About a month ago I purchased a Linksys WRT54GS router v5.0. It was working beautifully and then about four days ago it suddenly disconnected from my ADSL modem. I have the latest firmware. I reset both the modem and router with no effect. I think that I have a MTU problem but when I used this Linksys help article <http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linksys.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=386> I found a size that works but, when I manually entered it into the router, nothing happened. I still cannot browse the internet through my router. I did some googling around, and I found out that some how I could use a 3rd party firmware for this router. Great! Is it safe? Is it easy to use? Does it void the warranty? What if I don’t like it? Can I change it back? All of these questions create an uncertainty of weather or not I should use this 3rd party firmware or not. So, I’m kind of frustrated at the moment, I have to plug my pc directly into my DSL modem to be able to do anything on the internet. Also, if anyone uses a WRT54GS with the 3rd party firmware and knows if its worth any of the trouble, please let me know. Thanks for taking the time to read this; I hope that you may have some advice for me.

Firmware isn't going to fix your connectivity issue. Have you logged into your router [when it was connected] and run the tests of the wan link? Like does the wan interface get a ip address or can you ping a internet address from the router? if the router is defective you should be able to rma it. Call linksys or email them. Give a person a fish you feed them for a day. Ask a person to internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

when i am able to connect to it, i can look under amimistration and see that my PPPoE hangs on "connecting" with no IP address.

The Sveasoft firmware is pretty good. It adds tons of features to your WRT54GS and is very easy to use. Fed up with Windows? Try Ubuntu Linux

TCPOptimizer.exe www.speedguide.com broadband tools

Hey don, back to the TCP Optimizer again I see ;-). I'm guessing this is your favorite application of all time. lol Fed up with Windows? Try Ubuntu Linux

Bypass your router with one of your PCs (set to "assign IP Address automatically" and "Use DHCP Server for WINS resolution" and see if you can connect now. If you still can't connect it's not the router: Either your ISP is hosed or your PC is misconfigured.