Belkin Router - Rebooting issues

[sethm1]

Home network:
Belkin's Pre-N (F5D8230-4)

Lately we have had to re-boot the router (and DSL modem) as our XP (3) PC's and one Apple Notebook (with Leopard) have no connection to the web.
Its been happening more frequently lately.
There is no new firmware to update that I am aware of .

I have noticed 3 new visible 'networks' on our street. Is it possible someone has the N1 version and is kicking us off our network?

If me buying a N version will fix this, do I :
1) need to un-install the existing Belkin software off each machine (other than the Mac)? then install the new software?

2) I use a Desktop card for my PC & my son uses a Notebook card, the 3rd XP is hardwired to the router.
Is the N version backward compatible? I ask this as I would upgrade our Belkin card, but not my sons as he rarely uses his PC. So would he still be able to have access to our network with a Pre-N card?

[mccoffee]

Upgrade the firmware of the router wait on N since N is still it's draft stages it seems like alot of the manufactures are waiting to see what the other is going to stick with.

Yeah it could be caused by intfernce try putting the router on a different channel then the visable one see if that helps.

Give this a shot on the mac too it should help with some of the dropping http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=177 even though the router is rebootin this should help with the computer dropping once the router is back up.

[sethm1]

I have the newest firmware/software.
And yes I tried changing the channel number - did that a few times.
Then got a hold of Belkin's tech support - they suggested I do a complete restore to factory settings. Which I did, though oddly the newest firmware remained.
Its been a few days and so far so good- unless I just jinxed myself.

Wish there was a way to see what channels my neighbors use.

I thought the N1 Vision is the new drafted version. So when will the new versions be officially released? Or is that up to the FCC?

Thx

[lenwest]

Wish there was a way to see what channels my neighbors use.

On a wireless machine install Netstumbler

[sethm1]

What about ----
I thought the N1 Vision is the new drafted version. So when will the new versions be officially released? Or is that up to the FCC?

[sethm1]

tried netstumbler - but no luck, some error msg about not finding my wireless card? I dont' care about my card- its other channels in the area I want to see out there.

[YeOldeStonecat]

DSL modem...is it just a pure modem? Or is it a combo modem/router..which is already doing the PPPoE and NAT? In which case you might have a double NAT situation...which isn't the more reliable.

When you say "drops the connection"....we need to find out if the Belkin router is losing its connection to the ISP on the WAN side...or if it's your wireless setup. It's 2x totally different things with different solutions. If it's dropping the connection on the WAN side..it's not related at all to your wireless setup...so changing channels or worrying about B/G/Pre-N compatability with current N is barking up the wrong tree.

Next time your connection appears to drop...test to see if you still have connectivity to the router (try logging into the routers web admin page)...if you can...it's not your wireless. If you can't..then it is your wireless..and you can try changing channels (1 or 11 or auto..from the default 6). If you can log into the web admin...look at the "status" section...see if it still pulls an IP.

Also...take a look at the WAN IP of the router..is it a private IP? (192.168.xxx.xxx)...or a public IP? This will help determine which kind of modem you have from the ISP...if it's private..that modem is a combo modem/router..in which case it's best to reconfigure that to pure bridged mode so your router does the PPPoE and is the only NAT device on your network.

Resetting the router to factory defaults..it will keep the version of firmware you flashed it with..factory defaults just means any custom settings you entered will be cleared out.

[sethm1]

Since resetting to factory settings have not had to reboot.

The modem was supplied by my ISP - DSL Extreme.
It is not a router/modem combo.

Question
What if I can still log into the routers Admin page?
Should I ask DSL Extreme to supply a new(er) modem?

[YeOldeStonecat]

Question
What if I can still log into the routers Admin page?
Should I ask DSL Extreme to supply a new(er) modem?

If you can still log into the routers web admin page...you have local network functionality..and the issue is on your WAN side. Possibly a bad modem, possibly bad lines in the house, possibly bad lines from the street to your house, possibly bad connection on your node, etc etc. But you have isolated it to your external part of the network..thus no need to spend time changing wireless channels, etc.

[sethm1]

Thanks for all the help