Are Routers Programmed To Break????
 

I swear these routers are programmed to break. Tech support for them is useless, hold for 30 minutes to connect to India just for them to say they can't help you in broken English. Every year I have to buy a new one because there is some new letter of the alphabet wireless or they just plain fail! Does anyone else have this problem? I'm on my 6th router in 7 years. :mad: :o :D

I am beginning to think that they are...

Just like you, I am on #5 in six years.

I have been thru them all too. Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc.

Linksys wireless b here - has been reliable for over 3 years. I was told not to stack it on the modem for heat reasons, so it sits by itself.

Linksys router for 3 years- no problems.

I have a Linksys router that took a lightning strike and had to be replaced. Otherwise no problems.

D-Link DI-624 nearly 3 years with no problems.

Have any of you tried reprogramming the CMOS? That seems to work if there is some sort of LAN connectivity left.

My Linksys (wireless) died just after the warranty ran out. The US Robotics is holding up but I have to reboot the sucker every week 'cause it just stops transmitting (wireless).
It seems to me they are like the cellphones my friends are replacing with alarming frequency. They never seem to work well after 6 - 8 months. Something is up.

Alex

I struggled with a POS dsl modem and linksys combo for 3 years. I'd have to reset the damn thing all the time. So we switched to a Netgear which helped but did not completely solve the problem. So we *****ed at the ISP and they sent us a new 2Wire router/modem combo and it is absolutely flawless. I also moved it down here in the cool basement instead of the office (which is our little 3rd story) which gets really freakin hot in the summer.

2 routers and a rack-mount industrial-grade X3Com switch I picked up at an electronics surplus outlet for $9!

Both routers are LinkSys...only one belongs to me ($30) and the other belongs to Verizon. No problems going on year 3.

300EVIL, I wonder if there a lot of line spikes in your area? I run power conditioners in front of all of the family's sensitive electronic gear in the house.

Example of such is this pic of my in-wall rack in my home studio during construction. Conditioner is on top, switch on bottom...

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...z/WallUnit.jpg

mine's been touchy the last few weeks. whats your symptoms? mine will be working fine then all of a sudden cant load any pages.

I have a linksys wireless

O.K. so is the next party at your house? I use a wire coat hanger with aluminum foil and that seems to work just fine.

I ahve had a Linksys router for about a year and a half. I have had intermittent connectivity at times, and at most other times my speed fluctuates wildly. Here is what I have discovered for Linksys products, and I'm not a tech oriented person so if this sounds simple don't be insulted-just keep reading to the good advice!

1. You may need to update your routers software.

2. Do not call Linksys ever. They are indeed in India, and try as they may I do not like the cultural differences that cause them to get irritated when they are interrupted by service calls.

3. Use the on line chat tech help. Ask the questions, and you will get very detailed instructions on what to do with no accent or attitude, print off the sheet and run through it. The last time I did this I had instructions in Word, single spaced, that went for 2 1/2 pages and it worked.

My router has worked for 18 months or so, and I don't need a new one yet. Hope it lasts.

SMC is the only way to go for home or light home/office use.

I have had two SMC in over 10 years. The first one died where I wasn't able to access Admin. They sent me a new one SEVEN years later at no extra charge.

Linksys, on the other hand, is TOTAL trash. I have a wireless router here that I planned to play with. I think this is seventh one they have replaced. All seven times they admit it was either DOA or just "bad".

Don't waste your life with Linksys.

Good Luck,

Pete

P.S. Netgear and Belkin make Linksys look GOOD! That is how crappy they are.

It's strange that most everyone who has replied uses Linksys. I wonder if it's because Cisco got cheap on that brand.