Can i play games on steam without having to buy a new router?

[fustercluck]

Steam has never liked Linksys routers, and has never made an attempt to fix the problems that steam games have with linksys routers. Can't play any game on steam for 2 seconds without getting dropped from a server with some stupid error messages, such as:

Host_Error: CL_ParseServerMessage: Illegible server message - svc_bad

Host error: Bad server message

Host_Error: UserMsg: Not Present on Client ###

And many others. here's the support page about it from steam. Basically if you have a linksys router you're screwed. A couple years ago i had to downgrade my router firmware to be able to play, haven't been on steam for a while now and was hoping they would fix it, only to find the same problem. Steam never fixes anything...the god damn friends list is still down too? Hah, that's sad. How long could it possibly take?

Is there anyway around this or would i have to buy a whole different router to play? I've tried playing in DMZ mode but still got all the errors and stuff, not surprisingly. I hope everyone currently working at steam gets fired

 

[flexy]

whatever you say, whatever you say.

First mistake you make you dont even mention what linksys router you have - how should people be able to help you ?

It cannot be "general linksys routers" since i own a wrtg54G (V2) and have no problems whatsoever with it - i am also on various linksys forums (linksysinfo.org etc.)....never heard of anything particular rewgarding linksys and steam.

As said i dont know what router you have - i SUSPECT that something is screwy with your system in general, some Windows setting (Universal PNP) or whatever.

If you have a linksys wrt54G(S) like many others you have the option to use/flash various firmware. But as said even with the original firmware there should NOT be problems - you dont even need to forward ports for Steam ! (I didnt, the only prts i forwarded are for bittorrent, edonkey and limewire)

For WRT54G(@) you might check your HyperWRT (TOFU) firmware - and (very good !) dd-wrt which jas been released in V23 final just a month ago or so. Runs great. FOr more info i'd just check linksysinfo.org and ask them. But as said i HIGHLY suspect something in your windows setup not working right.

 

[flexy]

add: it looks like you have those BEFSR routers..if there REALLY is an issue with those...i'd just check out ebay and get some cheop WRT54G....invest like $30/$40 and your probs are solved..i think you can get those new already for like $50-$60.

Also...no other firmware works ?

 

[fustercluck]

I have the BEFSR41, i linked to it in my first post there...sorta, the page has all the linksys routers that don't work.

=======================
KNOWN BAD ROUTER FIRMWARE
=======================
Linksys BEFSR11 and BEFSR41 V2
BAD: Most Firmware Versions before 1.45.7
BAD: Current Firmware 1.45.11, Jun 03 2004 is KNOWN BAD
BAD: Latest Update also: 1.46.00

Linksys BEFSR81 ver.3
BAD: 2.50.2 May 19,2004
BAD: 2.50.5
BAD: 2.54.5

May be Good: 2.43 or 2.45

It kinda pisses me off that i would have to downgrade my firmware or even buy a whole new router just to play some online games, no other games have had any problems with my router, i wish the people at steam (or the people at linksys maybe?) would get off their asses and fix something.