Need assistance troubleshooting

Cable Modem: Motorola SB6121
Wireless Router: Linksys EA6700

Approximately two weeks ago my connection to the internet has started to pause. I get pauses that last for 5 to 20 seconds. There are times when I am on VOIP and I start to experience heavy packet loss. I lose connection with my web pages and really messes me up with online course work.

I have power cycled the modem, and router many times. inSSIDer Home to check my signal strength vs. outside signals. I noticed that my 2.4 GHZ channel will completely drop. I tried to change the channel to a less congested one (11) but my destop that has a USB wireless adapter would not pick up the channel so I changed that. Currently my 2.4 Ghz channel strength is fluctuating rapidly between -40 Db and -70Db. My router is approximately 12 to 14 feet away and passes through one wood-framed wall.

Can the router signal get weak over time? Do routers gradually go bad? Is it possible that the pause in the connection is caused by the modem? I suspect not based on the fluctuation in Stregnth and the 2.4 Ghz channel dropping.

I am thinking about purchasing an AC1900 wireless router but wanted to get opinions from those much more knowledgeable than I.

Before buying new hardware;

Always unplug all USB devices from the router and do a reboot before performing the following steps.

1) Make sure the latest firmware is installed. If a newer one is available, install it. Reset the router to factory defaults and manually and minimally set it up again to secure the router and connect to your ISP (I would also recommend using new ssid's).

1a) If you already have the latest firmware, reflash it and do a full factory reset as above.

You may want to repeat this step (it has helped a few with intermittent glitches) even if you flashed a newer firmware in 1) above. Yes, simply flash the same firmware twice in a row with a hard reboot (pull the power plug) in between.

2) Leave all network equipment powered off (pull the power plug from each) including the modem for at least half an hour.

3) Turn on the modem. Wait 5 minutes.

4) Turn on the router. Wait 5 minutes.

5) Turn on any switches and then any clients.

With any luck, the router should behave again for you.

But, yes, they do go bad over time (some faster than others) and if the issues continue, you will need to buy a new router in any event. But at least you'll know that you needed one if you tried the above steps properly. Hope this works.

Along with the tips that L&LD suggested above - check the AC Adapter for the Router - these are not the most robust things in the world, and they tend to go 'soft' over time - same with the SB6121, however in my experience, they tend to be better quality than what I've observed with consumer grade router/AP's...

I had already completed most of the steps except to reflash the the bios twice. The Bios was current also. I figured this was a good excuse to buy a new one so I got an ASUS AC1900 wireless router. Problems are solved. Works great now and I love the interface software that ASUS has vs. the Linksys.

I really wish I understood why the router started doing what it was dropping the 2.4 ghz connection. Electronics are digital, therefore it is all 1's and zeros. Either it works or doesn't. I'm sure that it may have something to do with the signal out since it is more analog in nature.

Does anyone one what the common point of failure is on routers where they begin to go bad? This is more curiosity for my part now.