Cable router?

mattyfez

mattyfez

mattyfez

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Joined
12 Apr 2007
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HI im trying to set up a simple network for a friend, all we need to do is get both pc's on the internet.

Its cable internet, virging i belive, so do I have to get a cable router as opposed to a adsl router, and can anyone reccomend a cheap one that will work with the cable modem they already have, or will the router be able to replace the cable modem?

Ive done a quick pick to show what im thinking, any help here would be great as i only have experience with ADSL!!!

network.jpg
 
You keep the ntl/virgin cable modem, you just use a router for cable modems as opposed to a router for adsl. (although some routers will easily do both, like my Netgear)
I used a Linksys WRT54gs (which has 1 x WAN, 4 x LAN ports and is also wireless) for my ntl/virgin broadband for the past 3 years, but now use a Netgear firewall which distributes a wired network throughout the house. The WRT54gs is now set to act purely as an Access Point downstairs :)
 
Linksys WRT54GL is probably one of the best choices, flash it to either Tomato or DD-WRT firmwares and you've got more options than you'll probably ever use.
 
I tried to set up the network with a D-link dl 624+, bout couldnt even dial into the router, even under CMD it just says "host not found"
all the relevant lights are on....

Its an old-ish router thats never been known to work, dunno if it's ADSL or cable, but does have a WAN port which i connected to the cable modem, and the pc to a LAN port.

AM i doing somthing wrong or is the router bust?
 
mattyfez said:
Its an old-ish router thats never been known to work, dunno if it's ADSL or cable, but does have a WAN port which i connected to the cable modem, and the pc to a LAN port.

AM i doing somthing wrong or is the router bust?
Click to expand...

Lol, what do you reckon???

If its cable, you do not need to configure any dialup settings etc. Chances are if its old, its just not compatible.

Do you definitely want a router? ie. you need some firewall and extra security options?
Seeing as you only have 2 pc's, you could use a simple switch with software firewalls on your pc's etc.
 
Cheers for the help mate,

We just need to get both pc's online via the cable modem. one on ethernet and the other must be wireless.

The thing is, even if the router we have isnt compatible with cable, I should still be able to dial in to its config via a browser or ping it by typing 192.168.0.1/1.1/2.1 surely?

thanks again.....
 
mattyfez said:
...
The thing is, even if the router we have isnt compatible with cable, I should still be able to dial in to its config via a browser or ping it by typing 192.168.0.1/1.1/2.1 surely?

thanks again.....
Click to expand...

DI is a cable router so should be fine.

Re log in you should be able to do that at least, try a master router reset to factory default (disconnect all ethernet cables)

With router power on, insert pin into reset hole or press button (I think that router has a button), hold say 15 to 20s until lights stop flashing etc. factory defaults to a router ip address of probably 192.168.0.1, admin and no password to login.

Reconnect your PC via an ethernet cable to any dlink LAN (not WAN) port. You should get a green dl9nk LED for that port. Maybe try differnt port or cable if you dont.

You can check or renew your IP in various ways

In xp

controlpanel>network connections>
right click the lan>properties>stats>support tab

IP should be from the router via DHCP, normally one more than the routers own IP address (or at least in the same last IP group from 0 to 255)

You can release any old IP on the lAN card by by using the right click repair option in network connections.

No desparate reason why that model should not be useable as a virgin cable router or at least as a switch and access point provided it works.

If you can log in the latest firmware from the dlink uk site would be wise.
 
if you cant log into it, your either not connected to it (physically) or your not getting an IP address from it and the router isnt putting you on the network

perform a hard reset and try again and check your cables.

if it was incompatibility with the cable router, you'd be able to log into the router ok and stuff, but just not be able to access the internet
 
Hi all thanks for the advice, what a nightmare.

I have done all the above just now (just got back in)

hard reset's, power off's new cables, the lot. ;(

when using just the modem box direct to the PC ,its connects to the internet, no probs.

All is plugged in correctly and all relevent lights on the router and modem are on.

Im starting to think the router is broken, but when i go into CMD, ipconfig /all, there is no gateway or subnet mask.

everything in windows is set to auto, power saving is off.

If i try to ping the router, i just get "no host found" asif there nothing there.

Ive also used a prog to re write the winsock and TCP/IP, to no effect.

Im tempted to tell her to buy a new router, but if it turns out to be a windows issue my name will be mud!!!!
Her windows install is a right mess, it could really do with a format, but it works fine with just the modem, so im at a loss really......

Ive tried repairing the connection in the network properties box....it couldnt repair it.
Ive also tried CMD- ipconfig /renew and ipconfig /release.....;(

She said the router was brand new when she got it about 3 years ago, but said its never worked (she could never get it to work) and its just been sat in a cupboard.
 
mattyfez said:
Im starting to think the router is broken, but when i go into CMD, ipconfig /all, there is no gateway or subnet mask.
Click to expand...

right so the DHCP isnt working. If you've not got an IP address then you're not going to be on the network

next set is to try and put yourself on the network by using a manual IP

set the local IP to 192.168.0.5 or something that should be free. Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0

default gateway of 192.168.0.1. then try pinging 192.168.0.1

if that doesnt work try default gateway of 192.168.0.254

and then try putting yourself on 192.168.1.5 default gateway of 192.168.1.254 and also 192.168.1.1

that covers most domestic routers, if its there and working, but with DHCP just switched off, one of those should work.

other possibility of course is that its shafted, and the DHCP isnt working because the router isnt. But this should determine if this is the case.
 
Just to note, I have also hooked up my spare adsl router, just to the PC, to see if I can communicate with that at all.....same thing, nothing, so maybe it is a windows network config issue?

I just dont get how its fine with the cable modem, but wont play ball with her cable router or my adsl router
 
right, that narrows it down

PC is not set to obtain an IP address automatically then. Probably is a software issue

run the network setup wizard again. You need to configure it to contact a DHCP server, sounds like its not at the minute.
 
Im sure its set to obtain IP automaticly in the network properties windows, but will double check and re-run the wizard.

Is that an option within the wizard, then, do I have to tell it to find a DHCP server...
 
PieMaster said:
Linksys WRT54GL is probably one of the best choices, flash it to either Tomato or DD-WRT firmwares and you've got more options than you'll probably ever use.
Click to expand...

without a shadow of a doubt, this is what you want :)

tomato firmware rocks
 
mattyfez said:
Im sure its set to obtain IP automaticly in the network properties windows, but will double check and re-run the wizard.

Is that an option within the wizard, then, do I have to tell it to find a DHCP server...
Click to expand...

no you need to select the option for "this computer connects to the internet through another computer on my nework or through a residential gateway"

im guessing it may have been setup using option A which was "my computer connects directly to the internet" which using a modem it does.
 
Remember the Cable modem will only assign an IP address to one mac address. You need to unplug the cable modem every time you swap it from a router to your pc. It sounds like you haven't reset the cable modem. I may be teaching you to suck eggs but if you don't reset the modem every single time it will refuse to communicate with anything other than the network card with the specific mac address it wants.

The wiring diagram you have done is correct. to get it working

step 1 switch off the cable modem and the router and the pc's.

Turn on your router only.
turn on the cable modem.
turn on the wired pc.

In internet explorer select options and connection. select lan options and ensure automatically detect settings.

try then to access the internet.

If you have done the above i apologise but i couldn't see in you text where you had rebooted the modem and it is critical
 
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