Digi International Unveils Latest Firmware: Version 24.3.28.88

As of April 19, 2024, Digi International is thrilled to announce the rollout of its newest stable firmware, version 24.3.28.88, catering to Enterprise (EX), Transportation (TX), and Industrial (IX) devices. This release marks a significant milestone, incorporating a plethora of new features, enhancements, bug fixes, and crucial security updates to ensure unparalleled performance and reliability across all Digi devices.

What’s New?

One of the highlights of this firmware update is the introduction of support for WireGuard VPNs across all EX, TX, and IX devices. WireGuard, known for its efficiency and security, enhances the connectivity options for users, offering a streamlined and secure VPN solution.

Furthermore, users can now leverage a new Ookla-based speed test, accessible via Digi Remote Manager® (Digi RM), empowering them to monitor and optimize network performance seamlessly.

Enhancements Galore

In addition to new features, Digi’s latest firmware brings forth several enhancements aimed at optimizing functionality and expanding versatility. Notable enhancements include the addition of support for a WAN Bonding backup server, providing redundancy and reliability in critical network environments. Moreover, users now have the flexibility to configure the WAN Bonding UDP port, tailoring it to their specific requirements.

Another significant enhancement is the ability to configure preferred cellular bands for 4G and 5G connections. While this empowers users to fine-tune their network settings for optimal performance, it’s imperative to exercise caution to avoid potential connectivity issues.

Furthermore, the updated System Watchdog now offers comprehensive monitoring capabilities for interfaces and cellular modems, ensuring heightened system integrity and uptime.

Unleashing New Possibilities

Digi’s commitment to innovation extends to practical features designed to enhance user experience and compatibility. With the latest firmware, users can now connect a USB printer to their devices via a USB port, enabling seamless printing functionality. This feature can be accessed using Python or socat to open a TCP port for processing printer requests, offering greater convenience and utility.

For Verizon 5G customers utilizing the EX50, configuring the connection just got easier with the addition of the Verizon default 5G APN, ‘V5GA01INTERNET,’ to the fallback list. This eliminates the need for manual APN configuration, simplifying the setup process and expediting connectivity.

What Devices Have Been Affected? 

The following devices have been affected:

Access Release Notes

For a comprehensive overview of the firmware update and specific details pertaining to each series of devices, please refer to the release notes for EX devices (TX and IX device release notes will be available soon). Have questions or need assistance with your firmware update? Reach out to the team at 5Gstore.com today!

What Affects My WiFi Range?

WiFi has become the backbone of our digital lives. From streaming movies to conducting business meetings, we rely heavily on the stability and range of our WiFi networks. However, have you ever wondered what affects the range of your WiFi signal? In this blog, we delve into the intricate factors that determine WiFi range and how they shape our connectivity experience.

Transmit Power of the WiFi Access Point

The transmit power of a WiFi access point refers to the strength at which it sends signals to communicate with devices. Essentially, it determines how far the signal can travel before it weakens to the point where it’s unusable. Access points with higher transmit power can cover larger areas, thus extending the WiFi range. 

Higher transmit power doesn’t always equate to better performance. In densely populated areas or environments with many access points, high transmit power can lead to interference and network congestion. Finding the right balance between transmit power and network density is crucial for optimal WiFi performance.

Number of Antennas on the Access Point

Antennas play a pivotal role in the propagation of WiFi signals. Access points equipped with multiple antennas can employ techniques like beamforming to focus signals in specific directions, enhancing coverage and range. Additionally, having multiple antennas enables the access point to support multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology, which improves data throughput and reliability.

The orientation and placement of antennas also impact signal propagation. Antennas positioned vertically typically provide better coverage horizontally, while antennas oriented horizontally excel at vertical coverage. Understanding the antenna configuration of your access point can help optimize signal coverage for your specific environment.

The Frequency at Which It Broadcasts WiFi Signals

WiFi signals operate on two main frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The choice of frequency band significantly influences WiFi range and performance. Generally, lower frequency bands like 2.4 GHz offer better range but suffer from higher interference due to crowded airwaves, while higher frequency bands like 5 GHz provide faster speeds but have shorter range and are more susceptible to obstructions. 

Selecting the appropriate frequency band depends on the specific needs of your network and the environment in which it operates. In environments with numerous obstacles or interference sources, utilizing both frequency bands through dual-band or tri-band routers can help mitigate connectivity issues and improve overall performance.

Obstructions Around the Environment

Physical obstacles such as walls, furniture, and appliances can attenuate WiFi signals, reducing their strength and range. Materials like concrete, metal, and brick are particularly effective at blocking WiFi signals. The distance and density of obstructions between the access point and connected devices directly impact signal quality and coverage. 

To optimize WiFi coverage, strategically placing access points and antennas in locations with minimal obstructions can mitigate signal interference and improve overall range. Additionally, using signal boosters or range extenders can help bridge coverage gaps caused by obstructions, ensuring consistent connectivity throughout your space.

Other Electronics in the Environment

Electronic devices such as microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices emit electromagnetic interference that can disrupt WiFi signals. This interference can manifest as signal degradation, packet loss, or intermittent connectivity issues, affecting the overall range and performance of the WiFi network. 

Minimizing interference from other electronics involves identifying and relocating conflicting devices away from the WiFi access point or using shielding techniques to mitigate their impact. Additionally, leveraging WiFi channels with less interference and employing technologies like dynamic frequency selection (DFS) can help mitigate interference and optimize WiFi performance.

Stay Up to Date

Regular firmware updates and maintenance are essential for keeping WiFi access points and devices up-to-date with the latest security patches, bug fixes, and performance enhancements. Outdated firmware can introduce vulnerabilities and compatibility issues, compromising network stability and performance.

Establishing a routine maintenance schedule and staying informed about firmware updates from manufacturers can help ensure optimal WiFi performance and mitigate potential security risks. Additionally, monitoring network performance metrics and conducting periodic assessments can identify areas for improvement and optimization, ensuring consistent and reliable WiFi connectivity.

AirLink OS 4.1.30 Upgrade Issue for Semtech (Sierra Wireless) Routers

In a recent technical bulletin released on March 4, 2024, Semtech’s Enterprise Solutions Product Management has highlighted a critical issue related to the upgrade process to AirLink OS 4.1.30. Users of Airlink RX55, XR80, and XR90 routers, particularly those who made specific configuration changes on their routers, may face a substantial challenge that could result in a loss of cellular connection.

Issue Details

The affected routers are those that had any SIMs installed while running AirLink OS 3.0 or later. Changes made to various settings, such as IPv4 and IPv6 settings, APN mode, authentication protocol settings, preferred radio technology setting, roaming settings, MTU settings, and SIM PIN settings, will revert to their default values upon upgrading to AirLink OS 4.1.30. This unexpected behavior may lead to a loss of cellular connection, disrupting crucial connectivity for users relying on Semtech routers.

Recommended Actions

Semtech is actively working on addressing this critical issue by developing a new AirLink OS 4.1.x release. As an immediate response, AirLink OS 4.1.30 has been removed from ALMS (AirLink Management Service) and the Source.

  • Users are strongly advised to upgrade to AirLink OS 5.0 if they are planning to perform an upgrade.
  • If an upgrade to AirLink OS 4.1 is necessary, it is recommended to hold off until a new version is released that addresses this specific upgrade issue.

It’s important to note that if you have already upgraded to AirLink OS 4.1.30 and your system is operating as expected, no further action is required at this time.

Peplink 8.4.0 May Cause Issue with Google Drive

UPDATED 11/16/2023

After working with the Peplink support team, they found that the situation was related to the User Group change in firmware 8.4.0, not a bug in the Content Filtering. Since the number of User Groups increased (from 3 to 10), it caused a glitch in firmware 8.4.0 that made it unable to recognize the user group label in firmware 8.3.0 (or lower). Based on our Balance router’s configuration – Content Blocking settings, the users defined under the Manager group (that should be exempted) were not taking effect causing them to have to follow the selected Web Blocking categories, including “File Hosting”, hence, they are unable to access “drive.google.com”.

In order to resolve this, Peplink built a special firmware with a fix. All our team had to do was remove our whitelisted rule for “drive.google.com” and upgrade the firmware. We then tested access to Google Drive and confirmed it worked!

We extend our thanks to all Peplink staff that assisted with this fix!

Firmware updates are crucial for enhancing security, performance, and overall user experience. However, sometimes these updates might inadvertently lead to unforeseen issues. Recently, the 5Gstore team found themselves encountering a perplexing challenge after upgrading to the latest firmware version, 8.4.0. Specifically, accessing Google Drive became impossible for users. This prompted a quick investigation into the root cause and a subsequent solution.

The Challenge

Upon upgrading the 5Gstore warehouse network to Peplink’s 8.4.0 firmware, users were surprised to find a recurring error message while attempting to access Google Drive. The error was labeled as “ERR_CONNECTION_RESET” and stated “This site can’t be reached – The connection was reset. Try: Checking the connection or checking the proxy and the firewall.” This appeared consistently across multiple computers. Naturally, the first course of action was to ensure that the network connection was stable.

Diagnosis and Solution

After meticulous troubleshooting, the network team suspected that the firewall might be at the heart of the problem. Given the error message’s indication of a connection reset, it seemed likely that the firewall was blocking access to Google Drive. To test this hypothesis, the team made an insightful decision—they added an entry for “drive.google.com” to the content blocking exemptions list within the firewall settings.

Once the exemption was in place, Google Drive access was promptly restored across all devices on the network. This simple yet effective solution showcased the importance of a systematic approach to troubleshooting, ensuring that network administrators could swiftly resolve the issue and minimize downtime.

Reviewing the Fix

In order to fix the blocking issue, we logged into the web admin of the Peplink router. This can be done by connecting to the local network, or using the remote web admin access through InControl 2. 

Once you’re in the web admin, navigate to the Advanced tab and select Content Blocking on the left. From here, find the Exempted Domains from Web Blocking section and enter drive.google.com then click Save at the bottom of the page. Lastly, click Apply Changes at the top right. 

Implications and Recommendations

Peplink’s 8.4.0 firmware update is undoubtedly packed with various enhancements, but this incident highlights the necessity of vigilance during and after such updates. Users are encouraged to:

  1. Regularly Check for Firmware Updates: Keeping networking equipment up-to-date is crucial, but it’s equally important to be aware of potential issues that might arise after an update.
  2. Engage in Systematic Troubleshooting: When problems occur, a step-by-step approach to diagnosing the issue can lead to faster and more accurate solutions.
  3. Monitor Vendor Communications: Following Peplink’s official channels for announcements, updates, and user forums can provide valuable insights into known issues and their resolutions.
  4. Maintain a Backup and Rollback Plan: Having a backup of the previous firmware version and configuration, along with a rollback plan can be a lifesaver in situations where issues are not immediately solvable.

Sierra Wireless Releases ALEOS Version 4.17

You may recall that Sierra Wireless announced the General Availability of ALEOS 4.17.0.010 on September 13, 2023. While it was previously available via ALMS only, Sierra deprecated this version because of an issue where the cellular Access Point Name (APN) was mishandled on select regional carriers.

As of today, Sierra is announcing the General Availability of ALEOS 4.17.0.012 for all in production ALEOS powered routers. This includes:

  • LX40
  • LX60
  • RV50X
  • RV55
  • MP70 

This release is recommended for all of the above mentioned ALEOS powered routers. The benefits are security improvements, feature enhancements, bug fixes and radio module firmware improvements. This release will be introduced to the factory and will be available on The Source, ALMS, and AM/AMM not later than October 18, 2023.

For the ALEOS 4.17 release details, you may refer to the following:

How to Upgrade your ALEOS Powered Routers

  • ALMS: For users who have Sierra’s AirLink Management Service (ALMS), AirLink Mobility Manager (AMM) or AirLink Manager (AM), this is the preferred method of upgrade. For those not using ALMS today, this is a great opportunity to realize the benefits of managing ALEOS devices remotely. ALMS greatly simplifies managing AirLink devices, can save the cost of a truck-roll, and keeps ALEOS devices up to date with the latest ALEOS firmware and security updates.
  • ACEmanager: For users who wish to upgrade manually, refer to our instructional video.

Note that when upgrading ALEOS routers to ALEOS 4.17 from ALEOS versions earlier than 4.16, you must first upgrade to ALEOS 4.16 before upgrading to ALEOS 4.17.

Should you require any assistance with the upgrade, reach out to the 5Gstore support team!

Peplink Firmware 8.3.0: What’s Different?

It’s official! After several months of testing, Peplink is finally releasing new firmware, version 8.3.0. With this upgrade comes many new features as well as fixes. There’s quite a bit covered on this firmware so we’re going to only highlight some of these changes. For a detailed list of release notes, see here.

Among the new features Peplink is adding the following:

  • SpeedFusion – Dynamic Weighted Bonding (DWB) made the default traffic distribution policy, and TCP Ramp Up mode added
    • Peplink engineers have completed several tests using multiple types of WAN connections. They have made DWB the default policy for routing your SpeedFusion traffic because of the results seen. Faster speeds can be obtained due to the more intelligent detection of bad links and packet loss. Essentially, it is better at handling more diverse connections like cellular and satellite. TCP Ramp Up mode improves the handling of Upload/ Download TCP traffic, which is important because satellite connections like Starlink use TCP acceleration. This also helps with congested LTE networks. It is the initial duplication of traffic and allows for more bandwidth.  
  • Synergy Mode – Cascade multiple devices and combine the number of WANs to a single device virtually
    • Peplink’s Synergy Mode allows you to use multiple routers as one. This requires one Peplink router with an active Care plan to act as your synergy controller. This will be your main router that all secondary routers will connect to. These secondary routers are known as the synergy devices. The first one you connect does not need a care plan, but any additional devices will. The connection between these routers is known as the synergized link. Once the synergy device is activated, it will act as a modem or client device without a management or configuration option. This instead will be handled by the Synergy Controller. Note that the controller will display all the Synergized Device’s WAN interfaces, including Ethernet WAN, Wi-Fi WAN, and Cellular. It also will NOT work with Virtual WANs. Use this where your main router may be limited with regards to its supported WAN connections. If you need more cellular connections, or something that supports WiFi as WAN because your main router does not, or you simply want to have one place to manage all your hardware, Synergy Mode can be a great tool.
  • Virtual WAN on VLAN – Added Virtual WAN on VLAN
    • If you’re lacking WAN inputs, you can create a virtual WAN on a specific VLAN. For example, you simply need to trunk a VLAN (for each WAN) on your main router, connect an Ethernet switch, and then connect multiple WAN sources to that switch. The main router then allows this connection to be used on the WAN or LAN. This can be helpful for those utilizing a High Availability (HA) setup because WANs are treated differently than LANs with HA. If the switch in this example were to fail, it would not be recognized. This feature allows it to be. It’s also helpful if you’re limited on how many cables you can run to your router.  
  • MAX Adapter – When the MAX Adapter is connected to a Balance or MAX device, it will become a Cellular WAN instead of a USB WAN
    • This update makes it easier to recognize and manage your connection as a cellular one. Just like embedded modems, the MAX adapter will be displayed with detailed cellular information. Management of cellular settings such as the APN is now configurable.
  • InTouch & USB – Supports USB to serial adapters
    • With Peplink’s firmware version 8.2.0, they released a feature called “InTouch.” It allows folks to access IP based devices that sit behind their Peplink router. It works by leveraging SFC Protect (previously called SpeedFusion Connect), which means you must have an active SpeedFusion connection with data available. 8.3.0 firmware will allow you to connect to devices on the USB connection that are using a USB to serial adapter. This can be extremely useful for those who do not have a router model that has serial ports built in. Things that use RDP or VNC will now be supported.  
  • 5GH & Cat-20 Devices (product code contains -GLTE-S or -5GH) – Added 2x antenna mode for a cellular module
    • These modems typically use a 4×4 MiMO connection per modem. With this feature, you can now choose either 2 antenna mode or 4 antenna mode and that’ll allow you to use your existing Peplink Mobility antennas and take advantage of 5G. Of course, this means you will lose two of your antennas so you might lose a little bit of performance and signal capabilities or band capabilities. Still, this is helpful for users that are just starting to make the switch from a 2×2 MiMO modem.
  • Outbound Policy – Now supports client type as the source
    • The outbound policy rules are a way to control how the outgoing traffic on your network is routed over your WAN connections. Prior to the update, you could only specify the source as: Any, IP address, IP Network, and Client’s Associated SSID. With “Client Type” as an option, you can now create a rule that tells all smartphones to use your primary WAN only. This can help alleviate usage on a possibly limited backup Internet connection. 

Among the many improvements made, the one our team finds the most exciting is WiFi WAN has been added to the Balance 20X – just make sure you have a valid PrimeCare warranty. This Balance router is definitely becoming more versatile with this addition. WiFi WAN makes it possible to use a WiFi source as another WAN connection on your Balance 20X. This means if you have access to your neighbor’s WiFi network, you can use it as a backup if your own network fails to connect to the Internet. This of course is most helpful when your neighbor is using a different Internet service provider. If you have a mobile hotspot and need to extend its WiFi coverage and/or increase its device connections, WiFi WAN can help with that too. IP Forwarding is also now supported on WiFi WAN, in addition to BSSID steering on certain MAX models. 

With regards to cellular, 5G devices now have signal threshold settings and carrier selection. Peplink has added Band Channel Width details, SIM card priority settings, and support for SNMP on UTRAN Cell ID. 

Other improvements that we’re excited about include: 

  • GPS – An option to turn off GPS and GPS Forwarding services
  • OpenVPN WAN – Added site-to-site VPN mode
  • QoS – Added Application Queue – Bandwidth Control for Application
  • USB WAN – When USB Ethernet adapter or USB Dongle is plugged in, the USB WAN will connect automatically (rather than having to unhide this option)

Some minor improvements were made with name changes. Those include: 

  • PepVPN – Now called “SpeedFusion VPN”
  • SFC – “SpeedFusion Connect” is now called “SpeedFusion Connect Protect.” And “Home Sharing” is now “Relay Mode.”

Like with most firmware, there were of course some issues that needed to be resolved. Some that were covered include:

  • Cellular – Cellular firmware might fail to upgrade on LTE-US devices
  • Cellular – Device might not connect to InControl after upgrading the cellular firmware
  • SpeedFusion – Dynamic Weighted Bonding might drop packets unexpectedly for handling bufferbloat
  • SpeedFusion – UDP traffic might route to wrong sub-tunnel
  • Balance 20X – Setup Wizard configured IP Passthrough instead of Drop-in Mode
  • BR1 Mini HW3 – 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio might not work after applying new changes
  • Cellular & 5GH – Cellular interface did not work on Verizon with custom APN settings on the device
  • System – HTTP Health Check might fail
  • System – YouTube blocking may not work

This firmware release supports the following devices: 

  • X Series EPX / SDX Pro / SDX / PDX / MBX / MBX Mini / 580X / 380X / 310X / 20X 
  • Balance 20X / 20 HW7-8 / 30 LTE / 30 Pro / One / Two / 210 / 310 / 310 Fiber 5G / 310 5G / 310X / 305 HW2 / 380 HW6 / 580 HW2-3 / 710 HW3 / 1350 HW2 / 2500 
  • MAX BR2 Pro HW4 / BR1 Pro 5G / BR1 MK2 / BR1 HW2-3 / BR1 Slim / BR1 Mini / BR1 Mini Core / BR1 M2M / BR1 ENT / BR1 ESN / BR1 PRO / BR1 IP67 / BR2 / BR1 IP55 HW2-4 / BR2 IP55 HW2-3 / HD2 / HD2 IP67 / HD2 Mini / HD1 Dome / HD1 Dome Pro / HD2 Dome / HD4 / HD4 IP67 / Transit Pro E / Transit 5G / Transit / Transit Duo / Transit Mini / Transit Core / Hotspot / On-The-Go HW2 / 700 
  • UBR UBR LTE 
  • Surf SOHO HW2 / SOHO MK3 
  • MediaFast 200 / 500 / 750 / HD2 / HD4 
  • SpeedFusion Engine SFE / SFE CAM 
  • FusionHub FusionHub

T-Mobile Home Internet Users See What Can Happen with a Bad Firmware Update

When it comes to updates or upgrades, it may be a good rule of thumb to say that, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” However, with concerns around security, it’s a good idea to keep your electronic hardware up to date when security patches are made available. 

This is something that tens of thousands of T-Mobile home internet users have encountered as of last week. Due to a software update, users reported their service had stopped working. The reason not all of their 1.5 million users (as of Dec 2022) were affected was because the update was only sent to a certain model modem – Sagemcom Fast 5688W.

The problem caused the modems to be cut off from the carrier’s network. This then prevented them from being reset from T-Mobile’s end, according to the Mobile Report. What makes matters worse, is that customers’ only solution is to swap out the modem for a completely new unit. 

Not surprisingly, T-Mobile has stopped the update from being pushed out. The update was supposed to fix an issue of unintended reboots that had impacted the Sagemcom routers, so they continue to work with the manufacturer on next steps.  

When is Sierra Wireless AirLink 4.0 Available?

Sierra Wireless has just announced the General Availability of AirLink® OS 4.0 for XR90, XR80 and RX55 AirLink® routers.

This is a major release which includes new features and enhancements including:

  • Support for RX55 and RX55 Wi-Fi Plus variants
  • 3rd party Captive Portal support for integration with CoovaChilli based Wi-Fi service providers
  • Wi-Fi Geolocation to automatically identify Wi-Fi country codes, offering regulatory compliance with reduced configuration
  • Network diagnostic tools (ping, traceroute, iPerf and IP capture) available via ALMS for remote troubleshooting
  • Support for Container registries to remotely deploy container applications (Beta feature)
  • GRE tunnels and NHRP support to enable simple DMVPN configurations for private networks
  • Enriched telemetry with flexible reporting and MQTT format options
  • Improved configuration and templating for fleet-wide SIM, multi-APN and radio module firmware management
  • Dashboard enhancements to display multiple APNs, VPNs and WAN status for quick view of router and network status

In addition, this release also includes general stability improvements and addresses a range of field-reported issues. It is recommended that all customers upgrade their XR and RX routers to AirLink® OS 4.0.

For more information, please refer to the release notes or contact our team via phone, email, or chat!

Is There An Upgrade Available for the Sierra Wireless MG90?

Sierra Wireless has just announced the General Availability of MGOS 4.4.2 for all AirLink MG90 4G and 5G routers. This is an important release that includes new features, security enhancements and fixes/improvements that address a number of field-reported issues.

Some of the highlights are:

  • Improved WAN-link policies(4G/5G)
  • AMM Multi-unit reboot
  • Enhanced VPN status broadcast
  • IKEv2 support for Cisco ASA

There are also some important notes to be aware of BEFORE you upgrade.

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • MG90 5G will only connect Verizon network in 4G
  • All customers running MGOS 4.4.0 must first upgrade to 4.4.1 (AMM OTA or via USB drive) before upgrading to MGOS 4.4.2. Failure to do so may prevent the router from connecting to the carrier network.
  • MGOS 4.4.1 can only be installed on the MG90 5G. Customers must not attempt to install MGOS 4.4.1 on the LTE-A & LTE-A Pro variants of MG90
  • If you upgraded directly from MGOS 4.4.0 to MGOS 4.4.2 and are experiencing networking connectivity issues, please contact Support for further instructions.

You may have noticed the 3rd bullet point above seems to leave those who own LTE-A & LTE-A Pro variants of the MG90 without an upgrade option. That is not the case thankfully. These users just require some additional steps, which we’ve outlined below:

  1. Get a USB 2.0 Flash Drive (it cannot be 3.0)
  2. Start up a 32bit computer 
  3. Download Win32 Disk Imager for Windows systems
  4. Use win32 disk imager to image the drive to the USB 2.0 
  5. Power off the router, then insert the USB and push the reset pin and insert power while you hold down the reset button for another 20 seconds. 
  6. Wait about 20 minutes for it to load
  7. Reboot the router and remove the USB

It is recommended that all MG90 customers upgrade to this latest release. For more information, please refer to the release notes available on the Source. You may also reach out to our team via phone, email, or chat!

Sierra Wireless AirLink OS Patch Release – Should I Update?

Sierra Wireless has announced AirLink OS 3.1.26, a patch release to 3.1, which is available on the Source and ALMS

The patch release includes:

  • New Verizon 5G certified radio module firmware enabling operation on Verizon’s C-Band network.
  • Bug fix for GNSS reporting when Ethernet is the only WAN link.

Any customer using the above capabilities through Sierra Wireless routers should update to AirLink OS 3.1.26. 

For more details on the release, you may reference the release notes.