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So let me start with the problem. Quite often the wireless network in my house stops working and I'm forced to unplug and plug it back in (power cycle) -- I'm going to estimate this happens 10-25 times per week. Essentially I realize it when the wireless internet in my apartment goes out -- and it appears the whole network dies, I have a Drobo hooked up and I'm no longer able to access that from my computer when this happens. A simple power cycle fixes the issue 100% of the time. Sometimes I am good again for a day or two, sometimes it breaks again in 10 minutes.
I'm completely stumped as to what is causing the router to "break" -- high usage, low usage, and everything in between. Seems completely intermittent. I talked to my parents and sisters a couple weeks ago and they have been experiencing the same thing -- note that they have the same ISP as me but live on the other side of the city and have a different router made by a different company. One of my sisters has a boyfriend who figured out that power cycling fixes things which is why I didn't get a frantic call from them sooner.
I've tried calling my ISP but all they want to do is plug their ears and yell "we don't support third party routers" -- the router they do provide is complete garbage, I tried it for about a week but it seemed to have a three device maximum and was bouncing devices when I tried to connect more than that, since I have multiple computers, a table, a cell phone and occasional guests their router isn't even an option.
My original theory was that whenever my ISP detected I had torrents running they would somehow do something that would cause my router to get confused/freeze up/etc and cause me to have to power cycle. I have absolutely no proof of this and even with torrents disabled this issue happens so I may just be getting too conspiracy-minded.
I have no idea what to do at this point but living the rest of my life having to constantly power cycle my router is a gigantic problem and I'm hoping either there's something I can buy or something I can do to stop this problem.
Andrew G. Johnson
Posted 2013-02-04T05:34:19.597
Reputation: 671
Routers have a useful life and and after they age a bit, they often start to fail. From what you are experiencing - it sounds like that is what you are having. Some routers keep logs that may give you some accurate information - but my bet will be that it is failing (that or power spikes). – nerdwaller – 2013-02-04T05:39:54.680
@nerdwaller - I suppose that's possible, the Router I have is at most 11-13 months old (don't remember exactly when I bought it) -- seems a bit young to me but I don't really know anything about networking, any thoughts? Power spikes is interesting, I do have a lot of powerbars in and around the router area -- I will try giving it it's own outlet. Assuming all that fails do you have any recommendations on which companies tend to make more durable routers? I tend to just walk into BestBuy and buy the first one within reach. – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T05:44:19.623
When the router starts to drop connections and requires power cycling, check if it's getting heated up. – Karan – 2013-02-04T05:52:41.900
Try looking through the logs to see if it gives you any data that is helpful. Generally I have seen power-spikes affect modems - but I could see a sensitive or latently defective router suffering. In my limited experience, of a lower-end router I expect 11 - 18 months. While buying recommendations are off-topic on Super User the Linksys WRT54G is known to be die hard. Also, @Karan is right - could be overheating and you could try a fan on it for a week to try it out.
– nerdwaller – 2013-02-04T05:55:19.650Do wired connections stop working as well, or just wireless? If just wireless you could get a separate wireless AP and turn off the wireless functionality of the router. – Paul – 2013-02-04T05:56:41.997
@Karan - there's really no way to do that as far as I'm aware, other than just putting my hand on it (I actually have done that before and haven't noticed it being particularly hot) -- It is up on top of my desk just sitting alone on my subwoofer (I moved it to be more easily accessibly to reboot daily) so it's not right on top of my computer or something else that may be hotter. – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T06:01:07.697
@nerdwaller - thanks, I'm surprised at that short life span but I guess it kind of is what it is. Thanks for the recommendation. I setup a fan just now and was annoyed with the extra noise after about 30 seconds. – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T06:02:02.143
@Paul - It's both wireless and wired. If I'm spending more money I'd rather have a single device to do wired and wireless rather than cling to this device in any way when it clearly has issues. – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T06:03:04.203
@nerdwaller - just clicked through that to that Linksys page and I used to have a router way back when that at least looked like this (unsure on model number) so it's possible my idea of longer lasting routers was affected by accidentally buying a good one in the past. – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T06:04:48.443
1Sounds like the tables are filling up. What sort of connection do you have? – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2013-02-04T06:07:47.340
@IgnacioVazquez-Abrams - It's a high-speed cable connection. Don't really know what any other details to provide, I actually don't have the basic residential package I have some kind of "Internet Plus" package where apparently my speeds are faster (unverified and frankly unbelieved) however my parents (I mention they have the same issue in my question) have the basic internet package (with a different modem) and they have the same issues. – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T06:10:57.473
Crappy cable ISPs do no routing whatsoever and so fill up tables really fast. Nothing you can do short of getting a more powerful router. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2013-02-04T06:34:04.667
@IgnacioVazquez-Abrams - Any suggestions on either an exact model or possibly better yet any suggestions on what to look for in a router? Any features/specs that I should be looking for? – Andrew G. Johnson – 2013-02-04T06:39:45.340
Can you tell us the make and model of your router, what firmware your router is running, and the make and model of the cable modem attached to it? You aren't going to be able to solve 8 problems at once, so focus on yours. First test -- when the network isn't working, can you reach your router's web-based administration? – David Schwartz – 2013-02-04T08:08:22.417