statistics.
Setting up Windows 2000/XP for the alternate
BPALogin method
Go to your "Control Panel"
Choose Network & Dial-Up Connections
Right-click the network card which is connected to your LAN.
Click "Properties"
Give it a static IP of 192.168.1.100
Set the subnet mask to
255.255.255.0
Set the Default Gateway to 192.168.1.1
Set the DNS Server Addresses appropriate to your state. See
the DNS Page.
Click "Advanced, and go to the DNS tab.
Set the DNS Suffix appropriate to your state.
You can either leave the other PCs with automatic settings (recommended)
or set them up exactly the same as above, except with incremental
IP addresses of 192.168.1.101, 192.168.1.102 etc. Don't give two
of them the same number or they'll conflict and won't function
on the Network.
The DNS Suffix
will still be necessary for all PCs whether they have Static or
Dynamic IP addresses if they need to send email through Telstra's
mail server or need access to BigPond Account Management and usage
statistics.
Configuring the Router for the alternate
BPALogin method
Login to your Router on http://192.168.1.1
In the setup screen, choose Obtain Ip automatically from
the pull down menu and leave everything else as you see it.
On the DHCP Menu, set the starting DHCP IP address to 192.168.1.2
with the appropriate number of PCs you wish to get IP addresses
automatically on your Network. If they're all manually specified
with static IPs, or you have another DHCP server on your Network,
you can turn off the Router's DHCP Server function.
Go to the Advanced Section
Choose the forwarding menu
Set port range 5050 to 5050
Tick TCP & UDP
Set IP as 192.168.1.100
That's it!
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