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View Full Version : 2 routers, 1 modem, all 3 provide problems


cimt
18-06-2008, 00:55
OK, get this one. I can't find a problem, and techs can't find a problem either.

1) I have 2 routers, both keep disconnecting if I keep my laptop and PC connected using ethernet. Fine if I attach one to wireless.

2) Sometimes the routers can find the modem, yet they won't find my internet.

3) My Belkin router has wireless, yet my laptop can't find it. I tried using my laptop and the same router at Currys, worked fine straight away.

4) No matter what I'm connected with, a router or modem, I don't get over 5Mb. This started when I purchased a new router.

I've tried using TCP Optimizer to sort out the speed, that did nothing.

My routers are a ZyXEL and a Belkin. I'm on 10Mb and I'm in TS3.

hokkers999
18-06-2008, 01:28
OK, get this one. I can't find a problem, and techs can't find a problem either.

1) I have 2 routers, both keep disconnecting if I keep my laptop and PC connected using ethernet. Fine if I attach one to wireless.

2) Sometimes the routers can find the modem, yet they won't find my internet.

3) My Belkin router has wireless, yet my laptop can't find it. I tried using my laptop and the same router at Currys, worked fine straight away.

4) No matter what I'm connected with, a router or modem, I don't get over 5Mb. This started when I purchased a new router.

I've tried using TCP Optimizer to sort out the speed, that did nothing.

My routers are a ZyXEL and a Belkin. I'm on 10Mb and I'm in TS3.

Ditch the hardware and buy something decent like Linksys. Don't EVER run crappy stuff like TCP Optimizer. Do you really think a bit of software knows more than the hundreds of electrical engineers who designed Ethernet?

jaycee
18-06-2008, 02:37
Forget belkin, they are rubbish.

ZyXEL routers are generally good but in my experience the configuration software is not easy to understand. I would recommend a Linksys or Netgear router.

If you connect your modem direct to your pc, via ethernet (remember to power it off, connect to your pc, and power on) what speed do you get?

cimt
18-06-2008, 02:39
Forget belkin, they are rubbish.

ZyXEL routers are generally good but in my experience the configuration software is not easy to understand. I would recommend a Linksys or Netgear router.

If you connect your modem direct to your pc, via ethernet (remember to power it off, connect to your pc, and power on) what speed do you get?

I still get below 6Mb... I said in my post about that.

jaycee
18-06-2008, 02:42
Which modem do you have?

cimt
18-06-2008, 02:43
Ambit 120. It was all fine before I plugged in my Belkin.

jaycee
18-06-2008, 02:50
The belkin cant have done anything to the modem. You could try a new ethernet cable just in case.

The 120 is a bit old - and I don't think it's really capable of handling 10MB or the faster services well. Call virgin and ask for a modem upgrade.

cimt
18-06-2008, 02:54
But it wasn't going below 8Mb... So it could handle 10Mb. I'll phone tomorrow and ask. What's the number for a new modem?

jaycee
18-06-2008, 02:58
found this URL - http://www.virginmedia.com/customers/servicestatus/ambit.php

cimt
18-06-2008, 03:02
found this URL - http://www.virginmedia.com/customers/servicestatus/ambit.php

Great news!

You actually don't need a modem upgrade.

We've looked at your current modem specification and it'll deliver the new speed perfectly.

It is compatible with 10Mb.

Ginger1
18-06-2008, 04:59
Hi there,
You may want to look at this page

http://www.virginmedia.com/help/belkin.php

If you have one of these routers (or similar) this is a known issue an your connection will be intermittent, from what I have heard you will also suffer poor performance on things like YouTube as the router is busy renewing its DHCP lease every 22 seconds.
The solution is simply to upgrade the firmware.

Could be something completely unrelated but it's always worth checking :)

whydoIneedatech
18-06-2008, 07:46
Ditch the hardware and buy something decent like Linksys. Don't EVER run crappy stuff like TCP Optimizer. Do you really think a bit of software knows more than the hundreds of electrical engineers who designed Ethernet?

Heres the link to the website that you can get TCP/IP Optimiser from ,better contact them and inform them and the Developers ( those guy's with degrees ) that they are wrong!


www.speedguide.net.

jaycee
18-06-2008, 12:50
You only really need things like TCP Optimiser if you have had some other tool in the past that has changed the setting (MTU). There used to be many programs that would do this to optimise your PC for dialup internet. I have not tweaked my machine and I get 100MB via my LAN perfectly.

whydoIneedatech
18-06-2008, 20:59
You only really need things like TCP Optimiser if you have had some other tool in the past that has changed the setting (MTU). There used to be many programs that would do this to optimise your PC for dialup internet. I have not tweaked my machine and I get 100MB via my LAN perfectly.

All the tweaks are reversible and the is full removal advice on the site if not happy with it.

AbyssUnderground
18-06-2008, 21:06
All the tweaks are reversible and the is full removal advice on the site if not happy with it.

The best use for it is to just reset Windows defaults if nothing more. At least then you can be sure its not been tampered with by another program.

Polevik
03-07-2008, 11:19
why is it that when someone has a problem with a router , the advise is always to go and buy another router ?
linksys , netgear, zyxel, belkin etc all use simmilair chipsets like broadcom, railink, airgo etc.
so in fact a router is a router is a router. the only thing that changes is the way the interface and the box looks like.

the real challenge is to sort out a problem rather then to go and buy another router :-)
I admit sometimes there are issues with the hardware or firmware. and thats what we need to find out.

Cimt what version and model number belkin/zyxel router do you have ?

Kymmy
03-07-2008, 11:21
Perhaps it's easier to say "Buy another router" than it is for some people to say "Sorry I don't have a clue"

;)

Kymmy

cimt
03-07-2008, 11:46
why is it that when someone has a problem with a router , the advise is always to go and buy another router ?
linksys , netgear, zyxel, belkin etc all use simmilair chipsets like broadcom, railink, airgo etc.
so in fact a router is a router is a router. the only thing that changes is the way the interface and the box looks like.

the real challenge is to sort out a problem rather then to go and buy another router :-)
I admit sometimes there are issues with the hardware or firmware. and thats what we need to find out.

Cimt what version and model number belkin/zyxel router do you have ?
zyxel nbg334w (http://www.zyxel.co.uk/web/product_family_detail.php?PC1indexflag=20040520161 313&CategoryGroupNo=D6E54FEE-BE55-46BB-B3DB-29E3361862EE) - V3.60(AMS.2)

and

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=136493 - the ariel is on the otherside if it makes any difference?

The version says 7002uk

Polevik
03-07-2008, 12:01
ok the first thing I would try on both routers
1. is to change the channels.

I personally am not to familiar with the zyxel router interface.

on the belkin log into your router page http://192.168.2.1 and from the menu on the left select channel and ssid and change the channel. there is a choice between 13 channels. my advise is to try them all . so for example set it to channel 12, press apply changes and then test . if this does not resolve try another channel and in this way try all the channels until you find one that works fine.

2. the router you have is the version 7 this router had a known issue with VM whereby it request an IP adress from VM every 25 secs , VM is not happy with this ( which they rightfully have said) and belkin has released a new firmware to solve this problem - the firmware can be found here - http://www.belkin.com/uk/support/article/?lid=enu&pid=F5D7230uk4&aid=9080&scid=0

and the way to apply the firmware can be found here - http://www.belkin.com/uk/support/article/?lid=enu&pid=F5D7230uk4&aid=7135&scid=0
remember to set the router back to factory defaults when the firmware has been applied

3. if all this fails try setting an IP adress on the pc.

let me know if you get this problem sorted :-)

cimt
03-07-2008, 12:22
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/07/56.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:21:17 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 5439 ms = 188.3 KB/sec, approx 1552 Kbps, 1.52 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 3894 ms = 263 KB/sec, approx 2167 Kbps, 2.12 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 3598 ms = 284.6 KB/sec, approx 2345 Kbps, 2.29 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 8221 ms = 249.1 KB/sec, approx 2053 Kbps, 2 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 2029 Kbps, 1.98 Mbps


To repeat this test from the source server click here.

That is on a Belkin wired connection...

Polevik
03-07-2008, 12:25
what speeds do you get when you connect the VM modem straight to your pc without the belkin or zyxel ?

cimt
03-07-2008, 12:37
My laptop still isn't finding my Belkin wireless...

Also with modem connected directly:

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:34:23 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 5311 ms = 192.8 KB/sec, approx 1589 Kbps, 1.55 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 4984 ms = 205.5 KB/sec, approx 1693 Kbps, 1.65 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 4580 ms = 223.6 KB/sec, approx 1842 Kbps, 1.8 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 9112 ms = 224.8 KB/sec, approx 1852 Kbps, 1.81 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 1744 Kbps, 1.7 Mbps


To repeat this test from the source server click here.


https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2008/07/55.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

Richy99
03-07-2008, 12:38
what security settings do you have on the router? e.g wpa/wpa2

Polevik
03-07-2008, 12:47
so you are getting 1.98mbps with belkin router connected hardwired .
and 1.7 mbps with modem hardwired to pc ????

looks like there is something up with your VM connection or modem ?

connect the modem to your pc hardwired and then ring VM to relay the download speed issues you are having.
if they sort it for the modem.
do not connect the belkin until you have applied the latest firmware to the belkin.

test the wireless channles as explained before ( to solve your wireless connection issue)

cimt
03-07-2008, 13:11
Not going to happen, my PC won't find the modem but my laptop does... I'm going to have to phone Virgin and see what they say but I don't want to be phoning a premium number.

Angry@VMedia
03-07-2008, 13:30
Not going to happen, my PC won't find the modem but my laptop does... I'm going to have to phone Virgin and see what they say but I don't want to be phoning a premium number.

It aint a premium number now, just call 151 from your virgin phone :)

cimt
03-07-2008, 13:55
If anyone has problems in Teesside then there's Broadband problems which they are sorting. I was told by an automated message when I phoned...

Now I'm on hold.

Richy99
03-07-2008, 13:55
Not going to happen, my PC won't find the modem but my laptop does... I'm going to have to phone Virgin and see what they say but I don't want to be phoning a premium number.


if the laptop picsk it up but not the pc then its a pc issue, VM won support you for that as the laptop works

cimt
03-07-2008, 14:14
Oh, that's a seperate issue. I've got an engineer coming out tomorrow so if it still doesn't work then, I'll show him. But the reason the engineer is coming out is about my speeds.

cimt
04-07-2008, 15:09
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:05:13 GMT

Test 1: 1024K took 834 ms = 1227.8 KB/sec, approx 10117 Kbps, 9.88 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 907 ms = 1129 KB/sec, approx 9303 Kbps, 9.08 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 906 ms = 1130.2 KB/sec, approx 9313 Kbps, 9.09 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 2903 ms = 705.5 KB/sec, approx 5813 Kbps, 5.68 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 8637 Kbps, 8.43 Mbps


New modem, problem sorted! :D

Are modems meant to have an OEM power supply? And do engineers have OEM power supplies in their vans?

lordy
04-07-2008, 15:25
Don't EVER run crappy stuff like TCP Optimizer. Do you really think a bit of software knows more than the hundreds of electrical engineers who designed Ethernet?

They arent the same electrical engineers that wrote the Microsoft TCP stack are they? Thought not?

Also Ethernet != TCP/IP

jaycee
04-07-2008, 15:33
Yes - the power supply should be specced at something like 10V 1.2A. In practice, the modems arent that picky as they regulate that voltage down to 5v and 3.3v inside anyway. It was quite common to use the Terayon Terajet power supplies with the Ambit modems.

A friend of mine runs his cable modem from a wire he's tapped inside his server PC, that provides 12V. Works perfectly fine :)

hokkers999
08-07-2008, 01:19
They arent the same electrical engineers that wrote the Microsoft TCP stack are they? Thought not?

Also Ethernet != TCP/IP

I presume not, else it would work properly :D

I was only pointing out that when it gets to your equipment Ethernet DOES = TCP/IP, unless of course *your* pc is running a WAN protocol :dozey:

lordy
08-07-2008, 03:00
I presume not, else it would work properly :D

I was only pointing out that when it gets to your equipment Ethernet DOES = TCP/IP, unless of course *your* pc is running a WAN protocol :dozey:

Besides TCP/IP, you have UDP, ICMP , ARP, IPSec and multicast stuff ive never quite understood (Layer 3/4) all running around on your Ethernet cables (Layer 1/2) :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model

I suspect the Microsoft look a long time to write a decent TCP/IP stack that works well with broadband AND LANS, (Maybe Vista?) so there is good reason for TCP/IP Optimiser, as most Microsoft TCP/IP is probably optimised for Corporate LANS. Broadband wasnt really in demand whilst the Microsoft TCP Stack was being developed. Home users were dial-up.

Vista *I think* now has a self-tuning TCP/IP stack, as does Linux.