I have exactly the same problem with no improvement having followed
Netgear support's recommendation to upgarde to the latest firware.


gavin.winters@mbl.co.uk wrote:
> I am currently using BT broadband and have a Netgear DG834PN router. I
> am experiencing problems during different times of the day where I can
> not view, web pages or lose my VPN connection to work, or lose
> connection while playing games online.
>
> I have two computers wired and one laptop which is wireless. All
> experience this problem.
>
> The light at the front of the router indicating that there is line
> activity is green and the connection status page says I am connected,
> and all seems to be normal, except for the fact that no traffic,
> regardless of which port it is going through, can get out.
>
> I don't actually receive any messages, like page not found when
> browsing, the browser just keeps searching for the page.
>
> If I reboot the router, the problem goes away, then later on, maybe
> half a day, it happens again.
>
> This problem doesn't just occur while accessing something outside my
> network. As sometimes I boot up a computer and try to browse, and the
> problem is there.
>
> I have contacted Netgear, they have suggested trying to upgrade the
> firmware, try different filter and/or phone socket. None of which
> resolves this issue.
>
> Any one else experiencing this problem or now of a way of fixing it?