It's our third router already

@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
April 14, 2008 2:19pm CST
When we first got on high speed cable, and we had two computers, we got a router and for a time it worked all right, but two or three years later it was gone. We then bought another and in between the one we bought today, we got our cable box exchanged because it too died a sudden death. Now we have wireless, which is all right since I plan to get a laptop. My husband set it up. So I am wondering how long did your routers last and whether it was easy for you or your husband to set up?
3 people like this
20 responses
• Malaysia
15 Apr 08
Which brand you are using. If you use Aztech i have bad experience with it 3 modem gone because of lightning. So i use D-Link and its ok till now
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
We used D-Link, but now we have a Lynksys Wireless Router. The salesman recommended it.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Apr 08
We have either cable or dsl and we have cable (better deal) We just put the wires in the router and one big wire from the cable to the router, and that is that. Plus having to enter passwords the first time.
• Malaysia
16 Apr 08
I don't know about Lynksys but D-Link is good i guess because i have fine experience with it. And never buy Aztech as it is expensive and yet fragile. By the way you sound like using modem and router separately in two devices is it? If you do it is better you should get both of them in one device called modem router which is easier to manage especially with the messy wires.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
14 Apr 08
We have had the same router for almost 6 years now. Are you routers on a surge protect? I am wondering if they are being wiped power surges.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
We have a power surge. It is that they only last two years. The salesman said it was the brand, so we bought a different one. (fingers crossed.)
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
15 Apr 08
What brand did you buy? We normally purchase Linksys.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Apr 08
We used to get D-link. They only lasted two years. So this year, we went to Future Shop and the salesman recommended Linksys as much better. So we got it. It does look a little hardier.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 Apr 08
we had a router for 7 years now I have vonage phone so cable is now routed thru that has been for a year now. I didnt like the wireless I took it off . and putting them on was no problem at all.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
30 May 08
I forgot my son bought it and put it on and I had to take it off when it stopped working I had even bough a new one it didnt work either took it back. Now I have vonage and they have there own router not wireless but I like it best
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 May 08
What kind of router did you have? We now have Linksys wireless router, but have it set up for wired. Before that we had the other kind of router, not Linksys and it only lasted two years. So we hope this one will last a lot longer. I would rather get a good one that one that is cheap and is not that dependable.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Apr 08
We have only had the one router since moving to US and it has been working fine for almost two years now. We now have wireless and my husband set that all up. It comes easily for him because he's an IT geek LOL
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
Well two years is what they say they will last.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Oh I forgot to mention our first cable box went out on us two after 1 year and had to have that replaced.
1 person likes this
• Australia
26 Apr 08
Anything to do with computers, I leave to my live in computer genius. Anything to do with buying parts etc, I'm in control there! If I say no, then we don't get it, but I can be persuaded sometimes!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 May 08
Our computer genius lives a distance away, and that is still in the city. So when I get my laptop, I will have to call him up and tell him to come over. That will also give me a chance to visit my granddaughter. I hope this linksys lasts way longer than our two D-links. They only lasted two years each.
31 May 08
Its true routers can just conk out, but in that respect so can any other piece of electrical equipment. I used to use the cheap unbranded routers for installs and as far as i'm aware the only one that went did so during a comms room fire. The router generally being on 24/7 can wear easier for that reason, but i'm amused that a salesman can try to quantify a time-frame for something like that to survive. I know the D-links and netgears used to have a habit of turning themselves off and the Linksys occasionally resets, but just dying out is pretty serious. Of the branded ones I've been using Sitecom for years. Their customer support varies between crap and non-existent, but the router's themselves stand the test of time. At work its mainly the new Netgears and they do the business too.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Jun 08
We only get the D-link and the Linksys, and before we got the new one, we went with D-link, i.e. cheapest. I have not seen any neatgear up here. We do not have that much choice in Canada, -well maybe they get a better deal in Toronto or Montreal, but here in Winnipeg there is just two choices. We have the router on all the time, and our D--Link was not that large, so it could be there was no room for anything to move around. Our Linksys looks quite substantial and well made, but it is not the high end one, it is the Wireless G 2.4 ghz.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
15 Apr 08
i havent used a router yet since i have only one computer here..right now im using wireless and its very convenient..
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 May 08
We have two computers, and so we need a router. We got Linksys since the D-Link only lasted two years each and the salesman recommended that this was a better one. We do not have it set up as wireless as we do not have a laptop yet. But as soon as I buy one, I will have my older son fix it up.
@xtedaxcvg (3189)
• Philippines
20 Apr 08
My router's still around but it's already our second router. The reason behind it is because the first one was just borrowed and when my cousin (the owner) moved out he took it with him. We then bought a 2nd router and we decided to get a wireless one which is working fine today. I rarely get any problems from it and if I do I know what to do about it.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
21 Apr 08
We got a wireless router now. So I guess that means I better start saving for that lap top. It would make it easier.
@maxsee212 (799)
• United States
15 Apr 08
i don't have a lot of experience about routers, all i know is that i bought one two months ago and so far it is working like it should. setting up the router was a piece of cake. the directions were all in the box. probably it took me twenty minutes to do all the installing and connecting the wires and stuff. i love having a wireless router because it enables me to roam around the house with my laptop without worrying about wires hassling me around.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
My husband set ours up, but we do not have laptops yet. I wish I had chosen the passwords, but he did. When I get a laptop, I will have my son fix it up.
@filmbuff (2909)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I have a couple of suggestions for you: First make sure the router that you get is by DLink, as they have never failed me. Secondly and also router related, don't get the bottom of the line router, nor the top (unless you really need extreme N) instead I would opt for a middle of the road one that will give you a good features and reliability at a decent price. Okay next make sure that that both your router and cable modem are on surge surpresses, and good ones at that. Honestly I would go a step further and get a battery backup for them. I have mine on battery backup by APC that is around $50. Besides power conditioning and protecting the equipment from power fluxes and hits, should you lose power, you won't lose your connection or network. Nice to have your pc's on battery backup too for the same reasons. Okay so here are my stats with battery backups and a dlink router: My cablemodem is ten (yes 10) years old. My Dlink Router (admittedly not wireless) is five years old.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
We had a Dlink router. The first one last two years, and so did the second. We have surge protectors, one for each computer. It is not the surge protector. Everything in our house is grounded because we live in the Prairies, land of the great thunderstorms.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Apr 08
I am so sorry to hear that. We have used the wireless router for a long time but there is no problem at all. I am glad to it. My husband set it up as I am too lazy to do so by myself.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 May 08
We just got a wireless router and were using D-Link before but that did not work.l In fact if you look at the size of the routers, you can tell you. The D-link one is smaller and when you cram things into a small space, they will run down sooner. So it was the D-links wired routers that only lasted two years. This is the first time we got a wireless router.
• India
15 Apr 08
I am using wired broadband connection from 2 years & 2 months with same router.It is working well from start to yet without failure.But only problem is it get reset to original settings sometimes,but it is not big problem i can resolve it by myself. I also going to buy Linksys ADSL wirless router for my laptop.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 May 08
We just got the Linksys and my husband set it up, but for wired. We have had it with D-link, two years per router is not that good, in my opinion. I have not got my laptop yet. When I do, I will get our older son to come over. I know enough about computers, but I have a lot of static electricity on me, and touching electric stuff is very dangerous.
@rlc456 (415)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I set mine up, my husband doesn't do computers at all.
1 person likes this
@mlucas43 (39)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I have had my router for like five years it is still working fine. i got linksys. I set it up myself and i am a woman that has to do everything myself. It was simple. I bought it at the local Radioshack and the guy who sold it to me told me what to do and drew it out on a paper and i did it.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 May 08
We used D-link and they were not that good, two years for each. So when we went to Future Shop, the salesman recommended Linksys and since it was wireless and also on a sale introductory price, we got it. It is a bit slower than the d=link but at it works. Oh we also upgraded our cable from regular to extreme. Now all but myLot is speeded up. We do not have laptops yet, so we have not set our router to wireless, but we will our older son, the computer geek, come over and do it.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
14 Apr 08
When I first decided to use wireless there was a problem because the wireless routers at the time did not have integrated modems and the interface between a modem and the router was not compatable. I ended up linking a hard wired router with modem to a wireless router, so it took a while to set up because I needed to configure the sub router them attach the wireless router. The wireless router developed a fault about 4 years later so I replaced it, and I am still using the replacement.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
Four years sounds better than two.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Apr 08
ours seem only to work for about 2 years and then they conk out. But then we don't buy the most expensive ones either.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
Yes we're cheapskates ourselves
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I have never used a router. I think my older sister has and she has had nothing but problems also. I can only get dialup in my area. I did have a router one time though because Verizon said it was useable in my area but it wasn't. Ours was easy to set up but it never did work.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 May 08
Yes I guess you do have a problem when you an only get dial up. Then I suppose a router is unnecessary because the internet is so slow. We are lucky because well of the flatness and no mountains in the way (although coming from Vancouver, I do not think it's luck, boring) but we do get good reception here. Well maybe you will get cable, dsl, or satellite internet some day.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
14 Apr 08
well i di have only a desktop...But for Christmas my daughter bought me a laptop,so we had to get a router,the first one was no good,so we went back and got a more expensive on with 2 antenna;s ..I have not had it that long but it seems to work pretty good,sometimes it does act up and if it goes out i will go back and buy the best one they sell..Mine is a BelkinG,and so far so good...
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 May 08
We only have two brands here, D-link that all lasts for two years each, and Linksys that we have no idea who long it lasts. The salesman said that it was a better quality router and it is larger than the D-Link, so that would mean that that there is nothing cramped inside and should last way longer.
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Shortly after the roommie moved in in late 1999, so like 2000 sometime, we got our first wireless router. At the time we had the ONLY wireless router on the block. when we replaced it (it was still working, but not up to the new standards and everytime the microwave was used it cut us off) we were one of 3-4 in the area. We were the only one without a password too. Not any more. But this is only our second router, the first router was supplied by the cable company because we only had one computer. Now we have 2, hopefully the 3rd roommate will one day set up hers too and get her off of ours. Our geek set it up however, I'm pretty fumble fingered and the roomie is visually impaired.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 May 08
When we got our last router, we asked if it would mess up the microwave, and the salesman said no. Now we do have a computer room and it is far away from the kitchen so there is no worry. We had to get used to it, because the connection slowed down and the computer had to get used to the new ip address. But now with our extreme cable connection everything is working. Now if myLot would speed up, it would be perfect.
@MH4444 (2161)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Have you all considered getting surge protectors for the thing? I think that perhaps a fuse is blowing on your router.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
It is not that. If it were, our computer and printer would blow as well. The salesman told us that routers, that is the wired kind, last only two years.