shelf life on cheap wireless routers?

You'll know when you can't communicate over a reasonable range. The right question is how do you test for RF problems.

1. Substitution. Find a known working wireless router or client radio and do some testing. For example, if your laptop radio seems sick, then take it to a known working wireless router (i.e. coffee shop hot spot) and do some testing. If your wireless router seems sick, have a friend with a known working laptop test it for you.
2. Use Netstumbler on a 2nd laptop to disclose the measured S/N ratio and signal strength numbers. High noise levels usually means interference.
3. An expensive pile of test equipment. TX power is easy using a dummy load and spectrum analyzer. RX sensitivity is not so easy but doable with an 802.11b/g test source and precision attenuator. A sloppy way to test the receiver is have it scan for nearby access points and compare results with a known working radio.

Now that you've found this group, all me inform you of your indiscretion. You didn't bother mentioning the model number of your $35 Netgear whatever. If you're expecting sympathy, you've done the right thing. If you want technical help, kindly disclose what problem you are trying to solve and what hardware/software you have to work with.

"Crap out" is not terribly descriptive.

Perhaps a diaper or enema would be helpful.

Reliable, fast, cheap. Pick two. This week, I'm partial to Linksys WRT54G with Sveasoft Alchemy replacement firmware. About $70 before rebates. I've also had fairly good luck with Netgear WGR614, although the radio range is not quite as good as some others. About $50 before rebates.

Well, I kinda tried that with the two units that work some of the time

I've heard tell of a magic device called an "Air Magnet" although I do not know *how* magical

If you want a good cry, call ME. (number not given on purpose)

The NetGear is a MR814v2 The Belkin is an FSD6231-4

To address what I might call a signal to noise ration, according to my machine running XP Pro, the Netgear provides less noise but similarly strong signal strength. Additionally, the XP Pro machne is close enough to plug in via patch cable, which *always* works.

Did I hear a birdie? cheep-cheep

Thanks for the notes, my lonsman brother.

Peace out.

Nevermind, I saw the snapshots.

(sorry for all the typos, my machine should have picked that up!)

Air Magnet isn't exactly in the right cost bracket though to test a $35 router/ap.

You might just as well go and buy a whole load more and have a shelf full of standby boxes for the price of Air Magnet.

David.