Problem with Broadband or Router?
Posted by: Gavin B on 27 May 2010
Folks,
I'm after a bit of help to sort out an issue with my internet connection.
A few months ago I bought a new PC running Windows 7 and a new Linksys router. Everything is running fine....almost.
Every so often the broadband connection goes down. The little yellow warning sign comes on against the network symbol in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Windows can't self-diagnose what the problem is and the only solution seems to be to pull the power out from the router for 10 seconds or so, and re-start it. After that, the connection is restored and all is well for a few hours, days or even weeks.
It's very frustrating. We didn't experience this with the previous PC/router.
So, does anyone have any suggestions as to whether this is likely to be the router or a fault on the BT line itself?
The computer shop will probably swap the router for a different one, and they've checked all the router setting to ensure they're correct. The thought of tackling BT over an intermittant fault is just plain depressing.
Gavin
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Staedtler
I've just replaced my router after my second Linksys one (WAG325N) died. The problems started with it dropping out and eventually it just wouldn't respond at all.
The first one was replaced under warranty after Linksys themselves condemmed it, the second one was out of warranty so I've ended up binning it off for an Netgear router.
I am running XP through BT broadband and I've not had any problems since changing router. Not at all happy with Linksys quality.
Sorry I can't suggest a solution to your particular problem...
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by gary1 (US)
I'd say you have a bum router. The Linksys routers typically start to "fail" at about 5 years as I'm experiencing now.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Svetty
We bought a new Windows 7 PC recently and it exhibits the same behaviour you describe. Our old win XP machine was fine and the router is unchanged and reliable in all other respects....
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Peter Dinh
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Gavin B
Thanks for all your replies.
Svetty - that certainly suggests that the line isn't at fault. Good to know! Hopefully there'll be a solution that can help both of us.
Peter - are you suggesting downloading a different version of the router's firmware? Will this invalidate any warranty? If it fails, is there anyway of going back to the original? I'll also check to see if there's an official update available.
Thanks again for the help.
Gavin
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Peter Dinh
It never came across my mind that I needed to revert to the default factory settings because the ddrt firmware is so much better than the stock Linksys one, but yes I would have thought that there is probably a way to go back to the original. The website has all the detailed info that you need to know.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by garyi
Get a draytek router, best on the market.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Occean
Out of curiousity do you have an iphone on your network as I have seen similar problems caused by them.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Symonds14
Another vote for Draytek Routers. Use one here and at two businesses. So stable and reliable.
I would reccomend a firmware update for the Linksys though. You can back up the old firmware and config before changing
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Gavin B
No, no iPhone, although my son connects his iPod Touch. I think the problems started before he got it.
Okay, I've started to follow Peter's advice - although not entirely wholeheartedly. I upgraded the firmware to the latest official version - 1.00.09 to 1.00.15.
Peter - how is the unofficial firmware better?
Thanks
Gavin
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Peter Dinh
quote:
Peter - how is the unofficial firmware better?
Gavin
Previously, my very expensive (read top of the line) Linsys router kept dropping connections now and then, and worse I discovered that network bandwidth kept slowing down gradually every few days or weeks despite the fact that I got the latest firmware from Linksys.
Out of desperation, I decided to give the ddrt firmware a go since I had nothing to lose - all problems disappeared, I have never looked back since then.
But first of all, since your router is new, I would recommend that you swap your router to another to make sure absolutely that the router is at fault, not your BT modem.
Tip: You can treat the ddrt-based router as a mini Linux machine, you can even telnet to it as root and you can even run a command line command "reboot" to reboot it remotely, etc.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Gavin B
Peter
I've had a look at the ddrt site and my model of router isn't suported (yet?).
I'll see how things go with the latest Linksys firmware - no problems in the last five hours
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Peter Dinh
Gavin: Your router model must be very new. It problem re-occurs, I would swap it to a new one. It is not known that some router do have some internal hardware issues.
Good luck.
Posted on: 30 May 2010 by Phil Barry
Linksys routers used to give 5 years of service, but over the last few years (that is, after they dropped the warranty to 1 year), they seem to fail on day 367.
Many newer LS routers aren't supported by ddwrt because they don't have the memory or horsepower.
Check the power settings for your NIC - don't let Windows power the NIC off.
I now use Apple WAP/routers for homes and small businesses. They seem to work.
Phil Barry
Posted on: 01 June 2010 by Geoff P
I bought a Linksys Wireless N broadband router about a week ago hoping it would be an upgrade to an old D-Link router.
Put the Linksys in and ran their setup disc which takes a looong time to configure it self. Ran with it but began to suffer lock ups after every couple of pages of web browsing becoming really bad. The wireless connection was a pig to reconfigure coming off the D-link settings and going to ones the Linksys wanted to use, and every day refused connection at first taking up to 15 minutes each time to accept an approved handshake.
Assuming a brand new router with Cisco behind it couldn't be the problem I was getting ready to phone my Braodband cable supplier. In sheer frustration I stuck the old D-Link back in. All the problems went away. Obviously the Linksys Router was the cause. I am negotiating with the shop I bought it from tomorrow.
Regards
Geoff
Posted on: 02 June 2010 by David S Robb
My old Netgear router developed this problem a couple of months ago, following on from a substantial bit of rewiring in the relevant part of the house. Netgear support suggested altering the setting for the MTU (whatever that is): this worked for a week or so, at which point the problem started again. Another MTU setting produced another week of proper working, then the problem recurred once more. This happened five or six times.
By coincidence, I decided to take up Virgin Media's offer of a broadband upgrade to 50 mgb. This involved a new modem, and a new wireless router, this time from D-Link. As a by-product of this change, the dropout problem disappeared.
Was the Netgear router suddenly at fault, or had the rewiring done something unexpected? I can't say, but at the moment the upgrade has produced excellent results.
DSR
Posted on: 03 June 2010 by Gavin B
So far so good. I haven't had to reboot the router since making the firmware upgrade but it'd gone this length of time without problems before too, so no counting of chickens just yet.
Gavin
Posted on: 03 June 2010 by Gavin B
Phil
Sorry, I don't know what you mean by NIC. Where can I see its power settings?
Thanks
Gavin
Posted on: 03 June 2010 by Peter Dinh
NIC stands for Network Interface Card (aka Network Adapter). You can view and set its settings from the Device Manager by right-click and selecting Properties on the card. I would say not to worry about it.
