Help with router troubleshooting

[kalstrand]

For a couple weeks now I have been having devices lose internet/network connection. It occurs with both wireless devices and the desktop that is wired. Restarting the router fixes the problem.

The router is a Linksys WRT300n and there are a number of devices that connect via wireless (a couple laptops, iphones, ipads, kindle, android phones etc.).

The only other thing of note is Directv recently installed one of their genie DVRs with wireless clients. To make the wireless clients work they have to have a wireless video bridge. It is a separate router that only connects the genie clients (I'm sure its accessible to direct but I don't have any log in information) to the main genie server. I tried to find specs on it but wasn't able to find out what wireless band it uses or anything like that. The directv genie connects to my regular router via wireless for ondemand/internet functions.

So is it just a coincidence the router happened to start dying at the same time they installed the new tv stuff or is there a possibility that the directv router is causeing interference with the linksys causing it to lose connection?

 

[TheMailMan78]

Could be you are reaching a bandwith limit on the router. I would try a few different things before I would deem it dying.

1. Reset the router back to default factory settings.
2. Add one device. See how it goes. If it works add another until she fails. Then you will know how much she can take.

If it fails on a single device I would say shes on the way out. Personally I think its the Direct TV straining the router to far. You might have to get a more robust router OR a second router just for the TV.

 

[remixedcat]

Can you see it with InSSIDer/Amped analytics??

Also note: bridges are repeaters/range extenders. They still have the same half-bandwidth and still co-channel with your router, thus they interferre and degrade your router's connection

 

[TheMailMan78]

OP you are in better hands with Remixedcat when it comes to network stuff. Listen to her!

 

[kalstrand]

Can you see it with InSSIDer/Amped analytics??

Also note: bridges are repeaters/range extenders. They still have the same half-bandwidth and still co-channel with your router, thus they interferre and degrade your router's connection

See what? My internet router or the directv router? I know very little about networking and have never heard of/used InSSIDer/Amped analytics.

Just as a note the Genie server is the only thing to connect to my internet router and that only for internet access (Pay Per View, and ondemand are delivered via internet rather than satellite). The direvt router only connects the directv clients to the genie. The directv router doesn't communicate with my internet router at all. That is not to say that even though they are different networks that their wireless signals are not interfering with one another.

 

[remixedcat]

The directtv one.

All range extenders/repeaters/bridges use the same wireless channel your main router uses. IT'S REQUIRED! since it repeats the signal.It also degrades the signal as well due to co-channeling.

Also are you using 20 Mhz channel width or 40? If you're using 40, config to 20 since 40 Mhz uses a 2nd channel for higher speeds. However, that 2nd channel is an overlapping one. That 2nd channel will interferre with and get interference with and overlap into channels next to it.

inSSIDer>>>http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html
Amped Analytics>>>http://www.ampedwireless.com/wifianalytics/