[Troubleshooting] 4 port Router only 1 working... is this common ?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › [Troubleshooting] 4 port Router only 1 working... is this common ?

nzboi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#110935 19-Oct-2012 17:51

This has been an recurring problem for me.

I have a modem/router with 4 port and after 2-3 years it would only accept the my PC connection. Meaning, any port where I plug my desktop pc it works, anywhere I plug the other devices (wdtv, wireless) don't.

These are the modem that had the same "choosy-port-syndrome"

(old) Dynalink RTA1025w
(recent) Linksys AG241

Things that I've tried are

1. power up /power down
2. swap network cables
3. resetting the router

None seems to work, it always exhibits the same behaviour which is it only accepts my PC connection. I tried googling for answers but seem to lead nowhere, i only found 1 forum comment that made sense. Basically, he reckons that the "switching" circuit that does the round robin between the routers got fried.

That did make sense a little. But if I don't plug in the PC and just plug in wireless it still doesn't work.

Currently, my modem router is Linksys AG241 (choosy port) + wireless WRP400

I'm a DB admin by trade, so setting up a home network is not too much of a hassle for me.

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7975 posts

Uber Geek

#703890 20-Oct-2012 08:08

Assuming it's not something along the lines of DHCP only allocating one address at a time, so only one device picks up an IP address at a time, it might be the dying capacitors or power supply problem.

There's a few of the older Linksys devices where the power supplies die after a few years, and start doing strange things (grab another power brick to test).

I've also seen a D-Link modem where the ethernet ports died due to bulging caps.

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linw

2693 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#703907 20-Oct-2012 08:41

Seriously weird that the same symptoms have carried across two routers. Odds are that this rules out router hardware problems.

How does the PC get its IP addr? DHCP or fixed address? The WDTV will default to using DHCP. Can we assume that the modem/router has DHCP enabled?

cyril7

8951 posts

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#703908 20-Oct-2012 08:45

You seem to imply in you comments that there is a serperate wireless router, am I correct, if so how is that connected, is it possible that you have two DHCP servers running and depending on which one servers first depends on if the real mr DHCP does the business and supplies a valid network address.

Cyril

nzboi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#703927 20-Oct-2012 09:28

Thanks for the reply guys.

linw & cyril7 -> Whatever the network setup was, it worked for 2 years. :)

1. PC, WDTV, wireless router all had static IP addresses
2. Anything wireless uses DHCP

RunningMan -> Not that handy in the soldering unsoldering department. I hear if you don't discharge the stored energy in the capacitor that it gets nasty.

Just earlier today brought out my aging (7yr old) laptop and connected (wired) it to the wireless router port, the lan network picked it up immediately... unplugged it there and plugged it in the modem/router port and nothing.

I thought that linksys would be more durable.

FYI, We don't turn off the router+wireless it's a 24/7 device in our household.

cyril7

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#703928 20-Oct-2012 09:30

Do the switch and PC leds show a connection when you plug into these supposed failed ports, ie what layer is this failing at.

Cyril

nzboi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#703932 20-Oct-2012 09:40

Cyril -> yes, I did mention this on the original post. Whichever port I plug my pc in seems to work, only the PC !!!

Unplugged everything, and just

1. tried just wirless.. nothing @different ports
2. just the wdtv... nothing @different ports
3. plugged the pc @different ports BOOM it works. <- weird.

Unfortunately I dunno which layer, i know about the layer stack in theory but don't have any practical network troubleshooting skills. :(

I did read about gigabyte motherboards and the lan issues but mine seems to work.. the only thing that works.

RunningMan

7975 posts

Uber Geek

#703933 20-Oct-2012 09:43

Is there a link LED that comes on when you connect the physical cable?

What is the physical network layout - can you describe how each device is connected to the next?

MattR

223 posts

Master Geek

#703937 20-Oct-2012 10:08

There's a few of the older Linksys devices where the power supplies die after a few years, and start doing strange things (grab another power brick to test).

I've also seen a D-Link modem where the ethernet ports died due to bulging caps.

Yep lots of older Linksys switches have that problem, I've also seen it on my parents Billion 7401VGP-M and my own Cisco 877.

I replaced the two big caps on the 877, but didn't bother with the Billion :)

I also suspect my father-in-law's rather new Netgear DGN-1000 has this problem, but he now has my 877 & Unifi wifi :)

If you're only seeing one ethernet port out of 4 working, I'd put money on bad caps.

nzboi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#703939 20-Oct-2012 10:14

RunningMan: Is there a link LED that comes on when you connect the physical cable?

What is the physical network layout - can you describe how each device is connected to the next?

Only for the PC.

Wireless = Not consistent, and on the admin page of the wireless router it can't seem to establish the static IP that I've specified.

Only the PC would consistently get the magical LED light and magically obtain a connection.

Phone jack -> linksys ->Wirless router
-> PC
-> WDTV live steaming (gen3)

Now I've flashed and reset ALL of the device (except the PC).

nzboi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#703949 20-Oct-2012 10:16

MattR:
There's a few of the older Linksys devices where the power supplies die after a few years, and start doing strange things (grab another power brick to test).

I've also seen a D-Link modem where the ethernet ports died due to bulging caps.

Yep lots of older Linksys switches have that problem, I've also seen it on my parents Billion 7401VGP-M and my own Cisco 877.

I replaced the two big caps on the 877, but didn't bother with the Billion :)

I also suspect my father-in-law's rather new Netgear DGN-1000 has this problem, but he now has my 877 & Unifi wifi :)

If you're only seeing one ethernet port out of 4 working, I'd put money on bad caps.

Finally ! somebody with a similar experience. I wish they'd used the japanese capacitors on those devices (like motherboards).

MattR

223 posts

Master Geek

#704018 20-Oct-2012 14:04

Throw out the AG241 and get something better.

If you just want an ethernet router (and not a DSL router) then something like a Mikrotik RB2011 with wifi would be perfect.

...else I've got a couple of old spare WRT54GL if you want to pick up from Auckland North Shore.

nzboi

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#704572 22-Oct-2012 10:02

I opened my dynalink rta1025w router and found 2 capacitors whose top is bulging. Am I correct in thinking that if those caps are bad the other caps are not far behind ? Or is it worth the effort of putting in new ones just to see if I can get it to work? Sounds like an inexpensive project :)

I've ordered a new TP-Link WD8960N from ascent as it's on clearance and they threw in a +3 year warranty on top of the usual 1 year from the manufacturer.

RunningMan

7975 posts

Uber Geek

#704576 22-Oct-2012 10:15

nzboi: I opened my dynalink rta1025w router and found 2 capacitors whose top is bulging. Am I correct in thinking that if those caps are bad the other caps are not far behind ? Or is it worth the effort of putting in new ones just to see if I can get it to work? Sounds like an inexpensive project :)

If some are gone, the rest probably aren't far behind - easiest to do them all in one hit.

MattR

223 posts

Master Geek

#704592 22-Oct-2012 10:53

Looks to be a common problem with the RTA1025W.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1259788
http://www.kirrawee.net/dynalink/

linw

2693 posts

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#705072 23-Oct-2012 13:21

Quote:-
These are the modem that had the same "choosy-port-syndrome"

(old) Dynalink RTA1025w
(recent) Linksys AG241

The surprising thing is both had the same error. So, do both have crook caps?

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