Do I need a new router?

[joshread]

I'm currently using an old Netgear DG634GT.

I used to have problems with the internet connection dropping out which meant I was constantly turning the router off then back on. Now for some reason connection never seems to drop out. I just tested my bandwidth speed and its come up with 5.2meg on http://www.bandwidthtest.co.uk/

The problem is..at night, after about 8pm I play quite a lot of COD4 STILL! But my connection gets worse and worse and I just end up lagging around the maps. I've checked things like the NAT but everything seems fine. I've got a wireless network adapter on the xbox and at first I thought it was because I am too far away from the router, but last night I took the xbox downstairs in desperation but still the same old story. Im going to try an ethernet connection tonight but if etherenet works it doesnt make a difference to me in the long run because my xbox has to be upstairs.

Im with talktalk btw.

I even bought a supposedly better antenna for the router which has made f**k all difference.

Sorry about the long post, but anyone experienced the same thing? Or know what I need to do?

 

[Michael172]

Normal, or it is for Karoo.

Fine during the day, 10 meg + connection, its stable. Come 4-5pm itll drop constantly and the speed will get s**t. Rush hour traffik. Its the ISP thats the problem, your connection will keep dropping.

 

[Rasclart]

I'm currently using an old Netgear DG634GT.

I used to have problems with the internet connection dropping out which meant I was constantly turning the router off then back on. Now for some reason connection never seems to drop out. I just tested my bandwidth speed and its come up with 5.2meg on http://www.bandwidthtest.co.uk/

The problem is..at night, after about 8pm I play quite a lot of COD4 STILL! But my connection gets worse and worse and I just end up lagging around the maps. I've checked things like the NAT but everything seems fine. I've got a wireless network adapter on the xbox and at first I thought it was because I am too far away from the router, but last night I took the xbox downstairs in desperation but still the same old story. Im going to try an ethernet connection tonight but if etherenet works it doesnt make a difference to me in the long run because my xbox has to be upstairs.

Im with talktalk btw.

I even bought a supposedly better antenna for the router which has made f**k all difference.

Sorry about the long post, but anyone experienced the same thing? Or know what I need to do?

Have you tried upgrading the Firmware on the router. Generally the Netgears are pretty solid units. When I have had this problem with connections it has usually been inteference or a faulty/dodgy ADSL filter. I would go with inteference when people are logging on later at night you WILL get traffic shaped or a slow down but not too the point where it will lag like you describe.

I would reccomend the two items below. The first should hopefully clear up any small issues your line has. I had the same symptoms you experienced on several lines and this solved it.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/Reviews.asp?ProductID=7256

Also get a decent ADSL filter like below. I cannot see Ethernet improving it that much! Worth a crack though may some inteference on the wireless card. Could also try changing the Wireless channel in the Router under Wireless settings.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=1652

 

[Ronnie R]

I beilive its you ISP, change it tbh

o2 ftw

 

[Rasclart]

I beilive its you ISP, change it tbh

o2 ftw

I very much doubt it will make a huge difference! Not the problems he is describing!

 

[AK]

If you are looking for a new router, i have a Netgear DG834GT that i got from Sky, cost me bout 80quid lol, it's unused and still in wrapper, can be flashed to work with any ISP...

 

[Ronnie R]

I very much doubt it will make a huge difference! Not the problems he is describing!

Well, if its slowing down and dropping it could mean both things...

Peak times the internet is bound to run slow, i would start with ISP though personally

 

[Michael172]

I was having major problems a while back. I changed my adsl filter, my router, and i was guna change my phone extension lead as its 30 meters, but i dont really see the point.

It was actually all down to both the ISP being a pile of s**t, and also because where the phone box is that comes into the house, there was a wire in the box connecting to a different room, pulled out the wire and got another 4 MB.

 

[joshread]

If you are looking for a new router, i have a Netgear DG834GT that i got from Sky, cost me bout 80quid lol, it's unused and still in wrapper, can be flashed to work with any ISP...

How much do you want for it?

I don't think its talktalk, I will contact them anyway but I doubt they will do much.

Im going to change the filter now cos I've got a few different filters. I don't get why its only a problem at night. I could understand if the problem was between 5pm-10pm but after that I can't imagine too many people using the internet.

I dont want to spend £100 on a decent router until I've tried everything. Are the best routers the new netgears? I saw one in John Lewis that had 8 built in antennas and transfer speeds of up to 300mb for £99.95

And I updated the firmware a couple of weeks ago, was the first thing I tried but still the same problem!

 

[joshread]

Just realised I already have that router. I have a DG834GT but I think its been updated since I bought mine

 

[AK]

lol no problem.

Is yours the 54mbps one?

 

[joshread]

Wait, it is the 108mbps wireless g router.

 

[AK]

How can you tell its the 54mbps one and not the 108mbps one?

 

[joshread]

Just went onto the router settings page.
It says which model it is.

 

[joshread]

I've changed the router channel from "Auto 180mbps" to "g & b"

Should this make a difference?

 

[FiXX]

combination of wireless adapter and isp contention guaranteed.

 

[jimbo666]

josh, try talktalkmembers.co.uk they'll sort all your problems. they've got techs on there that'll lok at your stats and advise.

theyve sorted loads out for me.

 

[UncleGrumpy]

Sounds a little to me like your isp might be throttling your connection, some do this at peak times and it can be a right pain in the arse. I was having a similar problem with Wanadoo after they were bought by Orange, playing an MMORPG i'd suddenly get huge packet loss and it made it unplayable, try talking to your ISP, I did with Orange, pointed out that 2 of us had been using the same connection playing an MMO for over a year no problem and suddenly its hopeless, funnily enough 3 days later it stopped and has never returned.

For sure they'll never admit it but it is most likely a case of 'oh no sir we don't do that' - click, throttling gone, it got that bad that the missus got a separate line with Virgin and she's had no problems at all.

 

[Omid]

I have a brand new DG934G for sale, I have always had problems with the 834GT but the 834g and 934g have been amazing!!