Damn Computers

[mdmead]

OK, I'm lumping all computer-related products together for this rant!

Last week our old D-Links router crapped out. Ever since it was new, it didn't take much for it to freeze up. Usually a quick unplug for 5 min and then replug would bring it back online. This last time, I couldn't bring it back. I spent a couple of hours trying to get it reset, but it just wouldn't stick.

OK, not a real big deal. I mean, it was a $40 router that we've had for about 3 years.

Checked the Sunday ads to see if there were any deals. Office Depot had a mid-line Linksys router on sale for $80, so I bought it. (I swore I wouldn't buy another D-Links based on the performance of our last one and the negative reviews I read about it after the fact.)

It hooked up pretty easy and before too long I had all three of our computers hooked and running. (Hard-wired desktop and two wireless laptops.) I use a laptop and it was working fine for me. Immediately my wife starts complaining she can't get her e-mail or browser to work on the first/second/third try with the desktop. It was like the router would go into 'sleep' mode. I figured it was a configuration thing that would be an easy fix. WRONG!!! A little investigating online revealed that this was a common problem with this router and while I read of several fix attempts, I never found one that worked longterm. I tried a couple of things but quickly decided, WFT?!?! If they can't build a router that works reasonably well out of the box, then it needs to go back to the store.

So it went back this morning.

This time I picked up a Belkins router for $90 on sale at Best Buy. This one hooked up even easier than the Linksys... but then when I tried to set up the network security, it started causing me problems. The router worked great unsecure, but after adding the security, I kept getting amber flashing lights (which the box says are bad). Of course there is no 'book' or other documentation for troubleshooting it. I finally unplugged it and after replugging, it came up and all the lights are a soothing blue color. (The box says this is good.) Hopefully this will be a better router than the last (2).

You know, I'm not a computer expert, but at the same time, I consider myself above average when it comes to tinkering with this stuff too. I'm just amazed how some of this stuff doesn't work right out of the box and wonder how other folks... the 'gadget challenged'... ever get things to work?!

I mean really, WFT?!

[dunedog]

You buy that expensive stuff .....see I got the $40.00 Netgear router w/$20.00 rebate and $20.00 off at register ,... it works just fine.....

[Cobra]

i always use dlink router burnt out after 5 years of hard use got new bigger badder one and my dsl modem is dlink too never and problems and were easy to set up.... i never but the cheap ones tho and tend to read the reviews before i buy them.....

[potskie]

I personally used to run linksys had bad luck with D-link. More so because D-link is home user quailty where as I do things on my network that would some small - mid sized business routers shakey. Now I run Older Enterprise quailty Cisco hardware... The kinda stuff you find on the rack in the air conditioned super controlled room in a large company. Not for the general home user tho.... Unless you feel like learning subnetting / routing protocols and IOS.

[lockdoc]

Never bought one. A Westell wireless router came with my service and worked from the moment I plugged it in four plus years ago. I take that back. My service went down once in the middle of something "important" and I smacked the router. Hard. The wireless would not work after that. Just before I went to buy another one I pulled it apart. The wireless board was unplugged. Plugged it back in and all is good.

But I know what you mean. How the heck to people get their PC's to operate? I know I have had to do alot over the years to get things working. I've been to other homes where they weren't real PC savvy and the answer is that they just have crappy running PC"s.

[ds99]

Hey Matt,

I'm a Senior Agent for Geek Squad working the main repair facility for over 900 Best Buys from the Rockies eastward. I have seen every problem out there. So that's my bonafides

Have you considered the Netgear routers. I used the old MR814 a/b wireless with encryption and have upgraded to the WG6 series which has G and Super G (54 and 108 Speeds). It has an easy to use Interface to help you set up security in a couple of formats and you can change the transmission channels also. Another security trick is to disable the SSID Broadcast of your network name. If you can't see it you can't hack to it.

The router are usually in the 40 to 60 dollar range for the 802.11A/B/G types and now they have a faster more expensive wireless N routers but they run into the triple digits. I'd only go N for the bragging rights or if I had a 7,000 sq. ft. house. LOL

Hope this helps,
Phil

[d3athm3talh3ad]

i used to work at a call center for sbc's dsl service...aside from the 2-wire home networking package that sbc pushed on subscribers, the most problematic routers we had calls about were the linksys routers...
there's one at work was supplied to us with the computer and is really there just to save the static ip's in (they told us not to add other computers to the router)...it 'sleep modes' after about 5 minutes...gave up trying to fix it and just hooked that computer into the netgear router we just got to replace the belkin one of the techs broke, both those brands have been pretty trouble free...
i have the same model belkin router at the house and it runs 2 computers wired and 3 or more wirelessly with ease, hardly ever have to powercycle it and the only two times i haven't had internet access was the two times my isp was doing upgrades and no one in the area had access...

[kings-x59]

interesting..I've had good luck with 2-wire routers and wireless cards.
I run three computers, and 2 xbox 360s on the router, one of them wireless. The cable tv comes in through the router as well.
no problems. I keep the puter harddrives cleaned up and defragged and the virus protection and firewall software up to date.

[Rileysowner]

Our house seems to eat up wireless routers. They all work great to start right out of the box, but after 2-3 years, they all start to fail slowly but surely. The latest one I have is some Chinese made one which seems to be working fine, but we are getting to the 2-3 year point. I think it is the crappy wiring in this house (glad I don't own it) and the frequent power outages in the area. I don't think a month goes by without the power flickering if not going out completely. My computer is on a UPS to protect it, but the router will just be a disposable part of my system.

[kings-x59]

surge protector might help

[crash]

I don't think a month goes by without the power flickering if not going out completely

you and me both Jim.. I think it must be the region we're in LOL like we don't pay enough for service and taxes here huh?

I did a bunch of research when I bought the router I have now. I wanted reliable and stable... fast and secure. I've gone through 2 of them since I got it, under warranty. this one is now starting to buzz and when it has an issue and starts dropping the connection... it goes on and on and on. even with hitting the full reset switch in the back. this one is out of warranty now so I'm on my own. when I bought the first one is was the most expensive and seemed to be the best on the market. DLink DIR-655 I also have a Cisco 5 port switch in the equation as well as the isp provided modem. never had an issue with the Cisco switch. i have had two replace the modem twice in the last 6 - 7 yrs .. fighting with the isp on that one is fun.. not.

i'm running 3 desktop pc's (sometimes 4) - 2 satellites that need net connections - one laptop occasionally

[Cobra]

i just got my modem replaced the old speedstream i had was great the new netgear? (i think) is a piece of crap and much slower, that's were my
dlink modem comes in. i'm running a dlink DGL-4300 and NEVER power cycle it last time i rebooted it was when i was setting up the encryption on my wireless last year. The power at my house is a little unstable but my power backups and surge surpressor take care of that

[mdmead]

Day II on the new Belkins and so far so good. My wife never complained last night about 'issues' with her desktop... If momma's happy...

By the way, her desktop was new at Christmas and is running Vista... I had resisted as I'd heard no good about Vista and our two XP laptops have worked well. But Vista has been OK so far. Being a cheapskate, I skipped a new version of Office and we are running Open Office instead. I need to 'associate' a few more file types to it, but we are happy with it's functionality.

One problem I'm continuing to have is to get my laptop to find the printer hooked to the desktop. Before we upgraded her, I had my laptop configured to print through the old laptop/printer that was hardwired to the router. (Well, it recognized the printer, but it was hit or miss if it would actually print....) That old laptop is now mobile, and I easily set it up to find the printer on the desktop, and it prints fine. Mine however must be annoyed there is a new computer in the house and refuses to acknowledge.

Damn computers!

[potskie]

Hey Matt,

It has an easy to use Interface to help you set up security in a couple of formats and you can change the transmission channels also. Another security trick is to disable the SSID Broadcast of your network name. If you can't see it you can't hack to it.

l

Security through obfuscation doesn't work. Especially in this case. To keep the average person from seeing it fine but anyone who would want to crack it no. 2 seconds with Kismet and The BSSID doesn't matter as your router still sends it's MAC address which is all you need.