Broadband (Wireless) Routers

[KickChick]

ARGH!!!

Spent most of the weekend trying to install a wireless -G broadband router via quick installation no less!

I have a cable modem in which home pc accesses. Router would be connected so as my lap top (wireless) can access the cable.

For whatever reason this is not a quick installation ... I am feeling very stupid!

It must have something to do with TCP/IP connection .....
I am not looking for answers on how to install as I am sure that would be very difficult for someone to explain to me...

I am waiting for tech support to answer my emails... I was also on phone for nearly 2 hours yesterday and they never answered!

I may have to just get someone to do this for me!

I am just thinking to myself " what if it is one little step I am missing after all this!"

Anyone else have any problems installing or configuring a router?

[Greg-VT]

I am just thinking to myself " what if it is one little step I am missing after all this!"
Don't do that. It will most likely drive you completely insane. And typical of networking (more so with wireless), it should either be as simple as clicking your fingers, or seem damn impossible. It should work straight up, or not at all. If the case is 'note at all', then don't fiddle. DELETE.

In your situation (and with my current state of thought), the best thing to do is wipe the slate clean, and start it again.

If it doesn't work after that... call the Ghostbusters.

[Greg-VT]

I'd just like to point out, for whatever reason, that the above post by myself took no less then 7 seperate edits.

EDIT: This one took 1 2.

Sorry, and Thank you.

[YODA]

Pretty hard to know where to start without seeing what you have - here are some basics...

Most ISPs grant broadband access based on the MAC address of the network card in your PC. Have you registered the Router's MAC address with your ISP instead?

Until you have the cable modem talking to the router you can forget setting up anything else.

Is your main PC connecting to the router via wireless or by cable?

Have you set up an access key and network name for the router via its control utility on your main PC?

ONLY if all the above is in place and working can you hope to get the WiFi laptop to connect.

[KickChick]

In your situation (and with my current state of thought), the best thing to do is wipe the slate clean, and start it again.

If it doesn't work after that... call the Ghostbusters.


LOL .... still haven't heard back from Tech support via email and went to web site www.linksys.com and seem to have gotten further info from there and will as Ving suggested ...start all over again!(will reset router to factory setting this time!)

These are the quick set up directions ftp://ftp.linksys.com/qinstalls/wrt54g_qi.pdf


I used their suggestion run the set up CDrom ... however when it goes to search for internet connection it says I haven't one when I do (cable on 24/7)
Then I decided to do the quick install ... still no luck.

The main PC (Windows 98) is connecting to router via cable and laptop to router via wireless (Windows XP)
I have it set to where I am obtaining a TCP/IP address automatically on both.

I am giving it yet another shot this afternoon ... and will most probably need to down a few shots afterwards!!!! ;)

[David]

The registration of the router's MAC address is possibly all that's stopping you. Otherwise, I think it would require up to 1000 words to adequately describe your problem :(.

How far along the Linksys instructions did you get? Can you connect to the router's config screen from both PC's web browsers?

Rgds,
David

[KickChick]

I actually did get to that part and when I went to IE to access internet I got the error "Cannot connect to server" ... detect network ettings etc. etc...

Like I said ... I am on my way home now from work and will sit there and try it again.
Hopefully I can repost saying that mission was accomplished....!!

[YODA]

The registration of the router's MAC address is possibly all that's stopping you.

Sounds like it to me too.

[hongkongfuey]

KC,

How is the PC normally connected to the cable modem? One possibility is that it is directly plugged in via a 'crossover cable'. A wireless router might need an ordinary RJ45 cable instead.

Check the cable to see if the colours match from left to right when you hold the two ends together. If the ordering is different then you have a crossover connection.

Registration of the MAC address is also likely to be an issue.

[YODA]

Yep - when I installed my wireless router I had to go from a crossover to normal.

My money's on the MAC address :p

[hongkongfuey]

Cable, cable, cable.

[YODA]

Cable, cable, cable.
MAC MAC MAC!!!!!

[KickChick]

Cables were ok ... they came with the router. One going from surfboard (cable modem) to internet connection on router.... then one cable from a port on router to ethernet port on PC.

I have no clue what the hell I did... but started over and after plugging in each device in a different order ... cable, router then PC --router, PC, cable modem ... etc. etc. I finally rebooted all together with router connected and was able to connect to internet this time.
SUCCESS!!!!!!!!

I think what I failed to do last time was click on the Gateway tab in the IP properties and verify that it was blank.
I then was able to configure the router by opening up my web browser and entering the IP address and then cinfiguring it for my lap top which is wireless.

Whew! Thanks for your help... I now must have a drink!

[Greg-VT]

MAC, MAC, MAC - scratch that.

Cable, cable, cable - scratch that too.

Start all over again? - We have a winner :P

You guys think too much.
KISS, the basic princible of PC repair. :p

:p :D

[YODA]

I agree - start all over. Start by registering the MAC Address :D

[David]

My next guess was going to be mushROOOOOM.