A Different "Router drops connection" Problem

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

The problem: the router randomly (and always) stops doing its job
after a few minutes. It's not a site drop per se. It stays connected
but stops doing whatever job is in progress. The fault will happen
anywhere from two minutes connected to as much as six. If a file
transfer is in progress, up or down, the transfer stops. If it's an
internet radio station, it goes silent.

I can resume the transfer or listening to the station by loading a 2nd
browser and connecting to any random web site. The first browser then
resumes the transfer or the broadcast for another few minutes, then
quits again. I can do this over and over. Send the 2nd browser to
another random site, and the first browser resumes the job.

Using this 2rd browser workaround I can transfer any size file, but no
more than 2 to 8 mb at a time. (The resume is flawless...the received
packets are fine. )

The fault seems to be in the router because if the router is removed
from the network and the PC is wired direct to the DSL modem, this
problem never occurs.

We ran many tests. It never fails. It randomly and inevitably stops
the job WITH the router - NEVER stops it when wired direct to the
modem. This is the same with both the PCs on this network, wired and
wifi, all the time 24/7, so it's not the PCs or ethernet cards
involved, not interfering telephones or microwave ovens, not anything
that solved anyone else's problem that I can find.

This router is my brand new 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11b Cable/DSL
Gateway (3CRWE53172.) The modem is the ISP's re-manufactured Paradyne
Reach DSL Modem 6350-A4. The DSL service is Ntelos (which does not
require PPPoE.) The installation is a house in a residential
neighborhood with large yards.

I've discussed this with the excellent tech support at Ntelos and none
of their other customers have this problem.

Earl, a 3Com tech, sent me a file transfer analysis pgm which created
4-mb packets tracing the transfer. It's been two weeks since I sent
the packets to 3Com, and 7 days since I sent a polite reminder. Earl
said he'd get to it but it's been a week. He's got more important
customers. C'est la vie.

So what is the most reasonable assumption:
This is a router with a bug that should be exchanged?
There is an undocumented incompatibility between these 3Com and
Paradyne models?
I am cursed?

Any help appreciated.
Rey Barry
Virginia