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Router Issues

MonKENy

MonKENy

Platinum Member
We have charter internet and the speeds have always been very god. The problem I have is when I use torrents, and yes I use them legally I dont pirate software, it seems that my router "locks up" and I have to hard reset it.

Could charter be doing it somehow? I checked my ip and it doesnt seem to be on any blacklists

The router is

zoom series 1051 model 5241

if I call and complain can I get them to replace it? We dont own the modem its provided through them.
 
When you says "locks up" do you mean that the downloads are super slow? Or do you mean that the thing literally locks up and you cannot access the internet until you reset it?
 
It sounds like the router is just junk and needs to be replaced.

EDIT: Wait, I think the Zoom product is a cable modem. What are you using for a router? Or is it only a single machine directly connected to a modem?
 
Last edited:
Pheran said:
It sounds like the router is just junk and needs to be replaced.

EDIT: Wait, I think the Zoom product is a cable modem. What are you using for a router? Or is it only a single machine directly connected to a modem?
Click to expand...

Pretty much this. If its a crappy router that can't handle that many connections that will happen. The modem is usually not the problem. What router are you using?

If you don't want to buy a new router, you can set the maximum number of connection in your torrent client lower.
 
This happens when your torrents overload your router.

I should try torrenting a Linux distro, just to see how my router fairs.
 
i have no idea why i kept saying router. i meant modem. complete brain fart on my part. i know its the modem because if i reset that i get my connection back but if i just reset the wrt54g router it doesn't re connect until i reset the modem.


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android
 
Lower the connection limit in your torrent client. The max global connections and max connections per torrent.
 
that doesn't make sense to me. why should i have to limit anything. i don't pay 60$ a month so i can limit connections or speed. and wouldn't a better or properly working modem alieveate this problem?


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android
 
MonKENy said:
that doesn't make sense to me. why should i have to limit anything. i don't pay 60$ a month so i can limit connections or speed. and wouldn't a better or properly working modem alieveate this problem?


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android
Click to expand...
It's not what you pay for, it's the limitations of the router, specifically RAM
 
thats what I mean, what do you think the odds that i get a new one from them if I complain that it keeps locking up?
 
I don't know about Charter in particular, but with Comcast I've had issues with equipment and they were more than happy to let me come in and swap for a replacement.

TBH it was kind of unsettling. Almost like they just had the one bin and gave me another random box from it to try out (and then tossed mine in their for the next guy). I had to do that 4 times last year to get a good cable box. 😡

I'd try to go that route just because the tech they send out will more than likely have you reset the router and could go either way on taking your word it keeps doing it or saying that it works fine now call again if it breaks and you're no further ahead than before.
 
Your modem is likely also doing network address translation. The bittorrent protocol (may it rot in hell) overwhelms NAT and state tables basically exhausting the modem (which is doing NAT/routing).

You could ask for a modern modem, or make sure the modem isn't doing any NAT (also called bridge mode). Or lower the number of connections to eliviate the NAT/state table size/problem.
 
If you are renting the modem, then of course you can get a new one. At least comcast lets you replace the modem if you wanted to for free.
 
spidey07 said:
Your modem is likely also doing network address translation. The bittorrent protocol (may it rot in hell) overwhelms NAT and state tables basically exhausting the modem (which is doing NAT/routing).

You could ask for a modern modem, or make sure the modem isn't doing any NAT (also called bridge mode). Or lower the number of connections to eliviate the NAT/state table size/problem.
Click to expand...

I was checking the specs of his modem and can't find any routing or NAT functions.

http://www.zoomtel.com/techsupport/cable/cable_5241.shtml

Op, if you visit the setup page for your wrt54 linksys router, what are the first 3 octets it gives you for your WAN/Internet IP (example: 192.168.1.x)?

If the first 2 are one of these three: 192.168.x.x, 172.16.x.x – 172.31.x.x, or 10.x.x.x then your modem is doing some sort of routing and you should attempt to turn it off like spidey mentioned (switch it to bridge mode).

If its anything else i dont think your modem is doing any routing work. In which case you just have a really crappy modem. Switch it out as soon as possible.
 
Charter should let you own your own modem instead of renting. Just get a Motorola SB6121 and at least you'll eliminate the cable modem as a possible source of the problem. You may even save a few bucks a month on your Internet bill.
 
serpretetsky said:
I was checking the specs of his modem and can't find any routing or NAT functions.

http://www.zoomtel.com/techsupport/cable/cable_5241.shtml

Op, if you visit the setup page for your wrt54 linksys router, what are the first 3 octets it gives you for your WAN/Internet IP (example: 192.168.1.x)?

If the first 2 are one of these three: 192.168.x.x, 172.16.x.x – 172.31.x.x, or 10.x.x.x then your modem is doing some sort of routing and you should attempt to turn it off like spidey mentioned (switch it to bridge mode).

If its anything else i dont think your modem is doing any routing work. In which case you just have a really crappy modem. Switch it out as soon as possible.
Click to expand...

yes my ip range starts at 192.168 etc, so how would I switch to a bridge mode?

that Motorola SB6121 modem is a bit to expensive for me at the moment. I have a wishlist a mile long and that just got added but s it is my income barley exceeds my expense and I just dont have the budget to upgrade. If I cant fake it to work ill call charter and hope for a better router I guess.

Is there a way I can setup my router to maximize efficiency? I never got deep into messing with it but im sure I am under utilizing alot of what its capable of. I have to forward ports for utorrent and some security cameras I have but other than that I dont have to do anything too advanced really. Any tips?
 
Last edited:
spidey07 said:
Your modem is likely also doing network address translation. The bittorrent protocol (may it rot in hell) overwhelms NAT and state tables basically exhausting the modem (which is doing NAT/routing).

You could ask for a modern modem, or make sure the modem isn't doing any NAT (also called bridge mode). Or lower the number of connections to eliviate the NAT/state table size/problem.
Click to expand...

a modem doing NATing??? i didnt know that was possible with a modem.
 
MonKENy said:
yes my ip range starts at 192.168 etc, so how would I switch to a bridge mode?
Click to expand...
I must reiterate, it MUST be the ip address in your WAN/Internet section of your linksys router.

You said range and that makes me think you're talking about your local ip range. The local ip range is almost always 192.168 or one of the other private ip ranges.

But your internet ip/WAN ip shouldn't be in a private range
 
Is this what you mean? If not I cant find it.

Routing Table Entry List
Destination LAN IP Subnet Mask Gateway Hop Count Interface
192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 0.0.0.0 1 LAN & Wireless
75.142.200.0 255.255.254.0 0.0.0.0 1 WAN (Internet)
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 75.142.200.1 1 WAN (Internet)
 
You won't catch me switching my router to bridged mode (puts on tinfoil hat). NAT is the only thing that protects many people from the unwashed masses of the internet. But, spidey07 is right, your router is likely being overrun by the sheer number of connections that torrents create. Limiting your connections via your torrent client is the best solution IMO (you likely aren't gaining much from having thousands of connections as opposed to hundreds), but if you want the most possible connections, you'll need a solution like bridged mode on your router.

Alternatively, you could connect your PC directly to your modem, connect to it over a switch instead of a router, or put your computer in the DMZ (may still run into routing issues) to achieve the same result.

One thing to be aware of: you may only be allowed one IP address by your ISP, so if you don't use NAT, you may only be able to have one device on the internet at a time.

EDIT:
As for bridged mode, check out pages 7 and 8 of the manual.
 
Last edited:
MonKENy said:
Is this what you mean? If not I cant find it.

Routing Table Entry List
Destination LAN IP Subnet Mask Gateway Hop Count Interface
192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 0.0.0.0 1 LAN & Wireless
75.142.200.0 255.255.254.0 0.0.0.0 1 WAN (Internet)
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 75.142.200.1 1 WAN (Internet)
Click to expand...
thats the one, it looks like your modem is bridging. 75.x.x.x. are public ip's, your modem is not doing any NAT or routing, just bridging the connection straight to your linksys router.

Next time your internet stalls, try turning off/pausing a few of your connections/downloads, restart the router, and test the internet again. It could still be your router.
 
serpretetsky said:
thats the one, it looks like your modem is bridging. 75.x.x.x. are public ip's, your modem is not doing any NAT or routing, just bridging the connection straight to your linksys router.

Next time your internet stalls, try turning off/pausing a few of your connections/downloads, restart the router, and test the internet again. It could still be your router.
Click to expand...

Agreed, that routing table from the "router" says modem is bridging.

NAT router is getting overloaded, this happens all the time with that evil thing called torrents. There are numerous ways to help with this.
 
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