Intermittent problem with not being able to find router

[#1]

Hi
I'm experiencing problems with my Internet, which in the last 24 hours I've narrowed down to some kind of intermittent problem with finding the (Thomson 585v8) router.
My Internet starts hanging, but it's not the actual Internet connection itself, but rather the router.  Whenever the Internet hangs, I cannot reach the router either by my usual WiFi connection or by plugging in an Ethernet cable.  The 192.168.1.254 address returns an error.  Powercycling the router resolves the problem.
Is this simply a dying router?  Unfortunately I don't have another router, so can't try swapping routers.
Any ideas folks?

[#2]

Hi kosymodo,
Try factory resetting it. (you'll need to re-enter your broadband username and password again) If it still keeps happening after that then I'll get you a new one out.
Jojo

[#3]

Thanks Jojo...will try this later when I get home!
One thing I didn't mention is that, if I leave it long enough, it seems to fix itself (i.e. restores the connection between router and laptop).  I don't think the actual DSL connection drops at any point though.  Would you be able to post my connection graph thingy to see whether anything is happening behind the scenes, other than the times I have to powercycle?

[#4]

Hi kosymodo,
There you go...
Jojo

[#5]

Hmmm, looking at that graph it suggests that between 10am and 2pm today there was no connection whatsoever!  That's a bit weird isn't it?
Prior to Monday 6pm, I hadn't been powercycling the router, hence the sporadic drops since then.  Last night at 9pm I unplugged the whole thing for 15-20 mins to see if that helped...it didn't!

[#6]

OK, restored to factory settings just after 6pm, re-configured, and all appears to be well for now.
Jojo - please could you re-post my connection graph tomorrow to show if the connection remained stable overnight?

[#7]

Hi there,
<img src="http://ccgi.psmith12.plus.com/visradius/generated/image13184977489034.png" />
Looks like a solid 16 hour connection since 6pm last night

[#8]

Thanks Matt
Just now came home from work, and once again couldn't connect to the internet.  However, this time my laptop was saying that although it could connect to the router, it couldn't connect to the internet.  Therefore I fired up the Thomson Gateway page, clicked on 'Broadband Connection', and clicked 'Check connectivity to the internet'.  Everything came up green ticks, except for Internet, which had 2 red crosses against the DNS servers 212.159.6.9 and 212.159.6.10
Now knowing the DNS servers were causing problems, I decided to bypass the router's DNS settings, and enter directly into my laptop.  I overtyped the default 192.168.1.254 address, and used alternative (in fact primary) DNS server settings from the PN site (accessed via my mobile) 212.159.13.49 and 212.159.13.50 - immediately I had an internet connection!
So, not sure whether to request a new router from PN in terms of the intermittent problem re finding the router, but another issue is those original DNS servers seem to be playing up...

[#9]

UPDATE...
Just lost router again...had to powercycle, then it starts working again...grrr!
Jojo or Matt...please could you arrange for a replacement to be sent out.  (I'm guessing that the factory reset last night only actually worked as it was effectively powercycling the router)
Thanks

[#10]

Hi there,
When you say 'lost router', do you mean that all the computers in the house lost their connections completely (i.e. to each other and the router as well as to the internet) or just lost connection to the internet?
I'm not refusing the new router here, but it is important to confirm if this is a line fault or a problem with the router itself. It does sound like a problem with the router from what you've said though.

[#11]

Hi Matt
What I mean is that my internet stopped responding, and upon further inspection I had lost WiFi connection between the router and the laptop (only 1 laptop in the flat).  Tried hooking an ethernet cable between router and laptop, but still couldn't see router.  Powercycled router, and immediately got connection between router and laptop.
So, there seems to be a problem with the DNS function of the router, and also with the DHCP function.
I'm pretty sure it's not a line fault, as I'm confident you'll find no actual disconnection takes place (other than when I powercycle the router of course!)
Thanks

[#12]

Quote from: kosymodo

… Therefore I fired up the Thomson Gateway page, clicked on 'Broadband Connection', and clicked 'Check connectivity to the internet'.  Everything came up green ticks, except for Internet, which had 2 red crosses against the DNS servers 212.159.6.9 and 212.159.6.10

That doesn't indicate a physical fault with the router - it's a test or reporting bug. All samples do this, even when the router is working correctly.
However setting the DNS in your computer as you've done is potentially a better way to provide this service and means less work for the router to do.
Of course this doesn't mean the router is *not* faulty.

[#13]

Ah right, I didn't know this...thanks!
jim:quote

[#14]

Thanks for clarifying that kosymodo, I've requested an RMA for you. I would expect the replacement to be with you early next week, hope it sorts things

[#15]

Thanks Matt...fingers crossed!