Linksys BEFSR41 ver2 dropping connection

[r1013]

My router is a Linksys BEFSR41 Ver2. I bought it this past summer and it work fine up until November. Ever since then it has been dropping my internet connection randomly. It may drop it twice or 20 times an hour. It may last for 30 seconds or 10 mins. +.
I noticed that when it does this that the Internet connection icon under Network Connections will disappear. Also just before it comes back the red Diag light will come on solid for about 2-3 seconds then go off.

I first called my ISP and they had be hook up the modem directly to my PC. Everything worked fine. They then said to call Linksys.

I called Linksys and they had me do the following:

First call- Set the MTU to 1492

Second call- Try decreasing the MTU.

Third Call- Under Internet options/ connections/ LAN setup/.. had me uncheck Auto detect settings

Under network connections/ local area network (my nic)/ properties/ configure/ advanced/.. set speedduplex setting to Autonegotiate for 10HD

Had me delete my cookies and clear Internet history.

After that I browsed and downloaded for a few hours and it worked fine.. I left the computer to download while I cooked super.. came back .. and its off line again...

This time some lights were off on the modem.. Rows 2 and 3 contain me and my wife.. they are usually it up.. but this time row 3 (my wife) was lit and row 4 (me) was not. then the WAN Row LINK & ACT are usually lit but they were also off.

I unplugged the modem for 30 sec's and replugged it back up.. Row 3 came back on.. WAN also came back on.. but in row 4.. the link light flickers and the other two lights for row 4 (full/col & 100) are off...... Yet me and my wife are again able to browse and download.

I'm sure it will die next time I blink or turn my back.. any suggestions or should I just call linksys again...

I posted this on another forum and I got three responses. Two said I need another router... which to me is odd seeing that I bought the router around August 2003. It wasn't used while I traveled for work September through November. So its been used just over three months. The third post said they had the same problem with the latest firmware.. which came out last summer.


Thanks
r1013

 

[bcastner]

RMA the device.

I use this secure on-line site to do an in-place swap, so that you are not without a router completely until the replacement. Linksys in the past has been quite good: 3 business days for a cross-shipment swap is typical:

https://ssl.linksys.com/rma1.asp

If it helps any, you could just request the power supply replacement. This requires no hot swap, they just send you a new module. Your issue is typical of a failing power supply module. When you click on the link I supplied above, there is a radio button to select just the power supply module. No credit card charge, no proof of purchase, no warranty necessary.

 

[r1013]

Thanks bcastner,

Thats very good to know. I have posted this on a few other forums today and depending on if the suggestions work or not.. I'll call linksys once more. If they don't help again I'll use your link and cross rma it.