Netgear WGR614v2 problem

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Hi,
I installed a Netgear WGR614v2 about 6 months. It operates as the main
router (cable internet connection) and switch/AP, to a partially wired (2-3
machines), partially wireless (2-3 machines) home network.

Ever since installing i've experienced problems with it. Approximately 3
times everyday (sometimes upto 15 time a day) the router will 'crash'. Well,
crash is the best word i can think of to discribe it. Any existing internet
connections will remain connected, e.g. an emule download, but any new
connection attempts will fail, e.g. webpage download, and all local
networking (local comp to local comp) will not be possible. Also, the DHCP
service will not assign any new IP's. Physically on the router i can see all
activity lights flashing away as if there was no problem.

This situation will continue until I 'hard' reboot the unit. Then within a
couple of seconds all functions are restored.

I've spoken with netgear support at length about this and they have been
spectacularly useless. The only suggestions they made were to; a) install
the latest firmware - which was already installed, and b) to stop using half
of the software that i use everyday, e.g. couter-strike and e-mule!! Maybe I
shouldn't use the router at all - that way it probably wouldn't break!

It seems to have problems at the following times;
1) a lot of new connections are opened, e.g. refreshing a list of
servers in a game, or starting emule. I have reduce the max connections in
emule to approx 1/3 of the original level. This has reduce the frequency of
crashes, but emule is now suffering. As far as I know a router shouldn't be
affected by connections (it doesnt deal with them - it simply forwards
packets). The Stateful packet inspection on the router is turned off.
2) when copying files over the local network for an extended period.
E.g. coping a 1gb file from 1 computer to another.

..... these situations will normally result in a router crash about every 1
in 3 times.

I'd be interested to hear if any1 has experienced any problems with this
netgear model. I'm very close to buying a new router and posting this unit
back to netgear in little peices, but before i do that I wanted to make sure
that I have tried everything possible to resolve the problem.

Any help greatly appreciated. I have included some further network info
below.

Thanks in advance.

MonkeyNo5.

---------------------------------
1 x AthlonXP2500+ | Via Rhine II fast ethernet controller. (Wired)
| WINXP SP2
1 x Athlon 1.4 | DLINK Airplus Xtreem G DWL-G520 Adapter (Wireless)
| WINXP SP2
1 x Intel P2 450 | DLINK Airplus Xtreem G DWL-G520 Adapter (Wireless)
| WINXP SP2
1 x Athlon 1.0 | 3Com NIC (Wired).
| WINXP SP2
1 X NETGEAR WGR614v2

The router is operating in B+G wireless mode. 64bit WEP enabled. All latest
drivers/firmware is installed. I have tried disconnecting 1 machine at a
time but the problems always continue. If the router is used in a very
limited capacity, e.g. only web browsing, then I get absolutely no problems.