[H] Router Lag/Connection Issue

[SpoR]

Ok this is a very complicated problem it seems. I've

been reading all sorts of articles and guides to fixing

problems with routers from anywhere between opening

ports, firewalls, NATs, TCP/UDP, packets, etc.

First off let me start off by giving my hardware info

(even the stuff that doesn't even apply here). I just

built my comp in August 2007:

Windows XP Pro SP2 (firewall & other bull**** disabled)
Seasonic s12-600 rt PSU
Antec 900 Case
Sapphire ATi x1950xt Video Card
Gigabyte p35 dsr3 Mobo
Intel C2d E6750
x2 OCZ gold ddr2 800 pc2 6400 RAM 1gb
Maxtor 200gb
Sony DVD/CD writer
Card Reader

Airlink101 MIMO XR PCI adapter Wireless G NIC

Belkin Wireless G Router
Model: F5D7230-4 54g Wireless Router
Version Info
Firmware Version
6.00.10
Boot Version
v1.04
Hardware
4.00.01

I set an encryption password (so the nieghborhood

couldn't steal my internets ) which is 128bit. The

signal strength is usually strong at like 70% or higher,

but sometimes It can drop really low or disconnect for a

second or two. I have no clue why it does this as

nothing else is using the internet afaik and I have no

other programs running/taking bandwidth up besides

whatever I'm using: Firefox, Starcraft, AIM, whatever.


Ok, now that I have that out of the way. Here is my

problems:

The wireless router is hooked up to Time Warner Cable

(Southern CA) ISP, which is hooked to the main computer

via ethernet. My computer is about 15 feet away in

another room and has the wireless NIC to recieve the

internet. Normally the internet works fine, and I'm very

good about keeping my computer clean and spyware/virus

free (My HJT log is only like 26 lines), I just did a

spyware scan with AVG and I plan to do a virus scan over

night after I post this (although I know its not the

issue). Maybe I should run some scandisk/defrag as well?

Anyways, as soon as I hooked up the whole setup I opened

the ports 6112-6119 TCP/UDP and a few other ports for

programs that I use inside the router (not on any

program or firewall on my computer). I soon realized

that upon a reset of the router it was dynamic IP

address and it would give me one of 3-4 IPs.

So the port forwarding works for games like Starcraft

and programs like Soulseek. The wierd thing thoguh for

Starcraft Broodwar is that even though the ports are

open I sometimes need to log off battle.net and

reconnect in order for me to be able to host a game.

Since this is a pretty simple little trick I discovered

I didn't really care because it never affected me in a

game, except for a few rare lag moments (which is common

for any user). http://portforward.com/ is a good site.

Now recently I reinstalled Warcraft 3 The Frozen Throne

(It uses the same ports as almost every other blzzard

game). The problem is that I cannot host a custom game,

or invite to AT (arranged team) game, and I have very

severe delay/lag in general as well as huge lag spikes.

The spikes are especially worse when its more than 1

player in the game besides me. I know this is not a

video/sound problem because single player runs perfect

(and I have my video options toned down). Also the

spikes seem to come the hardest when I'm in battles.

So, Like I said I have been googling fixes, guides, and

as much info as I can about routers, ports, and

networking in general to no avail.

I decided to just start changing stuff based on what

I've read. First, I tried to put my computer in the DMZ,

Then I tried switching to a static IP, Updating

firmware, Then I tried changing the firewall and

security settings to 'disabled' which for some reason

would not disable because everytime I would log back

into the router it says it was enabled. Eventually I

disabled the NAT and it told me to go to some IP after

reboot of router which I can not log into.

So now the other problem now is my default gateway

changed from 192.168.2.1 to 192.168.1.1. The 2.1 page

comes up blank and gives and error. The 1.1 comes up

blank page gives a popup with little keys icon for

name/pass. Now I tried my password for my router (but

there is no username) and I tried some of the default

name/pass from here:

http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html . They didn't

work either. I tried some other generic stuff like

leaving it blank, leaving 1 blank, etc. It won't let me

log in. It also changed my IP.

Now the internet also seems to be lagging really badly

for an hour or so but seems to be back to top speed

again now. wtf?



So to summarize this heap of text:

My ports are open, I have no firewall, my router is gay,

my internet lags, games don't connect and/or lag, and I

can't get into my router anymore.



Did I screw up my router? Any help would be

apprieciated. Thanks for reading.


PS- I didn't know if I should post this Here or in the game forum. So I did both.
PPS- I wrote this all in Notepad and it seemed to double space everything, sorry.

 

[Tmagic650]

This post is way too long... Do you always have trouble getting to the point? What firewall are you using?

 

[SpoR]

Well, the post seems long because the way the formatting got screwed up. Its really only like 4 paragraphs. I am just trying to be exacting and detailed so there is no confusion about the problems.

And if you read the first part and last part of the post.... I said I do not have a firewall.

 

[DelJo63]

First, hosting ANYTHING for public use requires a static IP address from your ISP
or some service like DynDNS.org. Otherwise, your users can never rely upon your
dynamic IP address.

Second, verify your End-User-License-Agreement with TWC; it says specifically that
hosting is forbidden. CAVEAT EMPTOR.

Given all that, you then port-forward from your router to the LAN address of the
system hosting the service; Once again, you need a static address or the port forward
goes into the bit-bucket or worse -- the wrong system.
You can force your LAN addresses to be predictable by mapping the MAC address
to a specific IP address.

IMO; you're very foolish to NOT run a firewall. You will get bit somewhere down the line.

 

[SpoR]

Just wanted to finish the thread off by saying what I did allowed me to play war3 95% lag free, I still can't host though. The only problem is I can't access my router (until I reset it probably).

PS- Why would I need a firewall when my router has one built it? Now that I disabled the NAT, maybe I need a firewall. Otherwise its redundant.

Besides, the few times my computer actually did get totally ****ed over was even while my computer had firewalls and virus scanners. Its really only the rare new crazy exploits that can get to me as I have disabled most active X and use no windows programs except windows media player 9.

 

[DelJo63]

if you've disabled NAT, then the router is now just a switch.
this means your system can be attacked from the public Internet.
Almost everyone will tell you this is a very bad choice!
Yea sure, you got what you wanted but at a big cost and only because you
didn't get the router working correctly. If you're willing to keep this solution,
roll the dice and forget the firewall too -- heck, no one every gets infected anyway do they ( big satire there fella ).

lots of luck.

 

[Tmagic650]

Yes Jobeard,
even with NAT enabled there are many other ports open to attack. It's also very funny just how many people feel that expired or turned off antivirus/anti spyware programs still protect them