Can't access my router via the default gateway!

I’ve got a major headache with my router. I can't even get into the settings via the default gateway. Every time I punch the IP into my browser and hit enter, I just get "Can't connect," "Doesn't respond," or the damn thing just hangs on a loading screen forever. It won't open the home page for anything. I can get a temporary fix by resetting the router—or just pulling the power and plugging it back in—which lets me in for a minute, but after maybe 5 or 10 minutes, the exact same thing happens and it refuses to connect again.
It's a Billion router, though I honestly can't remember the specific model number.

Honestly, I’d just go ahead and swap out the router, because it looks like it's finally kicked the bucket.

shadowlynx102 said:Honestly, I’d just go ahead and swap out the router, because it looks like it's finally kicked the bucket.

Captain Obvious 😁
Easy for you to say... but I'd rather try fixing this damn thing first if there's any way to do it without buying new gear.

I think you might have shared a bit too much information there.

Could you walk me through how your IP settings are configured? Also, are you running a hardwired connection or are you strictly on Wi-Fi?

neonfox12 said:I think you might have shared a bit too much information there.

Could you walk me through how your IP settings are configured? Also, are you running a hardwired connection or are you strictly on Wi-Fi?

Just standard settings... I haven't messed with any static IPv4 stuff, so everything is set to automatic. The only thing I ever tweak is switching to Google DNS because it actually works faster.

And my router isn't even wireless. I'm running something like this:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._WRT54G_V1.jpg

So I just plug the router into the modem to get some Wi-Fi signal...

Bryan Fowler42 said:Just standard settings... I haven't messed with any static IPv4 stuff, so everything is set to automatic. The only thing I ever tweak is switching to Google DNS because it actually works faster.

And my router isn't even wireless. I'm running something like this:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._WRT54G_V1.jpg

So I just plug the router into the modem to get some Wi-Fi signal...

Oh, you're running a Linksys? Well, that explains everything...

Linksys hardware can be incredibly "stubborn" when it comes to stability. When you run into these kinds of headaches, the best move is usually just to swap it out for something else...

neonfox12 said:Oh, you're running a Linksys? Well, that explains everything...

Linksys hardware can be incredibly "stubborn" when it comes to stability. When you run into these kinds of headaches, the best move is usually just to swap it out for something else...

Does anyone know a brand that isn't such a pain in the neck without breaking the bank? A buddy gave me this one since he had an extra lying around.

Bryan Fowler42 said:Does anyone know a brand that isn't such a pain in the neck without breaking the bank? A buddy gave me this one since he had an extra lying around.

The reality is, those ultra-budget devices are almost practically designed to be temperamental. You might get lucky with one that stays stable for years, but honestly, promising that any cheap gear won't give you grief is a bit of a stretch.

Linksys gear can sometimes act a little stubborn when you're trying to reconfigure the settings. Have you tried performing a full factory reset yet?

I just hit the reset button on it a few times... honestly, I'm not even sure how to trigger a full factory reset, but I'll look into it.

Bryan Fowler42 said:I just hit the reset button on it a few times... honestly, I'm not even sure how to trigger a full factory reset, but I'll look into it.

The usual way—either by holding a paperclip in that tiny reset hole for a bit, or logging into the web interface and hunting for a button that says something like "Restore to Factory Defaults."

Just a heads-up before you pull the trigger: do a little digging first. A factory reset is going to wipe everything, which means your Linksys IP address will change, and your Wi-Fi and DHCP settings will go dark. You'll likely find yourself needing to plug directly into it with an Ethernet cable to get everything back up and running properly...

Linksys Cisco routers used to be some of the best gear you could buy—honestly top-tier. Their real edge was how easy they were to flash with custom firmware. So, before you go out and buy a new router, maybe try finding some new software and doing a quick update first.

http://www.howtogeek.com/189073/how-...might-want-to/

I’m running into this exact same headache with the TP-Link gear provided by Comcast. I’ve filed multiple service tickets, and even after finally badgering them enough to swap out my old unit for a brand-new router, the exact same problem persists—I just can't access the interface.
After I filed my complaint, they actually had the nerve to tell me that the router features built-in security protocols designed to prevent anyone from tampering with the settings if there’s ever a breach of the WLAN. Apparently, access is only granted for a brief window following a reboot, though they couldn't give me a straight answer on how long that window actually lasts...

George Sanders37 said:Linksys Cisco routers used to be some of the best gear you could buy—honestly top-tier. Their real edge was how easy they were to flash with custom firmware. So, before you go out and buy a new router, maybe try finding some new software and doing a quick update first.

http://www.howtogeek.com/189073/how-...might-want-to/

I can't say for certain if they were truly the "best," but I'll take your word for it since I haven't really been tinkering with them since back in 2008.

While playing around with firmware can definitely be worth a shot, in my experience, it rarely actually fixes the underlying hardware issues.

Joshua Garcia31 said:I’m running into this exact same headache with the TP-Link gear provided by Comcast. I’ve filed multiple service tickets, and even after finally badgering them enough to swap out my old unit for a brand-new router, the exact same problem persists—I just can't access the interface.
After I filed my complaint, they actually had the nerve to tell me that the router features built-in security protocols designed to prevent anyone from tampering with the settings if there’s ever a breach of the WLAN. Apparently, access is only granted for a brief window following a reboot, though they couldn't give me a straight answer on how long that window actually lasts...

Wait, what?

Are you absolutely sure that’s what they told you? That sounds completely nonsensical from a technical standpoint.
Have you double-checked your IP settings in the control panel? And did you make any manual changes to the TP-Link configuration itself?

Honestly, it makes zero sense to me either, but since I just got stuck with yet another new router after what feels like an eternity, and it’s presenting the exact same headache, I simply don't have the energy or the patience left to go hunting for more explanations.

The router settings are strictly factory default, and the connectivity issues persist whether I'm running on a static setup or a dynamic IP.
Is there anything else worth looking into at this point?

Joshua Garcia31 said:Honestly, it makes zero sense to me either, but since I just got stuck with yet another new router after what feels like an eternity, and it’s presenting the exact same headache, I simply don't have the energy or the patience left to go hunting for more explanations.

The router settings are strictly factory default, and the connectivity issues persist whether I'm running on a static setup or a dynamic IP.
Is there anything else worth looking into at this point?

Since the terminal equipment is monitored remotely, you can actually file a report stating that you’re unable to change your Wi-Fi password and demand that they handle the update for you. If the fault lies within the hardware itself, they'll see it on their end and should issue a work order to swap it out or reset it.

What else can you try? Well, plug in via Ethernet and call them out on their nonsense. I’ve never even heard of the specific security implementation they keep citing. Also, double-check that they haven't messed with the default gateway address (make sure it's something standard like 192.168.x.1). It has to be accessible, otherwise, you wouldn't have any connectivity at all...