Linksys BEFSR41 Ver3, WinXP connection problem

[autotran]

I am using AOL DSL thru Verizon. I have a Linksys BEFSR41 Ver3 router and it feeds my two computers. One computer is running Win98SE (AOL8) and the other runs WinXP Home (AOL9). I lose my connection on the WinXP on a regular basis, sometimes in a minute or less and up to a maximum connect time of about nine hours. (I have downloaded aprox. a 50MB file without losing the connection). The actual connected length of time might be because of what I am actually doing at the time, writing/sending AOL e-mail is notorious for losing the connection. The only way I can get my connection back is to reboot my computer, I have not found any other way yet. At the same time I lose my WinXP connection I do not lose my connection to the Win98SE computer. So, recycling the router appears not to be the answer. When I had the previous BESFR41 Ver2 router, I rarely lost my connection. It appears that the problem is with the Ver3 router and WinXP. Any suggestions of things that I should be looking for?

[glc]

Make sure that you have MTU enabled in the router, and set to 1400.

The proper way to use AOL DSL with a router is establish a dedicated screen name for the router login, not by using the AOL software. You do not need to use the AOL software at *all*, you can use www.aol.com and log in to get your mail.

[autotran]

GLC, you are correct, with the Ver3 router I am connected to the Internet all the time without logging on to AOL (it wasn't true with the Ver2 though). I log on with the router using one of my seven screen names and password. The MTU is set at 1400 in the router as per AOL recomendations. (Linksys gave me a bunch of other MTU's to try, none worked any better). If I don't use my AOL Home Network and go on direct via AOL to my DSL line it works fine. It only loses the connection using my router and my WinXP computer. Dave

[autotran]

GLC, on my WinXP computer I was using the ethernet connection (1394 Net Adapter) which is built into my AOpen AX4SPE Max motherboard. I disabled this adapter and installed a "Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC" adapter which I had on hand. As of this instant (over four hours connected) I haven't lost my connection yet no matter what I have done or do. So, it appears to have been a hardware problem which was hard to pinpoint as the adapter appeared to work find with a direct connection to DSL but wouldn't work connected to the router. Dave

[glc]

The 1394 Net Adapter is not an Ethernet adapter, that's Firewire. The Realtek is your onboard Ethernet adapter. I'm amazed it worked at all the way you had it set up.

[autotran]

GLC, my mistake, I actually disabled my built in "Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet" adapter which my router had been plugged into and at the same time I had disabled the "1394 Net Adapter". I wasn't thinking right when I pasted in "1394 Net Adapter". Since then I have downloaded and installed an updated BIOS for my motherboard. I will try my original adapter again when I get a chance. Dave

[glc]

That makes more sense. If the Realtek card you put in works, I'd be inclined to leave it alone - the old "if it ain't broke don't fix it" thing.