internet/router issue, help!
 

Lately every couple weeks my internet will become extremely slow. At times a page wont even load. After a few seconds to a minute or so it works fine for a few minutes then it seems to "hiccup" again. I am pretty sure it is my router because if I connect the modem directly to my PC it works like a charm. I have a fairly new router(less than 1 year old) and before 2 weeks ago this had never happened before. When it first happened I reset the router for a few minutes and it has worked since so I thought it just needed a reset but it has happened again tonight.

Anyone know anything I can do to make sure it is the router and any fix? thanks!

guessing you're not transmitting wirelessly when you're directly connected. might have leechers.

edit: this seems silly, but is it WEP security or are you using a default router password?

Just letting you know I recently had the same issue and was losing my mind on the cause.

Turns out that my brand new Polk Audio soundbar w/ wireless subwoofer blocks wireless networks! It's a known issue on their forums w/ little way around it other than turning the damn thing off.

Perhaps you have a similar issue?

default pw that came with the router

to Peatree no i don't have any new stuff that would be causing that.

Do you have other devices in the house running at the same time. Netflix, or xbox or anything like that? Any other pc's? Otherwise the only think i can think of is that either you have people stealing your internet or the router is just going out. You check all the cables and try different ports on the router if its not wireless?

Both my pc's are wired to it and we have a ipad and ipod that connect wirelessly. Also the router is pw protected. Is it possible a router could burn out less than a year old?

Are any of your pc's downloading/streaming things? And i would look at reviews on the router it is possible those things only last so long and depends on how good of one it is. It could just be something faulty in it. But if you computer works hooked directly up to the internet, then it has to be either the router or to much traffic at one time.

Have you looked at the router's logs yet? They might shed a lot of light on this situation.

Check the logs for any suspicious activity. Also do a reboot just in case. If you're settings are to automatic you shouldn't have any issues. But if you have the router contained in tight quarters it may be overheating. Check your cables, check your PC settings, etc. If you're downloading a ton of stuff your ISP may decide to throttle you. Check your DNS settings on your PC's, maybe set them to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for the Google DNS.

Store bought routers have never been just super awesome in my experience. They seem to last about a year, usually less, and then crap out. Find an older PC, make sure it has 2 network interfaces, and do something like http://www.smoothwall.org/. It's superior, and not really difficult to do.

Note: if you do go this route, you will either need to buy a separate wireless access point, or figure out how to make your wireless router do JUST wifi, and not be a firewall\router. Although if that appliance is the problem with your flaky Internet, you'll prolly wanna replace it all the same.