Troubleshooting router

I was having problems reaching the Internet and traced it back to my
WiFi Router (an Apple Airport-- don't remember the name, but big one).
Not my cable modem. It was working one second on not the next. The name
for that router still shows up on my computer but nothing else. The
light on the router has been flashing yellow, but it has been like that
for almost a year and still worked (thus the reason I let it flash.. it
seemed content.) When it wasn't working the diagnostics said I was
getting getting to the ISP but the internet failed.
I plugged the ethernet directly into the computer and it eventually
worked, although I did have to turn the modem off multiple times before
it took.
Any suggestions?

--
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative,
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz

On Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:37:30 -0500, Kurt Ullman <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I was having problems reaching the Internet and traced it back to my
>WiFi Router (an Apple Airport-- don't remember the name, but big one).
>Not my cable modem. It was working one second on not the next. The name
>for that router still shows up on my computer but nothing else. The
>light on the router has been flashing yellow, but it has been like that
>for almost a year and still worked (thus the reason I let it flash.. it
>seemed content.) When it wasn't working the diagnostics said I was
>getting getting to the ISP but the internet failed.
> I plugged the ethernet directly into the computer and it eventually
>worked, although I did have to turn the modem off multiple times before
>it took.
> Any suggestions?

Power supply failure due to bulging caps. I'm guessing you have the
white or gray Apple airport that looks like a conical mushroom. I
have 3 of those in a box with similar symptoms. The only difference
is that the light was flashing for only a few days before it started
acting weird.
<http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/Repair/index.html>

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

On 11/28/2011 9:35 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:37:30 -0500, Kurt Ullman<(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> I was having problems reaching the Internet and traced it back to my
>> WiFi Router (an Apple Airport-- don't remember the name, but big one).
>> Not my cable modem. It was working one second on not the next. The name
>> for that router still shows up on my computer but nothing else. The
>> light on the router has been flashing yellow, but it has been like that
>> for almost a year and still worked (thus the reason I let it flash.. it
>> seemed content.) When it wasn't working the diagnostics said I was
>> getting getting to the ISP but the internet failed.
>> I plugged the ethernet directly into the computer and it eventually
>> worked, although I did have to turn the modem off multiple times before
>> it took.
>> Any suggestions?
>
> Power supply failure due to bulging caps. I'm guessing you have the
> white or gray Apple airport that looks like a conical mushroom. I
> have 3 of those in a box with similar symptoms. The only difference
> is that the light was flashing for only a few days before it started
> acting weird.
> <http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/Repair/index.html>
>
Leo Laporte, a real fanboi, says to avoid those Apple routers. They are
nothing but trouble, even when the do work.

Routers should be religion free, er makes that OS independent. So the
notion that anyone needs an Apple router is at best silly.

Wall-Wart are made by the bottom of the food chain in China. It's really
sad because they are critical to performance (Doh!). Netgear has
especially crappy wal wart suppliers.

I predicted doom and gloom when wall warts went to offline switchers
rather than poorly regulated linear supplies, but I was totally wrong. I
haven't had a cheap ass Chinese switcher wall wart fail. Some of these
are sure noisy as far as RF emissions go.

On Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:53:59 -0800, miso <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Leo Laporte, a real fanboi, says to avoid those Apple routers. They are
>nothing but trouble, even when the do work.

I have to agree. Made by Lucent with considerable "inovation"
inspired by Apple insisting on a very low price point. My experience
with them at customers has been dismal. The later model Airports are
better, but far from perfect.

>Routers should be religion free, er makes that OS independent. So the
>notion that anyone needs an Apple router is at best silly.

Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery:
<http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wirelessrouters/high-performance/WNDRMAC.aspx>

>Wall-Wart are made by the bottom of the food chain in China. It's really
>sad because they are critical to performance (Doh!). Netgear has
>especially crappy wal wart suppliers.

Yes but easily fixed (with a hammer and soldering iron):
<http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/repair/slides/Netgear%20DSA-12R-12.html>

>I predicted doom and gloom when wall warts went to offline switchers
>rather than poorly regulated linear supplies, but I was totally wrong. I
>haven't had a cheap ass Chinese switcher wall wart fail. Some of these
>are sure noisy as far as RF emissions go.

Agreed. I have to unplug all my switchers when on HF.
I've had plenty of switchers fail. However, it's usually not the
electronics. It's the crappy cords and fragile connectors.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

On 11/28/2011 10:27 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:53:59 -0800, miso<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Leo Laporte, a real fanboi, says to avoid those Apple routers. They are
>> nothing but trouble, even when the do work.
>
> I have to agree. Made by Lucent with considerable "inovation"
> inspired by Apple insisting on a very low price point. My experience
> with them at customers has been dismal. The later model Airports are
> better, but far from perfect.
>
>> Routers should be religion free, er makes that OS independent. So the
>> notion that anyone needs an Apple router is at best silly.
>
> Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery:
> <http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wirelessrouters/high-performance/WNDRMAC.aspx>
>
>> Wall-Wart are made by the bottom of the food chain in China. It's really
>> sad because they are critical to performance (Doh!). Netgear has
>> especially crappy wal wart suppliers.
>
> Yes but easily fixed (with a hammer and soldering iron):
> <http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/repair/slides/Netgear%20DSA-12R-12.html>
>
>> I predicted doom and gloom when wall warts went to offline switchers
>> rather than poorly regulated linear supplies, but I was totally wrong. I
>> haven't had a cheap ass Chinese switcher wall wart fail. Some of these
>> are sure noisy as far as RF emissions go.
>
> Agreed. I have to unplug all my switchers when on HF.
> I've had plenty of switchers fail. However, it's usually not the
> electronics. It's the crappy cords and fragile connectors.
>
I have a few switching warts that scream RF. I found some switchers at a
local surplus shop labeled Proton SPR-218F-05. I bought one on a lark
and it was much quieter, so I wiped the shop out the next time I was
there. [$4] It has quite a few specs on the back, but as we've learned,
stuff out of Asia has all sorts of marking without the certificates to
back them up. Level 3 LR99922, ite 1Z49 level 3, ul e143742 (nothing
turns up relevant in google)

> http://azsurplus.com/index.php?main_...oducts_id=2562

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:37:30 -0500, Kurt Ullman <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>

>
> Power supply failure due to bulging caps. I'm guessing you have the
> white or gray Apple airport that looks like a conical mushroom. I
> have 3 of those in a box with similar symptoms. The only difference
> is that the light was flashing for only a few days before it started
> acting weird.
> <http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/Repair/index.html>


This is the one that is beige-ish and shaped more like a rounded off
pizza box. It doesn't look like the one on the web page.

--
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative,
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


>
> Power supply failure due to bulging caps. I'm guessing you have the
> white or gray Apple airport that looks like a conical mushroom. I
> have 3 of those in a box with similar symptoms. The only difference
> is that the light was flashing for only a few days before it started
> acting weird.
> <http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/Repair/index.html>

I'm wondering if this could be cable failure. While I don't see any
frank fraying, there is a gap between the end of the plug and the start
of the blue coating on the wire. Also I get the same problem when I plug
in my other Airport (the smaller one that looks like a cigarette pack on
steroids).

--
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative,
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz

On Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:32:15 -0500, Kurt Ullman wrote:

> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>>
>> Power supply failure due to bulging caps. I'm guessing you have the
>> white or gray Apple airport that looks like a conical mushroom. I
>> have 3 of those in a box with similar symptoms. The only difference
>> is that the light was flashing for only a few days before it started
>> acting weird.
>> <http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/Repair/index.html>
>
> I'm wondering if this could be cable failure. While I don't see any
> frank fraying, there is a gap between the end of the plug and the start
> of the blue coating on the wire. Also I get the same problem when I plug
> in my other Airport (the smaller one that looks like a cigarette pack on
> steroids).

MOre than likely, and a cable substitute is the first step in
trouble shooting.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Irwell <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:32:15 -0500, Kurt Ullman wrote:
>
> > In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> > Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Power supply failure due to bulging caps. I'm guessing you have the
> >> white or gray Apple airport that looks like a conical mushroom. I
> >> have 3 of those in a box with similar symptoms. The only difference
> >> is that the light was flashing for only a few days before it started
> >> acting weird.
> >> <http://www.vonwentzel.net/ABS/Repair/index.html>
> >
> > I'm wondering if this could be cable failure. While I don't see any
> > frank fraying, there is a gap between the end of the plug and the start
> > of the blue coating on the wire. Also I get the same problem when I plug
> > in my other Airport (the smaller one that looks like a cigarette pack on
> > steroids).
>
> MOre than likely, and a cable substitute is the first step in
> trouble shooting.

Especially since I just got done swapping out my big router for the
little one I travel with occassionally with the same outcome.

--
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative,
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz

On Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:32:15 -0500, Kurt Ullman <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I'm wondering if this could be cable failure. While I don't see any
>frank fraying, there is a gap between the end of the plug and the start
>of the blue coating on the wire. Also I get the same problem when I plug
>in my other Airport (the smaller one that looks like a cigarette pack on
>steroids).

The small one is the Airport Express. The cable you're looking at is
the ethernet cable. The gap between the connector and the outer
jacket is not important since it carries no signals. As long as the
wires at the ends of the ethernet cable are intact and making a
connection, it should work.

However, as I vaguely recall (and can't check until I get to my
palatial office today), the flashing yellow light on the Apple
Mushroom wireless router means that the ethernet cable is wired wrong
or backwards. You might check your ethernet cables and where they are
connected.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558