Netgear Internet Access Blocked - Is it O2

[Mike8]

This is a strange problem that happens with Netgear, and I have tried two separate routers, DG834PN and DG834Gv5. The following occurs and will spook the router regardless of what computer I access though or indeed my HTC Android.

Usually once a day or every other day I get a yellow exclamation mark on my computer icon in windows 7 no internet access. When this happens this is blocked by any device I can connect to the router by. BUT with the fault showing, accessing the router interface the broadband is connected, IP address is shown, DNS, gateway etc. All lights on router green. Have also changed to Open DNS. Netgear forum cannot help. The question I am asking this forum is, does 02 transmit to everyone updates for their own routers periodically and if they do will this affect makes other than the O2 box. Also when fault condition is present, I can still access everything on LAN side. The solution to the problem is to reboot the router!

Has anyone else using netgear experienced this.

And I am using O2 premium product ADSL2+ and have never had a disconnection.
Typically sync is 16,800/1,100 at 7db.

Mike

IT is my field and I have tried all the usual things.

[Saturday]

Yes, O2 periodically sends out updates for its own routers but these can't/won't affect non O2 routers.

I've been using my old Sky Netgear router with O2 for a couple of years and never had a problem. Assuming it's not a wireless issue (you don't say how you're connected), all I can think of is it could be a firmware issue. Is it up to date? If not then try flashing to the latest version.

[Mike8]

Hi Saturday, I am wired and have tried two separate netgear routers, both with current firmware. Its certainly foxed me.

[Mike8]

This seemed to be some sort of instability in the DG835Gv5, and also the need to put Open DNS primary and secondary addresses in the router which helped. Allowing just O2 to dynamically assign one O2 DNS was inadequate.

[Mike8]

Be interesting to see if anyone else has this problem. I had this with two separate Netgears, DG834PN and DG834Gv5. (But not strangely with a DG834Gv3.

This is possibly not Netgear but problems with DNS refresh when automatically renewing the lease. (See Netgear first page, connections button). This problem exists whether you have highlighted the radio button Obtain DNS from ISP, or you put fixed DNS addresses in the other boxes e.g. Open DNS. When Obtaining from O2, O2 only issues one DNS. Typically access to the Internet (not LAN) is blocked and you get a yellow exclamation mark in your computer icon in Win7 - but when blocked it is blocked for all users.

The DNS is not comming in on lease renew. To solve, not need to reboot router, but release and renew lease a few times, and play around like that. It then comes in and works OK. (Al connections are wired.)

Question: Is this a typical problem with O2, I have been with them for years but this has only occurred over say the last 6 months. And my 'sticky' IP address has remained the same.

Question: (Saturday??), if I changed my WAN MAC address (a legitimate one from another router - I tend to spoof to keep same IP), I am assuming this will force an IP change - AND if so it might also change the gateway IP address. Perhaps its a bad gateway.

Anyway be interesting to know whether anyone else has experienced this.

[Saturday]

Originally Posted by Mike8

Question: (Saturday??), if I changed my WAN MAC address (a legitimate one from another router - I tend to spoof to keep same IP), I am assuming this will force an IP change - AND if so it might also change the gateway IP address. Perhaps its a bad gateway.

Yes, changing your MAC address will usually bring about a change of IP and gateway. Worth a try and seeing if that improves things?