Why does my broadband speed slow down......

[BolshieBastard]

Its a Netgear DG823N and using the latest firmware. I've been using this router for about 3 maybe 4 years now. I find it very reliable.

The line doesnt drop, its a stable connection. The only issue I have and that's a small one, is that when the timed connection gets to 160+ hours, the speed drops. Having a sky box connected all the time wont make the connect slow down after a length of time so I cant see that being the issue.

If I reboot the router once its slowed, it goes back to the usual connection speed of about 6 meg. In reality, I dont notice any effect of the slower connection, I just dont understand why it slows by a meg.

Thanks for the suggestions anyway.

[VectraMan]

+1 with knobs on.

Apparently the Netgear DG834G I have is the best at hanging on to a noisy connection. So I'd probably have no signal at all if I hadn't bought a Netgear.

[Fred Bloggs]

Netgear routers are notoriously rubbish. I had no end of problems when I had Netgear Routers. Had next to no problems with my Belkin Router.

+1 with knobs on.

[VectraMan]

I think it is a bug. You could try to upgrade the firmware. The cause might be the internal memory of the router became full after long usage.

Zen told me that was the reason my connection was dropping, which sounded somewhat dubious.

I know what the problem with mine is: it's noise on the line (you can hear it on the phone). The problem I've got now is convincing BT. Mine doesn't slow down though, it goes instantly from 20Mb to zero.

[threaded]

If you try and connect a device using an older style WEP or WPA that'll do for it too.

[CorrectT]

I think it is a bug. You could try to upgrade the firmware. The cause might be the internal memory of the router became full after long usage.

.................when my connection via the router gets to about 160hours!

I dont get this at all, can someone explain?

My router connects at a speed to all intents and purposes at around 6meg. The router shows the connection is stable. Its currently been up for just over 160 hours. I just checked the connection speed and its dropped to 5meg. I could reboot the router to get back up to 6 meg but why when the connection is stable, does the speed drop!?

[PRC1964]

Does it keep a logfile of activity? Maybe that's how long it takes to fill?

My router disconnects everytime there is a flash of lightning.

[stingman123]

Try flashing the router, I had drop out problems with my Netgear, latest flash solved all my problems,

also...do you have a sky box attached to your line? unplug and check your speed, you'll be surprised!

[pmeswani]

The lease doesnt run out or rather it does but that doesnt cause the slower speed. If I was to reboot the router, the speed goes back to around 6meg.

BTW, how do you increase the lease time? I cant find anyway to do this via the NetGear DG834N GUI. When I open network connection by clicking on the internet icon on the Taskbar, the lease is typically shown as 3 days ahead.

Doesnt bother me but my kids whinge like heck because the lease always changes around midnight when they are on the XBox!

EDIT, the noise margin also seems to creep up while long connections. Just checked and its been up for getting for 200 hours with a noise margin of 9.4db It appears the climbing noise margin slows the speed but why should the NM increase the longer the connect is up?

Netgear routers are notoriously rubbish. I had no end of problems when I had Netgear Routers. Had next to no problems with my Belkin Router.

My only suggestion is to buy a different make of router (if permitted. I think there are a couple of ISP's that forces people to use their routers by only allowing certain MAC addresses through their network).

[BolshieBastard]

Just a thought. What is the lease time set to? 168 hours is 1 week. Try increasing it.

The lease doesnt run out or rather it does but that doesnt cause the slower speed. If I was to reboot the router, the speed goes back to around 6meg.

BTW, how do you increase the lease time? I cant find anyway to do this via the NetGear DG834N GUI. When I open network connection by clicking on the internet icon on the Taskbar, the lease is typically shown as 3 days ahead.

Doesnt bother me but my kids whinge like heck because the lease always changes around midnight when they are on the XBox!

EDIT, the noise margin also seems to creep up while long connections. Just checked and its been up for getting for 200 hours with a noise margin of 9.4db It appears the climbing noise margin slows the speed but why should the NM increase the longer the connect is up?

[Punter]

Just a thought. What is the lease time set to? 168 hours is 1 week. Try increasing it.

[Cliphead]

This won't help I suppose but for ages I couldn't figure out why my router would lose connection around 8pm every night.

The router was fairly close to a radiator, heating would kick in at the same time every evening and take about two hours to get up to a temperature that the router didn't like.

[BolshieBastard]

Have you hit some download limit set by your provider? (Although I think the cut would be more dramatic)

No, its not that.

It only happens when the connection hits 160hours or more.

[xoggoth]

Have you hit some download limit set by your provider? (Although I think the cut would be more dramatic)

[BolshieBastard]

.................when my connection via the router gets to about 160hours!

I dont get this at all, can someone explain?

My router connects at a speed to all intents and purposes at around 6meg. The router shows the connection is stable. Its currently been up for just over 160 hours. I just checked the connection speed and its dropped to 5meg. I could reboot the router to get back up to 6 meg but why when the connection is stable, does the speed drop!?