Belkin ADSL Router help

[tibboh]

Just purchased a new belkin router & cards. When up and running all is fine (except one card which has a dodgy antena connection - which is going back).

My problem is, the router default is set to 'dial on demand', with an 'idle time' of 5 minutes. Consequently, if I leave the PC (switched on or not) for over 5 mins, the modem requires switching on via the web browser again (no good for the kids).

If i set it in minutes for about 4 hours, it will be fine for when every one is up when they come home during the day - but then reverts to 5 mins. And if I set it to zero - it will obviously not work.

As im new to broadband - any advise on settings that will have it permanently connected - or at least when i switch on my server etc?

 

[Admiral Michael]

on my Linksys router I use "Keep Connection Alive" and set a redial period of 180 seconds. However it still shouldnt do that no matter which one u choose.

 

[mooo]

yea I know 2 people with belkin and i have tried to work with them and they are horrid. See if you can return them and get a linksys or even a microsoft. The belkin tech support have to be the worst ever. I called and asked for help on a connection and they told me to call the isp when it was the router problem. They should stick with what they do best and make ipod external battery packs 😛

 

[Admiral Michael]

that and cables and such!

 

[tibboh]

Yup - no reply from Belkin help, as you would imagine.

What I have done is set the 'idle' period to 720 minutes, which will cover any innactive periods when the family is not on, preventing it from shutting down. I hope someone out there has a fix (apart from sending it back, which i'm tempted).

found the MTU was set too high on default, preventing me opening most web pages - I have set it to 1400, which seems okay speed wise and stability wise. Any further help on this would also be appreciated (as i'm only guessing).

 

[Admiral Michael]

I use 1492 for my MTU size. As for the router, maybe see if theres a newer firmware version. I'd return it and go for a more well known networking company. I love Linksys.

 

[tibboh]

Well, what do ya know. Belkin HAD e-mailed me with an answer (mt ISP had placed it in the spam folder - lucky I checked befor I deleted)

Router is now running as sweet as a nut, and I've had no problems with the new MTU setting. It might be pouring with rain in Preston, but isn't life wonderfull? 🙂

 

[Admiral Michael]

What did Belkin say?

 

[Tweakfiend]

yea I know 2 people with belkin and i have tried to work with them and they are horrid. See if you can return them and get a linksys or even a microsoft. The belkin tech support have to be the worst ever. I called and asked for help on a connection and they told me to call the isp when it was the router problem. They should stick with what they do best and make ipod external battery packs 😛

Sorry to totally disagree ,and you are entitled to your opinion... but Netgear and Belkin are still the top two sellers , and after a couple of days getting usd to it, the Belkin wireless router / modem was and is consistently reliable.
Same goes for their tech support.

 

[tibboh]

I have to say that after a month with my Belkin setup, both wireless router and wireless cards are running perfectly. After the initial hickup with settings I have had no cause to complain.

In the three instances I have contacted their technical support, each time I have had a reply within 24 hours (I slagged them off the first time I tried to contact them because my spam filter, for some reason had placed the reply in the spam folder).

It is too easy to diss a product second hand, cos your mate has had problems (he COULD be a pleb), I would say from first hand experience that both hardware & tech support are what I would expect.

But thankyou to all anyway who gave good advice to me 🙂