F'ing Router

[Anth505]

I'm pretty good with computers. No expert, but I have a pretty good understanding about their operation. One thing I've never fully understood is routers. I mean I know what they do and all, I can set them up and port forward and all that.

Here's the thing...every now and then, seemingly at random, my router will simply stop working. I'll unplug it and plug it back in and away it goes. Sometimes for days, weeks, months until it happens again. I'm sure there must be a logical explanation for this but that explanation eludes me. Anyone here ever have the same problem? If so, have you done anything to resolve it?

 

[flight doc89]

we need more info:
Router brand/model
Your type of internet connection (DSL Modem, Cable Modem....)
Assuming the router is plugged into a modem, we need the brand/model of the modem.

If your internet connection is not on a static IP (many DSL providers rotate IP's), your router might be freaking out when the modem resets. Your modem may have a built-in DHCP server (even if it only has one ethernet port), and that may be jacking with your router (not likely, since your router usually works, but in many of these modems, the service provider is who controls the modem settings, ie your ISP may be fucking with it and you may actually have to call your ISP to disable the DHCP server from their end if thats the case)


As to what a router does: the router keeps a map of the network. It is a network switch with a DHCP server. Every device plugged into a router is assigned an IP address by the router. when one device sends a request to another device on the network, the request is 'routed' to that device by the router.

The problem with a modem having a DHCP server being plugged into a router is both servers will try to assign IP's, and it makes a mess. When this is the case, you either must disable the DHCP server in the modem, Disable the DHCP server in the router, or just use a switch instead of a router.


EDIT: durr, misread your post, you know how these things work.

anyways, you in Canada. All the Canadian guys I game with, their ISPs rotate IP's. Yours prolly does too, and its jackin' with your modem/router.

 

[Anth505]

Thanks for the reply, and there was some info there I didn't know. Always learning!

I'm on a wireless system. It works off of cell phone towers. My Isp Is Bell Canada, I don't remember the connection speed but my limit seems to be about 380kbps DL, and 50kbps UL.

router is a D-Link Dl-604. I know my ISP Rotates the IP address but I set up a Static I.P. on my router the last time it happened. I'm not sure if doing that helps anything. I'm guessing not because the problem is still there. I will look into disabling the DHCP setting on the router.

 

[HommerSimpson]

my router linksys about 5 years old just started doing that on and off then work ok past few months... it took shit last night at 3am

 

[PROJECT N00b]

had the same problem, its called an intermittent signal. Its not the router its actually your modem. (i might be wrong) but just give your DSL provider.

 

[Doward]

DSL?

Hook a computer straight to the modem, and see if you can http or telnet into it. See what your incoming signal strength is.

When you say 'it's going out' - are you talking about your connection to the router, or the internet goes out?

DI-604 I don't remember being wireless. Are you dropping the signal between you and the router, or the router to the modem?

*edit* just re-read your 2nd post.

I'm going to bet your incoming WAP is getting dropped signal packets.

 

[Anth505]

The router is not wireless, my internet connection is. When I stop getting signal from the router and I plug directly into the modem, it's all good. It just seems to be a router issue.

 

[Doward]

The router is not wireless, my internet connection is. When I stop getting signal from the router and I plug directly into the modem, it's all good. It just seems to be a router issue.

Gotcha. Update the firmware on the router, if you haven't already.

 

[PROJECT N00b]

call tech support =].

 

[Poodles]

do you do any file sharing like bittorrent?

That router (as I have the exact same POS) doesn't like too many connections...

 

[Anth505]

I use the torrents all the time. It didn't occur to me that the torrents could be the problem. Mind you, when it quit last night, I wasn't using any BT's.

 

[huntin5L]

Like doward said, update the firmware of your router first and foremost, many people don't seem to pay attention to these updates and they are crucial. Think of firmware updates as being service packs for windows. Let us know after the firmware upgrade, my guess is this will fix the issue.

If this still doesn't work, do the following for further troubleshooting.

Run this command. Start-->run-->type cmd

Now when the cmd prompt comes up type in: ipfconfig/all

Write down or take a screenshot and post the results, I want to see how the network is configured. Plus, how many machines do you have running on your network?

 

[Anth505]

I can't remember if I've upgraded the firmware on the router. I'm pretty good with that sort of thing but I don't remember if I've done it. Next time I'm home I'll check it out. I'll also put up the network info.

There are 2 computers on the network.

 

[Doward]

it's actually ipconfig /all

 

[huntin5L]

Either or works

 

[Anth505]

Here ya go

 

[Fuzz420]

I had this issue a while back. It upset me greatly as i was getting dropped out of my xbox live games. My problem was my ISP had upgraded the broadband speed, and my modem being old (7 years or so) just could not keep pace and would constantly time out. My first attempt at a solution was upgrading the firmware on the router, it was already updated so i eliminated the router. On top of that the router was pretty much brand new. So next i googled some linksys modems, proceeded to go to best buy to pick a new one up. I came home hooked it up, called the ISP to verify the modem in the newtwork. To this day i havent had any issues, and since then ive upgraded by broadband again ,still with no issues(besides high sustained bandwith usage )Goodluck

 

[Anth505]

I'm not sure off hand what brand of modem I have. I'm heading out in a few minutes so I won't check until later if it matters at all.

The type of connection I have is a fairly new technology around here, I live in the country and can't get cable or high speed phone. I get high speed from cell phone towers. Being that it's a fairly new thing, the modem
should be up to date. It's not even a year old yet.

 

[huntin5L]

Everything looks fine, and your router is handling your dhcp service.

Also ive seen this happen on other home networks ive worked on, assuming you are on xp, go to the properties of the local area connection and make sure you see that the connection doesn't have bridging associated with it (check all the machines on the network to make sure this isn't turned on)

Also, check for the latest firmware update for your router and install it asap if there is one.

Furthermore, when you start to see that you have issues, do the ipconfig /all again and post what you see, because that will be a tell tail sign of whether you are dropping the ip assigned to your client or not. It could be the router is having problems with the dhcp service, so make sure you check to see if you have an ip addy assigned, if you do have an address assigned make sure it isn't using an apipa address, which is called automatic private ip addressing, which will be a weird ip address of from 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254. With this address you will not be able to get out on the internet. If you see this and you have installed the latest firmware updates, I would try another router, because most likely this one is faulty.

Also when this happens log into your router and make sure a public address is being assigned to the WAN interface. (Same address you use to access a machine on your network from outside using port forwarding ) I don't know if your public address is static or dynamic, but nonetheless if you aren't seeing an ip address assigned this would be the reason why you can't get out on the internet. You should at this point call your isp for further troubleshooting, it very well could be the modem.

When this happens is it both of your computers that don't have access or one of the computers that can't get out?

 

[Doward]

How is the router handling DHCP service? It says big and bold that DHCP Enabled = No.

Looks like you've got a static ip address. Do this:

Start/Run and type this - http://192.168.0.1 (this is your gateway, so it should be your router) Give us a printscreen of the 'WAN status' screen

Also, your motherboard has dual gigabit NICs on it? You have two identical NICs listed, with 2 different MACs - aka two physically different cards.

One more thing, see how your connections are listed as #7 and #5? I'd clean that up if I were you, but it would involve playing in the registry. It won't harm anything to leave it like it is - but if that computer were on my workbench, I'd take care of that