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The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => Routers / COVR => DGL-5500 => Topic started by: nicsey on November 25, 2014, 06:37:30 PM

Title: My Router is just not living up to the hype
Post by: nicsey on November 25, 2014, 06:37:30 PM
I don't honestly know what is going on with my router. I have had this since October 2013 and I have had one problem after the other. Frequent disconnects, lack of bandwidth, slow interface and several other miscellaneous issues that occur. When I say I have tried everything, I quite literally mean everything. Here are some of my major problems, and some of the things I have done to fix them.
Since I have a little knowledge (and I do mean LITTLE knowledge) of networking, I have, at one point, tinkered with the settings.. and actually.. I have tinkered on more than one occasion with more than one setting (nothing major.. just trying to see if I could speed things up a bit).
So, currently I use Metrocast as my ISP. I have no choice because I live out in the country and they are the only ISP that will service my area. (Otherwise, I would go with something WAY better). Here goes.. my internet speeds from my modem are 17mbps download, 2mbps upload (unsure of my ping.. I believe it was around 25ms). I have 2 Samsung Galaxy s5's, 2 Samsung Galaxy Tab 3's, 3 Laptops, 1 Xbox 360, and 1 PS3. At any given time the maximum of devices that are connected to it are about 4. Right now it is set to factory default (without StreamBoost enabled) with the most recent firmware 1.12. I had StreamBoost enabled and all it did was make it so the user interface was inaccessible and with a hard reset (and about 10 minutes for the interface to load) I was able to finally disable it (which made everything work SO much faster). I have replaced ALL Ethernet wires that were attached to the router with brand new ones. I have disabled and enabled and then disabled (again) the Streamboost. ALL of my issues are on WiFi, I should add. I have shut off Wireless N mode, I have turned on Wireless N mode. I have changed and fixed and broke various other settings within the router.. I have setup port forwarding, I have moved the router around my house (including putting it outside). I read to keep it at least 6" away from the modem, so now it's about 5ft from it. I get maybe 10 feet of range (I can pick up  my neighbors router across the street from my house about 100ft away). I know I haven't done "literally" everything, but to be frank, it was not this much work with my last router (dlink 4500). I had fantastic luck with that, no issues and I bought it refurb. Even after a year I am really trying to figure this out. It just can't be that this router is not living up to it standards. I just wish it was more user friendly.. or more "plug and play". My hope is that someone can help me adjust some setting that will make it magically work right. I need more range than 10-15ft and I need more stability.
Title: Re: My Router is just not living up to the hype
Post by: FurryNutz on November 26, 2014, 07:44:49 AM
Link>Welcome! (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=48135.0)

B03 or B05? I don't recommend v1.12 B05 as SB had some prolonged issues in getting set up. I recommend v1.12 B03 or v1.13 B02  Beta. v1.13 is whats currently loaded on my router and is working well accept for a couple of issues that are not major problems.

>FW Update Process (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=42457.0)


Internet Service Provider and Modem Configurations

I recommend that you have your ISP check the cabling going to the ISP modem, check signal levels going to the ISP modem. For DSL or Fiber service lines, ensure that the ISP is using good working phone or cable lines to the DSL modem and that the phone lines are filtered correctly. For cable Internet, RG-6 coaxial cable is needed, not RG-59. Check for t.v. line splitters and remove them as they can introduce noise on the line and lower the signal going to the ISP modem. I recommend having the ISP service physically check the lines going from the out side to the ISP modem. Connecting to the ISP modem could result in a false positive as the signal to the modem could be just enough to that point then adding on a router, could see problems. The router operation is dependent upon getting good data flow from the ISP modem and the modem is dependent upon getting good signal from the ISP Service.

Wireless Configurations
Links>Wireless Installation Considerations (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=48327.0) and Managing Signal Congestion (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=53228.0) and Good Neighbour Policy (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=10634.0)

Router Placement
Forum User - "Well I feel really dumb. After moving the router away from other electronic devices my speeds are back to normal. Just a heads up for anyone experiencing slow speeds, you might want to move it away from other electronics and see if that helps."
3-6' feet minimum safe distance between devices.
Placement on main level floor and central in the building and WELL ventilated is preferred. Not in basements or closets as building materials, or near by electronics devices could interfere or hinder good signal propagation.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/31083-smallnetbuilders-wireless-faq-the-essentials (http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/31083-smallnetbuilders-wireless-faq-the-essentials)

What model is the 360? 1st gen, Slim or 3rd gen?

Maybe someone can review your router settings with you using Link> teamviewer (http://www.teamviewer.com) if your interested. Its safe and secure.