About to throw my wifi router against the wall....

[jediphx]

ok I have a linksys wireless B 2.4ghz router hooked up to my 5 mbit cable connection. its model BEFW11S4. I will be surfing the web or just getting back from work and my internet connection will just drop off no reason. Cable modem says i still have connection. If i unplug power to the wifi router and plug it back again after a few seconds the connection is back but then a few minutes later it will be gone again. I have upgraded the router to the latest firmware but no help. I did change the MTU to 1462 per someones suggestion and that helped for about a week but now its doing it again. the router is not even that old. Please help me out guys.

 

[themusgrat]

For cable, I'm pretty sure that MTU should be 1500. In the connection menu, change "idle timeout" to 0, if you can. Also, make sure that RIP and other nonessential stuff is off. Try another cable too, some of mine connect, then drop the connection randomly.

 

[jediphx]

where would i find idle timeout setting. i did not see it listed in the router setup

 

[themusgrat]

It might not be called idle timeout, or you might not have that option. It is dsl option, maybe cable stuff doesn't have idle timeout, sorry, I didn't pay attention. I also added more to the above post.

 

[jediphx]

argh I switched out the cables with new ones and it is still doing it. Any other ideas or tests i can run on the router or cable modem?

 

[HN]

you don't have anything in the background that's using the connection constantly do you? like downloads, newsgroups, bittorrent?

 

[jediphx]

not all the time no. it will do it if I have nothing going on other than trillian

 

[Luckyboy1]

Battery charge?

 

[nweaver]

direct connect to ensure it's not the modem or ISP causing problems.

 

[jediphx]

the router doesnt have a battery does it?

 

[jediphx]

i am testing something. I have a sneaking suspicion that it has something to do with Trillian because its an older version and always is running.

 

[PurdueRy]

Could have something to do with DHCP lease expiring...I don't know what it is but I know I have had it happen on ours...

 

[jediphx]

damn it must be the wifi router, i disconnected it and just connected straight to the cabl;e modem and all runs perfect 24/7 even with trillian, torrents etc running like crazy. damn this router is barely a year old if that. anyone have a wifi router they dont need? LOL

 

[daveybrat]

It's the Linksys B router you're using. I've gone through 2 of them at my work with the same exact symptoms as you. I'd have to unplug it twice a day just to get internet working again. After replacing it with a Belkin G router, no problems. Stick with G or higher routers imo.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: nweaver
direct connect to ensure it's not the modem or ISP causing problems.

Go to DSL Reportsdsl reports and run thir tweak tests to make sure you are set with optimal settings.

It can't hurt to run a tweak test.

 

[jediphx]

thanks, crap didnt feel like buying a new router right now LOL

 

[jediphx]

no the connection doesnt drop off at the laptop , i havent even been using the laptop. the desktop which my cable modem is hooked up to and also the wifi router will lose internet a couple of times a day if the wifi router is hooked up and I have to unplug the wifi router to get it back.

 

[AppleEater]

A few suggestions:
Firstly, I will assume you have the latest drivers/firmware for your NIC (assuming ethernet). If not, get them
Also, though it really doesn't sound like it, it might be a cord problem, you can always try another (or maybe its the particular port on the router)
Finally, a likely solution I believe, I have been having a very similar problem with my Wireless G (connecting through ethernet) linksys. It seemed to be overheating -_-. As lame as it sounds, you may try to increase airflow with a fan or some sort. If you saw my setup, with both my cablemodem and wifi router draped over my fan, you would laugh too .
*WARNING* DO NOT USE A FAN WITH METAL BLADES (for obvious reasons (magnetic field)).
Tell me if this fixes anything.

 

[jediphx]

seems heat was the culprit. i have been running it straight for 3 days straight with a case fan on top of the wifi router and torrents downloading like mad and not one disconnect

 

[jediphx]

SOB its doing it again even with the fan. I have had to unplug it and plug it back in twice just in the last hour WTF

 

[jediphx]

any ideas?