Hi, I'm experiencing an odd problem. I'll try to explain it. I used to have a BEFW11S4 V2 Wireless Router. After a few years, I started having problems. Sometimes after a period of idling, the router would stop routing. It would still allow internal LAN access, but no signal would be allowed out into the cable modem. Resetting the router fixed this temporarily. Once this started to get frequent, I bought a new router, thinking this would solve the problem. I got a WRT54G Wireless Router. This still didn't solve the problem. All the computers on my network could still talk to each other, but the internet connection was lost until i either unplug, or press the reset button on the router. I replaced my cable modem, and the problem still persists. I can't figure out what's wrong. Please help. Thanks, Dave

I'd suspect the cable modem! When all the land is in ruin, and burnination has forsaken the countryside, only one guy will remain. My money is on.... TROOOOOOGDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!

Strange you should have that problem. I suspect the ISP's network and all the junk packets bouncing around it and hitting my router. Or errors in their network returning DNS request information. Have you tried power cycling the modem when this happens and see what happens. Does it start working after awhile? I have BEFSR41 v2 and a Linksys Modem. At times the router will stop talking to the modem. I can access the router and other systems on the network just fine at http://192.168.1.1 but not the modem at http://192.168.100.1 as normal. Everything in the LEDs looks normal on both boxes except there is no data transmitted to the modem from the router when request are made to the modem or Internet. To resolve, I just have to power cycle the modem and wait about twenty minutes for the Adelphia.com Cable network to recognize my requests again. When this happens it usually takes five minutes or longer just for the modem to sync up and download its configuration file from the headend router. Seems to be a problem on their end letting me back in. Then it takes quite some time before their network routers start responding and their DSN server replies. Because of this long timeout getting their network to accept packets from my MAC addresses, I suspect it is some sort of error/security lock out cause by junk packets flying around and hitting the modem/router (the LED's blink a lot late at night when this happens, but the TCP/IP packet hit rate does not go up, its other junk). (I have seen some real strange packet fragments get through into my local network. Source/Destination IP address not even close and only the last packet of a large packet that was broken up by some router some where. With packet fragments like those hitting the router, no wonder things get confused.) Once back online it goes well. So it is not a basic hardware problem. I suspect it is some sort of DNS packet problem with the router getting confused by all the junk and its MAC being forced off of the network, until the connection is broken and times out. Sometimes if I let it set long enough, it starts working again by itself after a few hours. If I could find a good detailed technical description of what the newer options in the router settings do and what effect changing them should have, I am about ready to start experimenting with changing them, (Multicast, IPSec, PPTP Pass Through [enabled] and "Filter Internet NAT Redirection" [disabled]) to see if they have any effect on this random problem.

thanks for that info. so it might be my ISP, eh? hmmm question. i have the coax that runs to the modem running through a splitter into a tv as well. could this cause any problems? if yes, would more splitters cause more problems? cause to get to the modem, it has to run through about 3 in total (theres a few in the basement electrical panel) Dave

The available signal strength and quality is reduced everytime it is required to pass through a connection and a splitter is even more degrading. If possible, it would be a good idea to reduce the number by running a dedicated cable from the modem to the initial splitter.

I recently had major problems with a BEFSW11S4 at the leasing office in my apartment complex, it would stop allowing 'net access after a couple minutes when reset, then eventually it would not even do anything, all the lights would stay on solid with nothing connected, no response to the reset button at all. I had the manager sent it back to the home office, then later that day did some looking around at product reviews and discoverd a whole slew of complaints with this router, and apparently poor support from Linksys. I had frequent lockups with a BEFSR41 I had a couple years ago. I now have a DLink DI-704P which works much better. As for the cable modem, I would suggest looking at the electrical panel and see how many splitters are "daisy chained" off each other, and there are several like that replace them with a couple 4-way units. I highly recommend the Zenith ZDS5012 digital 4-way splitter. It has 5-2300mhz bandwidth so it can handle any digital cable or modem signal, as well as satellite. It is also weatherproof/waterproof in case things get a bit damp. Yes it is a bit pricey but well worth it in my opinion. Cable modem signals aren't as sensitive as the digital cable signal, so if you have to run it thru a 2nd splitter, it should work fine. BTW, spend the extra on digital 2-way splitters also, just in case. Home Depot here sells the Zenith line, very good stuff, Monster also makes good coax equipment.

Oh, almost forgot, check all your cable runs to make sure they are RG-6 or RG-6U. If you find any RG-59 I would recommend replacing it if possible. The '6 has a thicker conductor and can handle digital signals and longer runs. The '59 has a hard time with digital, and after a few feet performance degrades quickly. '59 is fine for a short connection between TV/VCR etc. but only analog. Also, if the cable runs near any electronics or motors etc make sure it is "Quad sheild" so that it won't pick up interference. You can go with the Zenith digital coax, or Radio Shack has good RG-6 QS for less.