speed - Router and Modem "argument"

07
2014-07
  • Corey Cochran

    I have a Cisco EA4500 wireless router and a Ubee wired modem from Time Warner.

    Now I have nice speed when everything is alright, but when say a friend comes over the router connects to his phone and the Internet goes from 15 Mbps to 7 Mbps until I restart the modem and router.

    • Answers
  • edvinas.me

    This is because your friend's phone only supports older WiFi standard, thus when it connects Wireless router switches from Wifi-G to Wifi-B which is slower. I am not sure why it wouldn't switch back when your friend disconnect's though. A router restart might not be necessary, next time it happens and your friend leaves, try disconnecting from WiFi and connecting again. That should also do it, as reconnection will make your router use best supported WiFi standard.


    • Related Question

    repair - What is the main reason for ADSL modem/routers dying?
  • ldigas

    The other day my home ADSL modem/router (dwg 684t in this case) died. A guy from the telecom company came to my place and brought another one, but he also left this one.

    Now, I'm interested - it didn't fall, it wasn't electrocuted - but it just doesn't work. What could be the problem? Can it be fixed? Is it worth it (in which case I would have two which is always nice)? I'm not looking for a definite opinion, just your personal advice ... (although in the end I think I'm going to archive it in the "cylinder register")

    What are the usual problems that occur with them?

    In this case, I can connect to the router, I can see its settings, I just can't connect to the Internet. With the new one everything works. Weird.


    • Related Answers
  • Robert Cartaino

    He left it for a reason. They are dirt cheap, have no user-serviceable parts and, therefore, are virtually worthless to fix.

    Your router doesn't have to fall or be be "electrocuted" to go bad. Normal household power glitches can damage it. The data or power connectors can come loose internally. Overheating can cause any of the electrical components to stop working (temporary or permanent). Less likely, but the firmware (software) can become corrupted.

    You can pop it open to see if there is anything obvious (broken connector, loose wires, etc). But, other than that, there are likely few, if any, user-serviceable parts in there.

  • William Hilsum

    It can really be anything, the two main reasons are either short circuit and the motherboard fries... or manufacturing defect that just takes time to show up.

    The most common fix is simply to change the plug as a fuse can go, but otherwise, typically it is one of the problems above.

    Lastly, it is VERY rare for the software to go bad, but sometimes a reflash does solve it.

  • Posipiet

    i have seen dsl routers destroyed by lightning strike or cranked up WiFi output power (with 3rd party firmware).

    other (not uncommon) reasons: poor quality components or manufacturing. you buy cheap, you get cheap.

  • quack quixote

    As to your last question -- if there's anything worthwhile to do with the old one -- I'd guess probably not.

    But a hardware hacker might find something useful to do with it. Personally, I'd probably gut it, toss the innards, and keep the case for use in some project or other.

  • Dentrasi

    In my experience, the either die from power issues (surges, not being filtered); or from overheating. A lot of home users put them in nice sensible places like ontop of radiators, which doesn't do them much good..

  • Seasoned Advice (cooking)

    Did any one replace the oirginal cable between router and modem or reduce the heat . I HAVE A $10.OO FAN and $1.oo cable that solved the works at one place and not the other..