Motorola Surfboard Modems and Linksys Routers

Penth

Senior member
Mar 9, 2004
933
0
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I've been searching google all day for help with this but it seems like no one is able to come up with a solution. My router is constantly dropping connections and the only way to get back onto the network is to power cycle the router by pulling the cable. I read somewhere that it only appears to be those using Motorola Cable Modems and Linksys Routers that are having this problem. Does anyone have this combo and also have this problem. Or better yet, have you had this problem and did you figure out a solution the preferrably didn't involve buying a new router or cable modem? Thanks for any help.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
have the same setup with no problems, have you called your cable company to see if it is something on their end? also, how old are the items?
 

stevty2889

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2003
7,036
8
81
I've got the same setup as well with no issues. I did have some problems for a short time, it was actualy the cable connecting to the modem that was causing the connection to drop, it is connected to a splitter going to my tv as well, and my tv was also getting a crappy signal. Had them replace the cables with new ones, and no more issues.
 

Penth

Senior member
Mar 9, 2004
933
0
0
Well the Linksys Wireless G Router is like two weeks old, but I had the same problem with the connection dropping with my last linksys router. The Motorola Surfboard 4100 is probably 3 years old. I guess it's not as simple of a problem as I thought. I found forums about it on a few websites with multiple people having the same issue, but no one seems to have yet found a solution.
 

Penth

Senior member
Mar 9, 2004
933
0
0
maybe I could plug it straight into my computer for a day or two and see if the connection ever drops. I imagine it wouldn't as I'm pretty sure it is a problem with the Motorola Modem and Linksys Routers being used together.
 

compotatoj

Junior Member
Feb 21, 2005
3
0
61
Penth, that is a very odd coincidence. I have the Exact same Moterola 4100 SurfBoard, in fact, I got it 3 years ago when I moved into my house. I also have a Wireless G Router, model WRK54G (worst router ever). I have a feeling it is probably a dumb router, it is definitely not a good buy. The WRT54G is much better. Mine cannot be flashed with the firmware hacks, nor does it have a removable antenna, so I get a pretty weak signal. I have to release and renew my IP in my router settings, and sometimes reset the SurfBoard. It may be my ISP, but it is probably the router. I have RoadRunner, and it started happening abut the same time that they boosted our speeds from 3Mbps to 5Mbps. In my SurfBoard logs, I keep getting these errors:

B605.10 Map Reject - Downstream Traffic Flow Not Mapped to BPI+ SAID (EC=8)
B556.0 Received SA-Map Reject(4-B) error code 8
B601.0 SA Map State Machine Started

I asked Motorola and they told me this:


1) "If you keep getting frequent disconnects, then there is a problem with the signal coming from the ISP. You will need to contact them in order to get them to resolve your connection issue. If you have any further questions feel free to reply or call us 24/7 at 1-877-466-8646. Have a great day and thank you for choosing Motorola."

2) "There errors you see are nothing there to worry about. Its just the normal boot up process of the modem. What you see failing is the modem refusing a firmware upgrade from the TFTP server. It's nothing to worry about as it will not cause any connection issues. If you are having frequent disconnects then you will still need to contact your cable provider to run a check on your cable lines. If you have any further questions feel free to reply or call us 24/7 at 1-877-466-8646. Have a great day and thank you for choosing Motorola."

I hope that helps, I need help too. :)
Good luck.
 
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MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
I have a WRT54G and a Surfboard SB4100 and there aren't any problems at all.
 

compotatoj

Junior Member
Feb 21, 2005
3
0
61
WRT54G is much better than the WRK54G. The WRK54G, which I have, comes in this 'Linksys Wireless/Laptop Networking' package, which includes a 54G wireless laptop card and a 54g router with no removable antennas. It is cheaper, and I was stupid enough to afford it. It contains a different chip and is much worse. That is probably why I have a problem with it and not you. Penth may also have the same router as me.
 
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Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
I have the modem and a WRT54G and experienced the connection issues. Turns out I only get that if I leave P2P programs (azerus and emule) running constantly. When they are running the connection will slow to a crawl after a few days, and eventually stop, requiring a reboot of the Linksys. When they are not running I have no connection issues. Probably has to do with the router renewing its lease, and its inability to do it when the connection is in heavy use.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Motorola SB5100 and Linksys WRT54G router. Great combination. Up for months at a time with no problems.
 

BigPete

Senior member
May 28, 2001
729
0
0
I have a SurfBoard 5100 with a Linksys WRT54G running Sveasoft firmware and I have ZERO issues. In fact, I think my network is more stable now than it has ever been.
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
The 4x00 Surfboards are a trusty warhorse of a cable modem if I've ever seen one; I doubt your problem is being caused by the modem. I certainly haven't had any problems with my 4200+BEFW11S4 v.2 over the last 2 years.
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,200
765
126
I didn't have my Linksys router at the time, but I used to have a Motorolla 4100 cable modem and it would drop my connection frequently. I complained to Comcast about it enough and they upgraded me to a 5120 and I haven't had a single disconnect since then with or without the Linksys WRT54G that I added two months ago.
 

Penth

Senior member
Mar 9, 2004
933
0
0
Hmmm... Maybe I'll see if I can get them to get me a new modem. Or I could just buy the linksys modem and stop paying rent. If I knew that would solve the problem I think I'd go for it. It's hard to say though. I've just turned my IP to static so I'll see if it the connection stays up longer. It has been lasting like 10 minutes today. I've unplugged that thing probably 20 times since I got home from work.
 

lartmander

Junior Member
Feb 7, 2005
14
0
0
I had a similar problem with an old linksys router. Turns out the router was dying, and would lose connectivity. I cheated and went to Fry's and did the switcharoo, then things worked okay =)