Strange WRT54G Problem

[Wizkid]

I'm having a very strange problem with a WRT54G and Rogers Cable internet. The router is set to get an IP automatically, which is does, and everything looks ok. I hooked a computer up with a cable (not going to bother testing wireless until wired works). I can ping and traceroute any site just fine, and the pings look ok. However, HTTP, FTP, etc. are all painfully slow. It takes about 5 minutes to load the google page, and some pages don't even load at all. If I connect the cable modem directly to the computer, then it works fine. I've tried 2 computers and it did this on both of them (Windows XP SP2). I also tried changing the MTU on the router to 1470 and that didn't seem to help at all. I tried a few different firmware revisions, including the Sveasoft ones, and nothing seems to help. Any ideas?

 

[InlineFive]

I would look at the router having a problem physically. Have you tried to find another WRT54G that you could try instead?

 

[Wizkid]

I wouldn't easily be able to purchase one to try... most stores around here won't let you return opened boxes without a restocking fee and I don't know anyone else who has one.

On another note: the router was working perfectly on a DSL connection, it just doesn't like this cable service. I was reading elsewhere that someone had to set the MTU to 1440 before their router would work (different router, different ISP). I never tried anything below 1450, could this be the problem?

 

[TeeDub]

DNS settings come up the same both ways?

 

[Wizkid]

Yep, DNS resolves just fine with the router, and I can ping/traceroute without a problem. The problem occurs when I try to load a webpage in IE/Firefox (tried both).

 

[Kelemvor]

Have you checked your PC settings to make sure everything is set to OBtain Automatically for IP, DNS, etc? Also you could check the network card properties and make sure it's on AutoDetect and things like that.

Otherwise I'd get some other router (same or different) and see what happens. If another router works fine, then you should be able to exchange the broken one for one that works. They can't charge you a restocking fee for returning a defective item and exchanging it for a non-defective one.

Also, have you tried not using the router and going straight through the modem? If that works and the router doesn't, then I'd say it's definitely the router and I'd take it back and get a new one because your's is broken.

 

[Wizkid]

Internet works fine when connected directly to the modem.

When connected to the router, the computer gets an IP, DNS, etc. automatically from the router (192.168.x.x) and can ping the internet, just can't download web pages (well, some work, but very slowly, and others don't work at all). This exact router, works perfectly fine when hooked up to a different internet connection. So this cable connection is causing the problem... I don't think it's the router (although I could be wrong). Is there anything else I can try?

 

[Kelemvor]

Could always try finding the little Reset button on the router (assuming there is one) and jsut setting everything back to scratch to see if that helps. I've had to do that a couple times when some weird setting got stuck. Or even check for an updated firmware revision or something. Might have to check the manual to see if there's a soft reset vs hard reset or anything like that.