Do i need a switch?

[AlphaMystic]

I have a Comcast modem connected to a NETGEAR 6300 Router. It seems the more devices I connect to the Router the more problems I have, some devices lose connections completely and i have to turn off and on wifi on those devices to get them to connect again. Some cant even to a ping on a speed test.

My problems started as I added a few more devices.

I had a tortuous chat with Comcast about it and they talk about something to do with 5 simultaneous connections, but really they have no idea what they are talking about.

Apparently the Router can handle 4096 connections, so I guess that's fine. Do i need to connect a switch somewhere?

Is there anything else i can do.

 

[nickbits]

A switch won't fix your problem. Sounds like your router is crapping out or just is crappy in general.

 

[nickbits]

Ps. The connection limit on your router refers to the number of tcp connections it can keep track of. The limit Comcast is talking about it the number if devices they will issue an ip for, but with a router and nat, that number is meaningless.

 

[AlphaMystic]

A switch won't fix your problem. Sounds like your router is crapping out or just is crappy in general.

Its actually quite a top Router: NETGEAR R6300 WiFi Router-802.11ac Dual Band Gigabit - Routing Perf, Wireless Perf-11ac

 

[AlphaMystic]

Ps. The connection limit on your router refers to the number of tcp connections it can keep track of. The limit Comcast is talking about it the number if devices they will issue an ip for, but with a router and nat, that number is meaningless.

Ok i think i get it, i have about 20 devices, but as i am going through a Router then Comcast is really only issuing one ip address: to the router, is that right?

 

[Lorne]

Power supply could be crapping out or just not up to par.
Gigabit and wireless together is a lot of wattage and the mfg assume you wont be loading it up all the way and there for pack low watt power packs with it.
Seen it a few times now and more often that users looking for bandwidth and internet bandwidth increasing.

 

[AlphaMystic]

Power supply could be crapping out or just not up to par.
Gigabit and wireless together is a lot of wattage and the mfg assume you wont be loading it up all the way and there for pack low watt power packs with it.
Seen it a few times now and more often that users looking for bandwidth and internet bandwidth increasing.

What i see is that one devices loses connectivity while others are fine. It seems to be OK until a certain amount are connected then after that a random device will be cut off.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What i see is that one devices loses connectivity while others are fine. It seems to be OK until a certain amount are connected then after that a random device will be cut off.

That sound like your DHCP pool size is too small.

Have you checked for and applied the latest firmware update to the router as well? It could be a bug.

 

[azazel1024]

That sound like your DHCP pool size is too small.

Have you checked for and applied the latest firmware update to the router as well? It could be a bug.

It could also just be a crappy router. 20 devices doesn't sound like too much, but are these mostly wireless devices? Most consumer routers, even high end ones DO have issues once you hit a certain connection amount.

Granted, slightly older, but I saw a Netgear, I think WNDR4300, crap out once it hit around 20 wireless connections. I'd would start dropping devices, internet would be slow as heck (even though only a couple of devices were trying to use the internet, most of the 20 devices were simply "connected" and not doing anything) and other issues.

 

[colorblind]

What is the model number of your cable modem? How many ports are on the back of the modem? Specifically how are the 20 devices connected to the router? .Are these 20 devices wired or wireless?

On my setup set up I have a commercial cable modem. The cable modem has a built in router. I run a network cable to a 25 port switch. That switch has a cable that attaches to another 25 port switch

Then for wireless I have two wireless access points instalked. They connect to the switches via a network cable.