-- Posted by Daleacus at 7:59 am on July 20, 2008 I've made a topic like this before, but the problem has got worse. Currently, three or four times a day the router stops browsers accessing the internet. All browsers on all computers simply can't connect. I think Xbox Live dies too. However, certain applications such as Windows Messenger and WoW can still connect no problem. A router reset fixes the problem until it happens again - but as you can imagine this isn't very practicable. Anyone experienced anything similar or, more importantly, know what's going wrong, why, and how it can be resolved? Otherwise, we're just gonna buy another, but that's the least favourite option. -- Posted by jamescoleman at 8:01 am on July 20, 2008 did you try to reinstall the browers first? -- Posted by fluffysocks at 8:02 am on July 20, 2008 my router does that every now and again with my laptop. It doesn't happen that often, but sometimes i find that i have to unplug the router for a minute or so ... other times the 'fix' button on my laptops wireless reboots the connection. Sorry i dont know what it is, but i's suggest you try unplugging it and leaving it for a while, if you havent already done so. -- Posted by Daleacus at 8:04 am on July 20, 2008 Quote: from jamescoleman at 4:01 pm on July 20, 2008 did you try to reinstall the browers first? It's not the browsers that are at fault. Quote: from fluffysocks at 4:02 pm on July 20, 2008 Sorry i dont know what it is, but i's suggest you try unplugging it and leaving it for a while, if you havent already done so. We have - we do so several times a day. As I said, not practicable. =P -- Posted by SpottedTiger at 8:10 am on July 20, 2008 My router disconnects all the time. It's so annoying. I always click the wireless icon on the bottom right and "repair" it, but idk if that will work for you. -- Posted by Daleacus at 8:12 am on July 20, 2008 Quote: from SpottedTiger at 4:10 pm on July 20, 2008 My router disconnects all the time. It's so annoying. I always click the wireless icon on the bottom right and "repair" it, but idk if that will work for you. Nah, same result I'm afraid. Thanks anyway. -- Posted by marshmellowman at 8:14 am on July 20, 2008 Right, if browsers can't connect but MSN can and so can WoW then it appears that your problem is one to do with the DNS. Your router handles the DNS requests and these might at times be corrupted (this shouldn't happen though - so I won't be able to find the exact root). These are requests that from the name such as www.golivewire.com returns the specific hardware address for the server. Your router might be old or broken, or alternatively the source for its DNS (such as your ISP) might be causing problems. A router reset flushes the DNS cache and solves the problem until the router refreshes the cache every few hours and one glitch and it fucks up. I'd suggest going into the router's preferenes and changing the DNS servers to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. These are for OpenDNS which are highly reliable and I've been using them for a while. You can find instructions for your router if you're unsure here. If your problem still continues even after changing the DNS servers then it's most likely a hardware fault or something in the software of your router causing the corruption. This seems like something serious, and then easiest way to fix (and sadly the most expensive) is getting a new router. -- Posted by tait at 8:32 am on July 20, 2008 Quote: from marshmellowman at 4:14 pm on July 20, 2008 Right, if browsers can't connect but MSN can and so can WoW then it appears that your problem is one to do with the DNS. Your router handles the DNS requests and these might at times be corrupted (this shouldn't happen though - so I won't be able to find the exact root). These are requests that from the name such as www.golivewire.com returns the specific hardware address for the server. Your router might be old or broken, or alternatively the source for its DNS (such as your ISP) might be causing problems. A router reset flushes the DNS cache and solves the problem until the router refreshes the cache every few hours and one glitch and it fucks up. I'd suggest going into the router's preferenes and changing the DNS servers to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. These are for OpenDNS which are highly reliable and I've been using them for a while. You can find instructions for your router if you're unsure here. If your problem still continues even after changing the DNS servers then it's most likely a hardware fault or something in the software of your router causing the corruption. This seems like something serious, and then easiest way to fix (and sadly the most expensive) is getting a new router. Agreed this happened to an old router of mine and we just decided to buy a new one but because it was under a year old we got an exchange. I mean if you think about it you Router gets seriously hot and it is basically on 24/7. Delicate things they are. -- Posted by Daleacus at 8:39 am on July 20, 2008 Quote: from tait at 4:32 pm on July 20, 2008 Agreed this happened to an old router of mine and we just decided to buy a new one but because it was under a year old we got an exchange. I mean if you think about it you Router gets seriously hot and it is basically on 24/7. Delicate things they are. I did wonder if over-heating might come into play, as we have a very heavy traffic load for about 16 hours a day - four computers each browsing lots, irregularly streaming, downloading torrents and gaming at once, and then a 360 and a Wii too. The things are supposed to be able to handle a lot of traffic as far as I know, but hardly anything lives up to its specs. And it does get very, very hot. Quote: from marshmellowman at 4:14 pm on July 20, 2008 I'd suggest going into the router's preferenes and changing the DNS servers to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. These are for OpenDNS which are highly reliable and I've been using them for a while. You can find instructions for your router if you're unsure here.    If your problem still continues even after changing the DNS servers then it's most likely a hardware fault or something in the software of your router causing the corruption. This seems like something serious, and then easiest way to fix (and sadly the most expensive) is getting a new router. Thank you very much. I'll try this tomorrow morning when I have the connection to myself (illogical that I can't fix it because three other people are using it while it's broken, but, there we go.) Even if it doesn't fix anything, the advice looks superb and beneficial regardless =P I'll let you know how it goes on. -- Posted by tait at 8:47 am on July 20, 2008 I did wonder if over-heating might come into play, as we have a very heavy traffic load for about 16 hours a day - four computers each browsing lots, irregularly streaming, downloading torrents and gaming at once, and then a 360 and a Wii too. The things are supposed to be able to handle a lot of traffic as far as I know, but hardly anything lives up to its specs. And it does get very, very hot. Yeah that sounds pretty much the same as mine. An Xbox, a desktop and three laptops usually on at the same time. Good luck anyway! -- Posted by Daleacus at 2:36 am on July 22, 2008 marshmellowman, I altered the DNS addresses to those you suggested last night and the problem occurred again twice since then and this morning. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have fixed anything. So, does it sound like we simply have a broken router? Anything else you could suggest? I just checked for firmware updates again for the sake of it, but none. We're tempted to buy another but, that's last resort, as it costs money and for all we know the same issue could happen with a new one, if it turns out to be something to do with our ISP or connection to them. -- Posted by Daleacus at 12:23 pm on July 23, 2008 We currently have about 2 hours of internet access a day, which means I'm actually going outside. =P But, now we can't determine if this sudden extended loss of service is due to the router or the fibre-optic cable coming into the house which was revealed to be damaged recently and is in need of replacement (we have no tv.) The router has always messed up as described, but this current crap performance may be the cable. -- Posted by marshmellowman at 7:02 am on July 24, 2008 Right, if my suggestion didn't do anything then this is either a fault with the router, or your ISP. If there are no firmware updates can you download the latest firmware version and restore that, effectively resetting your router? There might be something corrupt within the router itself. If that doesn't doesn't do anything, then it may be a hardware fault or a problem with your ISP. See if you can borrow a friend's router if they have one spare or something and see if that works or if it causes the same problems. If it's with your ISP most likely changing the router will do nothing at all. You can also ask a friend or neighbour with the same ISP as you if they have the same problems. You can also call up your ISP and ask them if others have reported similar problems and whether or not they can suggest a fix for this. The people you will talk to often times will no nothing at all, so if you're unhappy or whatever ask if you can speak to a supervisor and they may be able to give you more details. I really can't think of anything else, let me know if you get anywhere. Quote: from Daleacus at 8:23 pm on July 23, 2008 We currently have about 2 hours of internet access a day, which means I'm actually going outside. =P But, now we can't determine if this sudden extended loss of service is due to the router or the fibre-optic cable coming into the house which was revealed to be damaged recently and is in need of replacement (we have no tv.) The router has always messed up as described, but this current crap performance may be the cable. That could definitely point the the ISP problem or at least the cabling into your house. Once that's sorted out you may regain some better Internet access, hopefully anyway.