Router/Internet Problems

Hey guys,

This should be an easy one for you but I've had a hell of a time with it.

I'm living with my roommate in a townhouse and her dad is a big shot at IBM ... I asked him to try to fix it but nothing has worked.

Here's the problem ... the router, a Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway (PN: WCG200) keeps slipping me into Limited or No Connectivity or completely disconnecting from my laptop (connected to the network thru my Dell M1530's Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card). She's got her laptop hardwired to the router.

I just can't seem to figure out what to do ... I'm no more than 20 feet from the router will full "excellent" signal. It won't even stay fully connected for 10 minutes consecutively (done it 3 times since I started typing).

The network was WEP password protected, but since I asked him to fix it all he's done is eliminate the password ... so now it's a true public network (no security, arg). Still hasn't helped.

All I can really do is turn off the power and reset the router and get another 5-10 minutes of internet activity to just have to do it again.

If it helps any, the "DS" light on the router is stuck blinking when it disconnects me. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Oh, and it disconnects my roommate's laptop that's hardwired, too.

 

Have you done some ipconfig/all?

 

I have not and have no idea how to do. Is it something I can do safely if I Google it?

 

What operating system you have?

 

in my sig ... vista home premium edition 32x

 

This sounds like a router problem. Take a look at the router - check for excessive dust, excessive heat, etc. Blow out the vent holes. If that doesn't help, you might need to do a hard reset of the router. Since this is also your cable modem, you need to go through the router setup pages and copy down all of the information so you can enter it after the reset. The router may have an option to export settings to a file; exporting settings makes it very easy to restore everything. NOTE: you must do all of this from a wired connection; never make changes via wireless, as you can be disconnected when the settings are changed.

You could also check to see if there are any firmware updates for your router, and install the latest update. Again, you must do this from a wired connection.

Since both wired and wireless connections are affected, it's highly unlikely that your computers are the problem. Focus on the router/modem.

 

I'm not saying no, it could be very well be the router, however the router still shows sign of life as it lits the green led's, though.

Could he connect either computer directly to the modem and see how long it works?

 

I just looked this router up on Newegg and on the first page of reviews alone I saw 3 or 4 reviewers complaining about this router consistently dropping connections. I didn't feel the need to read any further to diagnose the problem. That router stinks.

Now, one thing to do would be check to see if it has the latest firmware as kegobeer suggested. (I'll take any suggestions from a guy called kegobeer.) Possibly some of these issues have been addressed. But if you're on the latest firmware and still get the drop-offs, take a hammer to it and pick up something more reliable. Life's too short to futz with a balky router.

 

Read the original post more carefully - the OP explains the problem exists with wired and wireless computers.

 

Thank you Fountainhead, very good info, and I do think kegobeer is very knowledgeable, no doubt his suggestions are good.

I would also hamer the router but hopefully he can spare it and save the money.

 

Yes, but he also said that the router led would still blink green. Which could be that the router-computer interface side is fine but the router's connectivity with the modem is not, that's why I asked you the question if he could connect the computer directly into the modem, that would definitely prove that the router isn't stable in that interface, router-modem. But, again, it could also be the modem.

Do I make sense? Don't worry to tell me I'm wrong, the day I will always be right it will be the day I'm not learning anymore, and that is scary

 

Here, let me quote the original post, where the OP stated that the hardwired computer is also disconnected.

This is a router problem, not a computer problem.

 

Ok, what about the modem, could it also be broken?

 

I had exactly the same problem with my Belkin 54g+ router (only wireless though). I solved it by going into firewall settings and disabling ping blocking.

 

...big shot at IBM???...over what...lemme guess he's a Porcelain God Engineer (for you laymen...janitorial engineer)...lol...i mean wtf...WEP...and then an open network...no offense...but i don't think i'd ask her daddy for help any more...i'm gonna take a stab at your problem...i'm gonna guess you've got DSL internet service and you have a multi or single port modem/router...if i'm right...what you've got is two network devices...both of them trying to hand out DHCP addresses...if i'm right...signals are going to collide both wired and wireless...if this is the case your gonna have to disable DHCP in either the modem/router...or the router itself...let me know...curious...and an easy problem to fix

 

Depending on which firmware the Linksys have it could very easly be the router. But a firmware update should fix the problem. But if you have a modem that already has routing function you need to change it to a bridge mode or disable the dhcp in the second device and set it up like a switch. Another quick test is since most all routers def to the same sub net (192.168.1.1) change the Linksys subnet, then the paths will be unique. The sole reason I change the def on the subnets and the SSID on all installations.

 

[email protected] you've been there b4 2

 

I still think is the modem.

 

Well, the way the OP could find that out is to systematically ping devices when a disconnect occurs. If the inside interface of the router is pingable but the outside interface isn't, then it might well be the modem itself causing the problem, though it could still be the WAN port of the router. If the inside interface of the router isn't pingable, then it's obviously the router.

My guess is that it's the router, since in the original post they mentioned powering off/on the router to fix it. They never mention powering off the modem itself.

 

That's an interesting thought. What makes me believe is the modem is that the connection works for a while and eventually dies, and that is typical of modem malfunction, but what the heck, change everything including the laptop

 

Linksys has have problems with this in the past, due to junk firmware and very little usable ram.

I would verify that the connection is solid buy doing a direct connection to the modem. If its good, it leaves the router. Also you ISP can knock you off line. If your running torrent your ISP may be putting on limits. Most record the MAC address of the pc used to setup the account. So make sure the MAC address is cloned into the router. Does not hurt, could help. The only exception would be if your ISP recorded the MAC address of the router if in place when you started your service..

I have also been forced to reset routers back to factory def, reload the firmware and start over. Surprisingly this has fixed a lot of problems when the brains have a fart.

 

i'm tell'n you...lights flashing...dls modem...router...you've got two network devices handing out DHCP addresses...data collision...that's why the blinking lights...gonna have to set modem to bridge...or disable DHCP in router...depending on which one has the most useable services for you...

 

That's make sense too.

 

I dunno. Seems like if that was the case then it'd never work...as opposed to working for awhile then suddenly disconnecting. Add to that the multitude of Newegg reviews complaining about this very router consistently losing its connection...and I'd vote for a balky router in need of a firmware update.

Of course, we may never know since the OP has been absent from this thread for days.

 

take it from the "The School of Hard Knocks"...data collisions don't happen instantly...even with collisions bits of data can strong arm past the collision until everything comes to a standstill...

best advice i can give to the poster...is give it a try...since your modem/router is handing out DCHP addresses...do a simple reversable change to your router...open the gui set-up page on the router and disable DHCP...if there is an advanced page set it to router mode instead of the default gateway mode...bet ya your probs will disappear...try it and post back...