Extremely strange networking problem...

[Renegade23216]

I have three computers and a printer all connected to the same router. About 15 times per day, the network (internet, file sharing, printing, everything on the network) becomes disconnected. It usually happens for a split second (like a spike) and I am instantly put back online. I know this because my AIM will sign off and then back on within 1 second. Other times, it goes down for a minute or two.

Every time it happens, I can solve the problem by simply unplugging the router, then plugging it right back in. As soon as I do that, I'm back online (and the network comes back up).

It cannot be my ISP since the disconnection causes everything including network printing to stop functioning.

I used a linksys router. Linksys could not figure it out. We thought it was defected, so had it replaced with the same one. Once again, same problem. Had it replaced AGAIN, this time with a Netgear router.

I figured it would surely have to be solved with a completely different brand of router, but I saw the problem occcur a few times again today. I'm completely lost and do not understand why this is happening.

My ISP is Comcast (not that it matters).

 

[nbarb99]

Have you tried upgrading the router firmware? A long shot, but that solved some problems with my Linksys wireless router.

Could it be a tiny power spike that is affecting the router itself? Have you put it on a surge protector/UPS?

 

[Renegade23216]

It's not on a surge protector or UPS, but it's connected to the same power strip as the computer. The computer always stays on when the router interrupts. So that's definitely not the problem.

Also, that wouldn't cause it to go down for several minutes at a time, sometimes.

Still baffled.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Well just because your computer doesn't *SEEM* to be affected doesn't mean it isn't a power surge or unstable power connection. Your computer more than likely has a much higher resistance to power surges than your router....