Right now, we are using a Netgear Wireless G Router WGR614 v5 and recently it has been kicking the network off of the internet. The network will still work, as in printers and file sharing but no computer can access the internet until the router is power cycled. This is beginning to happen about once every week or so. I am assuming that the router is just dying? The old Netgear B router that we had before began doing this same exact thing, so my question is, do all routers eventually burn out, or is it a problem with Netgear routers in general? I know a few people who have had their same router for two or three times the length as mine are still working. What is going on here, and what brand/model router would you recommend buying to replace this one? Note, there is a money constraint and hopefully can stay around $60 if possible. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
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A few router questions
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That's absurd. I'm not saying it isn't happening, only that it's absurd.
There's nothing inherent in a router that should cause it to die so soon; it's just a chip on a pcb and should last as long as any other computer component without moving parts, which is to say forever (if good ootb). I have a linksys wireless g that I got shortly after 802.11g was ratified, so that's about 3-4 years and it's fine. About 1.5 years ago I added a second router (Buffalo whr54g or something, it was $50 at bestbuy) to create a wireless bridge and it's also fine. Now, I guess you could install 3rd party firmware and overclock the chip and increase the transmit power, that may cause early failure, but I'd be seriously ticked if my router was dying on me twice a year...
That's absurd. I'm not saying it isn't happening, only that it's absurd.
There's nothing inherent in a router that should cause it to die so soon; it's just a chip on a pcb and should last as long as any other computer component without moving parts, which is to say forever (if good ootb). I have a linksys wireless g that I got shortly after 802.11g was ratified, so that's about 3-4 years and it's fine. About 1.5 years ago I added a second router (Buffalo whr54g or something, it was $50 at bestbuy) to create a wireless bridge and it's also fine. Now, I guess you could install 3rd party firmware and overclock the chip and increase the transmit power, that may cause early failure, but I'd be seriously ticked if my router was dying on me twice a year...
I totally agree with you that it's absurd, but I've experienced the same sort of thing. In my case, it was Netgear wireless routers. I owned three Netgear wireless routers, one B and two like the OP has. All of them died in less than a year. Well, not completely, but flaked out enough that their wireless was worthless. I've had a few Linksys ones too, but none of those have ever died on me so I'm hoping that trend continues.
I don't know why routers would fail so much, but some certainly do. Especially Netgears. I guess the electronic components are just too cheap and/or run too hot.
Well, I found a Belkin wireless router for $40 at Best Buy and it came with a lifetime warranty. I bought it, and I don't care if its some cheap, crap router because of the lifetime warranty Reflow, thanks for letting me know about the belkin routers, I had no idea that they were lifetime warrantied
Reflow, thanks for letting me know about the belkin routers, I had no idea that they were lifetime warrantiedNetgear is a no-no
It is absurd, but the current (well, ok, 2 years ago) range of Netgear routers seemed to require constant power-cycling. I think a lot of designers put emphasis on looks rather than functionality and as a result they overheated. I have used the Linksys WRT54GL and it works wonderfully, esp since you can put 3rd party firmware on it.
It is absurd, but the current (well, ok, 2 years ago) range of Netgear routers seemed to require constant power-cycling. I think a lot of designers put emphasis on looks rather than functionality and as a result they overheated. I have used the Linksys WRT54GL and it works wonderfully, esp since you can put 3rd party firmware on it.
I have to disagree with you on netgear routers needing to be power cycling. I have two of them at work. (both cable a dsl there) an one at home an do not have to power cycle them at all. In 3 years time the one at home has been power cycle maybe 5 times not counting the times the electricty has gone off. The ones at work are newer but not had to power cycle them either.
jack
Netgear had QC issues with some of their power supplies causing 'progressive dementia' in their routers / access points. Yours could be affected. For a cheap router I'd also recommend the Linksys WRT54 series. For something as ludicrously cheap as they are they seem to have remarkably few problems.