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[user4947]

Rev E3.  5.10 firmware.

I'm new to routers so apologies if I don't provide all the necessary info in this post.

Have the router connected to a DSL modem (some standard ISP issued one that has been working fine for years.. never had connection issues until now) via the provided cable and the cable provided with the DSL modem to a PC.  Also, on the router is a wireless laptop.

Install went fine.  Setup in a matter of minutes with all settings left as default other than passwords, SSID (something unique so area conflict shouldn't be an issue), security (WPA Personal, WP2/AES), unchecking WPS and UnPnP.  

Laptop immediately recognized SSID and manually entered password and told it to automatically connect in future.

Worked fine for nearly 5 days.  Then dropped the connection and the router apparently was no longer broadcasting (the SSID would not appear in available options in order to attempt to reconnect).  I checked the router log and could see where it had, and apologies here as I didn't write the wording down, renewed the license? at the time it dropped the connection.

Doing a software reset caused the router to re-broadcast immediately, at least that is the term I am guessing as the SSID was then listed as a broadcasting network to connect to again.  I now see hundreds of reviews on Amazon and Newegg with similar issues so I am not sure if it is a problem with the router, setup or something else.

Anything I can do so it no longer drops connections and needs to be refreshed/rebooted in order to connect again?  The only setting I am not positive about was unchecking UnPnP but, from what I read, it wasn't needed and could present security issues (and wasn't supposed to cause problems from disabling).  Other than that, I can't think of what might be causing the problem.

Thank you.  This is my last resort short of considering buying a new router (this is brand new).

Edit.  I thought of something else I did.  I corrected the date and time in the router settings also by telling it to copy the computers.

[FurryNutz]

What region are you located?

What ISP Service do you have? Cable or DSL?
What ISP Modem do you have? Stand Alone or built in router?
What ISP Modem make and model do you have?
If this modem has a built in router, it's best to bridge the modem. Having 2 routers on the same line can cause connection problems.
To tell if the modem is bridged or not, look at the routers web page, Status/Device Info/Wan Section, if there is a 192.168.0.# address in the WAN IP address field, then the modem is not bridged.

Some things to try:
Turn off ALL QoS or Disable Traffic Shaping (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices ON the router. Setup/Networking
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP under Advanced/Firewall.
Enable uPnP and Multi-cast Streaming under Advanced/Networking.

What wireless modes are you using? Under Setup/Wireless/Manual.
Try single mode G or mixed G and N?
Channel Width set for Auto 20/40Mhz or try 20Mhz only.
What security mode are you using? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/AES Only. Some WiFi adapters don't support AES, so you might want to try TPIK only or Auto.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area? Use InSSIDer to find out.
Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing. 3rd party firewalls are not generally needed when using routers as they are effective on blocking malicious inbound traffic.
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.

[user4947]

U.S.

As stated, DSL.

Stand alone DSL modem provided by ISP.  No idea what make and model.  Was working fine until whatever the router did to renew license so unlikely to be cause.  Unbridged according to IP you mentioned. 

Can you provide more context on what the settings you are asking me to change so I know what it is I am altering?  All settings, other than those mentioned were the routers default ones, so I imagine Dlink choose those for proper functioning.

QoS engine is enabled as per Dlink default.  This should have no bearing on dropped connections according to them.

Advanced DNS Services is disabled by default.

DNS Relay is enabled by default.

Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices ON the router. Setup/Networking

I have no idea what this means.  It works fine with whatever the router does by default until it drops the connection when renewing.

Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.

I don't know where this is located.  Current setting would be whatever dlink has by default.

Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP under Advanced/Firewall.

This is not what dlink has for settings by default so I am reluctant to alter them without knowing why.  That the router functions perfectly at all times except when it renews license, I am hesitant to lower security in order to get it to function properly.  Trade one problem for another.

Enable uPnP and Multi-cast Streaming under Advanced/Networking.

uPnP is diabled per security recommendations I read that stated it lessens security and should have no affect on function.  Can you confirm or refute that? 

Multi-cast stream is disabled per dlink default.

What wireless modes are you using? Under Setup/Wireless/Manual.
Try single mode G or mixed G and N?

Whatever the default setting is.  Says mixed n, g, b.  Does this router not function properly unless neutered?

Channel Width set for Auto 20/40Mhz or try 20Mhz only.

Whatever default setting was.  It currently shows 20 MHz (my guess would have been that it was auto when it was first setup but my memory certainly could be faulty as it hasn't been manually changed).

What security mode are you using? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/AES Only. Some WiFi adapters don't support AES, so you might want to try TPIK only or Auto.

As stated.  WPA-Personal.  WPA2/AES.  It was functioning fine until the dropped connection 4-5 days after install so it seems likely my laptop was working with it.  I will not lower security in order to get a functioning router.

What wireless devices do you have connected?

As stated.  One wired PC, one wireless laptop.

Any cordless house phones?

Yes.  Router functioned perfectly for 4-5 days and cordless phone was not in use when connection dropped.  Unlikely cause.

Any other WiFi routers in the area? Use InSSIDer to find out.

Of course.  The available network connections lists numerous.

Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

Short GI is enabled by default and should have no bearing in dropped connection according to dlink.  I can't find extra wireless protection in settings.

Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing. 3rd party firewalls are not generally needed when using routers as they are effective on blocking malicious inbound traffic.

Not an issue.  Disabled.

Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.

While testing a dropped wireless connection?  The only way to know ones wireless connection has been dropped is using it.

I am confused by the catch all reply.  Any chance one can narrow down the likely causes and explain so we can go from there.  The reply doesn't seem to have been addressing the post as a number of things were asked that were already stated and seem to have nothing to do with the issue.

[FurryNutz]

Sounds like you have it figured out. Enjoy!

[user4947]

Sounds like you have it figured out. Enjoy!

Seriously?  Because my reply was inferred as too abrupt to a script response?

I would greatly appreciate your assistance.  I am sure you have an educated guess on some of the likeliest causes to the articulated issue.  If we could go through those in order of the ones to try first, that would be wonderful.

The initial reply was unknown because it appeared to be a script rather than acknowledging the issue as posted as it listed dozens of things, same already answered and others that seem unlikely to be related at best.  I am just attempting to narrow it down in order to troubleshoot rather than randomly change dozens of settings having no idea what they do and what possible additional issues they may cause.

I am sure you are vastly knowledgeable and experienced to have an idea of some specific things to try.  if you could articulate those, that would be a great way to proceed if you are able to help.

[user4947]

I have no idea if it is related or unrelated to one of the dozen things you told me to change (I wasn't able to try 2 of them as I can't find/don't know how to on those.. well, 3 if you meant something other than just ensuring the wireless laptop was off at the moment changes were being made or it had to remain unused wirelessly during duration to confirm whether or not changes were successful as I didn't do the later obviously), or if I was supposed to go through all of them one at a time, all at once, some combo, but it has gotten worse since.  Now the wired connection is unreliable and has dropped connections when in use or not. 

A software reset via the admin log in no longer fixes it and it takes trying different rebooting methods in order to get the wired connection working again.  I'd try different combinations of the dozen different mentioned settings but having no idea, other than what dlink describes them as, means I wouldn't know what to try. 

Given that you seem to have taken offense to my attempt to learn what settings might affect what in addition to trying them, and that I haven't managed to stumble upon the right order to fix anything yet with the ones I have, perhaps it is best to presume others experiences mentioning similar issues are enough pretense to return it to the store for refund and try a different router.

In case my asking for assistance and trying to learn, instead of the blind changing of settings I'm inferring you desired, rubbed you the wrong way.  Apologies.  I had no idea one could take offense to that desire.  I can't say I've come across that reaction too much so apparently provoked an unintended consequence. 

[FurryNutz]

Maybe someone can review your router settings with you using teamviewer if your interested. Its safe and secure.