Ever since we went wireless, we've had problems with our Router (for over a year now).

We currently have the NETGEAR DG834GUK model, which was the one recommended by our ISP (AOL).

We often find that after a while, pages will stop displaying on Internet Explorer and the AOL Browser itself. We dabbled with Firefox and the like for a while, but the same thing kept happening. Our solution has just been to pull the power out of the plug in the router and plug it back in, and things almost always fix immediately. This problem applies not only to computers connected wirelessly, but also those which are wired, so we think it must be a problem with this router. Whilst usually we can get away with 5 or 6 resets a week, in the last few days we've had to do it almost every 2 hours.

Does anyone know:

a) If there is a solution to the problems we are experiencing (we noticed the router and wireless connection USBs heat up a lot, so does that have something to do with it)
b) If there isn't a solution, what other routers you have had better experiences with
c) If any other better routers are suitable for use with AOL as an ISP

No smart comments about changing ISP, as I've been berating my dad for yonks but he doesn't want to lose his precious short AOL e-mail address!

Any help much appreciated

aol ahahahaha

I'd borrow a wired router from someone or do you still have your pre-wireless one? Try one of them and if it's still happening then I think the problem is AOL. They are shite but if your Pa is happy with his short email address then hell mend him. It's not really top of the list when choosing an ISP!


Seconded.

Before that we used a BT Voyager Modem, given to us by AOL when we moved from dial-up to Broadband. I think we got rid yonks ago.

My router is some dodgy chinese job and it cost 20 quid, have only had to reset it maybe 3 times in the past year.

Have you updated the firmware?

Have to say Im surprised you're having problems, I have that router and never had an issue, as have many others.

Are you sure its not the AOL connection?

I would suggest

1) Update the firmware
2) Try and different modem/router if you can
3) Bin AOL

MY mate has a situation not similar to this, but equally annoying regarding routers.

Ever since he setup his router about 2 months ago, downloads never complete, videos never fully load etc. it just freezes the process.

He has tried everything and cant figure out whats wrong.

Has he bought a new router?

Especially if its a Belkin. Belkin are to the router world what Microsoft are to the software world .... very very very bad.

The root of your problems, as has been suggested numerous times on this thread, is AOL. The Netgear router, if fully up to date with its firmware, shouldn't cause any problems at all. First off, I'd suggest finding a way of surgically removing the parasite that is the AOL software from your machine including the AOL browser. Once this has been done, get your AOL username and password, and relevent settings from the router interface. Give it a factory reset, and update the firmware to the latest version. Put in all your details again and give it a whirl using either Firefox, Opera or IE7 as your browser. I'm pretty confident you'll have no problems.

Had similar problems with Virgin Media. My set up is the (non wireless) virgin media router, and then my own wireless router plugged into that. I know my wireless is fine so I got them to send me a new router and its been fine since.

The router that Virgin Media gave you, is it wireless?

Nope its a standard cable router that they send out. I had to run a cable from that to my own wireless router, then hook all the Pc's in the house in by wireless.

Thats what i've got. I fancy going wireless though, save running a cable through to my xbox everytime i want to go live.

People slagging off AOL - years ago they were terrible, now they are decent and no worse/better than any of the major providers (better than virgin for instance).

Perhaps in your opinion... Any ISP that claims their "Silver" package cannot support Wi-Fi needs a huge boycott. AOL are the pits, they distribute software that can only be 100% removed by a format of your Hard Drive and they support Norton. The root of all that is evil in this world.

You dont need to use the software though, im not saying they are great, but they are a lot better than virgin (i was on aol previously till they metered the service), they were no worse or better than any isp i used previously.

We know that you don't have to use AOL's software, but your average punter doesn't. The number of folk that I give a helping hand to that use AOL's crappy browser is rediculous. This is directly linked to their audacious claims of "Silver" not supporting Wi-Fi. What they actually mean is "if you use AOL browser, on our Silver service, you can't log in more than one person at a time on this AOL account". I was an AOL customer when I lived in Dundee, where it took them 4 months to agree to get my contention ratio corrected. Part of what makes a good ISP is quality of customer service IMO. In this case, I felt that they were quick enough to take my money, but refused to accept that there was anything wrong with the contention ratio at all. I will not be using their services ever again.

Thats fine, but the same people that would be having trouble connecting with wifi are the very people that find the aol browser the easiest to use.

My sister is clueless when it comes to computers, but they are very happy with aol, i was amazed that they didnt use any type of browser other than the aol one, just because its not for you, dosent mean its not for everyone.

It may well be the easiest to use for them, but the example I gave was a couple unable to use their Wi-Fi because they used AOL Browser.

The point you made originally was AOL are no worse/better than any other ISP which is what I am disputing here. AOL are a poor ISP along with Tiscalli and Pipex. Comparing each of them to the ISP I use for example - Eclipse, there is no competition; Eclipse win hands down. Yes they all provide effectively the same services on BT's networks but it's the efficiency of their staff and handling of matters along with ability to handle a large quantity of customers that get recognition as being a good ISP. All 3 of who I have mentioned, fail miserably.

IMO Tiscali are OK I have been with them for years and never had any trouble with them, occasionally had some downtime but not much to annoy me and in the past 18 months I have had no downtime. I have never had to contact there customer service department but I get a couple of calls a year from them to see if I am still happy with there service.

The bit in bold pretty much sums up my feeling on all ISP's to be honest. If you have no reason to contact them, then the ISP is doing a good job. As soon as a problem occurs (Usually problems exist from the outset) ISP's just don't want to know. I hear mixed reports about nearly every ISP and usually all the good reports are from people who have never needed to contact their customer services.