Do I need a new router??

[ClarabelleCowFan]

All of the sudden we are having to reset our router several times a day because we lose our internet connection.

This issue seemed to start when we added another device that had access to the network (the Itouch). Our router is about 3 or 4 years old - do we need a newer/faster model?

We have 5 devices total in the house that have access to the internet connection thru the security enabled router. Is that too many for 1 router to handle?

Any advice on how we can keep our internet connection without having to constantly reset the router?

Thanks!

 

[Charade]

Maybe. What brand is your router? They're supposed to handle many devices at the same time but some don't do well in that regard. They are really really cheap these days so a new one shouldn't break the bank. Stick with Netgear,Linksys or D-Link. Avoid Belkin.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Maybe. What brand is your router? They're supposed to handle many devices at the same time but some don't do well in that regard. They are really really cheap these days so a new one shouldn't break the bank. Stick with Netgear,Linksys or D-Link. Avoid Belkin.

Our router is a Linksys.

We were looking at new ones at Circuit City today but didn't want to buy one if that wouldn't fix the problem.

 

[Imzadi]

Could it be your ITouch isn't configured properly and somehow it bumps you off-line by creating too much static or something?

You might try doing tests of not connecting the ITouch for several hours and see if it still acts up. Then only plug in the ITouch and see if it will keep a consistent connection.

Also, you might call your Internet provider. Maybe, coincidentally, they are working in your area and your Internet coverage is spotty from their end.

Customer service might also be able to do a router test to see if it's something connected to your router. They somehow reconfigured my router back to default settings then reprogrammed it (or something.) It was too technical for me, but they got it working.

 

[Charade]

Our router is a Linksys.

We were looking at new ones at Circuit City today but didn't want to buy one if that wouldn't fix the problem.

Don't buy one at CC. They're not returnable.

How often does this occur? You could by one from Walmart and return it if it doesn't fix the problem. They'll take it back.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Could it be your ITouch isn't configured properly and somehow it bumps you off-line by creating too much static or something?

You might try doing tests of not connecting the ITouch for several hours and see if it still acts up. Then only plug in the ITouch and see if it will keep a consistent connection.

Also, you might call your Internet provider. Maybe, coincidentally, they are working in your area and your Internet coverage is spotty from their end.

Customer service might also be able to do a router test to see if it's something connected to your router. They somehow reconfigured my router back to default settings then reprogrammed it (or something.) It was too technical for me, but they got it working.

I didn't realize the Itouch could be causing the issue. I'll call our ISP tomorrow and see if they have any advice.

Don't buy one at CC. They're not returnable.

How often does this occur? You could by one from Walmart and return it if it doesn't fix the problem. They'll take it back.

All the ones at Circuit City were well over $100 so even at 40% off they were no bargain. We didn't buy anything there and won't - we just went in to look around.

This is happening several times a day - 3 or 4 times usually.

 

[Imzadi]

Is your ITouch close to your router? i have my cellphone plugged in next to my stereo system when it's recharging. A split second before the phone rings, I hear a fuzzy, staticy "mert" sound coming over the stereo speaker. It usually only happens when the phone is close to it. I figure it's a signal bleed-thru or something.

Maybe your ITouch is accidentally causing the same thing and just needs to be kept further away from the router.

 

[Cindy F]

Our router is a Linksys.

We were looking at new ones at Circuit City today but didn't want to buy one if that wouldn't fix the problem.

We have a Linksys as well and we have 4 laptops, 3 desktops, and a Tilt that are linked to the router.

Ours has recently started having to be reset anywhere from 3-8 times a day. If this is the same as all the other times, it will do this for a few weeks then it will stop for about 5-6 months then we'll have another little bout with having to reset it 3-8 times a day then again--it will stop for 5-6 months.

It's been that way for the 4 years we've had it. I have no idea why but after having the same problem with 3 different routers, we just deal with it for it's quirky few weeks and be glad when it's over!

It just started it's "mess" again this past week, it should pass within a week or so but what a pain

 

[JR6ooo4]

techinally most warranties are with the manufacturer. the store just facilitates the return as customer service.

So, if you buy from circuit city you should still have the manufacuturers warranty.

MIkeeee

 

[Charade]

techinally most warranties are with the manufacturer. the store just facilitates the return as customer service.

So, if you buy from circuit city you should still have the manufacuturers warranty.

MIkeeee

I wasn't referring to the warranty but returning it if it didn't fix their problem.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

I recently had to get a new hard drive for my computer and when I started
using it the router started failing every few minutes. After spending hours
trying to look up info on the internet and calling linksys support (who
refused to help me without me paying them because it was no longer
under warranty)---I gave up and bought a new router--works perfect now.
My previous router was 4 yrs old.

 

[Vexorg]

I'd take the iTouch off the Wifi for a day or two (disable it on the device) and see if it helps the situation. On my DSL router (completely different brand and model) I find that some non-standard network traffic that gets caught in the router's firewall can cause it to reset, so it is possible that you have a firewall issue. Again, I'd try disabling the iTouch's wifi connection to see if it helps the problem.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Little known fact: routers have planned obsolescence. You're supposed to get about 4 years of use out of them before they're outdated and don't work.

Yeah, I know. Seriously high on the grrr factor for me. But it is what it is.

 

[GeorgeG]

I just replaced a four year old Netgear router that was doing the same thing. Finally, it wouldn't reboot at all and I got a burnt smell from it. I bought another Netgear ($67 at Circuit City) and it's working fine.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Little known fact: routers have planned obsolescence. You're supposed to get about 4 years of use out of them before they're outdated and don't work.

Yeah, I know. Seriously high on the grrr factor for me. But it is what it is.

Huh?

 

[aprilgail2]

I just replaced a four year old Netgear router that was doing the same thing. Finally, it wouldn't reboot at all and I got a burnt smell from it. I bought another Netgear ($67 at Circuit City) and it's working fine.

That happened to my last linksys router. One day I walked into my room and smelled a burning electric type smell, when I got near the router it smelled bad, the router was actually very warm to the touch- tossed it out and got a new one! The one I have now is about to go in the trash too- the other 3 computers in the house can't get a good signal from it, they all keep dropping while online and its making me nuts!

 

[bicker]

Little known fact: routers have planned obsolescence. You're supposed to get about 4 years of use out of them before they're outdated and don't work.

That's true of most high-tech electronics, these days. The cost of development, ramp-up, and promotion is so incredibly high, multiplied by the risks currently inherent in the business, that the only way to justify consumer electronics as an ongoing concern is with a model that calls for new purchases every so often, with an average of about four or five years.

Some types of products end up lasting longer than others, and routers, quite frankly, should be lasting longer than four years. There is simply not as much to go wrong with a router, as compared (for example) to a DVR (which you should consider yourself lucky if you get four years worth of use out of without needing repair, due to failure, or [more likely] replacement, due to obsolesnce or functional limitations vis a vis current services available).

 

[snarlingcoyote]

That's true of most high-tech electronics, these days. The cost of development, ramp-up, and promotion is so incredibly high, multiplied by the risks currently inherent in the business, that the only way to justify consumer electronics as an ongoing concern is with a model that calls for new purchases every so often, with an average of about four or five years.

Some types of products end up lasting longer than others, and routers, quite frankly, should be lasting longer than four years. There is simply not as much to go wrong with a router, as compared (for example) to a DVR (which you should consider yourself lucky if you get four years worth of use out of without needing repair, due to failure, or [more likely] replacement, due to obsolesnce or functional limitations vis a vis current services available).

Nope. Sorry, got to disagree with you on that one, at least for home use routers. The software and parts are designed to last about 4 years, from my understanding. If you're talking higher end, those will last as long as they last. But home use. . .not so much. The company plan intends for you to buy a new router every 4 years. (Okay, metal box linksys and the like should last significantly longer than 4 years. But that stuff, while on the shelves for home use, is generally marketed to businesses. And honestly, for the cost difference, unless you're shlepping your little 3 porter around from airport to airport - which I'm guilty of - you'd be better off just buying new every 4 years.)

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Nope. Sorry, got to disagree with you on that one, at least for home use routers. The software and parts are designed to last about 4 years, from my understanding. If you're talking higher end, those will last as long as they last. But home use. . .not so much. The company plan intends for you to buy a new router every 4 years. (Okay, metal box linksys and the like should last significantly longer than 4 years. But that stuff, while on the shelves for home use, is generally marketed to businesses. And honestly, for the cost difference, unless you're shlepping your little 3 porter around from airport to airport - which I'm guilty of - you'd be better off just buying new every 4 years.)

If you are saying that they intentionally design their components to fail in 4 years, I'm calling BS. Show me some evidence.

On the other hand, if you are saying that they use really cheap components to keep the cost and that leads to a relatively usable life, that I can believe. Personally, I've never had a router fail before it became technologically obsolete. For that reason, I'd prefer cheaper routers that last for only four years as opposed to more expensive routers that last for ten years (but only get used for three or four anyway).

 

[snarlingcoyote]

If you are saying that they intentionally design their components to fail in 4 years, I'm calling BS. Show me some evidence.

On the other hand, if you are saying that they use really cheap components to keep the cost and that leads to a relatively usable life, that I can believe. Personally, I've never had a router fail before it became technologically obsolete. For that reason, I'd prefer cheaper routers that last for only four years as opposed to more expensive routers that last for ten years (but only get used for three or four anyway).

Read the technical specs on a plastic box Linksys router. Then go out to the SEC and read either their 10K or their parent company's 10K for this year (or read it when it's published, if they're still unpublished. Or actually, I don't know what their report would like like in a recession. . .try last year's instead.) Then go see if you can upgrade a 5 or 6 year old home router.

Connect the dots. The industry cannot sustain itself by making high quality products that are sustainable for long term. They need new purchases of equipment on a regular basis. If people CAN get along with certain categories of hardware, they will. The company will make no extra money from them. So the shelf-life of equipment, especially for home use (they can generally reliably depend upon hardware geeks to buy new business equipment once the old equipment is depreciated or the technology becomes outdated etc.) has to be limited.

It's just good business to make equipment that will last just long enough to ensure the customer doesn't think it's junk and stops buying your product, but not long enough to run you out of business because they're not buying your product since they already have one at home. Standard Business Model these days.

ETA: You're right in that I've never read anything that specifically states the planned lifespan of a router. It's just something I've always heard. 4 years. Of course, you can fully depreciate equipment in 5 years. So that timing makes perfect sense.