Technology Horrendous internet connection..any router suggestion?

[Gallix23]

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Hey everyone,

I have two computers, the one I'm on now is upstairs and is connected wireless to the internet from my other computer that is downstairs. I currently have a Linksys wireless G router which I've had for a long time, and I think it's really dropping the ball with the internet connection now a days.

I can't buffer videos fully EVER (even downstairs) and every time I have too many windows open, or even try to buffer a video too many times, my internet will shut down and I'll have to go downstairs, power my router off, and turn it back on.

Do you guys think that is what is causing the problem, or am I blaming the wrong thing? If it really is the router, do you guys have any reliable routers in mind that I could get at like Best Buy for preferably under 100 bucks?

Thanks

 

[16846]

If your router is more than 2-3 years old it's probably dying of old age, they aren't meant to last much longer than 3 years at most.

If you want to go 802.11N go Linksys and get a 5.8 Ghz model, or if you have legacy systems that need 2.4 Ghz, get a simultaneous dual-band router. If you want to stay 802.11G either Linksys or Netgear are good, the tech. is quite mature and stable.

 

[Gallix23]

If your router is more than 2-3 years old it's probably dying of old age, they aren't meant to last much longer than 3 years at most.

If you want to go 802.11N go Linksys and get a 5.8 Ghz model, or if you have legacy systems that need 2.4 Ghz, get a simultaneous dual-band router. If you want to stay 802.11G either Linksys or Netgear are good, the tech. is quite mature and stable.

That must be the problem, it is definitely older than 2 years. You kinda lost me a little though, sorry I'm not that tech savvy. What is the difference between N and G? I have a Netgear wireless internet card up here, should I just go out and get a Netgear router? Like something like this maybe?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5507043&type=product&id=1051826245223

thanks for the help

 

[16846]

That must be the problem, it is definitely older than 2 years. You kinda lost me a little though, sorry I'm not that tech savvy. What is the difference between N and G? I have a Netgear wireless internet card up here, should I just go out and get a Netgear router? Like something like this maybe?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5507043&type=product&id=1051826245223

thanks for the help

Always match your card brand with your router brand if possible, they will definetely play better together.

N is a new wireless standard that is significantly faster and has a much larger range than G. Within 6 months N is going to be the new minimum standard and will be for quite a few years (probably at least as long as G was the standard) so your next system will most likely have an N type card in it (if it's a laptop). If you want to be future proof you will need to buy a simultaneous dual-band N router, which will give you the ability to use any type of N (5.8 Ghz or 2.4 Ghz) that comes out while allowing you to use your existing G type hardware with it until you get N type hardware in the future. N is backwards compatible with G, B, and A (assuming you get a dual-band model), just as G is backwards compatible with B.

If you have no intention of upgrading your hardware within the next few years or don't have a need for the speed and range of N hardware the router you posted above would be an excellent G router. I actually had the same model a few years ago.

 

[TMP-SMX]

What OS are you using? You should make sure you don't have interference from other routers on the same channel. You should also make sure you have the proper settings in your router at 192.168.1.1. If you are using vista then use this. Take a look at the wireless channels around you and avoid the same channels. Be as far away as possible. The other thing is to not have 2.4GHz cordless phones around.

A quick test is to connect through ethernet and not wireless to see if the problem goes away. You could also test whether another wireless computer has the same issues with buffering. I'm not quite sure what you mean that you are connected to the internet from your other computer. Is that one sharing the internet connection to your wireless computer?

Though the standard thing to do is to shut down everything. Then plug in the modem and let it start up. Next is the router. Last is the computer.

 

[nlax30]

If this is just occurring on one computer it could be an issue on that computer..... malware, viruses, etc.... causing general slowdowns. Especially if it's an older machine then flash heavy websites (ex: flash streaming video) can bog it down.

Other possibility... you're internet connection itself is having some issues on the providers end. Any recent construction in the neighborhood? If it's a cable modem have you added in any new tv/cable outlets, splitters? Could call the cable company to come out and check the signal coming into your house.

And then finally it could of course be the router. If your in the market for a new one then go with the above advice. The new N routers are quick, you just may need new wireless adapters if your computers don't already support N.

Now, something else you could try is to install a 3rd party router firmware onto your router, if it supports it. Not sure which linksys you have but I run DD-WRT firmware on my routers and I love it. Basically turns a basic $50 router into a router with features of those costing much more $$$.
You can go here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/index.php

There are some guides there that walk you through it if you have one of the models that it supports. I'd say attempt this only if you are fairly comfortable "tweaking" with hardware/software and fairly competent with computers in general, there is the risk of ruining your router.

But I just picked up some cheap $30 buffalo routers and run this on them, run OpenVPN server for remote access, higher performance than normal, automatically restarts itself every few days, more secure, etc.....

 

[Captopril]

Now, something else you could try is to install a 3rd party router firmware onto your router, if it supports it. Not sure which linksys you have but I run DD-WRT firmware on my routers and I love it. Basically turns a basic $50 router into a router with features of those costing much more $$$.
You can go here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/index.php

I second that motion. I've been running dd-wrt on my Linksys for a while now. Before flashing, I couldn't get signal more than 30-40ft from the router...but now I get it at the outer fringes of my house. Best part is, it's open source, so it's always being upgraded and tweaked.

 

[16846]

Don't even consider putting 3rd party firmware onto your router unless 1) You really know what you are doing 2) Don't mind having to buy yourself a new router if you screw it up.

 

[TMP-SMX]

Personally I use tomato firmware on my WRT54GL. It's kind of hard to screw up if you do everything through ethernet but it is always a possibility.

 

[DrJosephKim]

I've had a few routers "burn out" over the years. As a result, I now turn my router off at night.

Also, you can check in the administrative area to see if anyone (unauthorized) might be connecting and "draining" your connection.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Similar problem to the OP and wondering if it is the age of my router.

I have a Linkysys 150N wireless for use with my personal Mac PB and the office Sony Vaio (which I bring home with me). The device is no more than 20-24 months old. The last few months I have had intermittent wireless connection problems.

The cable modem/hard-wired computer (which I never use) does not appear to have the problem.

When I power off the router and restart, it does not appear to fix the problem.

The wireless internet light is steady on the router even when I have no connection.

I have not moved the router and sitting in the room with the device does not improve the reception. It happens regardless of how close or far I am from the router.

I do not have any new devices which might interfere with it.

Essentially I lose the signal and either cannot find the wireless network or cannot connect.

I changed the channel but still appear to have the problem.

Is there anyway to figure out if this is related to the age of the router without buying a new one? I'm ok with doing that but would rather know that's the problem before doing so.

 

[xanthomondo]

I've never had a good experience with Linksys routers (I've tried 4 times). Netgear is the way to go.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I've never had a good experience with Linksys routers (I've tried 4 times). Netgear is the way to go.

Brand loyal are you? I would have given up a little sooner. 😀

 

[TMP-SMX]

If you use a Mac Netgear is not the way to go. Otherwise they are fine.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

If you use a Mac Netgear is not the way to go. Otherwise they are fine.

Hmmm...interesting. I always loved my Netgear combo modem/router from Time Warner I had for about 2 years.

Linksys is the devil.

Apple Time Capsule FTW.

 

[StatCoder]

If you use a Mac - Apple Time Capsule. You get the benefit of a great backup system which updates itself every hour (great for version control), external hard drive storage, and it's a router.

 

[Winged Scapula]

If you use a Mac - Apple Time Capsule. You get the benefit of a great backup system which updates itself every hour (great for version control), external hard drive storage, and it's a router.

Well now, I'm wondering if its the Mac itself.

This afternoon, I've got both laptops on. The Sony internet connection working fine...the Mac? Fading in and out, although more consistently working since I changed the channel again this am.

Will Time Capsule work with both PC and Mac? Do I need Leopard OS?

NB: I see it will and yes, looks like I'd need to upgrade to Leopard as well. Hmmm...looking pricey.

 

[1UP]

So much for the "Just Works" mantra...

 

[Chocolate Bear]

So much for the "Just Works" mantra...

I'm a PC...



Anyway...Time Machine wasn't invented until Leopard. Thus, if you want to use it, you have to *have* it. Duh. 🙄

 

[Winged Scapula]

So much for the "Just Works" mantra...

Touche. 😛

But is has "just worked" for nearly 2 years with constant, heavy usage. I never have frozen screens like I get with the Sony or the HP. Those things suck...if the radiology facilities software worked with Mac I'd definitely replace my office Sony with one.

 

[Slevin]

Touche. 😛

But is has "just worked" for nearly 2 years with constant, heavy usage. I never have frozen screens like I get with the Sony or the HP. Those things suck...if the radiology facilities software worked with Mac I'd definitely replace my office Sony with one.

Why not just run a program like VMWare fusion... allows you to run a Windows, Linux, Unix, etc right on top of OS X, just like it's another application. This way you can have a mac and run the other apps that you need. No need to stick with a winblows machine if you don't want to