Bad router?

[zuffy]

I have the D-Link DGL-4500 since 12/08. It have been working great until a couple of weeks ago. I can't connect to my wifi 9/10 times and when I do, getting request time out. This is happening to my 2 laptops and my Linksys router acting as a client bridge. I have no cordless phone, microwave, or any other 2.4ghz devices nearby. The only wireless device is my Logitech MX Revolution mice. I have tried every channels, no luck. I did a reset of the modem, same result. Was using firmware 1.15 but decided to upgrade to 1.21NA even though I read so many bad things about the 1.2x firmwares. Still no luck.

Did some more troubleshooting yesterday. I reset the modem again, but this time kept everything default to keep it simple. In this scenario, I have no problem connecting and can keep a continueous ping going. Then, I set the security to Auto WPA or WPA 2. Connection and ping still good. Changed the default SSID from dlink to Starwars (I know it's corny). I can't connect anymore. Changed the SSID back to dlink. Connection is on and off and ping reply only about once per every 10 timeout. I changed the security to WPA only and static set the channel to 10. This seem to give me a connection 8/10 times and I am getting timeout once every 4-5 reply. I noticed that when my wifi is security free, it's 100% signal since I am only a few feet away. Once security is enabled, my signal drops to 60's % range.

I know interference can be the culpit but I am not sure about that. From what my laptop can scan, the 8 other wifis out there are using mostly channel 6 and then 11. I see no one else using 2-5 and 7-10. Also, it seem like when I enable security, it might be working the router harder thus the crappy wifi performance. Doesn't this sound a router about to get worse?

 

[spidey07]

Sounds lite interference in all honesty, especially because you can pick up 8 other APs - that's a lot. Also channels have a lot of overlap so only channels 1, 6, 11 don't overlap each other. Also make sure you are broadcasting your SSID and your antennas are not pointing at each other. You can also download netstumbler to see what your signal to noise ratio is.

-edit-
Security is done in hardware so it's not working the router any more than without encryption.

 

[zuffy]

But if it's interference, why does it work so well in security free mode vs security mode? That just doesn't make sense. Also, channel 1 is free and I tried that channel with security. Does not work as well as channel 10 even though no one else are using 1-5 and 7-10 (I know, my first post said 2-5, that was a typo). SSID is broadcasted and no MAC filtering.

I will give NetStumbler a try.

 

[zuffy]

Instead of doing more troubleshooting on my own, I called D-Link support yesterday. After going thru some BS troubleshooting with their level 1 and 2 support, I demanded a replacement. Looks like I will be getting my wish but I need to call another number that is in the US and they are in PST time. I will have to wait another hour.

 

[zuffy]

Finally got my D-Link replacement. The wireless is definitely better now than the old one but comparing to my old Linksys WRT54G routers, not as stable. When I setup my Linksys router as an AP, I can contineously ping it forever without a request time out. With the new D-Link, I might get 4-5 request timeouts per minute. If it get worse like the old, I am going to just use my Linksys as the AP and keep the D-Link as the wired router.

 

[Paperlantern]

I have a D-Link, and have never had an issue with it. Had it for at least 5 years or so. Updated firmware once along the way. I did have a problem with my internet thats still not completely ironed out where id get lag spikes here and there, but id bypass the router and the lag spikes are still there, so not D-Link. Not sure what your issue could be, maybe update the firmware? I've had mine locked down ever since Ive had it as well. Maybe they jsut dont make them like they used to?