Internet Connection/Home LAN help?

[Red XIII]

Hello everyone,

Before a week ago, our internet was working up to normal standards. Standard Road Runner service package, but as of late it has been screwing up beyond belief. We run our network on a wire-LAN server using this router:

http://www.superwarehouse.com/Linksys_E ... 1/p/190731

My mother isn't the most technologically hip person and persisted to say that it had something to do with my brother and I's use of the Firefox internet browser (Dunno where she got that $hit from but WHATEVER!!) because for a lil bit her IE worked more often than our Firefox browsers.

Now my take on the whole problem is a bad router as network cord ports 1 & 4 don't work anymore on it. But my mom and brother (and almost fanatically) believe that I did something to the router to screw it up as I'm the only one to ever go to our router homepage and touch any of the settings. But that was only allowing the port ranges (6000-60000) for my brother and I to download torrents and use the primary connection function of WinMX (while it was still popular anyways...) Well now the router doesn't work with the modem and any attempts to plug the thing into our cable modem does not work at all. The connection goes from active, to jumping on and off every 30 seconds (on for 30, off for 30).

Now leading up to this situation, my mom's and brother's were the first to go, while my internet stayed just fine. They thought it had something to do with how I had my Network IP settings, as we also had a switchboard router hooked up to the other router for a while (with IP address 192.18.1.2)...Well I put my IP as that same address and would get my own little chunk of bandwidth that seemed unaffected at all times by whatever mom or my brother were doing on the connection. This aggrivated them as I got about 1 extra day of connection before even my own connection fell victim to the same problem.

After calling Road Runner and doing ALL of their pedly instructions, they determined that the problem is on OUR end...

We then went to fiddle around with new IP settings based on the old IP settings that worked before and nothing seemed to work, until I put in my own settings that worked for half a day and again enraged my mother and brother. We're very confused as to what is going on here.

IP Settings that worked:

IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.240.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers: 24.160.227.32 -or- 24.160.227.35
WINS Server: 192.168.1.1

My diagnosis....Bad Router

Router is 4-6 years old

Could this be the case? Cause you're sposed to buy a new router every 5 years wasn't it? or if it works bad, just get a new one anyways?

We're honestly confused, for the computer I'm currently using is hooked directly to our Cable Modem without the Linksys router plugged in and it's working just fine.

[battye]

I doubt it is Firefox that caused it.
I would think that the router may need replacing, but make sure you check all of the connections and settings again, just incase you haven't missed anything.

Good luck Red

[James404]

I myself have been through 2 routers, and they never even made it that long. Same router, just different model. But what I would suggest you do is hook up your router like it should be, through your modem and have all the computers run to it. Then unplug the power cable so it gets no juice for about 30 or more seconds. It will give it time to reset its self. Once you waited just plug it back in. Will take a little while for all the lights to start flashing again because it is booting up but give it time. Try it, see if it works. Even call your ISP and see if they can register your connection to your router. They had to do it for me here.

And if none of that works, then junk it, buy a new one.

[James404]

Oh and also, I suggest you don't allow so many damn ports, leaves you open for way too much stuff. Need torrents, get Azureus. It is the best in my opinion, it only uses one port and it is 6881 by default, but you can change that if you want. Also, don't use ports 1 and 4 for w/e you was using it for. Try and use a larger number.

[nesman]

Have you tried a firmware upgrade for the router?

Honestly, from what you're saying, I'd replace the router. Try any free optionns first, but if it comes down to it, buy a new one (and keep the reciept)

[Red XIII]

New router acquired and everything's working better than ever! seems the old router was the problem! Thanks everyone

[Layzie Bone]

Router is 4-6 years old

I think you're first assumption is correct...