Lose connection often

[yomama]

I'm really getting frustrated with this ongoing problem of getting disconnected every hour or so. Two years ago we got on cable and got a guy to hook us up to a router (our desktop computer and our son's desktop computer). We would get disconnected a few times a day and I'd shut things down and back on and it would fix the problem. We more or less lived with it and then our son moved out several months later, so we decided to unhook the router and hook our computer straight into the cable modem. That was the end of our problems of getting disconnected. Now our daughter has been coming home from college weekends and wants to use her laptop here while she's here, so she brings it with her. Because of that, we hooked both computers up to the same router that we've had sitting in a box ever since we had quit using it a few years ago. We also bought a wireless access point and hooked it into the router so our daughter could go anywhere in the house with her computer. Our computers would get disconnected before we got the wireless access point and the same thing happens now that we have it too. My husband suggested to me to go buy a new router, that maybe the old one is junk (if it is, then it always was, because it's always caused a problem from the beginning). I called the cable company to see what they'd have to say. The woman I talke with said something about another customer having a problem like ours and that they had mistakenly had their router set up as a switch instead of a router. Being that I have ADD and have trouble understanding what people are trying to tell me lots of times, and being that I don't know a lot about computers either, I thought I'd be better off coming here and asking how to change this like that other cable company customer did. The cable lady mentioned to set everything up as DHCP. I have no idea if by that she meant the same thing as setting the router to be a router or if I have to do more than one thing or what the heck I have to do. I don't even know where to look on the computer to do this stuff. That's why I had to come here to ask my question how to do that. I thought it's at least worth a try. Can anybody explain in pretty much detail how I do this?? Thanks.
Edit: Oh, if it's of any help, our modem is a Motorola SB5100, the router says Addtron Technology on it, and the wireless access point is Netgear. Another thing...both of the computers get knocked offline at the same time, not just the one.

[bAdWaYz]

Yo,
I have never personally worked with an Addtron router. If you could maybe find some mod numbers on it that could help. Try to look at the bottom of the router and just post back what you find. I'm not going to blame this problem of yours on the router before we check a few things out first. I hate to cast a bad image of any product without at least first trying to use it as directed. I have however read a few pretty bad reviews of Addtron products. This is not to say yours won't work but next time you buy a router you may wish to get advice first. So post back and we can go from there, also feel free to ask any questions you may have here if you end up getting a new router. The folks here are very helpful and know thier stuff. Good luck and hope to see you're post soon...cheers

[yomama]

Hi Badwayz, I sure wish I knew what mod numbers are. I see different numbers/letters on the bottom of the router. Would it be the one that is this: ADR-E200PRB. If that's not what you're looking for, then I will give you these that are on another sticker on the bottom:
MAC: 004033AF4B51
MAC: 004033AF4B52
Those last two have bar codes above each one as does the following which is on a real small sticker also on the bottom of the router:
1600E201904

There ya go, take your pick!
I really appreciate your help. I don't want to go spending money on another router if there's something I can do to this one to fix the problem, but if it's just a crappy router, then I will buy a new one (I'll go wireless since I need that for our daughter's laptop).

[bigfatguy6969]

Ok i tried searching for your modem and it's problem bingo, lol i found it. I went to a google search for addtron routers and the website told me this is how to ifx the problem. (hold unto your socks, this hopefully works )

1. Remove all cables from the Router including the power supply.

2. Depress the Uplink switch so it is in the down position.

3. Use a regular Ethernet cable to connect Port 1 with Port 4.

4. Re-insert the power supply and wait for 5 seconds or until the Self Test
light goes off.

5. The Router is now reset to factory default.

Postback with results!

[yomama]

Hey Bigfatguy (I feel like I'm insulting you, but that is your username lol),
Thanks for taking the time to look up that info for me. I tried it and it didn't work unless I did something wrong. Excuse my ignorance, but by Ethernet cable, you do mean the same as the ones that are plugged into these various devices, right? We had an unused cable in our one drawer and I plugged that into Ports 1 & 4 and did all those other things that you said. Would I have had to completely shut off the computer? I didn't do that, but then again, that wouldn't have been a true test of knowing if this experiment worked or not since shutting it off is what I always do anyway to fix the problem when we get knocked offline. I don't know if this means anything or not, but when all those cables were plugged in (Ports 1 & 4 taken up by that one, the wireless access point in one, and the cable modem in one), I noticed that the lights on 3 of the rows on the router were flickering/blinking a little bit, but they seemed to be steady on one of the ports (I think it was Port 3), unless it was my imagination. If there's a problem with that port, I wouldn't think that that would be the reason for my getting disconnected problem, since I know I tried our cables in all of the router ports at one time or another and still had the problem. Another thought...if Port 3 is indeed bad, then even if this method of yours would have the potential of fixing my problem, I guess I won't know anyway because I won't have enough ports to work with in that case, since either the WAP or the cable modem have to be plugged into Port 3. Now I wish they'd make these things with 5 ports. I'm just not sure what I should do now. These things sure can get frustrating. I'm just glad that there are people on here who I can turn to for suggestions. I would have no idea where to start.

[bAdWaYz]

Yo,
The good news is it looks like more people are trying to help you here. The bad news is after doing alot of reading on you're router I'm leaning more twards the fact that it may just be a bad apple. I read many pages and made a phone call or 3 and it seems that Addtron is no longer in business "that should tell you something". I did read that most times when a person had an issue with an Addtron router a firmwear upgrade and 1st aid tools would be the fix. The problem is that with them out of business it's hard to find firmwear on the net. If Bigfatguy could post that link he found or maybe anyone else out there can look around we might be able to get you some firmwear or a 1st aid update. I would very much like to help you out here as I know what a pain these things can be. So the bottom line here is this.....If we can't get that darn router working private msg me and maybe we can work something out. I happen to have a nice little linksys wireless router hanging out at my house. It's the 802.11b type so you would have the new 802.11g speed but it would be free hehehe. At any rate hang in there and we will see what can be done.

[yomama]

I would like to know something...Where would I go on the computer to find the information for the router to change settings if that's what's screwed up? I mean to change that configuration thing. True, I have no idea what I'm doing but was hoping that just by messing around through trial and error I'd eventually hit on the right combination of things to make it work. I'd just have to keep marking down the options I tried and with what other options. I'm just hoping that you don't have to type something in anywhere, as I really wouldn't have a clue. Unless someone on here could tell me exactly what to do?

I found the CD that came with the router and put it in the drive just to see what would happen. The only choice that came up was to install it, so I clicked out of that since it's already installed on here. At least I think it is, otherwise it wouldn't ever work at all, would it? I don't remember of anyone using the CD, but surely they must have to get the router to work...I guess.

I hunted up the box that the router came in and there's a paper with Quick Setup instructions on it and just for sh*ts and giggles I started out doing what it says, hooked up everything that should be hooked up to the router and typed in http://192.168.1.1. The next step says to type in root, etc. I won't go through explaining all the steps since probably people on here are familiar with what it says. I didn't go through all those steps, as I suppose that was already done at one time. Does it hurt to do it again? I'm wondering if going through these steps would fix the problem of getting disconnected? I suppose I'm just desperate and grasping at straws. If nobody on here can figure this thing out, I'll probably go and buy a new router (certainly not an Addtron, since I know that we already have trouble with that brand). I'm just not sure if there's anything I have to do before I hook up the new router. Is there anything you have to do besides unhooking this old router before hooking up the new one? I mean, do you have to hunt it up on the computer somewhere and remove it? If so, how? Maybe I'm just getting ahead of things and should just see if someone on here has a solution for me before I go spending more money....and I almost hate to say it, but there's no guarantee that the new one would work either.

[yomama]

Badwayz, Heh, it looks like while I was typing out my last post, you were posting and now I've read what you said. Uh boy, doesn't that just figure that we would end up with something junky. I hate to be a pessimist, but bad luck seems to have a way of finding me sometimes like that. It's funny that you mentioned Addtron going out of business. I didn't know that but while doing a search on the net just awhile ago and not being able to get the addtron.com link to come up, I came to the conclusion that they must have gone out of business. Grrrr! Being that I know little about computers, I never heard of firmwear, but as long as you know what it is, I guess that's fine with me. I've spent the past couple hours looking and looking on the net to try to find a solution. I didn't find anything on the websites I was on that stated what Bigfatguy told me, but there are so many sites out there it's hard to find every single one related to this. I really didn't find anything to help me. Basically, mostly all I found was above my head anyway, and none of it really sounded like any type of solutions.
I'm so glad that I found this board again. I had been on here awhile back but then lost the URL and didn't know how to get back on. I was searching for awhile on the net yesterday and found you again, thank goodness! I really appreciate your going to so much trouble for me. You must really like helping people, which is nice. Hopefully we (well, let me rephrase that...you or someone else who knows what they're doing) can find those things that you mentioned if you think that might be the solution. You mean you just have a wireless router sitting around that you aren't even using? I hate to just take it from you, so let's hope that there's another solution. Thanks for the offer! Being that I have a few years up on you ... well, okay, more than just a few... I didn't grow up with computers and never worked with any at all before I got my first job about 10 years ago after staying home with the kids. Even so, typing on a computer is a far cry from actually knowing what you're doing when it comes to knowing how the system works and what to do to fix things. Thanks again for your help!

[bigfatguy6969]

Well it seems bad luck has struck yet again, i didn't save that website. , sorry. It definitly seems like a bad router(or just a bad company). I will try to help as much as possible but, im pretty fresh outa idears.

Yeap,no insults, it's ok that is what I preferred to be called.

[bAdWaYz]

I hate to say it but I have had zero luck with finding any firmwear updates on the net. We could tinker with this thing for ages but is it really worth the trouble? At this point I would suggest just getting a new router. Now this is the part thats tricky, because you have some choices. Do you want to go for a cheaper router or go ahead and spend some cash to get yourself a nice router that should last a very long time? If you want to save some money and go the cheap way then SMC makes a pretty nice little router that will get the job done. Keep in mind that while its cheap you also get what ya pay for. Thats not to say it will die or not work but hey these things happen. At least with SMC you can get nice tech support and they aren't going out of business. You can find this router here keep in mind this is a 802.11b so its not the new fast 802.11g "even that will be old soon". So if you are happy with the speed of B it will be just fine. Now if you wish to go with a more expensive router but one that will last you a long long while I'd go with this This router is also 802.11b but if thats fast nuff for you then its ok. This one may cost a bit more but you get a nice little router with ton's of tech support they are not going out of business because Cisco owns them heheh. Plus there are so many of them on the market that just about anyone can help you if you run into trouble. So take a look and do some reading. My offer still stands because I upgraded from B to G so my old router is just sitting on the floor doing nothing. Hope this helps you and hope to hear from you soon...cheers

[bigfatguy6969]

Totally, i believe the best route to take is getting a new router, but you will also have to get wireless cards ot somekind of adapter. I hope you get your network up sone. For now i say farwell.

[yomama]

Bigfatguy, That's okay, I don't blame you for not saving the website. I guess if a person would save every single one they came across, you soon wouldn't be able to find anything, huh? Thanks for trying to help though. I'm not quite sure what you meant by having to get a wireless card or adapter. My daughter's laptop is set up for wireless, and according the the Staples guy I could run both our laptop and her laptop off the wireless routers that they have. He didn't mention anything else other than that. I hope this isn't more complicated than what I think it is. I just thought I could unplug this one and the WAP and then hook up the wireless router and run our computer into that and we'd both be set to go.

[yomama]

Badwayz, Thanks for looking for those firmwear updates. If you think this router is just more or less junk, I'll just have to accept that and move on, I guess. It just spites me that we put $300 (total for router and WAP) and basically have crap. If you think I'm better off getting a new router, maybe that's what we'll have to do. Being that I know next to nothing about routers, I would probably just go back to Staples and get one of the ones they have there. I think they sell Netgear and/or Linksys brand. I wasn't really paying much attention to them at the store once the guy more or less talked me out of buying one. He had mentioned about the IP address renewing every hour or whatever and that that's why we're probably having problems, but yet I'm thinking surely other residential customers only have static addresses like we do and they would have same problem, but yet the cable lady says she doesn't have trouble with getting knocked offline at her house. I'm not going to ask our ISP to give us a static IP address (higher rate, slower speed) and have the same thing happen anyway probably (I'm guessing). I think Staples had different models of routers, but it's not like I was really paying much attention at the time when I was in there. If I buy one in there, I would just have to more or less trust that the guy is selling me the right thing. I guess as long as I can take it back to the store if it doesn't work, then that's okay with me. Thanks for your offer, but I don't like taking something for nothing and since I'm unemployed right now, I more or less have to depend on hubby for money and he'll probably say to go buy one at Staples, I think. I just hope that whatever I get I won't have to do anything more than unhook this junky router and the WAP that's on here right now and plug the new wireless router in. I don't know anything about configuring (the cable lady must have thought I knew that stuff; I don't), so I hope I don't have to do anything with that or I'd have to get someone to come out to the house and I wouldn't even know who to get. Thanks very much for all your help! Now if we decide to go with a new router, hopefully I'll be able to get it going without a problem. When a person goes through school without having computers to learn on while growing up, it makes it hard to do things later on because the person (me!) doesn't have much of an idea what she's doing. If you can believe it, I seem to be the computer "tech" of the family because that stuff never interested our daughter, and being that my husband is older than me, he never had any experience with computers either. I at least had typing in school, whereas the school that he attended didn't require typing, so now he hunts and pecks. You can guess who does typing for him that he needs done! I'm still trying to teach him copy & paste, and I don't see what's so hard about that.

[bAdWaYz]

Yo,
If you do indeed get a new router and need help setting it up just post back here. These folks at CTH are the best help ever. I tell you they are as smart as it comes, and as helpful as heck. I'm sure that anyone here would love to help myself included. With most new routers you shouldn't have to do a heap in the way of config, depedning on what you want it to do. If you play online games and such you may wish to forward some ports but we can cross that bridge when we come to it heheh. If you're daughter has a laptop with built in wireless then that won't be a problem if not then she or you will need to buy a wireless adaptor for her laptop. Myself or any of the other folks around here could help you with that too. So good luck and hope it gets all worked out. Post back and let us know how it goes.

[yomama]

Thanks again, Badwayz. I will most likely go and buy a new router within the next few days (I'm hoping). Yes, people on here sure are helpful. I guess in my case with this router it was beyond hope though. I don't play online games but am not sure if my daughter does or not. Many thanks again for your help and offer. I will get back here if I need help setting up the new router (probably not 'ifs' about it). If they have step-by-step instructions with the router, though, and they tell a person how to configure it, maybe I won't even have a problem. The scant instructions that came with this junky Addtron router certainly don't impress me one bit! I'll cross my fingers that everything goes smoothly after I get the new one. I'm just not sure which one I want to get. I'll look at Staples when I'm there to see if they have that Linksys router that you posted a link for.