I have DSL modem hooked up to a (stupid Linksys) wireless access point/router. Two PC's are connected to the internet wirelessly through the router. When I try to access videos (I assume they are streaming) from certain sites, like cnn.com, CMT.com, nbc5i.com etc. I lose connection to the internet from both machines (the little icon in the system tray says "Wireless connection xxxxxx is NOT connected"). I have to turn off the modem, unplug the (stupid Linksys) router and then turn them both back on again. Then the network gets connected back. This is a recent happening. Until about 6 weeks ago, everything worked fine. Should I just bite the bullet and do a hard reset of the (stupid Linksys) router?

~Rob

 

I'm having great success with an old WRT54G v2 that my neighbor was tossing out - he bricked it and couldn't revive it. I revived it and am running some aftermarket firmware in it. Its got tofu 9 in it; and the latest version is 14 or so - but if it isn't broke, why fix it. And I told him I wasn't giving it back. I've got 5 wireless networks within range from this particular computer.

So what "stupid" router model do you have and what firmware is it running?

What is your heartburn in doing a hard reset? Its no biggie. You can always save the current config if you want to revert to what you're running now.

What did you change in the last 6 weeks? Here are some random thoughts: Maybe a neighbor introduced his wireless router in your electromagnetic world and its causing interference? Are you using channels 1, 6, or 11? They have no overlap. I've found that implementing WPA security made some of my connections more problematic. Does the signal breakdown occur when you're running your microwave oven? Did you buy a new radio - telephone? Both use 2.4 Ghz. Set up your wireless network to b mode only; rather than g, or b and g. I've never tried MIMO or super G stuff - none of my routers and wireless NIC's are from the same manufacturer.

I don't know why you have to reset the modem and router when your wireless network quits. I can't even remember when I've reset my Vz DSL modem and router. Vz will restart the modem periodically due to the dynamic ip, and my router will go for months without a reset. I say months, because I think the uptime counter rolls over after 60 days.

Are the power supply's ok? Sometimes they go squirrelly and make the modem and/or router act goofy.

What kind of wireless NIC's are you running? They are not all created equal.

as always, YMMV

 

Chris thanks for the tips.

I forgot to see what model and firmware version I am running on the router. I have updated the firmware once or twice since the unit was new. This is my second Linksys router and I probably wont' go with another one. The first one always needed reset (both soft and hard or I occassionaly had to re-install the latest firmware. When I take the router out of the picture, I have no problems).

I wasn't aware that I can save the current router config. before doing a hard reset. I will look into that today or tommorow. That is handy.

I have changed no settings on the router since I set it up (over a year ago). That is the strange part. We haven't purchased any new phones/radios etc. (All that money is being wisely "invested" in the truck ). I scanned for new networks in my area, but I didn't see any new ones pop up (I don't think my neighbor can spell "PC" let alone operate one).

I will check the power supplies, but I don't think they are the culprit. The only time I have this issue is when I try to the same thing everytime (look at streaming video). If the drops happened when I did other things, I would give them a harder look.

I am using Linksys NICs on both of our PC's. I am using WEP protection (if I remember correctly, the one wireless card is older and doesn't support WAP).

Thanks again,
~Rob

 

What's the distance between the wireless PCs and the router? The older systems have a limited distance to where they'll work properly. I'm in a 4 bedroom house, with the router on one side and a wireless PC on the opposite side. There are days when it doesn't work well at all due to the distances and 3 walls the signal has to travel through.

 

Tom,
Both PC's are in the same room as the router

(I hate wires)
~Rob

 

Are you using the Linksys wireless software? I dumped it and went to Microsoft and have had no more problems and my systems are much faster. I'm sure you have already found it, but Linksys now has a program you download to a flash drive to use for setting up additional PC's.

 

I had the same issue with a early version Linksys wireless router, went through two of them. I replaced it with one of these http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper and no more issues.

MikeyB

 

That's the same one I have.

 

Thanks MikeyB,
I will give that a shot.

~Rob

 

This is the one I'm using now and I'm pretty happy with it.

 

Circuit City has a pretty good sale on routers.

 

A couple of questions for you:

1) If you're using the Linksys software to connect, are you making sure the Microsoft wireless software is disabled? Sometimes the two software programs will compete with each other and kick you off. I'd suggest going with just the Microsoft software since you're in the same room.

2) In the router configuration, are you broadcasting the name of your router to the public? If so, disable that.

3) How many wireless connections are you allowing the router to accept? I'd suggest disabling the broadcast of the router name, and then set the maximum number of wireless connections to two.

 

How do you do this?

 

Charlie,
In the router options (after you log into it as Admin), on one of the pages there is an option to Broadcast or Not Broadcast SSID.
Make it so that you are not broadcasting your SSID. You might have to restart you PC's, not sure.

~Rob

 

Thanks Rob, I'll give it a try.