Linksys WRT54G Router Constantly Needs Factory Defaults Reset

[searcherrr]

We have a Linksys Router WRT54G (Firmware revision is 4.21.1) that I have customized with various settings including mac filtering, time zone, IP restrictions, SSID name etc..

For whatever reason from time to time (no identifiable pattern of when or why) the internet drops out completely from all 3 computers (2 wireless and 1 wired to it) and the ONLY and I mean ONLY way to get it back (it is definitely NOT the cable modem) is to reset the router to factory defaults via the router admin pages.

As soon as I do that the internet comes back, but since all my settings are now lost, so I immediately restore my configuration to what it was before via a saved cfg file. After that the internet still works for some days/weeks, but it ALWAYS needs factory default reseting again (via the admin pages; not the button).

Its gotten to be very annoying and while I know a power outage DOES cause it there are times like today when there was no known outage. As far as surges go, I have no idea if we're getting power surges or when they'd occur.

 

[SYQUEST]

You say that nothing recovers your router except a default and config reload. What kind of surge protection are you using?

If your electrical is that faulty you probably need to have it checked out by a competent electrician.

When the router becomes inoperative, can you ping it from any of the computers?

If you have not been using any surge protection and that is truly the cause of your problem, you may need to replace the router, unless Linksys would be willing to repair or replace the unit.

....JIM....

 

[searcherrr]

The surge protector being used "looks beefy", but I know its probably from Wal-mart. Its not the cheapest one they had though. Its big and mid-grade. FYI - All computers are using surge protection as well as the router and cable modem.

Electricity works fine in the rest of the house. No weird electrical things going on here.

When the router doesn't work it only blocks off internet access. All other computers in the network can see each other.

Again, it is an issue that seems to build over time to this intermittent availability of internet access. It slows more and more over time and then just cuts out.

 

[santiagol]

If only the internet access is lost, you are essentially losing router-to-"modem" connectivity, your external router port is the place to look. Home users usually have a cable modem or a DSL modem with a dynamic IP from their ISP. From time to time and for no identifiable reason, ISPs will reset your internet IP, and if your router misses that change you will lose your internet connectivity. 1) make sure your external router port is configured as dynamic, not static, 2) connect your ISP modem to the beefy UPS - a new dynamic ISP address will usually be generated every time the modem disconnects/connects.