To "power cycle" a machine (any machine) is to turn it off (power down) and turn it back on again.
As to your problem, I'm stumped. If it were just happening wireless, I'd recommend trying a different channel, changing your encryption type or relocating your router to a better area (up high and central in your house is usually best). But the ethernet issue has me stumped. I'm not sure if the Mini has a gigabit ethernet port like other Macs, but my guess is that the Belkin doesn't like autonegociation with Gigabit Ethernet. Are you using a really long cable?
Ahh. Well, I 'power cycle' the router multiple times a day then.
My machine is a G4 mini. 1.42Ghz. I'm admittedly a bit ignorant to some aspects of its specs. All I know is the ethernet is listed as "Built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)"
The cables I was using are 3' long. I tried 2 separate ones. I have 2 phone jacks in my apartment (DSL service). One is right next to my computer desk in the bedroom, where the DSL modem/router were plugged into until yesterday. I then moved the Modem/router into the kitchen where the other jack is and just used the Mini via airport. I'm getting the same results in both situations (two different 3' cables or airport access, 2 different phone jacks). My PC functions fine with the router in either location. Only the mini kicks the router off.
I had a similar problem when I switched to a Mac, also with a Belkin wireless router. My PC was getting a signal but my Mac would drop it intermittently. I changed channels, encryption, etc. all without effect.
Bought an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station and haven't dropped a signal since.
"clue"
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, the only real reason why I use the wireless router is because I have a Sony PSP that I mess around with pretty often. I don't have a laptop, so it's real convenient to use when I don't want to sit down at the desk. I also like having the PC online as well. I was thinking about getting an Airport express unit. But this router is been so good to me, it would be great to get this sorted out so i'm not forced to buy something else.
One quick question, is this an Intel Core Duo Mini? Also what version of OSX you running? Is it the latest 10.4.9 or a bit older? Reason I ask is some have claimed to have issues since the 10.4.9 update but that only effected the Wireless and not the wired.
I have a Core Duo mini, G4 Mini. Neither have ever once dropped a wired connection. Never and same with all my Macs. That is the part that has me stumped, WiFi has issues from time to time, but Wired should not have problems as long as it works. I am using Linksys WRT-54G's here. 2 of them. I have tried also my spare Netgear 108Mhz and same, solid 24 a day. The strange thing to me is that your PC's work. I take it your PC's are hooked up Wired also? When you say Drop Connection, do you mean connection to the internet? Do you still have a valid IP address on the Mac when this happens?
The only wired issues I have EVERY had with any computer and router is one old CompUSA router who's ports were very picky and would not even light the light with one PC no matter what I did. Also are your cables Straight through? Not crossover cables? Not trying to insult you at all, just trying to get to the bottom of this so you can enjoy your Mini. My mini has been 100% for a year now and I use it on my network 24 a day.
Forgot to mention this, I have had issues with some Belkin routers and some NIC cards in the past. Subbing another brand router solved the wired problem. That PROBLEM CompUSA router I had at one time was made by belkin. Never had more issues with a router than with that one.
It's a G4 mini, 1.42GHz. It's updated to 10.4.9. I've only had the machine for a little over a week and I updated it pretty much right when I set it up. However, my girlfriend also has a G4 mini, and that machine was here before I updated her to 10.4.9. Her's was running 10.4.8 and had the same exact problem with my router.
I have one PC, which isn't wireless capable. I've been using it with this Belkin router for a little shy of 2 years, and it dropped on me only once with the PC. With the Mac, what will happen is i'll just get a sudden drop in the connection. The "wireless" and "internet" lights will go out and the only way to regain functionality is to pull the plug and power it back up again. The DSL modem stays fine through this. The same thing happens whether the Mini is connected via Airport or wired.
And actually, this gets weirder even...
I didn't actually purchase the router. A friend of mine bought it and decided he didn't want it a few days later. He said it was constantly dropping the connection on him (but it was brand new of course). I wasn't reminded of this until I talked to him, it was a while back. But I took it here, set it up, and never had an issue until now. His computer is....you guessed it...a Macbook pro.
Seems like it just doesn't like Macs for some reason. 3 separate Macs have issues with it, and my PC never fails to work properly.
-Nick