Granted, hardware goes bad, but it's "working yesterday, dead like a brick now" bad usually. Hardware almost never degrades in just performance, save some Cisco devices using non-ecc memory over the years (why they don't sell load-balancers anymore). Software may leak resources, kids/roommates might overconsume sessions torrenting to abuse router cpu, but hardware alone won't diminish performance over time. I still say audit your traffic patterns with some network tools, but having a better router too never hurts. Oddly I've found decent (netgear, cisco) wifi routers at my local Goodwill in Peoria, I just verify they can use dd-wrt images while there, how much memory/cpu they have (if they can use full or limited images). For a while was hooking up friends and family with decent units for less than $7 each. Ebay you can probably find better options, but as long as it's flashable with dd-wrt, you're likely not going to get one gone "bad" if it works at all. -mb On Mon, Oct 28, 2019 at 5:20 PM Stephen Partington wrote: > I have had a router go bad. The rom failed. > > On Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 4:13 PM Michael Butash wrote: > >> I really don't find routers "go bad" as they outlive their usefulness. >> Most people find their routers can't handle their usage when providers >> offer 100mbps+ connections, but sometimes something is simply abusing your >> network, and your router isn't good at showing it to you. >> >> Coming from the enterprise space, when something stops working, I see >> what is wrong, as something is always wrong if it's broken. In a consumer >> router, what is usually the matter is something creating too many sessions, >> or simply exceeding bandwidth capabilities. Ahem, Bittorrent, or some >> other uncontrolled vermin. Some people it's 5 people watching netflix at >> the same time, or heavy gaming. >> >> I can usually feel when my network is broken at home, and almost always >> find a reason for it. Only time I upgrade is when I want to test a new >> piece of kit I got from ebay. >> >> I've run cisco asa, netgear/dd-wrt routers, fortigate firewall currently, >> considering getting a palo alto. My netgear flashed with dd-wrt was great >> for years, a R710 nighthawk, and only reason I upgraded to my fortigate was >> just to dogfood features for customers of mine using fortigate. I got >> lucky buying a fortigate on ebay, 2 years later some large defense >> contractor company keeps paying for my enterprise support on the unit for >> full filter and threat feeds on it, so at least my tax dollars go for >> something good finally. >> >> -mb >> >> >> On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 12:17 PM wrote: >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> It appears I am having Internet router problems. Occasionally I will >>> not be able to access the Internet for a few seconds to a minute or so. >>> This morning I was not able to access the Internet at all. >>> >>> I am with Cox and have a home office business account. I called Cox and >>> they suggested bypassing my router and connect directly to their modem. >>> That worked. Based on that I think my router is going bad. >>> >>> I had turned off the modem and the router for a maybe an hour or so >>> while I did other things. I now have access. >>> >>> I would like a secure router. Cox says almost any modern router will be >>> secure. Security is a big issue. When I look at all the WiFi that is >>> available in my neighborhood I see maybe 10 routers. That is scary! >>> >>> Since I have a business account that allows servers I have been using >>> port forwarding. I am a programmer and occasionally I fire up my laptop >>> turned server for testing. >>> >>> I also have set up my WiFi to only accept those devices that I have >>> configured by MAC address. >>> >>> Any toughs on my pending router purchase? >>> >>> Thank you so much for all your feedback!! >>> >>> Keith >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss