Lifespan of a wireless router

[TXHookem]

I have a Linksys router that is probably about 2 years old. I connect to it using a Netgear card, as does my wife. I get the feeling that the router isn't quite as effective as it used to be as the signals sometimes seem a bit weak. Do wireless routers have a certain lifespan? Is there something I can do to get it back up to speed?

 

[KMcCoy33]

The D-Link router I have now has a 5-year warranty. The couple of Linksys ones I had before had 1-year warranties, but that has been awhile so they may be longer now. The best thing to do if you feel like something isn't up-to-par is to go out and download the latest firmware for the router. If you are upgrading your firmware, be sure to do it with your computer plugged into the router cause if it losing wireless signal during the process, it could mess your router up for good. If you update the router firmware and you still feel like it isn't working as well as you think it should be, you may try updating any drivers or firmware on your wireless cards. Router firmware updates are pretty common, and usually are available well into the life of the router. Card updates are less common after the card has been out for awhile. If you have a linksys router, finding the firmware downloads can be a little difficult from their website. This link will take you to where you need to go: Linksys Download. The Netgear site is pretty easy to find what you need.

 

[HornBred]

Do I understand correctly that your wife and you use two different cards, therefore you are reasonably certain that the problem is the router?

 

[TXHookem]

I'll have to go check out their web page when I'm back at home to update the firmware.

HornBred - not sure I understand your question. The issue seems to be the case whether one laptop is on or two.

 

[KMcCoy33]

I think he was asking if it is a problem you have with the connection on both computers, meaning that you have pretty much isolated the problem as being with the router rather than your wireless cards, which I thought was the case in your first post since you said the router isn't as effective as it once was.