Router Questions (1 Viewer)

I need some help from some of you tech guys that are a lot smarter than I when it comes to computers, routers and such.

Yesterday, I was having trouble accessing a few websites on my computer. The same thing happen with my iPad, but to a lesser extent as some of those websites that I wasn't able to access on my computer, I was able to do so on my iPad. Then there were some that I couldn't access with my computer nor iPad. I tried different browsers to no avail.

Also, I could log into VUDU with my computer, but when I tried with my 3 different Roku units, I kept getting an Internet Timeout error message. On those same devices, I was able to stream movies using Amazon Instant or Warner Archive Instant. I deactivated then re-activated VUDU as well as my Roku units which didn't fix the problem.

Anyhow, I tried everything to fix the problem without any success including reloading programs and such as well as using different web browsers on my computer. This morning I decided to reboot my router. Surprise, surprise as Gomer Pyle use to say, it fixed the problem, but I don't understand why rebooting the router would fix such a problem.

Why was I having problems with a few select websites, but not 99% of the others?

Why was I able to stream movies on Amazon and Warner Archive, but not VUDU?

Should rebooting the router be one of the first things I try first when having similar problems before I start uninstalling then re-installing programs on my computer, devices and such?

Any shared knowledge to help my ignorance on such matters would be appreciated.

Robert - Speaking from experience, rebooting is always the first thing you should do when routers, computers, etc... experience bizarre behavior. 99% of the time, a reboot will fix strange problems which suddenly crop up and you know you have not changed any settings.

My general approach are these steps:1) try same site on different device or browser to help understand problem2) check speedtest.net that there's not a huge problem, if so skip to 53) restart internet device in question4) restart wifi router5) restart cable co internet modem / router (if different from previous)6) call cable co and complain about poor service or outage

Rarely do I uninstall applications or de/re-register apps.

Another problem I found that can cause similar issues as theOP stated, and only really applies to Cable Broadband. I found this out after a week of troubloeshiiting/testing.

Symptom: Weekdays between 5-9pm my Internet would slow to a crawl. At first I didn't pick up on the fact that it was only happening on weekdays between 5-9pm but after some testing I realized this was the case.

I also found out the way cable broadband works. Unlike DSL, Cable is configured into Subnets and each Subnet can have up to 254 (i believe) customers in it. The more folks that are on at any given time the slower your connection gets so it seems reasonable that one would see the symptoms I was seeing Weekdays between 5-9pm when most folks are back from work and on the internet. Between 9-10 pm it would open up again and all was well.

Obviously the Subnet I was in was pretty much at its 254 customer limit. I called my cable company (Comcast) and after finally getting to someone who knew what the heck I was talking about, they switched me to a subnet that was not nearly as full and the problem went away.. I have had to do that one more time about a year later and they again moved me to fix the issue. It has been 3 years now and haven't had to call back (Fingers crossed)

I'm still having problems because my AT&T DSL is only giving me 5.15Mbps in a tri-level home. Needless to say, I'm upgrading to U-verse Internet.

Robert Crawford said:

I'm still having problems because my AT&T DSL is only giving me 5.15Mbps in a tri-level home. Needless to say, I'm upgrading to U-verse Internet.

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Robert, just an FYI. I switched from AT&T DSL to Uverse (24MBPS plan) about 2-3 years ago. While I have been very pleased with consistency of service, speeds, etc, I will say I did have some trouble initially with the Uverse gateway's (modem.router combined) range and dropping signals on wi-fi in my 2 story home. I had them replace my gateway 3 times before I finally cut-off the wifi on the gateway and put my own router in front of the Uverse gateway (basically using the Uverse gateway as a modem only and using my router for DHCP and other routing functionality). Since then, it rocks along with great, consistent speeds and much-improved range. I rarely, if ever, have had to reboot since doing this.

atfree said:

Robert, just an FYI. I switched from AT&T DSL to Uverse (24MBPS plan) about 2-3 years ago. While I have been very pleased with consistency of service, speeds, etc, I will say I did have some trouble initially with the Uverse gateway's (modem.router combined) range and dropping signals on wi-fi in my 2 story home. I had them replace my gateway 3 times before I finally cut-off the wifi on the gateway and put my own router in front of the Uverse gateway (basically using the Uverse gateway as a modem only and using my router for DHCP and other routing functionality). Since then, it rocks along with great, consistent speeds and much-improved range. I rarely, if ever, have had to reboot since doing this.

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Is this the Uverse gateway you're using?

http://www.att.com/equipment/accessory-details/?q_categoryid=cat2020062&q_sku=sku5520238&q_manufacturer=&q_model=


Also, does anybody else have any recommendations to improve my range? Like some non-ATT modem options

My recommendation is to only use the AT&T supplied router as a gateway (with wifi disabled) and connect it to an Airport Extreme Base Station. It works good with Windows and has some extra capabilities if you are a Mac guy.

Robert Crawford said:

Is this the Uverse gateway you're using?http://www.att.com/equipment/accessory-details/?q_categoryid=cat2020062&q_sku=sku5520238&q_manufacturer=&q_model=Also, does anybody else have any recommendations to improve my range? Like some non-ATT modem options

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Yes, that is my gateway. I put a Linksys E4200 with mine for improved range and stability.

Clinton McClure said:

Robert - Speaking from experience, rebooting is always the first thing you should do when routers, computers, etc... experience bizarre behavior. 99% of the time, a reboot will fix strange problems which suddenly crop up and you know you have not changed any settings.

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Worked in IT for over 20 years and rebooting very often clears up problems.

I rarely got into routers, just the basics, but bad info can build up, memory can become corrupted, routes change, etc. That's really not much of an answer, but rebooting allows the equipment to get a fresh start, clear out the old information and re-establish communications.

May not have even have been your router, could have been something far upstream that changed.

Also agree with DaveF about uninstalling or playing with de/re-registering apps. It's a good area to avoid.

If you've totally hosed your computer, it's sometimes best to reboot and go back to a previous install, restoring all settings before the new app or whatever changes you've made caused problems.

Sometimes you can just google like "vudu" down or something like that, there are actually websites out there that report whether certain popular sites are "down"...

Jay