Router questions

Ideas

United States8148 Posts

July 31 2010 23:36 GMT

So I'm home for the summer as just the last 2 days we've been having a lot of internet problems with connections constantly flickering on and off. We figured out it's the router. It seems at this house we can't get a router to last more than 2 years.

Is this standard? How long should routers last? Are we just buying shitty routers (usually 40-60$ purchases)? Currently we have a netgear but it's actually lasted longer than any other router we had before lol. Clearly I don't know a lot about routers or anything but why does it seem that routers are really shitty? It just feels like they all have a built-in expiration date that makes me have to go buy a new one because the router companies want more money.

Thanks for any answers/advice/info.

Loser777

1931 Posts

July 31 2010 23:47 GMT

Well, companies such as linksys cut as many corners as they can on routers... that means cutting RAM and the firmware to save nand flash space... which means routers will lock up under much lighter usage. Is there a lot of heavy internet usage in your home? Mine usually dies if I'm downloading something >2MB/s

tarpman

Canada719 Posts

July 31 2010 23:54 GMT

A lot of routers are cheap crappy things that, as you've found, don't last. The only router that I've ever been satisfied with, and thus the only one I'll recommend, is the Linksys WRT54GL. It's been popular for a long time, so they've released several revisions and it's only gotten better. I favour the L (Linux) variant specifically because IMO (this is strictly subjective though) the Linux-based firmware is more robust than the code in the other variants. If you're maxing out the G wireless or the 100Mbit ethernet and you need even more speed (hint: you aren't and you don't) I'd probably suggest the WRT350N; I've been rocking one of those for a couple of years now and don't have any complaints yet.

I also flash DD-WRT on every router I get. In my opinion it's miles ahead of any vendor firmware. The installation isn't terribly risky and the configuration's pretty easy to figure out (web interface like any un-modded router) but if you're not a technical user you might be more comfortable sticking with the safe and supported stock firmware.

AoN.DimSum

United States2983 Posts

August 01 2010 00:05 GMT

I just installed DD-WRT today, had to lower power output which was causing router to overheat! Do not buy a WRT320N!!!!

TadH

Canada1846 Posts

August 01 2010 00:23 GMT

I used to work for Dlink and this goes for all routers, they operate on the 2.4~2.5ghz channel, if you have cordless phones that are running on the same frequency then it will interfere a LOT with your internet connection, just check your phones if they are on the same ghz, if they are you can change the channel on your router to be as far away as possible.

TadH

Canada1846 Posts

August 01 2010 00:24 GMT

On August 01 2010 08:54 tarpman wrote:
A lot of routers are cheap crappy things that, as you've found, don't last. The only router that I've ever been satisfied with, and thus the only one I'll recommend, is the Linksys WRT54GL. It's been popular for a long time, so they've released several revisions and it's only gotten better. I favour the L (Linux) variant specifically because IMO (this is strictly subjective though) the Linux-based firmware is more robust than the code in the other variants. If you're maxing out the G wireless or the 100Mbit ethernet and you need even more speed (hint: you aren't and you don't) I'd probably suggest the WRT350N; I've been rocking one of those for a couple of years now and don't have any complaints yet.

I also flash DD-WRT on every router I get. In my opinion it's miles ahead of any vendor firmware. The installation isn't terribly risky and the configuration's pretty easy to figure out (web interface like any un-modded router) but if you're not a technical user you might be more comfortable sticking with the safe and supported stock firmware.

Firmware is not responsible for disconnecting internet issues, unless its severely outdated.

Hot_Bid

Braavos36387 Posts

August 01 2010 00:37 GMT

Moved to tech support.

vesicular

United States1310 Posts

August 01 2010 01:02 GMT

I've had my wrt54g for about 7 years and have never had an issue with it. Used to run DD-WRT on it, but recently switched to Tomato.

mav451

United States1596 Posts

August 01 2010 03:26 GMT

Other than ventilation (and obviously protecting it on a UPS), I don't know how routers die. My ZyXEL wasn't even on a UPS until 2 years ago, and it'll be in it's 5th year of life soon.

As for intermittent connections, that could be from shitty routers (with small NAT tables) failing from BT activity. Check the logs to see if it's WAN-side or client-side causing the drop in connection. 99% it's the client-side, b/c WAN-side would be clearly indicated on your cable modem (check the lights).

If you can ping your router, than it's WAN-side. It's that simple.

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