I bought a netgear DG834GT router three or four years ago. Up until a few months ago, it has been fantastic.

Desktop has a netgear WG311T wireless pci card.
Two laptops connect via built in wireless cards.

One laptop (running vista) will lose the connection and be unable to regain connection until the router is rebooted (not the laptop). Other laptop (XP, mine) was fine as it was in the same room as the router but now I'm having the same problems too.

Tried updated the firmware to no avail.

Time for a new router or can it be salvaged?

A Netgear - think they are a pile of <lifted> - had 4 at work and 3 of them would constantly go into a deep-sleep like mode where we would have to reboot them so we ditched the lot and got Zyxel ones instead - since then no more problems.

Chuck it and get a new on - this one looks ok for you http://www.dabs.com/products/belkin-n-w ... 4294963789

What model were they? The DG834 has been through many versions, and most of them were fine. I'm using a G v4 and it's absolutely solid. In the last 4 months, I think I've installed about 100 GTs and they're all solid too.

Personally, I'd try a couple of things.

1. If you really suspect the router, then default it and reprogram. Never had to do it to a Netgear, but I've had other brands which needed a "fresh start". It's the equivalent of reformatting; you'll never know for sure what the problem was but it should be fixed anyway.

2. Check very carefully for viruses, and also check the logs for updates. If you have automatic updates enabled for Windows or any security software, then it's entirely possible that the last one was no good. Do a Netstat and see if there are unexplained network connections; if so then investigate them.

What exactly happens? You say "lose the connection", but that's not very specific. Does it show no signal strength? Does it show "limited connectivity"? Can you "ipconfig /renew" ? Can you ping the router? Can you ping the other computer? Can you resolve DNS? What happens if you do a "repair"?

If you've got no signal, then it might simply be overheating due to dust build up or poor location. Clean it or move it. They run cooler when you use the vertical mounting feet supplied.

Back when I had time, I used to know a lot of what you're asking JJW009, but as the saying goes: use it or lose it and unfortunately for me, the latter part has come true.

0. How do you know what version it is? Couldn't find any relevant identifying marks on the router itself.
1. I'll try reformatting. I presume you mean using the firmware on the disc that came with it?

2. Two of the three machines are regularly scanned (because I do them manually every week or two). Third machine belongs to my sister. I need to get my hands on her lappy anyway. Netstat shows only lappy connected at the mo. When the others are connected I'll rescan.

3. My first post was a little rushed. Comes down to two problems:

- either my laptop suddenly can't see the router (limited connectivity)
- or I can't see the internet (power and antenna lights on router but the 'tick' and the 'i' are not lit).
- repair does nothing as I still end up with being unable to connect. This is when a router reboot works.

Dunno about the others, though I used to. Please refresh my memory.

0. The version is written on the bottom. Where it says DG834 there should be a few characters immediately after. For example, GT or Gv4.

1. You don't need any software. In fact, I don't think I've ever used the CD! There's a little hole next to the power socket. Stick a pointy thing in to press the concealed reset button, and hold it down for 10 seconds. Alternatively you can do it from the web gui; You'll find the option under "Maintenance", "Backup Settings". You might want to backup the config first.

Please note, you'll need the ADSL username and password to get it back online, so do be absolutely sure you have those first.

You log into the web gui usually at http://192.168.0.1
The default username=admin and password=password.

The only parts you then need to program back in are the ADSL username and password under "Basic Settings" to get it back on-line, and the wireless security options under "Wireless Settings".

You say you already upgraded the firmware?

3. The two symptoms you describe are quite possibly unrelated.

a) If the lights for Internet connection go out, then log into the gui and see what the status is. Also look in the logs. It may be dropping the connection due to noise on the line, or an internal wiring fault.

b) If you get "limited connectivity" but still show a good signal strength, that's often a sign of overpowering interference. Try changing the wireless channel. Try switching the router off and do a scan for other networks. Avoid any channels which are in use. Also, try plugging your laptop in with a cable just to check if the router is still actually working.

If you suffer from interference and an intermittent ADSL line, then a new router probably won't help. Interference can be from any number of sources. I have some Christmas tree lights which block out all WiFi for about 20 feet - they show excellent signal strength but completely fail to actually work. Because of the increased use of WiFi and other sources of interference, I've given up on wireless for my main PC. It's fine for occasional use, but no good if you need a 100% dependable connection.

0. It's definitely GT. I bought it specifically and then fitted all of the then current machines with WxxxGT hardware so I could get 108Mbps file transfer between all machines. There's no 'version' of the GT specified, which is what I was expecting.

1. I know how to do a 'hard reset' but didn't think it did a 'reformat' too. Will try it next week, when I'm home alone and it's easier to faff around.

3a. This is the other issue. When I lose 'internet connection' I can't access the router via its IP address either!

b) The router is set to "Auto 108Mbps" mode, which I guess automatically configured the channel. I have a TV booster aerial right next to the router, but I've been getting the problem before I had the TV and booster in my room. Plus I'm currently watching QI on Dave on my LCD TV which is receiving its signal via the booster (no antenna point in the room) and the net connection is fine.

Wiring my O2 router (when I lived away from home was on O2 max broadband) was something I did to ensure maximum download speeds.

Sorry, my question about "which version" was really aimed at JohnSheridan. You did already say it was GT, but I'd kinda forgotten by my last post.

When it stops working, it's definitely worth logging onto the router with a cable before you reboot it. You lose the logs when you power-off, so it's the only way to get anything that might be on there. Also, if you can't talk to it that way then it probably is time to give up on it.

A hard reset doesn't "reformat". When I said it was "like a reformat", I meant that if it does fix it you'll still never really know what was wrong. It's just the quickest way to get the box to a known condition, and since you've already reloaded the firmware that pretty much covers the options on the router.

I think the Auto GT option bonds several channels together, which is why it greys the option out. I know you won't want to, but just for the purposes of testing it's worth scanning for other networks and then setting it to "g only" on a free channel. Remember that they overlap, so you should keep at least one empty channel between you and any other networks.

I doubt if your TV is a problem. Some Sky boxes throw out a lot of interference, and baby monitors have been in the news for it. Also microwave ovens, and just faulty electrical equipment like failing florescent lights. Interference does cause symptoms a lot like you describe; especially when you say "Other laptop (XP, mine) was fine as it was in the same room as the router but now I'm having the same problems too."

Overheating is the other option I mentioned. If it has inadequate ventilation then it will overheat and lock up, just like a PC would.

Used netstumbler. There are four other wifi networks detected, three of which were on channel 6 (same as mine!) and one on channel 1. Have now set it to g-only and on channel 9 - hope that's okay!

Router's behaved itself for the time being, so will have to see what comes up on the logs but having a quick look, there's nothing unusual that I can see (they go back for about three days).

As for ventilation, the router's been placed flat for a long time (two years). It originally was placed upright but my dad managed to break the antenna on the back of the computer's PCI card, so I stuck the router's antenna on the PCI card and bought a larger antenna (something like this: clicky), which has been fine for the last two years too.

I'm more concerned when I find them stuck in cupboards running at over boiling point. Some people like to hide them away, so I make a point of specifically cautioning against it.

Let us know how it goes.

Mine is on top of the PC (full-tower case).

Windows has spent 60 seconds telling me there is no signal and yet I've been using the internet without problems!

Strange.

Mine is on top of the PC (full-tower case).

Windows has spent 60 seconds telling me there is no signal and yet I've been using the internet without problems!
And furthermore, I've been getting "connected to: xxxxx Netgear Home (unsecured). Signal Strenth excellent" alternating with the secured version. This has only happened since I changed channels and mode.

Strange.

Might be worth changing the SSID. I know it's a pain to do every PC, but it sounds like there might be something spurious going on. Perhaps one of the other PCs is trying to establish a peer to peer network? Another (quite unlikely) possibility is that someone is trying to hack your network by spoofing it.

Don't know but it's only happened just now. I wonder if it's because my sister's using her lappy?
Will change the SSID.

It's quite possibly the same fundamental problem you had before, but when you were using turbo mode the g mode interference was creating different symptoms because it only effected one of the bonded channels.

I think you need to get your hands on your sisters laptop and check it's set up right.

Okay, so I'm still having problems.

Windows tells me the laptop's still connected to the router (still have the wireless logo in the taskbar), signal is excellent, nothing's changed. Except I can't access the internet. And if I try logging in to the router, I can't. Just get the same page as though I'm not connected to the router.

Looking at the router, the power and internet lights were on but the '1' (indicating number of connected devices) is off.

When I hook up to the router with a wired connection, I can log-in to the router (no problems in the logs) and can access the internet.

I'm going with a wireless problem here (as opposed to internet). The question is whether it's the router at fault or my laptop. How do I diagnose which?