Do I need a new wireless router?
 

So this is a travel technology question as far as it impacts my ability to "travel" around the house ;)

I have a Trendnet router (TEW639GR v2.0R) from about 4-5 years ago, and it's served us very well over the years. Went on a business trip yesterday morning (working fine), got back this evening and it doesn't seem to be working.

Everything (2 iPads, 2 laptops, iPhone) can connect to the wireless network, but not access the internet.
Wired connection to router connects, but no internet.
Can access admin panel both wireless and wired.
Can access internet when connected directly to my modem, bypassing router.

Neither I nor my wife have done anything to the router. Do they just sometimes die like this? Can you suggest anything to try to resolve the issue before I shell out for a new router? I've tried rebooting from the admin panel, resetting the router to factory settings and going through setup, resetting modem + router, blowing on it, threatening it, glaring at it... Other ideas?

If I do need a replacement, I was thinking of a mid-range ($50-$75) model, like the Rosewill T600N, Buffalo N300 Gigabit, or D-Link DIR655. Don't need anything too fancy, just something fast, reliable, good range.

Have you tried the tried and true method of resetting the router by unplugging from power and waiting for a minute and then reconnect?

Jimbo

That was the first thing I tried, actually. Did it twice, just to be sure. Connects to router, but still no internet.

Is your Internet down? Borrow someone's router to check before you buy another!

Internet is not down. I connected an ethernet cable directly to my modem and I was able to access the internet. When I try to go through the router, I get no internet. Man, I wish I still had that old Linksys WRT54G.

Anything else I can fiddle with short of hitting it with a stick to get it to work?

Sounds like your router has died.

For a new one, I recommend the Asus RT-N12 with Tomato firmware. It's about $40.

If you've connected your computer directly to the modem, the modem will probably only allow that device to access the Internet until the modem has been rebooted - they generally only allow one device at a time. Try connecting the router to the modem again, restart both of them.

I'd be very surprised if being able to see the wireless network but not reach the Internet was a result of the router failing - it would be very unusual for it to fail in this way.

My modem is normally connected to my router. However, I stopped being able to access internet through my wifi. To ensure I still had internet through my provider, I connected my laptop directly to my modem and, sure enough, i could access the internet.

The router is still sending a wireless signal, but no internet access. When I use a wired connection to my router, I get the "limited or no connectivity" message. Given that nobody futzed with the router until last night when it quit working, my suspicion is dead router, but I wanted to see if there was anything else I could try besides unplugging, rebooting, resetting (both modem and router). Although unusual for it to behave this way, I'm guessing it's not unprecedented.

Anyway, I'm this close to just ordering that Asus router suggested by gfunkdave.

Since you know how to & done the Master Reset already, what I would suggest is to reflash/update the firmware - go to Trendnet & download it, run the flash file via ethernet connection (not wireless) and wait for it to finish, then reboot & check configuration/profile ...

That will wipe/restore everything to factory default settings - it might (or not) help getting it working again - checking, newest firmaware is from 2012 so it could be much newer than yours. Good luck & let us know how did it go.
http://www.trendnet.com/downloads/li...UBTYPE_ID=1397

Try disabling wireless/WiFi access & reconnect open network ... in addition to ethernet connections. Check & disable - temporary - antivirus & firewall protection schemes at well, for testing purposes. Is there a log for the router & can you check it to see if there are any error codes or messages?

The do, indeed, die. I have a closet full of old routers from a variety of manufacturers, some of them quite expensive, that died in a similar fashion to your description. Oddly enough, the most long-lived (still going strong after several years) is also the cheapest -- a TP-Link 802.11b/g/n router flashed with dd-wrt that cost $39 on-line (Amazon purchase, I think).

I understand the history. But my point above is valid - the moment you connect the modem directly to the computer instead, it will normally not connect again to the router at all (or any other device) until you reboot the modem again. The modem will usually only allow access to the Internet from a single MAC address. So it's possible that what I suggest above will rectify the issue - or maybe not, but trying it in that order is important to be certain.

Ah, I see what you're saying - thanks star_world. I'll try a reset of the modem, as well as a reflash of the router tonight (thanks, Letitride3c). If that still doesn't work, I'm just going to get a new router (thanks gfunkdave and PTravel).

I'm in a very thankful mood for everyone's helpful help. ;)

EDIT: Reflashed the firmware, reset everything and still no connection. Looks like I'm officially in the market for a new router! Thanks all.

Sounds like the router died. However, have you checked the cable that is used to plug the router into the cable modem? If you havent, you may want to give that a go.

What does the ipconfig look like when you are attached to the wireless?

Is there a utility software function that shows you if the modem is connected to the internet?

It could be as simple as something wrong in your DNS and the router is not showing up as a gateway. I would check the ip settings you are getting before spending money on a new router.

If they all look like they should, it may be time to toss it.

When you are logged in to the router, can you see whether it is getting an IP address and gateway from your ISP? If you are not being assigned an IP address, try a release/renew.

Also, as star_world noted, sometimes cable modems mate with a device that gets plugged into them. If it has bonded to your computer, it may reject your router. You may need to plug your router into your cable modem and then power cycle your cable modem, and then power cycle your router.