For The Computer guys: wireless router problem

[dkn1997]

I have had this problem for a year now and I have dealt with it, but its not how it should be:

I have an older HP pavillion desktop at my house. Runs windows XP.  My wife used a laptop for work with wireless capability, she's runnign windows 2000.  I bought a Linksys WRT54GS router.  When you run either computer, you can connect to the internet just fine.  When you turn on the 2nd computer at the same time, you can both surf the net...but after about 15 minutes, it boots us both off and won't work again unless I disconnect the router and reset the modem and reconnect the wires in the same configuration as we had before buying the router.

If we leave the router connected and just use one of the computers....internet access is lost a day or two later. 

Routers are cheap enough so if I need a new one, I can live with it. just don't want to be in the same boat again.
I did try reinstalling the router and reconfiguring all of our network connectins.  i selected WPA personal encryption when we first got it and when I reset the whole thing up. maybe I need to change the channel?

[2Gunz]

Many things that could be wrong here.

Does this happen when you try to surf and the computer is
already on?  Or does it happen a few seconds after you
power the second computer on?

My first question is which device is running DHCP?

And how is the modem connected?  The uplink or one of the numbered ports.
If you have a cable in "uplink" AND number 1  Move the cable in 1 to a different
numbered port. Sometimes "uplink" and Number 1 are shared.


What is the lease number set at?

Are BOTH computer set to Auto IP?

This really sounds like an DNS/ IP or both problem.

Do you use bitorrent or some other peer to peer programs?

It is possible to "Fill" the active IP connection table, and the release time tends to be slow.
Basically not allowing a "new" connection to happen without time passing.

Firmware up to date?

Thats my start.....

[2Gunz]

I read your question again.....

Look at your "lease" .......

(Assuming the router is in fact the DHCP host)

Should be in setup......

"Maximum Number of  DHCP Users":   Should be more than the number of ANYTHING that connects to the router.
                                                  (cell phones, Video game consoles whatever)


"Client Lease Time:"    I would just do the max  Mine is 0  (0 being a full day)



Start there, let me know.

[dkn1997]

Ok...a lot of what you said is beyond my understanding   ..but some of it looked familiar   

The desktop is the "main" or "home' computer.  the router is connected to that with an ethernet cable. then another ethernet cable from modem to "internet' port on router. Yes...my home computer is on "port 1" 

When I initially set up the router using the install CD, the home computer is set to DHCP. I have no idea what that means, but that's what i picked.  as far as the wif'es computer..i don't know..that's the wireless capable machine and she turned it on and it recognize a network and we just put the pass word in it.

maximum number of users and lease time were not choices in the setup. not saying that there not in ther somewhere, but they didn't come up during the whole setup.

Do you use bitorrent or some other peer to peer programs?  hmmmm I'm not sure what that even means!  lol 

[Lurker]

make sure anything with bluetooth isn't anywhere near your router or puter, radar detector, 2 way radio etc could be the culprit to. it took me months to figure out the bluetooth in my phone was messing up my wireless at home 

[Tilar]

You should be able to reset it to default settings and be fine unless you need something special in your setup. You might check the web site and see if a firmware update will fix the problem. If not, use it for a paper weight and go buy another one.

[dkn1997]

make sure anything with bluetooth isn't anywhere near your router or puter, radar detector, 2 way radio etc could be the culprit to. it took me months to figure out the bluetooth in my phone was messing up my wireless at home 

hmmmm...i have a nextel for work that sits about 15 feet from the router when I'm home....and I leave it on at all times....

[2Gunz]

Lets start with this take whatever is in "port" 1 and put it in one of the other numbered holes.

Leave port 1 open.

[bakerhillpins]

Before you jump through hoops and try a million different suggestions make sure the firmware in the router is the most recent version! They usually ship those things with some ancient version and leave it up to the customer to upgrade out of bugs.

Bryan

[dkn1997]

I downloaded the firmware from their site...and it looks good on my desktop...nice little icon. no idea how to install it, though....

[bakerhillpins]

Check the manuals that came with the router for instructions. Otherwise they are probably at the web page you downloaded the update from.

Note: If you have made any configuration changes to the router you should save them before performing this procedure so you can restore them afterward.

Most router updates follow a reasonably common update procedure: (assuming you are running from the default/reset configuration)
1) Connect via hard wire to the router. (Ethernet cable from your PC to say port 1 on the router)
2) bring up a browser, IE/Firefox/etc.
3) Type in the default IP address for your network where you would normally enter a web address and hit enter. This is usually "192.168.1.1"
4) You should get some sort of login screen for your router. Enter credentials and gain access (Default username is usually "admin" and a blank password)
5) Look through the menus for a Setup/Admin option to upgrade the firmware/software of the router. Somewhere on that page they usually list the current version as well so you can see what version you are at. When completed you can check to see that this has changed to your new version.
6) Follow the instructions on the screen for the upgrade. Should ask you to select the file you downloaded to your desktop.
7) The update can take a few minutes so be patient.


Bryan

[dkn1997]

ok. Between you guys and the linksys website, I figured out how to  install the new firmware.  This seems to have solved the problem, so thanks to all.

I have to say that the level of complication to install the firmware absurd. would it kill them to make it just a little easier for the average guy to install firmware?  I am not computer illiterate, nor am I an expert, but it was really hard to do. 

[Tilar]

At least you got it done... Next time it won't seem so bad. 

[dkn1997]

At least you got it done... Next time it won't seem so bad. 

invasive brain surgery or solving for pie would be easier than doing that again

[bakerhillpins]

ok. Between you guys and the linksys website, I figured out how to  install the new firmware.  This seems to have solved the problem, so thanks to all.

I have to say that the level of complication to install the firmware absurd. would it kill them to make it just a little easier for the average guy to install firmware?  I am not computer illiterate, nor am I an expert, but it was really hard to do. 

Glad to have been of help! 

Since I wasn't there I don't know what parts you found complicated. Being an software engineer I do this kind of stuff all the time so your comments would be interesting... No I don't work for Cisco so I can't change the router...

A lot of the hoops you have to go through are to ensure that the update doesn't fail (If it fails your router is a paperweight.).

Bryan

[dkn1997]

ok. Between you guys and the linksys website, I figured out how to  install the new firmware.  This seems to have solved the problem, so thanks to all.

I have to say that the level of complication to install the firmware absurd. would it kill them to make it just a little easier for the average guy to install firmware?  I am not computer illiterate, nor am I an expert, but it was really hard to do. 

Glad to have been of help! 

Since I wasn't there I don't know what parts you found complicated. Being an software engineer I do this kind of stuff all the time so your comments would be interesting... No I don't work for Cisco so I can't change the router...

A lot of the hoops you have to go through are to ensure that the update doesn't fail (If it fails your router is a paperweight.).

Bryan

For someone like me who is not an expert, the process was not self guiding enough.  Probably because I am used to things such as realplayer or window updates that are pretty much click click click...done.   you now what would have been nice?  if I could have had an icon on my desktop for the router and just dragged the updateed firmware right into it.  I had to do a lot of manual input and for someone who doesn't do it all of the time, it would have been really easy to mess up a step and be forced to start over...