Pretty sure my router is crapping out..but not sure

Here is what has been happening lately, last night my internet kept switching off, and to get it back I had to power ff my router. Today I was uploading a large file while browsing and my net kept on switching off and the upload speeds would drop to almost zero then go back up.

As of now I am hard wired into the modem, and so far the internet is going fast. I dont want to get a new router if it is something up with my wireless on my net.

Another thing I noticed is a few days back I tried to set up Windows Media Center and it said that my bandwidth was low. This is a G router by Buffalo and I am using DD-WRT to run it with. So I tried to stream a song from my laptop into my xbox and it cut off midsong and I lost my net until restarting everything.

So since then I have had this problem and I wonder if my router is just dying.

Is there any way to test this?

 

You could test it by using outside devices and see what happens on those. Could it be an individual adapter that is on the fritz? Just try getting a buds laptop etc. and connect and see how it is and if it gets similar issues connecting to the internet, xbox, etc. Good luck

 

Hey
You might want to swap which cable goes where (eg: modem was in 1 move it to 3, your laptop wiresthingy may of pluged into port 2 move it to 4 ect)

Hope this helps
computerwhiz6000

 

What version of dd-wrt are you running. And which router? The reason I asked the 1st version I loaded in my buffalo router did the same thing. I then installed the SP2 release and all is fine.

 

I am running Vista SP1 btw. And I have the v23 SP2 version of DD-WRT installed on my router.

I am about to turn on my desktop and test out if it gets internet. Right now, my lappy can access the router but not the web. I have to assume that if my desktop can not get on that I need a new router.

If that is the case, what would you guys reccomend? I have an xbox 360, a laptop, and a wireless desktop and I want easy WPA encryption. With DD-WRT, I just use a key and I can log on.

I want the router speed to be as fast as when the laptop is plugged right into the modem.

 

It could be your ISP or modem and not your equipment. What you are experiencing does not sound like a router problem. I would confirm your ISP is good coming in to the house. DLS and Cable modems normally have LED's providing status. If they are blinking may be have a connection problem. DSL lines are subject to storms take them out. I had a friend loose 3 modems in 3 months.

run ipconfig /all from the cmd window and check your settings. Try pinging 66.94.234.13 if you can get through the gateway is correct.

Then try ping yahoo.com to test your DNS numbers.

 

I am on the web right now. I have been for 2 days simply bypassing my router and hard wiring the modem to my laptop. So the ISP is doing their job . My desktop could not get online either. Just connected to the wireless connection but could not pull up a web page.

It all started with the web pages getting slower to load and the net cutting out every 15 minutes..now it barely connects..that is why I suspect that my router has died.

 

Do a Hard factory reset to the unit, then reload the firmware. I had 1 version of dd-wrt that did not agree with my router so I tried a newer release and it's been working ever since. I found one setting that when I changed it make the firmware mal function.

 

good idea..i should have thought about that before. Honestly, wouldn't I be ok with just the regular Buffalo firmware for what I am doing? I have the newest DD-WRT already, and all I do is port forward, use WPA, and Upnp. I mean, Im not doing much else that may even require DD-WRT.

 

hmm..update. I switched DD-WRT to Wireless G only and not mixed. I downloaded the Buffalo Vista Client Manager also and enabled it (was previously using the Toshiba one only, now they both run). Is this necessary? Maybe so? Anyway, as of now I am on the net at 54mps. I wonder if running at mixed speeds was choking it down and making it stop working? Now I have to re forward my ports. I re enabled WPA and it is working. I disabled the firewall and am just using a software one. I am wondering what else I should do to optimize it, and keep it (hopefully) running smooth.

EDIT..still got some dropouts, so I have flashed to Tomato. I will see how that goes..so far it is working.

 

I just started having problem with mine not connecting to my hidded SSID. Mine first started when I downloaded a Comodo AV beta when it starts a scan. I may try a newer SP. But since I have 3 AP in my house I always have a connection.

Let me know how Tomato works out.

 

So far Tomato is working great. I set up WPA, port forwards and have been downloading files and browsing online with very good speed. Do I need to have this Buffalo Client manager running if I already have the Toshiba one? Just wondered if it is needed to have 2.

 

Ok..here is the issue I have.

If I load up a page with a lot of graphics..a myspace..etc, the page will sometimes stutter and not load, and everything is knocked offline for 30 seconds or so. This has happened at least 10 times in the past 5 hours. I can have 2 different browsers, IE and FF going, and they all get knocked offline.

Why is this?

 

Check you MTU setting, set to 1492 (1500 def) and see if that helps.

You only want 1 manager, 2 fight each other. I use MS Zero Config. I never use what the mfg ships. I have had security problems with mfg utilities, but some time they add some nice features. I want the smallest foot print I can get, lean is better.

btw, which buffalo router to you have?

edit; Looks like my buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router has failed, and I had the power turned down...... Wireless side only. So back to old Stand by USR5450

 

I have the G54S. I changed the settings like you said, and I still get the problem. I will load a myspace page fine, then a few pages later all the pics will be red Xs and then everything goes offline for 30 seconds. After that it loads the page perfectly and at warp speed...lol. I have no idea what is up except to think that the router may be dying?

I also uninstalled the Buffalo manager.

 

I found out these units have a 2 yrs warranty. They said the court injunction does not impact warranty claims. All you need is the original purchase receipt. Mine also acts like something is overheating or has a bad ram in it. Mine want even load pages when on wireless. Then it looses the connection and fails on auth. Wired is a hit and miss, like yours.

 

I don't think I have my receipt still. At this point, I have to assume it is crapping out. I have changed settings, firmware..etc and I still get connection drops a lot. I don't know if it is a router memory issue or something, but I can not seem to fix it.

 

What happens when you go to a wired port on the router, rather than wireless?

I've had a few blips with my Buffalo's wireless where it would have issues on the original connection, but my wired service has never dropped.

 

My wired was acting up too, had longer delays than normal but mainly all wireless. I received my RMA today, so it's going back this week.

 

ill test it out. if that is the issue, then is it fixable?

 

Well, not sure if it's more fixable or not, but then we can eliminate a few sources of the problem. If it works fine on wired with no issues, then the problem is wireless related, so it could be the adapter in the laptops (unlikely, but you never know), a wireless setting, or the wireless hardware inside the router.

 

it works fine wired. how can i test the adapter and the settings?

 

When I get home from work tonight, I'll go through the settings on mine to see what I've got.

What kind of wireless cards do you have in the laptop? (Just out of curiosity)

 

It's a Realtek RTL8187b. Wireless G/N, USB 2.0..54MBPS

 

Hmm..

I was thinking about it, and if you've flashed to Tomato, settings shouldn't be a part of it (And I wouldn't have any idea what the settings are).

Have you tried other adapters or laptops? If possible, eliminate the adapter by using a friend's laptop.

If at that point it still doesn't work, I'd blame the router's hardware.