Router Help
 

Recently our router has been cutting out a lot or won't let devices connect if too many things are connected. I've spoken with TWC who we rent it from and they haven't been able to sort it so I've decided its time to get a new one.

Through their website and Walmarts (where I have to go for groceries later today) I've narrowed it down to these 3.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/NETGEAR-DO...Modem/19721149

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Motorola-S...Modem/20742485

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Zoom-Telep...Modem/19592603

What I'm hoping for is someone to tell me if theres a difference between the 3 and whether itd make a difference if I went for one over the other one. The only one that has anything going for it over the others is that the Motorola one is in stock right now whereas the others would need to be ordered.

Any help is appreciated as I don't really know much about cable modems. I've worked as tech support for broadband companies in England but it seems to be completely different here.

Re: Router Help
 

As this is not in the lab, thought this was going to be a woodworking question

Have you searched on each router and your provider, and seen what the world thinks?

Re: Router Help
 

Is the problem with the router or the cable modem? You are indicating cable modems and not routers. You can normally determine if the problem is with the router or the modem (unless the TWC is a combined router/modem) by hard wiring your computer to the router and if that works, it is probably the router.

Any of those cable modems that you indicated are all good since they are DOCSIS 3.0. Any of those will support throughputs well beyond what TWC is capable of providing.

There are no combined router modems available on the open market. If you need a router or a router plus a cable modem, then chose any of those cable modems and find a router. If you live in an apartment or condo, I'd get a dual band 802.11b/g/n type router and use the 5 GHz band with any devices that support the 5 GHz band. Otherwise a single band 802.11b/g/n router should be fine.

If you have a landline phone connection through your cable system, it is likely that you have a combined modem and VOIP unit. Those can't be purchased on the open market and must be gotten from TWC. If that is bad, bring that to the local TWC office and exchange it for a new one. They should exchange anything that you think might be bad at no charge.

Re: Router Help
 

Are you looking for a router or a modem? The title says router but those three links go to modems. Personally I like the Motorola SURFboard modems. I used two versions of them for probably a decade with no real issues. Now we have to got a no name, integrated modem/phone/UPS one from our crappy cable company and have had nothing but problems with it. Out of those three just based on my preference, and if you really are looking at modems, I would go with the SURFboard.

Re: Router Help
 

I can't even get this page to load on my computer at the moment so I've grabbed my phone instead.

I completely forgot about the wireless options. As mentioned, am I right in thinking I'd need one of the modems in the links and then a wireless router aswell? I'm using a rented one from TWC right now.

Re: Router Help
 

Isn't this what I'd need?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Zoom-Telep...ess-N/17173770

Re: Router Help
 

About two years ago, I don't believe those combined units were available on the open market.

That is what you need if you don't have a landline phone through the cable connection and you currently have a combined modem/router. If you also have a landline phone connection, you can only use TWC's combined router, modem, VoIP unit.

Once you get the new unit, you may have to call TWC and have them pair the new modem but not sure since it doesn't have a VoIP unit.

Edit: After thinking about it, I don't think you have to pair the modem but just install it and start using it.

Re: Router Help
 

It's unclear from your post whether your problem is with the router or the modem.

If you are going to buy a modem, then you should get one from this list:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/re...our-modem.html

However, before you buy anything, your first step should be to go to the cable company's branch office in your area, and exchange your modem. This should cost you nothing, since you are renting it from the cable provider.

If you do require a router, then that may be a separate issue. If you have VOIP phone service, then you will need a router that is compatible with the phone service provider. If you do need a router, then I would suggest that you get a router that can handle several connections and includes wireless.

Re: Router Help
 

Sorry, I mixed up router and modem.

We don't have any phone services at all so thats not a problem.

The problem we're having is that when my wife and I both try to connect our laptops, one of them gets kicked off which never used to be an issue. Recently my phone hasn't kept the signal all the time either.

I think I need a cable modem with built in wireless so I can avoid having 2 devices.

Re: Router Help
 

Do you also subscribe to cable TV? If you do and that works OK, then it is not a problem with the amplifier in the street. However if you don't subscribe to cable TV, then you don't know if the amplifier in the street is bad. However you can normally determine that by asking neighbors on both sides of your home whether they are having problems since there are about 4 amplifiers per mile on the street cable (one about every 1,300 feet) and at least one of them should be after the same amplifier as you.

Re: Router Help
 

We have TV through TWC too and thats working fine.

Re: Router Help
 

STOP!

Guess you're using a combined modem and wi-fi/ethernet router? You need to check before you proceed. It's also best to replace it with two boxes: the modem and the wi-fi/ethernet router.

Use the reviews on these at newegg.com. You may need to pay shipping, but as newegg doesn't charge sales tax, it's probably cheaper than the local big box store. I generally like Motorola DOCIS 3 cable modems and Buffalo or Asus wifi/ethernet routers running DD-WRT.

Re: Router Help
 

I used a Linksys unit for several years which was a combo. It's referred to as a gateway. It worked pretty well but I'm not sure they make one anymore. I'm using Motorola Surfboard now with a seperate router and it's worked well for the last year.

Re: Router Help
 

You will have to register your new MAC address of your modem with TWC. The following is how it is done.

http://www.ehow.com/how_12117486_reg...me-warner.html

Re: Router Help
 

I agree with this. It may end up costing a little more but it's easier to troubleshoot and generally better performance. I've had issues with Netgear wireless boxes that family members own but never had problems with my Linksys or any other Linksys that I've had to "support." I like the trust WRT454G but that doesn't have your super speed N rating and operates at 2.4ghz. Amazon seem to have the cheapest prices around and if you have prime, you can get one in a day or two.

Re: Router Help
 

This is probably what is happening.

Just to be clear, the modem is the device that plugs into the cable coming from the wall. Some modems also have a router / wifi functionality built into them. If the back of the device attached to the wall has a number of 'ports'--i.e. places where you can plug in 1-2-3-4-5 ethernet plugs (think giant USA telephone plug) than your device is probably a modem / router. If there is just one plug out the back, you probably have a simple modem.

Many ISPs have a system like this in which only 1 device (i.e. one MAC address) can be 'attached' to the modem on their system. This can be extremely annoying when you have two computers, or when you replace a machine and the new computers MAC address doesn't match what is on file.

The easiest way around this is to attach a true wifi / router device to the modem so that the MAC address of the router is the one identified with your ISP, and on your end you can have upto 200+ devices attached to your network. Walmart will have several options and you can probably pay around $35-$70 for a decent one.

Re: Router Help
 

Thought i'd replied to this this morning.

I thought it'd be better to have a combined unit, doing the job instead of two. If thats not that case then i'll probably go with the Netgear modem and a wireless router to go with it.

Thanks for your help one and all

Re: Router Help
 

Personally I'd buy them locally just in case there is a problem making them work and it will be easier to return. Although NETGEAR is probably the biggest sellers of routers, I had a problem several years ago when I upgraded to a NETGEAR n type router (I couldn't get to the BE site). It appeared that the NETGEAR router was creating packets that wouldn't pass through certain manufacturer's routers on the internet since my old router worked and any router in my complex that wasn't password protected also worked. I tried to work out the problem with NETGEAR and even pointed out the internet router that I was having problem with but they were not interested (typical for first line support) so I exchanged it for a Linksys router.

Also about a year ago, Comcast started supporting Ipv6 and a specific NETGEAR DOCSIS 3.0 modem quit working. Eventually after several months, the problem was resolved (I'm not sure if it was a Comcast or NETGEAR problem).

I think NETGEAR produces good products but there are so many variations with the way manufacturers create or pass packets that there is always a potential for problems. Some follow specifications exactly while others tolerate inconsistencies in packet formation.

Re: Router Help
 

Sky and Plusnet (I think) always supplied Netgear routers when I was in England and I always found them good enough and easy to install and mess around with so I'll stick to what I know

Re: Router Help
 

The new NETGEAR routers are extremely easy to setup (easier than the Linksys routers) and are usually reliable but there is always a possibility of problems.

Re: Router Help
 

For Modem, I've had the Motorola Surf jobbies, they do the job, but a fair few have died on me.

Routers, Netgear has been solid for me, some regular firmware updates when N first came about and it's been pretty solid since then. Has a power button on it too, which is nice as you don't have to pull the pull to reset it if you need to.

Linksys, really rock solid too, haven't had issues with those that I've used.

D-Link, bit hit or miss, had a few fail in the past but when it works, it's pretty decent and easy to set up.

Not used Buffalo, but a lot of friends like it, decent to mod and set up.

Belkin has been consistently shit though, every bloody time.

Re: Router Help
 

You know that Cisco are selling Linksys to Belkin? :eek:

Re: Router Help
 

I'd read something about it, but didn't know if it was going ahead or not.

Bad news that :lol:

Re: Router Help
 

I'd buy a cable modem over renting it. In the long run it works out cheaper. The Motarola's seem to be very good. Just check first with TWC to see if it's on their approved list.

I had a TWC supplied SB4100 in 2004. It lasted 6 years until one too many lightning strikes took it out. Replaced by TWC with a 5100. When I moved here to FL almost 2yrs ago, I decided to buy an SB6120 and that's been running ever since. Saves $7 or so on the monthly rental.

For routers, I've had a few. Most seem to work for a while then pack up. Currently using a D-Link, bought for $30 in 2010.

Re: Router Help
 

At the time we signed up to TWC we assumed we'd have sold our house by the time that renting a router would stop making sense financially. About a year later we're still there and now its not making as much sense.

Re: Router Help
 

For routers, see what The Wirecutter has to say here:
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/bes...-asus-rt-n66u/

And click on the "top 5 wireless routers" link in the article to go to CNet reviews of routers.

Regards, JEff

Re: Router Help
 

Your problem sounds like a dynamic IP problem which will happen again even if you buy a new router and modem. The problem is that because you have a lot of devices they can often come into conflict with each other by using the same IP address with the wireless router. The problem can be fixed by forcing each of your laptops to a static IP.

Re: Router Help
 

This is a good suggestion. Before the OP runs out and buys new gear, this sort of troubleshooting should be tried first. There may not be anything wrong with either the modem or the router.

Re: Router Help
 

Either that, or to get the DNS server on the router to flush the numbers quicker.

Static IP per device would be better, but not quite so good if you went out and about with it and then using free wifi at various places.

Re: Router Help
 

I never use the laptop anywhere else so I'm all for giving it a go. Now then, where do I start

Re: Router Help
 

I am not sure what you want to do but if you just want to connect to the internet through another router, just drive around your neighborhood and bring up the "connect to network" screen and look for an "unsecured network". If you find one, connect to that network and you'll be on the internet. Many people forget to secure their network so you should be able to easily find one.

The information given by the last couple of posts are confusing. All routers assign dynamic IP addresses to the devices when communicating via wi-fi which are internal to the router. The IP address assigned to the router for communications across the internet is usually dynamic (can possibly be changed every so often by the internet service provider if you power down you computer) but will be static (always the same) if you pay enough money and use your computer as a server that anyone can get to. A dynamic or static IP address assigned to your router by the internet service provider doesn't make any difference when used for normal pc communications across the internet and it is always the same address unless you power down your computer.

Dynamic addresses assigned by a router for internal use to a device (eg. your laptop) are usually 192.168.x.x and the dynamic address assigned to your router by the internet service provider is one address from many thousands assigned to that internet service provider. The reason that most routers use internal IP addresses of 192.168.x.x is that those addresses will never be assigned to someone on the internet.

This is how everything works. The router assigns an internal IP address to the device. The device transmits via Wi-Fi to the router on that address. The information received by the router is reformatted for the internet and the packet is transmitted to the internet using the IP address assigned by the internet service provider. When the web site receives that IP address, it will respond with data (likely a screen shot) using that IP address which routes it back to the internet service provider which knows which user is using that IP address and transmits that packet to the correct router. Your router then receives that packet and reformats it for WI-FI and puts the correct internal address and transmits it and it gets to the correct device since that device is waiting for a response using the assigned IP address.