Belkin N1 Vision Router in endless reboot-loop

[Kari]

OK geeks, I have not a clue what's happening, so please any ideas are welcome.

I have Belkin N1 Vision router, about one year old. I have been extremely satisfied.

Second time now, the router suddenly rebooted, and stayed in loop trying to reboot again and again. It's not yet 7 AM here, Angie sleeps and I am currently not able to get out of the bed without help, so I could only watch how the router (located under the bedroom TV) tried to boot and reboot and reboot...

I counted about 20 reboot tries, then it suddenly booted. The text on router's LCD display is so small I couldn't see it, but when I finally could use the router's web interface to check it, the page opened in first use wizard, so it had restored itself to factory settings.

No problem, I thought, for I'm paranoid enough to keep a backup copy of router's configuration file on my computer. I used the web interface to restore settings and configuration, which of course caused router to reboot. And same circus again, now I counted 18 reboots before it finally really booted.

This time, I configured it manually (I also keep ISP's user credentials on a file on every computer I have, in a Bitlocker protected partition) and am now back online.

As I told, this was second time now. I don't remember exactly when this happened first time, it was before my strokes some time last summer, but this video I found from my computer has a date stamp of 28th of June. Video shows how router is trying to reboot, but when progress bar reaches a certain point, it reboots again.



Time to buy a new Belkin?

Kari

 

[mckillwashere]

Avoid Belkin....
I personally went through two Belkin routers had horrible reception. So I bought an expensive Belkin exact same issues. Took that one back and bout a Linksys and no more random signal loss and drops.
Granted the one you have is much nicer than Belkin 4-5 Years ago, but I still see bad performance from most of my customers that use Belkin.

 

[yowanvista]

Did you try updating the router firmware?

 

[zigzag3143]

OK geeks, I have not a clue what's happening, so please any ideas are welcome.

I have Belkin N1 Vision router, about one year old. I have been extremely satisfied.

Second time now, the router suddenly rebooted, and stayed in loop trying to reboot again and again. It's not yet 7 AM here, Angie sleeps and I am currently not able to get out of the bed without help, so I could only watch how the router (located under the bedroom TV) tried to boot and reboot and reboot...

I counted about 20 reboot tries, then it suddenly booted. The text on router's LCD display is so small I couldn't see it, but when I finally could use the router's web interface to check it, the page opened in first use wizard, so it had restored itself to factory settings.

No problem, I thought, for I'm paranoid enough to keep a backup copy of router's configuration file on my computer. I used the web interface to restore settings and configuration, which of course caused router to reboot. And same circus again, now I counted 18 reboots before it finally really booted.

This time, I configured it manually (I also keep ISP's user credentials on a file on every computer I have, in a Bitlocker protected partition) and am now back online.

As I told, this was second time now. I don't remember exactly when this happened first time, it was before my strokes some time last summer, but this video I found from my computer has a date stamp of 28th of June. Video shows how router is trying to reboot, but when progress bar reaches a certain point, it reboots again.



Time to buy a new Belkin?

Kari

Kari whats the firmware version on it? Is there an update?

ken

 

[A Guy]

Kari, that could be either firmware or hardware related. The spontaneous boot sounds like hardware, but the repeated attempt sounds like software. Since your PC is your gateway at present, having another router at least ready would seem a prudent choice. A Guy

 

[Kari]

Avoid Belkin....
I personally went through two Belkin routers had horrible reception. So I bought an expensive Belkin exact same issues. Took that one back and bout a Linksys and no more random signal loss and drops.
Granted the one you have is much nicer than Belkin 4-5 Years ago, but I still see bad performance from most of my customers that use Belkin.

This just proves that we all have our opinions and favourite manufacturers. You didn't like reception, for me an extra good reception is one reason why I like Belkins. This is my second N1 Vision, never had any problems. I posted this over a year ago:

Hi twinmc. If you are looking something really good, I recommend Belkin Wireless N+ USB Adapter (image 1). It has a wide range, been working really good for me.

I use it when not at home or office, my laptop has built in wifi so I do not need it at home. But when on the road and wifi signal in hotels and airports is weak, I'll use Belkin USB adapter and normally get signal very strong.

Together with Belkin N1 Vision router (image 2) it makes a powerful combination. My local pub is about 200 metres ( 1/8th of a mile) from my home and they have no wifi. So when I take my laptop with me to the pub and connect Belkin USB adapter, it finds my home network (above mentioned Belkin router) and can connect to the internet over my own network.

Been using Belkin products now a few years, never had anything negative to say.

Kari

 

[Kari]

Firmware is up to date (F5D8232-4_WW_1.00.15).

 

[Dinesh]

Hi Kari, I would suggest a hard reset. There must be a reset button on the router as well. Insert a pin in the reset hole and hold it for 10 secs to reset it. Then re-configure the router settings. If this fails, you can also restore the router firmware even if its up-to-date. If nothing work, I suspect the router is faulty.

 

[Kari]

Hi Kari, I would suggest a hard reset. There must be a reset button on the router as well. Insert a pin in the reset hole and hold it for 10 secs to reset it. Then re-configure the router settings. If this fails, you can also restore the router firmware even if its up-to-date. If nothing work, I suspect the router is faulty.

I give Angie a little bit more time to sleep, it's 8:20AM here now. But when she wake's up and helps me to my chair, I'll try the reset.

Updating firmware, in my case replacing current firmware with the same version, would benefit how?

Kari

 

[Dinesh]

Updating firmware, in my case replacing current firmware with the same version, would benefit how?

Kari

Sometimes the firmware may get corrupt. Reinstalling firmware is worth a try.

 

[alphanumeric]

Have you ever flashed the firmware on that router? After flashing the firmware on my D-link router it wasn't working the way it should. Eventually I re flashed it with the same firmware and it was stable again. I got a bad flash the first time around I guess. Even if you have never flashed it, it "shouldn't" hurt to do it anyway. As long as it doesn't decide to reboot in the middle of the flash or something. If you do re flash it, don't do it over a wireless connection, make sure the PC you do it from has a wired connection to the router. Is the router getting good ventilation where its located. Overheating would be on my list of suspects for causing a reboot.

 

[Bill2]

You could try to clean the router - there might be an overheating issue. Blow out the dust and see if that helps, might be a clog somewhere shorting it or just blocking the ventilation. You could also try a new power supply - if there are fluctuations in the supply, it could cause the router to act up.

If none of that helps it might be time to replace the router, I think all Belkin products come with a lifetime warrantee?

Also, whether the issue persists with routing disabled or computer connected wired to the modem or if it occurs only with particular websites.

 

[Kari]

Update.

In my current condition I'm not able to open the router to check if it has dust etc. inside, Angie refuses to do anything that even remotely has something to do with repairing geek stuff. It looks OK, but that's just from outside.

I downloaded the update, flashed it. As soon the process is over, router reboots and the reboot loop starts again. There's a pattern there; it tries to boot 17 to 20 times before it finally boots. No less than 17, no more than 20. I set up my ISP credentials, am online from 20 minutes to an hour, and reboot loop starts again, reverting to factory settings. Credentials, half an hour online and so on.

Sending this tone o Belkin, warranty is valid. Trying tomorrow if I can manage to replace router, sitting in wheelchair and using one partly working hand. Why do it today if you have an excuse to postpone it, said my dear dad always.

Tomorrow. Maybe.

Kari

P.S. Interesting, BTW, is that this only had happened before, sometime last summer, but now it's happened like 20 times in the past 24 hours.

 

[Dinesh]

Looks like the router has gone faulty.

 

[A Guy]

Some sort of thermal fault. Do you have a fan to blow on it? May keep it going until you can deal with it. A Guy

 

[Kari]

Important update to those using Belkin N1 Vision router!

Do not in any circumstances upgrade (flash) the firmware of Belkin N1 Vision past version 1.00.11, which is the last stable version.

This router has a known issue with later firmware versions. If you have already upgraded firmware and router starts an endless reboot loop, and resetting the router fails to reset it to the factory defaults going instead in to "Download Mode", return the router to Belkin to get it replaced.

N1 Vision has a life-long warranty, so the replacement is free. If you want to give Belkin your credit card information, the replacement is sent to you even before they get your shipment containing the faulty unit. If you do not want to give the credit card number, Belkin sends the replacement after receiving your shipment.

You can start the replacement process by filling out this form: https://www.belkin.com/support/returns/

Kari

 

[Dinesh]

So did you get your router replaced?

 

[Kari]

I had a replacement myself and forgot the whole thing, until I suddenly remembered it yesterday. Called Belkin this morning. Going to fill the form and send the faulty this week.

Kari