Home Network Issue

[Hypognosis]

This problem developed in the past week or two and I cannot identify the trigger.

Description
1. The network is running fine. An old PC; an iPhone; a Win7(HomePremium) Laptop
2. At end of day the PC and laptop are switched off
3. The iPhone is on overnight, (so as to run a sleep monitoring app).
4. The iPhone still has full internet function in the morning.
5. I boot the old PC (WinXP SP3). In (Netgear) router settings, IP .....0.2 is reserved for it.
6. Boot sequence takes about 5 minutes and towards the end of the sequence, the iPhone (reserved IP …0.4) suddenly loses internet connection.

The fastest fix, to date, is to reboot the router but sometimes I have to reboot six or seven times to get a connection at my tariff's proper speed.

So I am losing 30-45 minutes a day (plus stress and anger) to this problem and would appreciate some insight as to what is causing it. Ignorance just had me believing my connection has been 'knobbled'.

p.s. I use an additional router setting to specify devices permitted to access my connection, in the event that my ISP password has been compromised. No free rides on my connection ;-)

[Hypognosis]

Thanks methyl.

Router brand is mentioned, above.

All the devices are at home. The phone remains hooked up to the home network overnight and the glitch occurs when I boot the PC or laptop back up. (The laptop often fails to reestablish internet connection)

Fixed IP settings was an attempt to stop the phone/laptop poaching the IP of the old PC, which is, notionally, the master device.

[Hypognosis]

Forgot to clarify:

PC connects to router via ethernet cable (can work with a Belkin USB wireless dongle but cable is faster)
lappy and iPhone link to router over wireless.

[Hypognosis]

@Buenchico

I see you're up with the larks. Not sure if this is up your street?

[Buenchico]

Sorry, I think I'm lost here, Hypognosis (but I might take another look later).

(Larks? No way? Owls possibly - I've not been to bed yet!)

[Hypognosis]

Ditto. Have a good day's kip and see you this evening.

[Gromit]

Is your router the Netgear DNG1000 ? (It will be in small print on the underside of the box).

I had one and it had all the symptoms you describe. It was junk. I wasted hours trying to get it to work, but the model is faulty. On Amazon, most of the reviews are bad, and complain of similar problems that you are suffering.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Mine came from my ISP, Virgin. I emailed asking for a new router. They phoned me back and said they could only send out the same netgear model, which I definitely didn't want. A small threat that I would have to go to a new ISP and they offered to give me a £30 credit which I used buy a decent new AC model.