Is my router defective?

[TraGreg]

I've got a netgear MR814v2 wireless router. Lately, my internet has slowed down to a non-usable state. The lights on my router flash when this happens.

I'll get on the internet, and all is working fine, then for no reason, 10 minutes later it slows down and most pages don't load at all. I'll look up at my router and lights are flashing. If I direct connect my system to the internet bypassing the router everything seems to work fine.

What are your thoughts? Do I have to buy a new router?

[Mike1]

Lights flashing on a router usually mean that there is network activity going on. Does your wireless connection use any sort of security? Sounds to me like someone else is using up all your bandwidth from your wireless netork, leaving none for you. You shuldn't need to buy a new router, just check its manual for instructions on how to set up security.

[hypnotizeminds]

Having the same problem here.

I have Vonage (VoIP service) and the calls become a garbled mess until the router is disconnected from the network, then it clears right up instantly.

My 3Mb/s cable connection is sadly reduced to around 2-300k (upload speed not worth mentioning, let's just say it's unbearable...) when this router is present.

I also see very much activity even when all connected computers are not being used. Not just network activity, but through the modem as well.

So, I replaced the router with a new one, no change in behavior. I even tried using the old one and updating the firmware... now the thing won't allow me to access it's setup program, but whatever.

So, I guess I should take the new router back (it doesn't get along with my home phones either - damn 2.4Ghz phones) so I guess it wasn't going to last anyways.

Sorry, TraGreg, if it looks as though I am hijacking this thread. I simply feel we are on the same page and this is easier than making a new thread for the same issue...

P.S. All of my computers are malware free (thanks to what I still remember from Hijack Helper training). :D

[TraGreg]

I have Vonage too...I am now assuming that is the problem. So you're saying it's likely Vonage is slowing my internet down? When I direct connect and take the router out of the equasion (and also disconnecting Vonage) my system is still running slow. At first when I posted I thought it was running ok without the router and vonage hooked up but after my post it slowed down again. Ok...so any suggestions on how to fix this problem?

I was going to downgrade to the basic high speed internet $25 package through Adelphia...is Vonage slowing my system down so much that if I did It would be not even functional internet speed?

[hypnotizeminds]

I cannot speak for your situation, but here, Vonage is not slowing my internet connection down (anymore than it should ;) ). Making use of the wireless router (Dell TrueMobile 1184), along side the Vonage router or standing alone, slows everything down. It has since before we had Vonage, though now that it is affecting our home phone usage to this extent, I have no other choice but to do something about it.

It sounds to me like we are both experiencing the same problem, although just for clarity, is the Vonage-supplied router the only router in your network configuration?

[degsy]

tut tut Gary. You should know by now not to hijack a thread. :D

Please post your own or acknowledge this and I will split the thread.
:)

[hypnotizeminds]

...split if you must, although we are almost certainly having the same problem...

Anywho, @ TraGreg:

I've been investigating the situation more closely lately and I'm starting to think that the problem may lie in one of the wireless clients. Things are going as they should right now, now that most of the computers are shut off or sleeping. My plan is to begin using them one at a time for about an hour each until the problem occurs, then power off whichever computer I'm using when that happens and see if the issue clears up.

If this thread is split, I will let you know if I find anything that may help you further. In the meantime, perhaps you can try the same thing and see if it helps you at all. :)

[z1p]

Sorry to say, I don't have much help or hope to offer. I myself have the netgear router boxed up and ready to return. I had nothing but issue with mine from the start. In the default config, it worked OK, but as soon as I started doing things like changing the SSID or disabling its broadcast, the router would develop problems. Eventually it would not even pass POST. It took a good hour, but I got netgear to agree to an RMA.

BTW - The 2 other people I know who got the same router had issues with the router and had to return them.

[smurfy]

I'm using the same model Netgear router without a hitch BUT I have closed down the Wireless point because I have no wireless clients to add to it. My D-Link ADSL modem is connected to Router WAN port. I then have 3 wired clients connected directly to router LAN ports and another 3 - 5 connected through an 8 port 3Com hub conencted to the 4th router port. NICs are all manner of makes and chipsets and they all seem to get along.

The difference is Wireless clients and Vonage so that's where I'd be looking to find the culprit, not the router.

First thing I'd do is log in to the router (192.168.0.1) and check the connected clients for any unknowns, then look under Router Status - Show statistics to see exactly where the traffic is occuring (WAN/LAN/WLAN?).
Consider turing Access Control on - that way the only wireless clients that can use your connection are the ones you physically add to the MAC list.

[bAdWaYz]

I don't personally have that router so I can't be of much help there. However I can say that if you have Vonage all you should need to do is use a phone adapter and you can plug those into most any cable/dsl router. In otherwords you wouldn't really "NEED" to use the vonage router if you already have one you like. I can also tell you that Vonage won't tell you this but its highly suggested that you use a router that can do QOS and setup the QOS option for use with vonage service so that the bandwidth can be better managed.