Hardly a user error. These firmwares were released on 1/30/2013 and 3/22/2013. So If you are using any firmware over a year, you are using the stable one, which users had to flash back as these new ones have wifi drop outs. Apparently more users experienced these drop outs, as you can see from replies in this thread.

Just bought this router, and after running 3 days fine, it then started dying on me.

Setup: Static IP, pass25/25 Mbit cable connection, 5 wireless units connected, 2 wired units connected directly to the router.
Symptoms: After running some hours, the Web interface becomes not available, and there is no internet being served for the wireless connection, even though it is active. Computers attached to the ethernet ports on the router, still has internet, but can't see the web interface either.
Solution: Pull out the power wire, and put it back in. This only lasts ~12 hours, and the router has random internet dropouts lasting some seconds each time.

I was once able to remedy the lack of internet on the wireless by doing a trace route to my routers external IP. Didn't work the second time though. No idea why it worked the first time?

I've tried running the TL-WR1042ND_V1_130117 and TL-WR1042ND_V1_120618 firmwares, which didn't help anything. Also tried resetting to factory settings, without that doing anything. As per user hippouss suggestion above, I've now downgraded to TL-WR842ND_V1_120424, and will report back if that helps.

Edit: Yup, that didn't help. For some reason it ran fine for 2 days, instead of the usual 8 hours, but then it died again, and went back to its usual state. I also tried activating the anti DOS flooding settings, as that has been suggested in another thread, but that didn't help either. This router is going back, what a lousy product.

Same problem. Every 48 hours everything slows down. WiFi, wired connection. Not just internet. All traffic handled by router slows down. Reboot wr842 and MAGIC!!!. Everything works fine again!!! People from TP-LINK..¿when will you fix this obvious fail in this product?

Just a short update: I've noticed that the router dies when there's a lot of activity going on, ie. many torrents for instance.

In my case, everything slows down, but torrents keep running at full speed.

I had the same problem. Received the router with 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n installed and was up for a week. I decided to upgrade to the newest firmware and the webgui & wireless dropped after 2 days. Rebooted the router and everything came back online. I left it alone for another 2 days and it dropped wireless again. I have now reload 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n and I'm waiting to see if it becomes stable.

I had pretty much the same problem that has been reported here.
I received the router with an older firmware version ( I think it was 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n but I am not 100% sure).
I ran my current config on that firmware for about a week without issues.

I decided to upgrade the firmware to the newest (mainly because of the "security" fixes)
The router's web interface & wireless stopped after 2 days. A reboot fixed
2 days later it went down again.

I have reloaded firmware 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n and I am monitoring the uptime.

I hope for a firmware update soon!

UPDATE**. Since I went back to the 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n firmware the router has not frozen.

Running latest firmware since March and no problems what so ever. Bad router or user error return it.

The_Skippy wrote

I had pretty much the same problem that has been reported here.
I received the router with an older firmware version ( I think it was 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n but I am not 100% sure).
I ran my current config on that firmware for about a week without issues.

I decided to upgrade the firmware to the newest (mainly because of the "security" fixes)
The router's web interface & wireless stopped after 2 days. A reboot fixed
2 days later it went down again.

I have reloaded firmware 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n and I am monitoring the uptime.

I hope for a firmware update soon!

UPDATE**. Since I went back to the 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n firmware the router has not frozen.

UPDATE*** Since I rolled back to 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n firmware the router has not frozen. I have not had any problems. At this point I am convinced there is something wrong with the newer firmware.

The_Skippy wrote

UPDATE*** Since I rolled back to 3.12.22 Build 120424 Rel.39632n firmware the router has not frozen. I have not had any problems. At this point I am convinced there is something wrong with the newer firmware.

Yep, I can confirm that, 120424 is last stable build, new ones have 1-2 days drop outs.
Sad, there is no response from tech support guys.