finally got a router, having a problem with it

[john240sx]

i just bought a belkin 4 port router. i already hate it.
everything works great, i can access then internet, transfer files to my other computer, play games over the network but at random times windows says "Network cable is unplugged" and it acts like the router isn't there, about 10 minuts later it works again. it does this with both computers at the same time and i can't access the router, my other computer or the internet until it decides to work again.

i tried different cables, different nic's and i already took the first one back, this is the second one. i ran the network and internet wizards, tried manually setting it up, nothing works.

so am i hopeless when it comes to networking or is there some problem?

i know i probably didn't give enough info, i don't want to type out every detail unless you need to know it because i'm a slow typer and i have bad grammer when i'm mad.

[chuckerants]

I know it sounds stupid, but try updating the Firmware.

If you have the Model F5D5230-4, I believe one of the issues they've had was intermittent disconnection.

Couldn;t hurt,

http://web.belkin.com/support/download/downloaddetails.asp?download=663&lang=1

[john240sx]

i did that with the first one and it didn't help. i forgot about the update with this one. i'll try it and see if it helps.

[chuckerants]

Also, are you using store bought Cat 5 cable or ones that you made?

*** Nevermind, if this is happening to both PCs at the same time, it's got to be the router. BTW, I didn't much like this router either.

[john240sx]

well, a few minuts after i updated the firmware it did it again. this is very aggrevating.

i can't even play online games with it like this because it cuts out at completely random times.

i'm thinking i'll take it back tommorow and get a different one. is there any that you would reccomend for about $50-60?

[chuckerants]

I have the Linksys 4 port at home and I bought a cheap D-Link DI-604 ($29.95 at Best Buy)for my bro and they both work fine.

[john240sx]

figures, i was going to get a linksys but it looked like this one was better. that's my luck for you.

thanks chuckerants.

[Chrisdafu]

chuckerrants thank you very much. I always had problems with my router and never knew about that link. Thanks a lot man.

[chuckerants]

Glad to be of help guys.

[Kinerry]

My belkin 4 port rocks, no problems whatsoever

Bets 40$ I ever spent and the best router I ever purchased IMHO

[sgamd]

I have the same problem(same router)..however the update did nothing to help...I have noticed that my dads crummy 98 machine never gets kicked...just me and my brothers winXP machines do at the same time as stated above...wondering if it has something to do with XP....it really gets freakin annoying.

[sgamd]

Any ideas?

[chuckerants]

I talked with Tech Support of Belkin when I installed the router. Apparently, this router does not like XP. Try manually setting the NIC speed from AUTO to 10 BaseT.

[sgamd]

thats interesting to know.....I'll see what happens...Thanks for the reply...

[Kinerry]

just a note, i didnt use the setup software, I did it manually, maybe that will help out

[john240sx]

well, i got the linksys NR041 4 port router and it does that same thing. i'm starting to hate networking :mad:

i'll try setting it to 10baseT as see how it turns out. (it's not like i'll actually miss 100Mbit networking)


EDIT: i'll have to wait until morning to find out if it worked since this is a random problem.
now that i think about it this makes some sense, before i installed any router (when i was using a hub) the network was at 10Mbit not 100Mbit. anyway, i'll post how it turns out later.

[john240sx]

that didn't work either, it just cut out. the only way to get it back on the network (and internet) is to go into the router and click apply (or change anything so it has to apply settings)

i hope this isn't caused by XP, i don't want to go back to 98 and 2K wasn't compatible with a few of te games i play all the time.

[Kinerry]

it will get fixed by a later firmware if people complain enough, could be compatability with your service too...

try resetting your router and resetting your modem first off...

[john240sx]

i'm using ATTBI cable, i never heard of anyone having a compatibility problem with it yet (i would hate to be the first person though)

i just updated the firmware on this linksys and reset the modem and router. maybe i can get a little luck and it will work.