Time to replace an old router?

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I live in Florida, power goes out whenever it wants to and it did Friday night 9/17. My Netgear router is ten years old, since Friday I need to reset it when the computer sleeps or I shut it down
and restart to connect for the internet. The cable modem seems to be working as it should, am I looking at a router replacement, any help is appreciated.

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Hi Jim,

At ten years of age, it might be a good time to retire your router. Have you ever updated the firmware for your Netgear? If not, download and install the latest available firmware update to see if that has a positive effect on its performance during conditions you described.

If you have access to another computer to test with your router, see if your router behaves the same when another computer sleeps.

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Hi Jim,

At ten years of age, it might be a good time to retire your router. Have you ever updated the firmware for your Netgear? If not, download and install the latest available firmware update to see if that has a positive effect on its performance during conditions you described.

If you have access to another computer to test with your router, see if your router behaves the same when another computer sleeps.

My mistake it’s five years old and yes on the firmware, no other computer
if I need a new router I was thinking of this one Linksys WRT54GL

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My mistake it’s five years old and yes on the firmware, no other computer
if I need a new router I was thinking of this one Linksys WRT54GL

I would go with a router that includes the newest N band as well as the G band (dual band) I use the Linksys WRt610N. This wireless router has both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz available. Although the 5 GHz wireless has less reach, because there is almost no one else in my neighbor hood using 5 GHz, I do not get any interference from neighbors or wireless phones or microwaves, etc.

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I would go with a router that includes the newest N band as well as the G band (dual band) I use the Linksys WRt610N. This wireless router has both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz available. Although the 5 GHz wireless has less reach, because there is almost no one else in my neighbor hood using 5 GHz, I do not get any interference from neighbors or wireless phones or microwaves, etc.

610n is a good unit, but pricey for me, are there duals closer to the GL price

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My mistake it’s five years old and yes on the firmware, no other computer
if I need a new router I was thinking of this one Linksys WRT54GL

Hi Jim –
With your Firewall enabled, can you try a direct connect from computer to modem. Just curious, If there are no other computers, why is the router needed? (other than for a firewall)

I like Linksys products. Keep in mind that the Linksys WRT54GL is probably as old as your Netgear router.

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Hi Jim –
Can you try a direct connect from computer to modem. Just curious, If there are no other computers, why is the router needed?

I like Linksys products. Keep in mind that the Linksys WRT54GL is probably as old as your Netgear router.

I had two computers, kept the router for extra firewall, it still works I need to restart it, never had to do that until the last power outage

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Just a thought, would disconnecting the router completely and run the Netgear software help any?

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Reinstalling the software didn’t help

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Are you using an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) with surge protection?

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Are you using an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) with surge protection?

Yes, APC bought a few months ago

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Try opening the properties of your network adapter in Device manager. Click on the power management tab and uncheck allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and see if that helps.

Jerry

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If you want to eliminate interference as a possible source of the problem, you can change the channel your router uses for the WiFi signal. Most routers seem to default to channel 6, but 1 and 11 are popular as well. If yours is set to channel 6, change to 1 or 11 to see if that helps. If it doesn’t help, at least you will have removed that as a possibility.

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The OP hasn’t made it clear if he is using wireless or wired connection from his PC to his router.

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The OP hasn’t made it clear if he is using wireless or wired connection from his PC to his router.

Wired, I had it disconnected for awhile trying different hook ups, ended with the original hook up, plugged it in, seems to be ok

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Oops, thanks mercyh, I should have read a little bit closer!

Sorry about that Jim!

Sometimes sudden power outages can cause hardware problems on their own. But did you happen to have a thunderstorm last Friday night when the power went out? If so there could have been a surge that would not necessarily damage the modem, or any other component, but it might have fouled the router. I am assuming you don’t have your modem or router plugged in to the APC. The only APC I’ve had only included receptacles for two devices, my LCD and PC. I haven’t had another one since that one caught fire, so maybe you have a model with more receptacles.

We had a Ethernet card fried during a nearby lightning strike. The modem and router as well as the rest of the PC were fine.

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Me and my big mouth it’s messing up again, well at lest I can unplug it and plug it in again to make it work, I like the having the extra firewall when online
Yes they are plugged into theAPC

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It sounds like the router may be fried. Do you want to have wireless capability?

If not you can purchase a wired only router very inexpensively….

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It sounds like the router may be fried. Do you want to have wireless capability?

If not you can purchase a wired only router very inexpensively….

I don’t need wireless I have one system now, just wanted extra firewall, it works I need to reset it to get online, once I’m online I’m good

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I don’t need wireless I have one system now, just wanted extra firewall, it works I need to reset it to get online, once I’m online I’m good

either you buy a new one or just leave it be as it is

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Have you tried something as simple as resetting the router? Many times I have assumed that just turning something on/off would do that, but pushing the reset button (eg. usually using a paper clip) causes the router to go through some routines to reset settings to the original, factory defaults. Sometimes a surge (such as is mentioned above) might change a small setting that will torture you for weeks.

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Like many or even MOST new things electronic, when they first come out they are very expensive, but as time and competition begins to affect sales, the prices drop remarkably. When I bought my ‘Intellinet Wireless N’ router a few years ago, I paid $149 for it. Today I can buy a type N router for 1/3 of that.

If you’re using wireless, type N gives you a lot of security, because NO laptop is currently using that band.
But most wireless routers that have type N, also have G and B. Mine does.
But if you have wireless capability and don’t need it…..shut it off!

Router technology has improved markedly in the past few years so if you are having any problems at all with your old router, I’d suggest just replacing it with a new one and take advantage of all the new technology.

OH….on the UPS, test it frequently, by pulling the power plug out of the wall and see how long it runs before shutting down.
I too live in Florida and power outages of a few seconds to a few minutes are a regular occurance.
At least once a month I can expect to be without power for several hours.
I can shut down my PC while under UPS power,,,, no problem, but,
I feel like I’m in Solitary Confinement if my TV goes off.
So, I have an old 600w APC/ UPS that runs my TV and Cable box, outside antenna, etc.
To improve the run-time for the UPS, I installed two big car batteries in place of the little Gel-Cells that came in the UPS.
Of course, those big batteries won’t fit inside the UPS, so they sit in a plastic dish-pan, on the floor, with wires running to the UPS.
Run time for that UPS is now over seven hours. Some UPS’s will allow you to add more batteries, and some won’t.
Sorry, I’m running long.

Y’all have a great day now, Y’hea?

Doc

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Dr. Who, are you a ham radio operator??? That’s actually a great idea. What model of UPS are you using to do this???
And to the gentleman with the router problems, since you are not using a wireless connection, I would definitely invest in a wired only router. Wireless can be a major security risk if you are not using it because they are not easy, or cannot be, turned off and they must be secured with one of the encryption methods and with everything else that is on your wireless router because unsavory folks may want to tap into and use your internet connection or worse get into your machine.

Bill Stewart, W2BSA

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Check your router settings as the lightning strike could have reset them to default.
Now you have to reset them to connect the way you want.
Ted

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I found a frimware update and installed it, hope it helps, a lot of good suggestions thanks to all

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If buying a new router, here’s an article I did on a very cheap Netgear router that was fairly impressive (and purchased in Florida by the way)
http://www.esecurityplanet.com/features/article.php/3875006/Improve-Your-Wireless-Security-With-the-Right-Routers.htm

A good UPS should have protected your router but there is a huge variation in UPSs. If the price wasn’t painful when you purchased it, the UPS may not offer sufficient protection for your area. It should also protect the modem.

Not everyone needs a dual band router. Depends on how crowded the 2.4GHz band is in your area, and whether your wireless devices support 5GHz, many if not most do not.

To disagree with an earlier comment, in and of itself, WiFi N offers no more (or less) security than WiFi G. To agree with earlier comment: the best WiFi security is indeed turning the WiFi off.

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The new frimware is working, no need to reboot the router and it hasn’t drop the line all day

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