Gadgetwise Blog: Q&A: Help for an Ailing Router

Can a wireless router go bad? I have to restart mine at least once a day to restore my Internet connection. Should I just get a new one?

The reliability and performance of a network router can degrade over time. Other factors, like out-of-date firmware or your Internet service provider, may be affecting the router’s ability to keep a connection; too many connections to file-sharing services can also hinder it. If you suspect that your modem may be dropping the connection, (based on observing its status lights) contact your Internet provider for technical support.

If the router is several years old, replacing it with a new model using current networking technology has its benefits. Before you do, though, you may want to try some troubleshooting to make sure the router is the real problem.

For example, check to see if the manufacturer has released any updates for the router’s firmware (the software it needs to run). If you have not done this before, look in the router’s manual or support area of the manufacturer’s Web site for instructions. The site may also have online support forums with useful troubleshooting information for your modem make and model.

Updating firmware typically starts with logging into the router’s configuration page by typing http://192.168.1.1 or something similar into your Web browser and typing in the administrator password to get to the settings. Refer to the router’s documentation for specific instructions.

Installing third-party router firmware is also an option for the more technically inclined, but likely voids your warranty. If a firmware update does not help, check to make sure the router is not overheating and that it has plenty of airflow around it.

Gadgetwise Blog: Q&A: A Fix for a Blinking Router

I recently installed a replacement DSL modem and connected it to my AirPort Extreme router. I can get to the Internet over the wireless connection on my Mac, but the router is flashing a yellow light instead of the normal green and the AirPort Utility has a message about a “Double NAT.” Is there something wrong with the new modem?

The “Double NAT” error is not uncommon if you have recently switched to a new DSL modem. NAT stands for Network Address Translation. The router uses this technology to keep one public Internet Protocol address from the DSL modem for itself and assign private I.P. addresses out to the devices connected to its own network.

This scenario usually works quite fine unless there is another device in the mix that is also trying to do the Network Address Translation chore — and then conflicts can occur. You still may be able to reach the Internet on your devices connected to the home network, but the AirPort Extreme router will flash its yellow light as an alert and some network-based features like Apple’s Back to My Mac service will not work properly.

Since you have recently changed DSL modems, the new model is probably now providing its own NAT services, whereas the old modem did not. Since the AirPort Extreme is also doing its own NAT work, you get the Double NAT error message.

One way to correct the problem is to turn off the NAT service on either the modem or the router, which puts it in “bridge” mode. Your Internet service provider may not want you messing around with the modem’s settings, so you may want to call the technical support line and inquire before attempting anything.

Turning off the NAT service may be easier to do on the AirPort router. To do so, open the AirPort Utility program. In the latest version of the utility for Mac OS X 10.7, click the image of the AirPort Extreme. A box pops up showing technical information and all the devices connected to the router. Click the Edit button and then click the Network tab. Under Router Mode, select “Off (Bridge Mode)” and click the Update button.

Once the NAT service has been turned off in either the modem or the router, the AirPort Extreme should stop flashing yellow and return to its happy solid green light. Apple has more information on setting up the AirPort Extreme as a bridge here. (The company has instructions for putting the router in bridge mode on older versions of Mac OS X with earlier versions of the AirPort Utility at the bottom of the page here.)

Gadgetwise Blog: A Router With a Fast Setup and Faster Speeds

The My Net N900, part of a new line of routers from Western Digital, offers speeds of up to 900 mbps.

Seeking to be a larger presence in the living rooms of media-consuming Americans, Western Digital recently expanded its product line, which had consisted primarily of storage drives, to offer routers.

The routers are intended not only to connect devices throughout the home to the Internet, but also to create a wireless home network for the high-speed delivery of content.

Many peripherals come with 1-2-3 setup instructions that really have a dozen more hidden steps. Often you have to spend time online searching for the full instructions. And if your computer does not recognize the peripheral, you get to experience the joy of trouble-shooting, which has tried my patience in the past.

But the setup for the Western Digital router I tested, the My Net N900, was about the easiest I’ve experienced, a refreshing turn of events that I was not expecting after having trouble installing a Western Digital external hard drive a few months ago.

This time, the engineers at Western Digital must have been working overtime to assure a smooth setup. As soon as I connected the router and turned it on, my laptop recognized the signal. After the quick setup, all my Wi-Fi-enabled devices were connected, and I was in business.

For those with more time to spare, the router has customization tools for setting up a firewall, parental controls and a guest network.

The router’s dual bands mean you get twice the bandwidth, with speeds of up to 900 megabits per second, which is great for streaming high-definition movies and playing online games. And Western Digital’s FasTrack feature (so fast, it only needs one “T”) prioritizes content, putting movies and games at the head of the line. While streaming a high-definition movie to my laptop, I was able to download another movie on my iPad and check my e-mail on my iPhone without any hiccups in the quality of the movie I was watching.

The My Net N900 router sells for about $180 at most electronics retailers. Western Digital also offers less-expensive routers with slower data rates and higher-end versions with integrated storage.