Every since I got myself hooked up with broadband internet, I've had a router to keep all my computers online all at once. My first was a simple Linksys that I ran trough a 10-port hub. After a couple years, the router puked so I purchased a new Linksys. This one was capable of wireless connectivity and has a 4-port hub built in. I locked out the wireless (nothing here that runs it and I don't want anyone around sneaking in on my network) and used the built in hub rather than the 10-port.

Today (Merry Christmas to me!) this router seems to have taken a crap on me. It's been getting a little flakey and I guess today was the last straw.

Anyway, if these things are only going to last a couple years, maybe I should be looking at a different brand. What are you using? How are the features?

I really like the URL blocking and MAC Address restrictions I can set up with the Linksys.

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I am not an expert on them but I just hooked up a microsoft MN-500 here at my parents and encrypted it at 64 bit WEP. Could have done 128 bit but signal doesn't go as far. I have had it for years and used it and then not used it because I got a new/free one with my DSL router.

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95XCR600,

Make sure you are using the latest firmware for the router. This will sometimes fix an issue that may seem like the router is dying. To do this, go to www.linksys.com, then click "Download at the very top. Then North America, USA....blah.....blah. Enter your model number(mine is WRT54GS, I believe this is still the model most places are selling, Wal-mart, etc.) Under downloads in the middle of the screen, click "Click here". Select your version number, this can be found by looking at the underside of your router. After you have chosen your version, you will see a few things pop up on the screen(in the same window). Select the updated firmware if there is any. Download it to your desktop. Now type the IP Address of your router into the URL bar. Most likely it is 192.168.1.1 unless you have changed it. Login to the router with your username and password. Click Administration and then Firmware Upgrade, browse to the file that you saved to your desktop, start the update by clicking upgrade and sit back while it does it's magic.

ACM,

Just an FYI, but 64 bit WEP encryption is not very tough to crack. It can be cracked by a decent hacker in under 5 minutes.

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Agreed on everything.

Also, 128bit is pretty easy to crack also if you move 500mb or more wirelessly, or they have days to sniff traffic (like a neighbor in range).

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I actually did do the firmware upgrade, but I didn't use Linksys' firmware. I used DD-WRT.
I really don't know a lot about it yet. I just finished getting it all in place about 45 minutes ago so I really haven't played with it much. What I do know is that it gave me a lot more control over my router and seems to have fixed the connectivity problem so far. Also, it is Linux based.

I'll have to spend some time playing around with the router settings to get my daughter's computer locked out of certain things and times, but so far things seem to be working.

If anyone in intersted in the firmware I used, here is where I picked it up from...

Turn Your $60 Router Into A $600 Router

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We use Linksys routers, wireless access points, etc all the time at work for customer installed. We go through hundreds of them a year and yes, there are always a few that don't work properly out of the box, and a few that will just quit working after a while. We have the same thing happen with our DSL modems, wireless equipment, etc. It's just a fact of life. I've personally been using Linksys products for years and have never had a problem. Recently, I've been using a Linksys WRT54G Revision B with a firmware called Tomato and it's been working absolutely great. Much better than DD-WRT.

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