Damn Wireless routers: dropping conection like crazy?

Question

I am on my 3rd router in 4 years. Its taken me this long to go through 3 because I don't have time to buy new ones every 3 months which is how frequently they stop working.

I had first a linksys with this problem after 1 month. Then I bought a netgear which had this problem after 1 month. The problem with these two was they would stop broadcasting the wireless.

Now I have a DIR 655. Had it for just over a month (so now I cant friggen return it easily). It drops the damn connection, then it reconnects. It goes in and out. I don't have any security enabled other than mac filtering. And it worked fine for 3 weeks so its not interference from anything in or around my house.

WTF anyone else have these damn problems?

I paid $130 dollars and the DIR 655 is a very highly rated router by many magazines. Fastest router, highest throughput.

Answer 1

Drop the wireless router crap. By a wired router and hook up a wireless access point.

Seems pointless but if you spending that much money on routers, then try a different way.

user error is usually the main culprit. I'm sure that you know what your doing, but take a deep breath and re-access your settings, placement of the router, and all the object in the way...all of them!

Answer 2

It is always interesting to reply to someone who has yet to learn that colorful language only illustrates your lack of command of the English language. At least you do punctuate properly and your Grammar is sound - much better than many.

Now for the wireless "dropping" issue. You are using low end, cheap, household wireless units. There is a reason they are low end and cheap. Their firmware is poor (but it sure is cheap). Your continual purchases shows how cheap they are. Had you bought a good one originally you proably would still be using it.

Have you tried to upgrade the firmware? These low end routers often go through a firmware revision every 3 - 4 months to correct problems. They rush the product to market with the intent of fixing software issues via firmware upgrades. It is hardly a "do it right the first time" approach and clearly not a quality approach but it is what is done.

Linksys has been notorius for dropping the signal and many of their older units are "no longer supported" which many claim is their term for "we really fouled up and just cannot fix it with firmware". Netgear's track record is to always rush a product out and hope subsequent firmware fixes will ultimately fix it - and usually within 18 months or so it does. I do not know about the DIR 655 unit.

My suggestion - upgrade firmware to the latest and see if it does the job. Do not write off the Netgear or Linksys - it may be ok with the latest firmware.

Be sure to upgrade firmware and configure the router using a wired connection to the router - never a wireless one. You may lose the config during firmware upgrade so be sure to record your config and copy it over to a pc if you can do this.

Next time if you must buy another, get a quality product.

Answer 3

I assume you are using Windows and using the Windows wireless networking utility rather thanthe one provided by DIR.

Make sure, if ou are using a vendor utility, that you have the Windows utility disabled.

If you are using the Win utility, I recall a while back there were some issues with the WinXP wireless networking utility that resulted in frequent dropped connections, you may want to updat your Windows to the latest patches.

Start with the very basic setup. Set the router to 11b only with no security, DHCP enabled, all wireless stations allowed access. See if that connection is stable.

If that is not stable, you probably have a defective router.

If that is stable, then try 11g with no security.

If that is stable, then try 11g with WEP enabled.

If that is stable, then try 11g with WPA (assuming you want to use that - I recommend it, especially with neighbors near enough so you can poach their signal).

Have you tried WEP? It is not the best, but better than completely open.

Also, have you tried 11g without any security? (Just to test of all of your computers can connect reliably at 11g speeds).

As to reliability, my experience with home-class (i.e. cheap) wireless routers is that none would be considered "reliable" in the operate 24/7 without dropping, etc.
If they have cheapened out in the embedded processor, etc., in the router design you will start to have connection problems as you demand more from the processor.

11g demands more than 11b
More computers connected demands more than fewer
WEP demands more than no security (but minimal)
WPA demands more than WEP

Also, as you put the router under heavy use, it will heat up. As it heats up to approaching overheating, it will drop connections. Make sure there is nothing obstructing the router's cooling slots.

So, you will be expecting the most from your router's processor if you have a large number of computers connnected operating at 11g with WPA security.

If you can work at 11b open (no security), then at least you are functioning. Put your router as far from the external walls of your place as possible, to try to weaken the signal that your neighbors may pick up.

If you can also add WEP security to the above, that will help discourage neighbors from poaching, although a determined person can break WEP security.

Channel interference could cause the symptoms you were experiencing.

BTW, the channels overlap. Non-overlapping channels must be at least 5 channels apart (e.g. 1, 6, and 11 do not overlap). You can use the site survey feature of your Windows utilities to see the channels nearby networks are using.

Also, many cordless home telephones transmit in the same frequency band as 802.11b and 11g wireless (2.4 GHz).

If your router is prone to overheating, keep plenty of air space around it; have it placed so there is no blockage of its cooling vents, especially those that may be on the bottom. If it is bad enough, it will probably feel hot to the touch (although feeling warm is normal).

Answer 4

Try changing you channel to 11. You are getting common interference from adjacent systems and devices. If you have a cordless phone base unit near the router, seperate them by 5 or 6 feet.

Answer 5

first attempt resetting your router's settings. normally with the aid of pressing and protecting the reset button on the returned (no longer the WPS button in case you have one) for type of 5-10 seconds. close it off for 30 seconds and turn it returned on. if that doesn't help something, you will possibly be sufferer to interference by way of different units on account that there at the instant are not many channels on the two.4ghz band, and a lot of units presently occupy a much better bandwidth inflicting overlapping problems. on account that your router in all likelihood has the default putting to go with channels immediately, the random interference could reason it to attempt different channels, of direction while this occurs you may desire to reconnect, for this reason the dropout. you may restore it with the aid of going into your router's prompt settings and changing the channel selection from vehicle to a series channel, attempt 11, and circulate from there. normally having a static channel solves the problem on account that errors correction could desire to help with random overlaps and you wont word if there is now and returned, the router of direction is pickier while "vehicle" channel selection is desperate and tries to be too useful -- yet no longer all routers are the comparable, some actual artwork actual. there are hundreds of alternative motives this could be occurring too, rather with different units sharing the comparable 2.4ghz area, cordless telephones, toddler video exhibit contraptions, walkie-talkies, basically to call some. in case you establish you ever want a clean router, ascertain you purchase one that is cisco authorized, they're lots extra stable (i think of maximum linksys routers are) yet you ascertain you already know what youre doing in the past attempting to set it up or set up your contemporary one, in case you dont, discover somebody who does. in case you have extra questions, i could be satisfied to respond to them. desire that helps somewhat, and by no potential purchase or enable somebody supply you a SMC router, they're poor!

Answer 6

had same problem wit my linksys and netgear router then i threw em away and got a belkin a year ago so far no drops