Internet Connection Problem

audiobliss

Ok, so I'm having some difficulties with our connection.

The wireless computer has been giving errors off and on, but repairing it has always got it back up and running. However, tonight I'm having problems with MY desktop connecting, and it's WIRED to the router. I've never had any difficulties with it before.

However, for the last day or so several of my programs (AIM, MSN Messenger, xfire) would just randomly be disconnected and reconnect, and tonight I lost my connection completely. Repairing the network didn't work because it couldn't refresh the IP address. So I rebooted, viewed my network connections, it said I was connected, couldn't get anything online working, though. So I repaired it with the same success as before. So then I reset the cable modem and the router and rebooted again, and now I'm online.

Why would I be having difficulties with my wire desktop? Is this signs that our old Linksys router is going out? Should I just go ahead and buy a new one? I'm not very fond of it anyways, so I want to do that, but if that's not the problem I want to know what IS the problem.

Thanks!!

audiobliss

I just lost connection and had to reset the Linksys router again!

What's this mean? If the router's on it's last leg, I'll just bring a WRT54G home from Walmart tomorrow.

greg2350

Yep same symtoms as when my linksys went out.

Serendipity

Try to wait a while for the Linksys to cool down first. I had the same experience with a few old Linksys routers - they overheat and fail. But it doesn't mean it's dead. Usually moving the unit to a well-ventilated, cooler location makes a world of difference.

fatchowmein

My linksys is on 24/7/365 and will occassionally need to be powered off and on every month or two. However, I have discovered that my provider, Comcast, will drop the connection about twice a year for a few hours.

disneyjoe7

I thought hubs died on the wireless side mainly not the wired side.

But I say that just to say I'm surprised but not shocked that the wire side died. Anything can die, just me I replaced a ton of stuff everyday.

audiobliss

Hmm. I'm not sure what to do. I've been online fine now for about an hour or so. But I'd still really like to upgrade to something a bit less archaic! :eek:

Refefer

Deathbed! heh, My first linksys loved to do that. Also, it should be mentioned, if you're engaging in any torrent downloading, the older linksys' have a fun habit of crashing routinely. I needed to get a firmware patch for my current one so that it wouldn't crap out when I downloaded stuff.

audiobliss

No torrents here. Just your typical browser and messengers.

fatchowmein

If you disconnect the router and plug the desktop directly into the modem, does the problem go away. Of course, it can be a pain just to reconfigure the desktop for a direct connection depending on what your setup is.

If the problem goes away, it's probably your router. Replace it.

If the problem doesn't go away, the issue is with your PC (or O/S) or with the modem.

Oh, yeah. Always check the connection. A bent Cat5 cable or a bad clip may give you intermittent problems.

Good luck!

audiobliss

Thanks for the tip.

SKsolutions

Same issue, same hub. When under load and generating heat, it would switch to using one IP/MAC addy for both/all computers. You can upgrade the firmware if you have the patience for such a thing, but you can also as easily 'brick' it during the attempt. If you want to give it a try, you might want to upgrade it with the open source firmware that will give you much more control over it. You can turn up/down the wattage on the radio etc.

http://lifehacker.com/software/router/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router-178132.php

I've yet to try it on the older Linksys, but I plan to over the winter.

jakelm

And I was about to go get my wrt54g Linksys router today. Now problems with it already?

SKsolutions

It's better than any alternative that I've found. If you figure that they are on 24/7, and are capable of sending and receiving hundreds of terabytes in their life cycle, it's cheap. My average lifespan on them has been around 3 years, so at 60$, it's not even a set of wicked awesome Monster IC's.

edbert

My Linksys wrt54g has been sitting behind a dresser on its end for 5 years running 24/7 and I have yet to have an issue. I have had to reset the router, modem, etc. periodically, but I don't consider that to be anything major when I might have to do it twice a year and it takes all of five minutes. Shoot, I didn't even update the firmware on it until a month or so ago.

And there's about enough room between the wall and the dresser to fit the router. Just buy what you think will work best for you jakelm and what you feel most comfortable with. We have all had problems with all brands.

audiobliss

SKsolutions wrote: »

Same issue, same hub. When under load and generating heat, it would switch to using one IP/MAC addy for both/all computers. You can upgrade the firmware if you have the patience for such a thing, but you can also as easily 'brick' it during the attempt. If you want to give it a try, you might want to upgrade it with the open source firmware that will give you much more control over it. You can turn up/down the wattage on the radio etc.

http://lifehacker.com/software/router/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router-178132.php

I've yet to try it on the older Linksys, but I plan to over the winter.

I updated it with the newest firmware listed for it on Linksys' website about a week ago.

jakelm wrote: »

And I was about to go get my wrt54g Linksys router today. Now problems with it already?

No, no, we're using a much older router, NOT the WRT54G. If this turns out to be the router failing, the WRT54G is what I'm going to buy to replace it.