I'm having router problems... I think.

My internet connection has been dropping like 15 times a day... I lose count...

Called cox and they said my modem/cox connection has been constant for 6 months... I was suspicious, so I ran the modem straight to my computer and it is working flawlessly...

So now I'm thinking it is my NetGear router or something else associated with it.

My network setup is not secure... at all. Anyone can sign onto it that comes in the house... or up the street for that matter. Its worked this way for years so I don't know why in the last month it is starting to drop connection.

If I unplug the modem and router, I regain the internet connection for several hours, but tonight it was dropping after only minutes.

I can build an internet forum, code software for windows, but apparently am a mental deficient when it comes to WiFi, WEP, DHCP, etc., etc., etc....

I'm going to try to hook back up the router but unplug some of the unused ethernet lines that run to various rooms in the house. Nobody is using them because they are using the wireless function on the router. I ran the wires before we got the wireless router and plugged the wires in...

One of my printers is also run "wired" off the router and the other one runs wirelessly. Come to think of it, the problem seemed to get worse after we got the wireless printer.

Any help would be appreciated...

Update...

I have a NetGear WGT624 and I have no idea how old it is. Looks pretty good, but I've read a lot of reports of exactly this problem with NetGear...

I added just the router back into the mix and it killed the cable modem connection within seconds. Unplugged both, waited 20 seconds, plugged them back in and the same problem.

I think I need a new router. I'd like to spend no more than $100 and have my computer wired to it, the laser printer wired to it and a new HP inkjet wireless 802.11g served by it, and two macbooks (new) served by it. I'd also like it to be broadband and easy to set up....

I do have an old windows laptop that has a wireless card built into it.... not sure what protocol it uses.

Airport Extreme seems the easiest but it is expensive at $175 and apparently is not that fast... but has great range.

D-Link DIR-655 is turning heads but it sounds like it may be too difficult for me... I don't know...

TRENDNET TEW-631 BRP also sounds good...

Linksys WRT54GS ?

Come on you computer nerds.... SPILL...

[BillyB]

I'll be glad to help you in the morning after 10AM CST if you want to give me a call. I test alpha and beta models of most of that gear for you know who.

Thanks, Billy.... even though...

I think I've narrowed it down to the routers from Linksys... they now directly support the Mac platform.... I want to support that.

This is their offering:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...=1938527773L00

Not sure of the differences... but the 310 seems like it would work... The 160 looks like about the same thing, but the 310 is gigabit.... is gigabit backwards compatible? They are about the same price, so if the gigabit is backwards compatible, it seems like the 310 is the way to go... especially when I get a new computer... probably within the year...

[why_me]

I have had great luck with the Linksys WRT54G variants for many years. Just make sure that you update the firmware from the out-of-the-box one that comes on it. I have also got rid of Netgear and D-Link routers for the exact reason you described. Couldn't hold a wireless connection, wired was fine. Updating the firmware made it more stable, but still had occasional problems. Can't have those when transferring data to client servers.


Recently, I broke out the wireless from the router all together. I could not get decent signal on a combo deal through the whole house, your results may vary.

[CDouthitt]

Got anything else wireless in the house that runs on 2.4 ghz? (phone, baby monitor?) Could have some interference with that?

[BigBurger]

I have the linksys..no problem with the mac...has good range

[BigBurger]

Oh ...it does help to threaten it with a hammer to get it to work

[dwarthog]

The Linksys is a good router.

Don't worry about the gigabit stuff, it will work with your pc just fine.

It works great right out of the box too.

I would secure that network though, it isn't that difficult.

[Xkvator]

what they said...




(maybe it's the french girl)...




jus' sayin'...

[Red Rider]

I've had the same problem with 2 of the linksys routers on XP platform. I bought a D-Link DIR655 last year - has run flawlessly -so far.

[BillyB]

Linksys is good, they were bought by Cisco a few years back. The radio strength of the router you get might also be important to you. Depends on how many walls you need to get signal through, if you use it outside, etc.

There are some custom firmwares out there for some of the Linksys models that will actually let you carve out some of your bandwidth for a non-secure WiFi hotspot at your location while firewalling that traffic from your primary network.

Hold off on buying one until we can chat live. I might have some engineering samples I could send your way.

[Xkvator]

I have a Craftsman router that's over 30 years old and still working great...

[BillyB]

Originally Posted by Xkvator

I have a Craftsman router that's over 30 years old and still working great...

Your network would be extremely secure if you were using it to get to the Internet

Originally Posted by Xkvator

I have a Craftsman router that's over 30 years old and still working great...