Router & Connection Issues

[-Zer0-]

Recently, I'd decided to switch my old router, a Linksys BEFSR41 Wired router, to a wireless Linksys WRT54GS. I had to port forward the old router in order for things to run smoothly. Otherwise, I'd be disconnected at least twice a day due to connection losses within the router. I'm still not proficient with routers and am rather new to configuring them properly.

I'd purchased the new router for my laptop and Wii. However, despite port forwarding to the best of my knowledge and following this guide here, I'm still getting disconnections at least twice a day. I would have to reset my router in order to resolve the issue. I'm running on Windows XP Home atm. Does anyone have any suggestions or solutions so I don't get any more disconnections? Many thanks.

[Suterusu]

Port forwardin is used kind of like NAT in a sense your mapping your Global IP to your local IP, but with ports. Let's say your running ventrilo server port 3784(mioght be 3874) on a computer on your home LAN. A packet comes into your router from the internet desitned for an internal server running on that port. What's an easy way for your router to know how to forward the packet? You add it into your forwarding table in configuration to "map" than specific port to a specific IP address of a local machine. Some applications require this (some p2p, games, etc.) in order to keep your TCP sessions going. Are you losing connection to the internet? Or being dc'd from FF? If your losing connection to the internet it's not port forwarding that's your issue.

This to check for:
Are you forwarding to the correct internal IP?
Are you using the correct subnet mask?
Do you need to forward UDP or TCP traffic? Both?
Did you select "enable" on your router after adding that entry?
Do you have the correct port or port ranges selected?

When in doubt, blame Shitcast Cable. They have amazing customer support on the same level as SE! Wonderful company to work with!

[-Zer0-]

Are you losing connection to the internet? Or being dc'd from FF? If your losing connection to the internet it's not port forwarding that's your issue.

This to check for:
Are you forwarding to the correct internal IP?
Are you using the correct subnet mask?
Do you need to forward UDP or TCP traffic? Both?
Did you select "enable" on your router after adding that entry?
Do you have the correct port or port ranges selected?

When in doubt, blame Shitcast Cable. They have amazing customer support on the same level as SE! Wonderful company to work with!

With my old router, I'd lose connection only to XI. With the new one, it's the internet entirely until I reset the router.

I believe I have the correct internal IP address and subnet mask. Again, I followed directions primarily from portforward.com. In my router settings, I have both UDP and TCP traffic forwarded and enabled after each entry. The port ranges should be correct, as I took them from SE's Support pages.

If it's not port forwarding, what could it be? Again, I don't know much about networking and routers, just the basics.

Edit: Yeah I have Comcast

[Cephius]

Some just drop connections and there's not much you can do about it. The Linksys router you're using is pretty good though, so I doubt it's that causing your problem since it's been happening on two completely different routers now. Try calling your ISP, tell them what's happening and maybe they'll send someone out to test your line. If they find a problem they'll take care of it, so I think that's your best shot.

[-Zer0-]

Alright, thanks Ceph. I had some plans to call them to install some other lines so I'll have them check it out while they're around. I'll ask around a bit more to see if anything else comes up. I've had suggestions from exchanging routers to getting a new modem. It's a headache.

[Cephius]

Alright, thanks Ceph. I had some plans to call them to install some other lines so I'll have them check it out while they're around. I'll ask around a bit more to see if anything else comes up. I've had suggestions from exchanging routers to getting a new modem. It's a headache.

I feel your pain, it sucks wasting money buying a new router only to realize that's not a problem. It's happened to me before Keep at it though, and hopefully your ISP comes up with a solution for you.

[Suterusu]

I would not bother calling Shitcast, if you can get another ISP do so. They are THE WORST ISP I've EVER had. Dropped connection at random, pings of 500+ on ventrilo, terrible customer service reps.