Router keeps shitting the bed

[The Ponzzz]

Lately, my wireless router is just dying. The hardline from the router works fine. But as of the last month, it has had a weak signal and I seem to get dropped to the point where only resetting/unplugging the router and plugging it back it gets it to work.

It's a 1 year old Linksys Wireless-G. What could cause this?

Also, I was trying to download a pretty big file, and everytime I try to leave it for the overnight download, it shits the bed. But if I stay and WATCH it for 2 hours it fine, it's the second I go idle... What can cause THAT?!

I plan on getting a new wireless router when I move to the new place, so any suggestions on brands/models that would be awesome. But for the next couple weeks, this mother fucker has to do and I don't get what the deal is...

[Stanley Burrell]

Maul DF against routers is teh awesomez. GO-FOR-IT MAN.

[Blud]

God, I hate linksys.

I had one for years and it always "shit the bed".

I have a Belkin now and have no problems.

[Trouble]

Try a different channel? Most routers allow you to select the channel you'd like to use.

Or it could be something about the WPA key cycling. Maybe try setting it to WEP and see if it still craps out. WEP is easier to crack though, so you may want to enable MAC filtering on your router so people don't hitch a free ride on your connection (MAC filtering is always a good idea BTW).

[The Ponzzz]

Well, it's been a WPA since I set up the wireless security and never an issue. The issue just recently started last month.

Also, I've switched the channel a few times, so went down that road.

I'll do a test and switch it to WEP right now and try the download.

[Trouble]

Well, it's been a WPA since I set up the wireless security and never an issue. The issue just recently started last month.

Also, I've switched the channel a few times, so went down that road.

I'll do a test and switch it to WEP right now and try the download.

The reason I mentioned the WPA key cycling is that when I did some work out our main office, they had a Linksys router and every hour people would lose connectivity and they'd have to reset the modem. It turns out the key lifetime was set to 1 hour so I figured that was the problem (improper negotiation during key cycling).

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure what I did to fix the problem; maybe I updated the firmware. I know I also changed the channel from the default but that was likely irrelevant to the problem they were experiencing.

I have to say the most stable wireless router I've ever used was a Microsoft-branded one I bought back in 2000, if you can believe it.

[Celephais]

Check for other signals that are in range, if someone else is using the same channel as you now that would explain why it's suddenly shitty. Is this a laptop? Do you have some energy saving features on where it'll turn down wireless power on idle? I wouldn't rule out your Wireless NIC either, do you have the same problem with other computers/on other networks?

[The Ponzzz]

It seems someone moved next door with a router 2 months ago, and I switched channels because I thought that was it, but nothing came of it.

This is a laptop that is doing the download. All the laptops in the house (we have 3) experience this. There is no energy saving on while it's plugged in, only if it's unplugged will it drop off the internet.

And yes, same issue with the other laptops, not the desktop though that is hard wired.

And the WEP dropped me as well. Changed channels, dropped again.

[Trouble]

Have you tried more than one alternate channel? I believe a couple of the channels overlap.

Another option to test is to lower the speed from 54 Mbps.

[The Ponzzz]

I can try.

So, this is the only thing that would nuke me during a big download (3GB)?

[Sean of the Thread]

You need to get one of those plastic sheet jobs.

[Celephais]

Make yourself a pringles can antenna!
http://michaeldaw.org/images/pringlesonstandbig.jpg

[The Ponzzz]

Hahaha, I got two of those!! Maybe it's my tin hat!?

[fallenSaint]

Flash the effers firmware and see if its current, even if its not might try seeing if itll let you flash it with the same stuff just to try and snap things into shape, think of it as the reloading of windows to get your computer to act right.

For the downloads dropping, go in and make sure windows doesnt have any of its hibernation settings going like harddrive spindown and the such, and flag off your screensaver if you use one and see if that helps.

[The Ponzzz]

Thanks, I will do.

[The Ponzzz]

Should my hard disk be turning off after being idle for so long?

[The Ponzzz]

Ok, so it happened again. I checked all my power savings and made some adjustments, didn't change a thing. So I gave customer service a call at HP and to Time Warner.

Basically, it's the router, because TW is saying my connection is fine. And HP said there isn't a thing that would cause that to happen.

Basically, what I was told is my router is kicking my connection and it won't reauthorize the connection until I reset/unplug/plug back in. The download (which is a torrent) is nuking my connection due to the size and speed of the DL. This has NEVER happened before. HOW DO I FIX IT?!

[Gan]

My US Robotics router bailed on me like that too. I kept dropping the wireless connection constantly - and had to reset. It was 3 yrs old though. Another thing that started its swansong was updating the firmware - which substantially took over the available memory (had a built in print server) and killed any printed document over 150k or multi-page doc printed from the laptop/wifi.

My bet is on investing in another router.

[Numbers]

I've always had problems with Linksys and torrents. It would just drop the connection entirely, and I'd be forced to do an unplug/plug restart. If you've already tried upgrading the firmware, try lowering the amount of connections your torrent will allow. It could be that it's just getting overwhelmed by the amount of connections going through it.

[fallenSaint]

Well Im using a linksys router and do torrents just fine without dropping but thats hit and miss on the routers you get. Time Warner is a bunch of punks in general but what Torrent client are you using? Have you tried capping the upload and download speeds down a bit to see if it helps?

[The Ponzzz]

Well this last wipe out I had seemed to have hit my connection bad, now I'm downloaded like dialup. Again, only the wireless, the wired connection is FINE.

I use uTorrent, and yea, I switched the amount it can upload/download to a lower amount. Was the first thing I did before I tried anything else.

I do realize it's time for a new router, but this one only has to last a few more weeks. I guess I could just ditch the router and hook straight to the cable modem.

Thanks for all the help though.

[Sylvan Dreams]

Some routers have a setting to shut off once idle.

[The Ponzzz]

Ok, something is seriously up. I just did testing on my desktop, did great 3 times. I disconnected the router and hooked my laptop straight to the cable modem. Now, I'm able to upload, BUT, my speed was 14570 baud and my upload was 700 baud.

I can hardly access these forums. Something has to be wrong with this laptop... But what. PC Chillin (Home Trends) says no virus, malware, etc. and AdAware says no spyware.

HALP HAPL

[The Ponzzz]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/233729132.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Just now, second test.

[Numbers]

Are you on DSL?

Are you getting those results with all your puters?

Edit: Nevermind, you said you had Time Warner.

When I was in school in Syracuse, I had very intermittent connections when I lived off-campus. Time Warner customer rep said my connection was fine, etc, but it kept up. Eventually they sent someone to check the poles, and it turned out the wire leading into my house was rusted through.

[The Ponzzz]

It's JUST the laptops. The desktop is fine, but the other two laptops are choking. Like for example, your spiderman avatar took 3 minutes to download just now.

I am hard lined right now. If I switch to the desktop, I am fine.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/233754672.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Just now. if I put the router back up, I lose my connection if I try to upload. The SECOND I try to upload, I'm done, need to restart everything.

But it's PURELY the machine I wish to use.

[Fallen]

Heya Ponzzz. I was trying to IM you, Mind sending one to VinMac3L6?

[Celephais]

Hey that site is pretty fancy... all futuristic and shit
http://www.speedtest.net/result/233757473.png

[Revalos]

Is this like an e-penis contest with download speeds?

http://www.speedtest.net/result/233901452.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

As for your wireless issues, I really suggest to bite the bullet and get a N router. Expanded range and much faster downloads over wireless. My dad was having all sorts of issues with his old G router, but I bought him a Draft N Belkin for 40 bucks at staples on sale and it almost tripled his performance.

[Celephais]

Is this like an e-penis contest with download speeds?

http://www.speedtest.net/result/233901452.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

As for your wireless issues, I really suggest to bite the bullet and get a N router. Expanded range and much faster downloads over wireless. My dad was having all sorts of issues with his old G router, but I bought him a Draft N Belkin for 40 bucks at staples on sale and it almost tripled his performance.
Wow that's awesome, is that standard comcast or their "high speed" or business or something? Mine was comcast over wireless, guess I could give it a shot on my hard-lined machine... wasn't trying to wave my epeen, was just giving something to compare to.

[The Ponzzz]

Well, as I stated in my last post. I'm no longer wireless. Direct hardline to the cable modem.

I think I may have found the trouble, just not sure yet.

[Revalos]

That is standard Comcast for me.

Wireless N MIMO is the shizzle.

[The Ponzzz]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/234147897.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Finally fixed it. The line coming into my house was damaged from the ice. And Time Warner said it wasn't them that i would have to call my landlord. I never heard of that kinda BS ever.

So I was out there, and I noticed there was a splitter like 2 feet away and then saw that I could put a new line in and I had a spare 50 footer. And BOOM! Back up and running!

EDIT: No clue how the other computer was fine though for most of it. Just odd. It seemed like it was my wireless because the hardline was fine.