Home router question

[GKern@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

We have a small network at home consisting of a broadband cable 
connection. We have a Win2003 Server that hosts our website and acts as a 
personal SFTP server and we also connect our laptops/desktops to the 
network - all are statically assigned ip addresses. (All are networked 
with a workgroup and dhcp is off on the server.) Tivo uses a dhcp assigned 
address and occasionally we have a laptop user that connects via a dhcp 
address too. Dhcp is managed by the router.

We've always used Linksys routers, starting with a wired BEFSR41 and now 
use a wired BEFSR81. We later got a WAP54G access wireless access point 
(wired to the BEFSR81) which our laptop/desktops use, but the server is 
still hardwired directly to the router.  We don't broadcast and we do use 
WPA encryption, so I'm pretty sure the neighbors aren't stealing 
bandwidth.

A few weeks ago the router got a bit flaky and as a result I attempted to 
upgrade the firmware - and that failed. Long story short was that after a 
day of being down we were assigned a new IP address by our ISP. And ever 
since that time our website has been experiencing connection time outs. 

Now to the heart of the matter: I'm curious as to whether the firmware 
which I finally upgraded has affected our bandwidth capability. The new 
firmware has what is called QOS and when that is enabled the website seems 
to perform like it did before the upgrade, but then when we connect to the 
office for telenet sessions, those connections seem to suffer. 

I read a review of the router and the tech specs indicate a 1 x WAN Port 
(10 BaseT Ethernet, RJ-45) and I wonder if that is limiting the web site, 
but that doesn't explain (to me) why the QOS would provide better service. 
(I'm not much of a network person so I'm learning as I go.)

So I'm beginning to wonder if I should investigate a better quality router 
for home. Any ideas for suggestions for an upgrade path that isn't 
terribly expensive?

Regards, Jerry

Gerald Kern - MIS Project Leader
Lotus Notes/Domino Administrator
IBM Certified RPG IV Developer
The Toledo Clinic, Inc.
4235 Secor Road
Toledo, OH 43623-4299
Phone 419-479-5535
gkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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