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Screwy Wireless Router (Broken?)
Wylderneedshelp
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hi Guys.
My wireless router only works intermitently. I think it's broken. I'd like someone to tell me one of the following two things:
a) Yep. Its broken. Go buy a new one.
b) Nope, you're just an idiot. To fix it do this....
I'm going to infodump a whole load of stuff here because I don't know whats relevant and what isn't. Hopefully it helps. Here goes....
Background info...
Skip to the problem at the bottom if you like.
I have a 4-port ADSL2+ modem/router. This is actually configured as a router, providing DHCP etc. This bit works fine. All of the computers plugged directly into this thing get internet 24/7. The IP address is 192.168.1.1. Two computers are connected to it with static IPs of 192.168.1.10 / .11. The DHCP range starts from 192.168.1.20 and goes up. This all works fine.
I also have a wirelss router cabled into the ADSL router. The intention of this is to use this router as a switch, not a router. For this reason, I don't use the WAN port at all. The connection is just made using one of the LAN ports. This wireless router has DHCP disabled, and has an IP address of 192.168.1.2. I set this IP manually, as the wireless defaulted itself to 192.168.0.1. The wireless has WEP encryption with a 128-bit encryption key, but no other security. I know I get 11% signal strength from one other wireless LAN in the area, so its technically possible other people can at least tell I have a wireless LAN in the area. I have never noticed anyone on the wireless activity list though.
This all USED TO WORK. It worked when I first set this up. It also worked back when I had an almost identical setup but with an ADSL1 modem/router. The only difference then was the 4-port ADSL router had an IP of 10.0.0.137, and I set the wireless to 10.0.0.138. In both setups, I've left the ADSL router at its default (factory settings) IP, and changed the IP of the wireless to suit.
On to the problem...
A couple of weeks ago, the wireless started dropping out. It will ussually work for several hours, but once it drops out it often keeps dropping out until I reset the wireless router. Ussually resetting it will make it work for a few more hours. This problem didn't start as a result of any hardware change or software/hardware upgrade that I've done as I haven't done any since getting my new ISP and ADSL2+ modem/router. That was months ago, and this problem only started in the last couple of weeks. When the wireless "drops out" the entire router seems to be locked - to the point I can't even access the config page. I've isolated the fact that the router is actually still functioning, since a computer cabled into this router can still get web pages etc, but the wireless goes hinky as described, and the config page won't load. I've also discovered that trying to access the router config page over the wireless almost always sends it into this state. Accessing the config page over cable (even indirectly via a computer hooked up to the modem/router won't break anything.
Things I've tried to fix it...
* Firmware upgrade on the wireless.
* Fiddling with/testing/replacing the LAN cables involved.
* Reset/redo all settings on the wireless (including reset to factory settings).
* Disabling all wireless encryption.
* Changing the computer on wireless to a static IP (192.168.1.12).
Nothing seems to make much of a difference. I've basically reached the point where I'm going to go out and buy a new wireless router unless someone can tell me otherwise. I've tried everything I know, and it just seems to me like its fucked.
Any input would be appreciated!
TL;DR - Wireless router works for a bit then goes into a state where wireless connection drops out fairly consistently and no one can access the config page, even from cables. Used to work with same setup, then suddenly one day just didnt. Fucked? Y/N.
My wireless router only works intermitently. I think it's broken. I'd like someone to tell me one of the following two things:
a) Yep. Its broken. Go buy a new one.
b) Nope, you're just an idiot. To fix it do this....
I'm going to infodump a whole load of stuff here because I don't know whats relevant and what isn't. Hopefully it helps. Here goes....
Background info...
Skip to the problem at the bottom if you like.
I have a 4-port ADSL2+ modem/router. This is actually configured as a router, providing DHCP etc. This bit works fine. All of the computers plugged directly into this thing get internet 24/7. The IP address is 192.168.1.1. Two computers are connected to it with static IPs of 192.168.1.10 / .11. The DHCP range starts from 192.168.1.20 and goes up. This all works fine.
I also have a wirelss router cabled into the ADSL router. The intention of this is to use this router as a switch, not a router. For this reason, I don't use the WAN port at all. The connection is just made using one of the LAN ports. This wireless router has DHCP disabled, and has an IP address of 192.168.1.2. I set this IP manually, as the wireless defaulted itself to 192.168.0.1. The wireless has WEP encryption with a 128-bit encryption key, but no other security. I know I get 11% signal strength from one other wireless LAN in the area, so its technically possible other people can at least tell I have a wireless LAN in the area. I have never noticed anyone on the wireless activity list though.
This all USED TO WORK. It worked when I first set this up. It also worked back when I had an almost identical setup but with an ADSL1 modem/router. The only difference then was the 4-port ADSL router had an IP of 10.0.0.137, and I set the wireless to 10.0.0.138. In both setups, I've left the ADSL router at its default (factory settings) IP, and changed the IP of the wireless to suit.
On to the problem...
A couple of weeks ago, the wireless started dropping out. It will ussually work for several hours, but once it drops out it often keeps dropping out until I reset the wireless router. Ussually resetting it will make it work for a few more hours. This problem didn't start as a result of any hardware change or software/hardware upgrade that I've done as I haven't done any since getting my new ISP and ADSL2+ modem/router. That was months ago, and this problem only started in the last couple of weeks. When the wireless "drops out" the entire router seems to be locked - to the point I can't even access the config page. I've isolated the fact that the router is actually still functioning, since a computer cabled into this router can still get web pages etc, but the wireless goes hinky as described, and the config page won't load. I've also discovered that trying to access the router config page over the wireless almost always sends it into this state. Accessing the config page over cable (even indirectly via a computer hooked up to the modem/router won't break anything.
Things I've tried to fix it...
* Firmware upgrade on the wireless.
* Fiddling with/testing/replacing the LAN cables involved.
* Reset/redo all settings on the wireless (including reset to factory settings).
* Disabling all wireless encryption.
* Changing the computer on wireless to a static IP (192.168.1.12).
Nothing seems to make much of a difference. I've basically reached the point where I'm going to go out and buy a new wireless router unless someone can tell me otherwise. I've tried everything I know, and it just seems to me like its fucked.
Any input would be appreciated!
TL;DR - Wireless router works for a bit then goes into a state where wireless connection drops out fairly consistently and no one can access the config page, even from cables. Used to work with same setup, then suddenly one day just didnt. Fucked? Y/N.
Wylderneedshelp on
0
Posts
What brands of router aren't crap? I'm not all that keen on getting a D-Link again.
Have you tried running a site survey on your laptop and see what channels are in the air near you? Try a different channel and see how it goes.
Off channels make things worse, stick to 1,6,11. Just look in the air and see whats there. If it is a neighbor on channel 1, just go to 6 or 11.
I tried 1, 6 and 9. My neighbour (11% singal strength) is using channel 11 so I didn't try that one. No dice.
I have a couple of non-computer wireless devices in our house, including two cordless phones, and a wireless doorbell. But we've had these for years so Im assuming they aren't suddenly interfering. Haven't tested this though.
I've seen cordless phone kill wireless if the handsets are too close to the router. On the other hand, I have also seen wireless routers burn out for no good reason.
Why aren't you using the router as a router? By making it a switch you might be fucking over the port its connected to, and ISP modem/routers are notoriously cranky bastards.
I would make it a router, run from the LAN on the Modem/router to the WAN on the wireless. You could even use DHCP if you want, I don't think it would make any difference. Keep it simple to the port on the modem/router, and make the wireless router do all the local routing work.
Ummmm.....
Now that you put it that way, I cant actually think of any good reason at all. My modem/router is doing all the routing, and has done since before I got the wireless router. I suppose I just wanted to tack this thing on without switching what the function of the original one.
I probably should have the wireless router's WAN port plugged into the modem, and set the DMZ on the modem to be the WAN port of the wireless router. It would make more sense.
In other news, wife picked up a replacement router and it works fine now. I guess the old one was just fucked.
Well, if people are on those channels, you'll have even more issues than going to an off channel.
For instance, the apartment building I'm in I cannot, for the life of me, use my WAP on 1 or 6 and 11 just fades in and out. 9 is the only channel I can get a reliable connection, albeit slow.
I have no clue why that works for you, but it's the opposite of what should happen in most cases. Anyway when you attempt to access the router's config page are you doing it via a wired or wireless connection? If you aren't try using a wired connection and if you can't access the config page I'd say that's a pretty good indication that the router is actually broken.
When you have a normal RF carrier, their waves will also go into the other channels, causing a partial interference of that channel. Depending on other factors, a partial interference with one carrier will sometimes not be enough power to cancel out the waves from the one that's using that channel.
So if someone is broadcasting in channel 1, you also broadcasting in channel 1 risks the chance of some interference in the waves. Sort of like if you drop two rocks in a pond in different places. If everyone's on the main channels, going to a non-main channel will actually work like using a different sized rock. My analogy is horrible, but hopefully you get the idea. So saying "Don't use anything but 1,6,11" is bad if those are all used up by someone with a big stone.
I think the term is intermodulation interference, though.