Networking & wireless forum: Need to power-cycle my router almost every other hour or so

I have a Linksys BEF-W11S4 (version 4), and yes, my firmware is upgraded. I have had this issue repeatedly. Linksys has sent me two replacement routers, with the same results. I have connected the computer (Gateway Media Center 510 with 1 gig memory) directly to the modem (Comcast cable modem) and it works great... but the connection is horribly unreliable with the router.

It doesn't sound like an interference problem since wired PCs have the same problem as wireless connected ones (right?).

But to help, could you do some more tests? For instance, when the problem is happening do a few ping tests to internet addresses. Ping by hostname and ping by IP Address. This will help figure out if DNS is a possible issue. Also try to open a few web pages as well. Here are a couple of good destinations to use for your tests:

hostname: www.google.com
ip address: 216.239.37.104

hostname: www.yahoo.com
ip address: 209.191.93.52

If none of these work (hostname or IP), then you definitely have a complete network failure. If IP address works, but hostname does not, then only your DNS is affected. It takes some testing to figure this out.

Also, have you tested with other PCs on the same router during a "problem"? Just want to rule out if it is local to your workstation or affects everything connected. If you have more than one PC, do the same ICMP tests on both to see if the results match.

2 ould routers you say eh? Drop me a line at harpo_the_whale(at)yahoo.com and we'll go from there!

Harpo

That is strange though that the printers would not be able to renew their leases. It could be just a symptom of a bigger problem, such as broadcasts are not able to reach the DHCP server or the printers not fully supporting TCP/IP.

Contact Linksys and they will help you get it taken care of over the phone. I went through the same thing, and had other problems with this router as well, had to call them several times over a few months but finally seems to be working ok for a couple months now!

My WRT54G was doing the very same "loss of connection" every hour or so. For about two months I had been trying to port forward for a web cam I had. I gave up web cam thing and thought I had reset the router to default settings. My concern for you with my suggestion is your online gaming. I don't know what changes maybe in your router for your game connection to happen.
What fixed my problem was to return the router to it's default settings. It's has been a while now but I think holding in the reset button for six seconds or more will reset the router to default settings. After months of the same problem, resetting to default settings was the answer for me. Of course I change the password and the SSID and the security mode but after the reset that ended the lost of conductivity.

Afternoon,

Just wanted to say thank you really to everyone who has Posted here, after 11 grueling hours trying to get this Fixed, the problem is still there however feel that I have certainly taken a leap forward in getting this resolved.

I am currently using an Addon GWAR3000 - Obsolute Nightmare for technologically illiterate folkes like myself. However.

Spot on to "Morphyuz" Re DHCP Leases Expiring - Post 8. Had no idea how to change the Lease but this gave great insight. Noticed the the IP Lease was always only set for One Hour at a time each time I rebooted and Powered the router Off & On.

My Router was always set to a Static IP, but finally managed to adjust the lease when I finally realised that there was a setting for Lease Time and that there were additional settings for each computer attached to the Router which could also be set to Static (ie. Given a Fixed IP). This adjusted the lease time.

This link also helped in that it allowed me to Fix the IP Addresses on each of the Computers to match that of the Router.
http://www.portforward.com/networking/static-xp.htm
Lease appears now to be indefinite.

I am Still having problems with the connection though, but hope the above Helps for some.

What I can't figure out is why my external IP address keeps changing when I repair my Connection, this has changed 4 times in the last 4 Hours (after repairing the Network & power down of Router).

I have been checking my Local/Remote (External as I've Called it)IP through a speed test Website, but cannot understand why this has changed OR how I can Make it Static. Do I want to make it static (I alwayd assumed that this should never change.

Any Idea's??

Cheers & Phew!!

Boris
South London

I had a similar problem and found that both my router (WRT54g) and DSL modem were set as DHCP server. Turned one off and the problem went away.

I bought a new UPS about 1 year ago that also "conditions" the power coming out of the wall. You can adjust the sensitivity of this feature thru a software control. Before I had this UPS, I noticed there were numerous times that the UPS cycled back and forth to battery and A/C power quite rapidly. No more with the new UPS. I'm using a Linksys WRT54G with no problem at all. My desktop pc is usually off while plugged into the router and I use my laptop 99% of the time. Bottom line, I guess there is a possibility that your router may be getting "dirty" power that may benefit from conditioning by a decent quality UPS.

I, too, have had the exact same problem and have had it with both a new and old linksys WT54G router. I also have 2 computers hooked directly to the router and 1 desktop connected by wireless. All lose the connection at the same time as far as I can tell. I am running XP pro on a 3.0 GHz p4 with 1 GB memory.
Wall socket power tests good. My router is only two months old and I bought it thinking it would fix this issue. My old router was the same model only 2 years old. I have tried resetting the router to default settings, turning off security such as WPA, reinstalling the router software, etc. but the only thing that works is shutting off the router and then turning it back on.
Some have suggested a UPS, but I ran my other router for 2 years without one and it did fine until last August. I haven't added any new appliances to cause power surges. I have had the ISP tech people out several times and they are still scratching their heads.

Go to your DSL or cable modem configuration menu and see if it has ''DHCP server'' enabled. Then go to the configuration setup for your router and see if it has ''DHCP server'' enabled. If both are enabled, that will cause this problem. Disable one and see if that makes a difference.

I used to have to reset mine several times a day until I did the above. Since then I haven't reset in months. I had the problem with UPS, short cable length, and replaced cordless phone with 5.8ghz. Until I disabled one DHCP server nothing helped.

With both modem and router, I had to log onto the configuration setup from my internet browser.

With the WRT54g, type in the IP address of the router into your browser. (mine was 192.168.1.1) On the setup page, in the "Network Setup" area, see if DHCP server is "enabled." If this is, leave it.

Log out of this and type the IP address of your DSL modem into your browser. If you don't have it, call your ISP and ask for it. They can giive it to you and may be able to tell you exactly where the DHCP setting is. Disable the DHCP server in the modem and you should be able to reconfigure your router to pass your DSL user name and password to the modem and logon to the internet.

a problem common to three or more different routers, look for common things affecting the router: a steady power supply ? location where the router is placed-heat perhaps ? configuration of the router - disconnect while idle, automatically connects after line drop, etc. etc. ?

I see your reply is on page 2 and I can't find where you've shared your exact settings on the router.

-> Please don't bury your posts in other discussions since it will be buried and not your post.

Try it "our way" on the settings.

Bob