weems
@rr.com
| [TWC] router connected, intermittent connections
I have a netgear wireless router attached to the cable modem. Some times ~50% of the time when I go to a webpage it comes up as "Not found", I hit refresh (some times it takes multiple refreshes) and then the webpage shows up.
If I connect my computer directly to the cable modem I don't see this issue.
I have tried the whole power down the modem and wait for a while and try again. I understand that roadrunner allows only 1 device but that device should be my router, anything behind it should be invisible. On the router I have selected to always use a particular MAC address.
I am beginning to think that there is something strange with the router and plan on getting a new one. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| I doubt it is your router. What are your signal levels?
I'm having this same issue. I have to unplug the router and modem from my UPS and then shut down my virtual computers and then reboot the host computer (a pain in the butt to have to do all this) and then plug in the modem, wait for it to synch and then plug in the router. When I get page cannot be found, refreshing, even multiple times, does nothing.
My upstream level has gone from 43-45dBmV to 50-51dBmV. It had been at the former level for years until these disconnects started. I just had a disconnect and had to go through the whole routine (having to shut down my virtual machines before I can reboot the host machine is the biggest irritation). Interestingly, my upstream level immediately after this routine is at 46dBmV. However, my sig/noise ratio and downstream power level have not changed. Something is causing a problem with my upstream level setting and doing this whole routine is resetting the level, it appears, for awhile.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| It was stated that connecting the computer directly to the modem eliminated the problem, so I would not expect the modem's signal levels to be responsible for the condition (nothing connected to the modem's output, including a router, can change the modem's signal levels).
A definite possibility is that the router does not have up-to-date firmware on it. Loading in the most recent firmware might fix the issue. |
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weems
@ibm.com | reply to weems
I have double and triple checked to make sure my router has the most up to date firmware.
I wouldn't know where to start to test the signal strength. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Go here »192.168.100.1/startup.html. Most modems will let you check the signal strength at this page. You want Downstream signal to noise ratio, downstream power level and upstream power level. |
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weems
@rr.com | reply to weems
Downstream signal to noise ratio = 36.7 dBmV
downstream power level = -3.6 dBmV
upstream power level = 47.2 dBmV |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Those are fine. It does now sound like it may be your router (as daveinpoway said earlier) and if you have the latest firmware, I'm not sure what else you can do other than you have tried other cables? I had my router do weird things once and it was a bad cable.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| reply to weems
Reading your first post again, I didn't see it stated whether the computer you were having issues on was connected to the Netgear router through an Ethernet cable or wirelessly.
If you were connected using wireless, try a wired connection to one of the LAN ports of the router. If the problem only happens when using wireless, maybe it is some kind of interference; try selecting a different wireless channel (see the router instructions regarding how to do this). |
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weems
@ibm.com | This happens for both wireless and wired to the router. |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| If you have verified that the cables are OK, it is probably worth trying another router at this point.
You might also try posting in the Netgear section »Netgear, in case someone familiar with your specific Netgear model might have a suggestion. |
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weems
@rr.com | reply to weems
I went and took a look at the netgear forum. It sounds like other people are having issues with the 614v4 also. One person recommended getting a newer router. I did just that and it works fine. Thanks for your help. |
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preview
@rr.com | reply to weems
I am also having the same problem. Connecting the cable modem directly to the computer yield no problem at all. Connecting the cable modem to the linksys router(then to computer, ofcourse) yield no connection at all. |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| When you changed from connecting the modem directly to the computer to adding the router, did you remove and then re-apply AC power to the modem? Unless the modem is rebooted, it will not talk to the router. Proper sequence is:
1) Remove AC power from modem and router for at least 30 seconds.
2) Turn off computer(s).
3) Power-up the modem and allow it to sync.
4) Apply power to the router and allow it to sync.
5) Turn on computer(s).
If the router was previously used for DSL or some other service, best to reset it to factory defaults (see the instructions on how to do this) before using it for cable Internet service. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| I thought the proper sequence was to:
Unplug router and modem from UPS (you do use a UPS right?) 
Wait at least 3 minutes if you have a Surfboard modem, less for other modem brands
Reboot your computer (I only reboot the computer that the router and modem are attached to)
As your desktop loads, plug in the modem. Wait until all buttons are lit.
Plug in the router.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| I can't recall hearing about the sequence you suggested; is there a reason that you feel the computer should/must be on when the router boots up? I have never had a problem following the sequence in my post.
In the common situation where the router is powered up 24/7/365, and the computer is turned off when not in use, the router will be already booted up when the computer is turned on. If it was necessary to shut off the router, turn on the computer and then restart the router each time you wanted to use the computer, this would be a real hassle!
Unless the computer has a static IP address, the router will have to assign an address via DHCP. If the router is all up and running when the computer is turned on, it will be able to detect the computer and assign an address; if the computer is already on when the router boots up, things might get iffy. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
1 edit | I don't understand why anyone would shut down a desktop computer if they have broadband. One of the reasons to get broadband and pay for the higher price of broadband is so that the computer is always connected to the internet. (If you are concerned about security issues with always connected then you get a Moto Surfboard or RCA, etc. and use the standby button on the modem when the computer is not in use). If you have dialup, you have to dialup before you can use the computer that is always on (assuming you want to use it to surf rather than using Word to compose a letter). Turning off a computer just shortens its lifespan especially in marine environments. If I were to ever turn off my computers (they run 24/7 and I don't like to take vacations because that is hard on the computers that have to be shut down for an extended period), I would also turn off the modem and router. Why would I leave them on and the computer off? That makes no sense. But to me it makes no sense to ever turn off a desktop computer in the first place.
I would characterize your statement "In the common situation where the router is powered up 24/7/365, and the computer is turned off when not in use," as being uncommon. I don't know anyone with a home desktop computer who ever turns it off. Most folks like XP because you can keep it running for 30 days or more and not have to reboot much less turn off and then cold boot. That is something from the days of 95/98 computers not current computers with a current OS. They are intended to run 24/7 and not need rebooting (except maybe when installing new applications/security patches) because they hardly ever BSOD. It is a real pain in the butt these days if a modem trips off line even once a week because you should never need to reboot/cold boot a computer except once every few weeks or months.
Further, if you have more than one computer and you turn off one but not the other then you are asking for IP address conflicts and Master Browser conflicts. Those are not fun to fix either. Always leave your computers running 24/7. Use hibernation (if available) if you want, but leave them running. It is best though to just have the monitor turn off after 5-10 minutes but never turn off the hard disk and have hibernation in effect ONLY when the electricity goes off and your UPS does a managed shutdown.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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attache
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to daveinpoway
The SB4100 modem is also a DHCP server (per uiser manual). When you have a wireless router (AP) wired to it, do you then disable DHCP in the wireless router? And I assume, change the IP address, subnet mask to be in the modem's address range? For example, if the gateway address(modem with DHCP
service) is 65.24.172.9 with a subnet mask of 255.255.252.0, one would have to the change the ip address and subnet mask of the wireless router to 65.24.172.15(from 192.168.1.1 as may be the case)and 255.255.252.0(255.255.255.0)? |
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MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
1 edit | Modems are ONLY using their internal DHCP server when they aren't properly sync'd to the cable system.
Once the modem sync's to the cable system properly it goes into bridge mode and lets the devices connected to it communicate with the ISP DHCP server unhindered.
So just set the router connected to the modem to DHCP mode and let it get the IP issued by the ISP and hand out private IPs to the devices connected to the router. Nothing complicated or difficult. |
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MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
3 edits | reply to Mele20
said by Mele20  :I don't understand why anyone would shut down a desktop computer if they have broadband. Most people shut down their computer when they aren't using it out of habit to save electricity and out of a sense of safety to make sure nothing happens to it when they aren't using it.
Although more people are leaving them on full time they're still the minority of most computer users in the hundreds of home visits I've made.
said by Mele20 :Further, if you have more than one computer and you turn off one but not the other then you are asking for IP address conflicts and Master Browser conflicts. Not sure what this means because if you have a properly working router and clients that follow DHCP protocol properly, I've NEVER seen this to be a problem. Why would the DHCP server in a router would be issuing the same IP to multiple CPE? What exactly is a "Master Browser" anyway? |
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daveinpoway
Premium
join:2006-07-03
Poway, CA
| Another reason to turn off the computer at night: mine is next to my bed, and it is a lot easier to sleep if I don't have to listen to the cooling fan running.
I agree that the router's DHCP server should be able to handle a situation when any of the connected computer(s) are on or off. I would immediately return any router I purchased which turned out to be so crippled that you had to follow some regime regarding which computers you could use and the sequence you had to utilize to turn them on and off. Life is too short to have to deal with restrictions like this, especially since affordable routers which work properly are so common these days. |
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