D-Link DIR-655 as access point, no longer functioning!

[STRyKR]

For a couple of years now, I've been using my old DIR-655 wireless router as an access point in the basement. I get seemless expansion of my wireless network, plus a expansion of wired connections to 2 PC and a server downstairs.

 

A week or two ago, I lost internet access on the basement PCs. After a bit of troubleshooting, it was clear the D-Link DIR-655 was 'missing' from the network and and causing the connection issues. I also lost the connection to the server from upstairs PCs. However I can still access the server via the DIR-655 from PCs that are in the basement and wired directly.

 

I'm not much for networking, but there are a number of tutorials online that helped me get this set up. They vary slightly, but basically DHCP is disabled, a static unused IP address is assigned and WISH, WPS, port forwarding etc are disabled so they can be handled by the main router.

 

In order to administer the router (connect) I had to use the hard reset. (Tried unplugging, with no change)

I have a backup of the configuration file from when this was all working prior. When i load it it seems to be configured correctly initially, in that the password, static IP and all settings are reset. However, within about 1 minute (just enough time to check settings) the browser disconnects and I'm unable to reconnect using default or updated IP address?

 

I've tried to reset the router, then reconfigure from scratch with no luck as well. As above, with only 1 PC plugged in to LAN port after setting up configuration, within about 1 minute of finalizing the configuration I lose the ability to administer the router, and nothing seems to work again...!?

 

any ideas?!?

 

If not, i'd be willing to purchase a dedicated access point > please share recommendations. Needs to function as wireless access point with 3+ ports for extended wired access as well.

 

 

[Mew]

I had the router a couple years ago and one day out of the blue it stopped working and pretty much turned into a switch. No amount of resetting did anything and I couldn't access the router settings page. So I tossed it and got an Asus rt-n53 that I used for a little over a year because it was also as unstable as the dlink with daily disconnections/router rebooting. I finally settled on my current router that has been rock solid and has never rebooted or shutdown unless I changed settings or if there was a power outage.