Unable to Access Internet Randomly

rt99 · 12-07-2005, 05:07 PM

Hello All,
I have Comcast cable internet service and have recently added a Linksys WRT54g Wireless router. The modem is a Motorola Surfboard. I did the setup and set the the IP configuration to Automatic Config DHCP on the router. Then I can access the internet on both PCs (one wired and one wireless). Then later on I can no longer access the internet on both. I then have to power cycle both the modem and the router. I have tried to switch to a static IP setting but a) this doesn't fix the problem and b) Comcast changes IPs often. Windows firewall is turned off at both PCs. I have enabled WEP 64 bit encryption. Both puters are running Windows XP home. I can't think of what else to try. Can any help me please? Thanks.

johnwill · 12-08-2005, 01:11 PM

Have you checked if you have the latest firmware for your router? If you connect one machine directly to the modem, does the connection work properly?

rt99 · 12-08-2005, 04:47 PM

Yes if one computer is hardwired to the modem it works fine. I will try updating the firmware and let you know. Thanks for the help.

johnwill · 12-09-2005, 09:59 AM

Since the modem direct connection works properly, I think you've isolated it nicely to the router.

I hope the firmware is the "sliver bullet".

**JamesO** · 12-09-2005, 01:52 PM

Tell us about your wireless machine?
Desktop or laptop?
Make and model of wireless client?

JamesO

rt99 · 12-12-2005, 02:38 PM

I updated the firmware succesfully but still no luck. I had to restart the router just now in order to get back on the internet. Strange thing is, when the internet goes bye-bye on bothe computers neither of them can log in to the router setup up page. I type in http:\\192.168.1.1 and the connection times out. Once I reboot the router I can log in again and use the internet. Anything else I can try?
BTW my wireless computer is a desktop I built myself. 3.2Ghz P4 2 gigs of Kingston Ram can't remember what my mobo is except that it is an A865 but I can't remember who made it. Not sure what a wireless client is, but my wireless card is just a generic one. Not sure who makes it.

johnwill · 12-13-2005, 01:49 PM

I'm beginning to suspect the router is simply defective at this point.

rt99 · 12-13-2005, 04:52 PM

You don't think it is some configuration setting in the router that is messed up somewhere? Thanks for the help though. I apperciate it.

johnwill · 12-14-2005, 12:44 PM

Did you try resetting the router to factory defaults? That will turn off any encryption, see if you can connect with that configuration.

rt99 · 12-14-2005, 02:35 PM

I can connect right now, its just that I have to restart the router after a while. Do you think that has anything to do with the encryption?

johnwill · 12-15-2005, 07:02 AM

If you can connect, then things go downhill, I'd suspect either spyware/malware or perhaps some interference with your wireless connection.

rt99 · 12-15-2005, 02:36 PM

I don't think iy is interference because both puters go down at once. I will check for spyware etc. and hope for the best. Knock on wood but it seems to be working fine now. I have had to restart since the last time.

12-07-2005, 05:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
rt99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32 OS: WinXP	Unable to Access Internet Randomly Hello All, I have Comcast cable internet service and have recently added a Linksys WRT54g Wireless router. The modem is a Motorola Surfboard. I did the setup and set the the IP configuration to Automatic Config DHCP on the router. Then I can access the internet on both PCs (one wired and one wireless). Then later on I can no longer access the internet on both. I then have to power cycle both the modem and the router. I have tried to switch to a static IP setting but a) this doesn't fix the problem and b) Comcast changes IPs often. Windows firewall is turned off at both PCs. I have enabled WEP 64 bit encryption. Both puters are running Windows XP home. I can't think of what else to try. Can any help me please? Thanks.

12-08-2005, 01:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,227 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Have you checked if you have the latest firmware for your router? If you connect one machine directly to the modem, does the connection work properly? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-09-2005, 09:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,227 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Since the modem direct connection works properly, I think you've isolated it nicely to the router. I hope the firmware is the "sliver bullet". __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-13-2005, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,227 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	I'm beginning to suspect the router is simply defective at this point. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-14-2005, 12:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,227 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Did you try resetting the router to factory defaults? That will turn off any encryption, see if you can connect with that configuration. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-08-2005, 04:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
rt99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32 OS: WinXP	Yes if one computer is hardwired to the modem it works fine. I will try updating the firmware and let you know. Thanks for the help.

12-09-2005, 01:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
JamesO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA USA Posts: 2,163 OS: 98SE, W2k Pro, XP Pro	Tell us about your wireless machine? Desktop or laptop? Make and model of wireless client? JamesO

12-12-2005, 02:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
rt99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32 OS: WinXP	I updated the firmware succesfully but still no luck. I had to restart the router just now in order to get back on the internet. Strange thing is, when the internet goes bye-bye on bothe computers neither of them can log in to the router setup up page. I type in http:\\192.168.1.1 and the connection times out. Once I reboot the router I can log in again and use the internet. Anything else I can try? BTW my wireless computer is a desktop I built myself. 3.2Ghz P4 2 gigs of Kingston Ram can't remember what my mobo is except that it is an A865 but I can't remember who made it. Not sure what a wireless client is, but my wireless card is just a generic one. Not sure who makes it.

12-13-2005, 04:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
rt99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32 OS: WinXP	You don't think it is some configuration setting in the router that is messed up somewhere? Thanks for the help though. I apperciate it.

12-14-2005, 02:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
rt99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32 OS: WinXP	I can connect right now, its just that I have to restart the router after a while. Do you think that has anything to do with the encryption?

12-15-2005, 07:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,227 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	If you can connect, then things go downhill, I'd suspect either spyware/malware or perhaps some interference with your wireless connection. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-15-2005, 02:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
rt99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32 OS: WinXP	I don't think iy is interference because both puters go down at once. I will check for spyware etc. and hope for the best. Knock on wood but it seems to be working fine now. I have had to restart since the last time.