The connection may become unstable after some time.
The connection may become unstable after some time.
Hi fellow gamers, I've been having this issue where my network slows down after a few days and I'm looking for some ideas to fix it, here's a rundown of my issue. My network goes like this -> Main Modem > 2nd Router > 3rd Router , my PC is connected to the third one and whenever I restart mostly the 2nd one, I get full network bandwidth, after a day or two, the bandwidth drops to 2mb/s or lower except if I restart it, any ideas?
It might be easier to replace the second and third routers with network switches. This makes sense if the modem functions as a router too. Why would you link routers this way? Such setups are usually not recommended.
They function mainly as a WiFi network. The modem is located downstairs near the kitchen, another is in the upstairs parents' bedroom and living room, and the third serves as the PC for my bedroom and the brothers'. Everything is connected via wired Ethernet cables through the wall with a central hub cable.
Are you operating in Access Point mode (or at least without DHCP enabled) and connected via their LAN ports, not WAN ports? If using WAN ports, you may encounter problems.
Due to having three routers in routing mode (such as setting them up as bridges instead of just using their switch functions), you're likely creating a high volume of NAT traffic. It's probable that most, if not all, of these devices are ISP-provided units that often fail to clear NAT tables correctly or lack sufficient memory to manage large NAT entries. Ensure you're only using them as APs or switches—meaning you're just utilizing LAN ports and not WAN ports, as Alex mentioned. Additionally, if you handle a lot of traffic, set up port-forwards for services like Xbox, PlayStation, game servers, voice apps, etc., to keep your NAT more transparent. This helps reduce the strain on your router. Also, avoid applications that could be limiting your download speed, such as torrent seeding. In many routers, you can view the current load of connected clients to assess utilization and identify potential bottlenecks. If you notice slowness, check network connections on individual computers to pinpoint the issue. On DSL connections, a faulty port might be the cause—consult your ISP if needed, but usually you should focus on optimizing your setup.