Wi-fi help

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

Soldato
Joined
17 Aug 2009
Posts
18,530
Location
Finchley, London
I currently am with virgin media cable broadband, with a virgin media cable modem connected via ethernet cable to the built in ethernet on my desktop pc :Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)

I know nothing about wifi setup, so bear with me :p

I'm going to buy a laptop which will be wi-fi ready, and I also want to use my phone's wi-fi features. So having my desktop as my wi-fi hub would be nice.

What is a cheap modem that will do what I need. This? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-003-TP&groupid=46&catid=1596&subcat=2094
Or this? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-025-TP&groupid=46&catid=1596&subcat=1934
Or will I need to buy a dedicated wi-fi modem from virgin media?

Also, I don't recall putting a username and password into this cable modem, I've only ever used my virgin media account username and password through the normal broadband set up process. Is that all I'll need with a wi-fi modem/router? Can I get around 20 to 25 foot range? Do I connect my ethernet cable and virgin media cable broadband lead to the modem so that I'm wired for my desktop and that will allow my laptop and phone to use my connection?
 
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I think the first thing you need to find out is whether you can use a Non-Virgin Router/Modem on your cable. If you are locked into Virgin devices then you are limited with what options are available to you!
 
Ok, yea, it was definitely something I was wondering about. Will call them now and get back to you. Cheers.
 
If you are using the little black modem with the white coax cable coming out of it then yes you can just plug any router into it and it will setup pretty much automatically.

The second router you posted will suffice for the job you need it for. If you type in 192.168.100.1 into the address bar it should bring up the modem's info page. The login credentials are root and root.

VM dont lock you to a specific router however you may wish to ask the router to clone your pc's mac address just so the modem wont have to be set up again.
 
23JMZ07 said:
If you are using the little black modem with the white coax cable coming out of it then yes you can just plug any router into it and it will setup pretty much automatically.

The second router you posted will suffice for the job you need it for. If you type in 192.168.100.1 into the address bar it should bring up the modem's info page. The login credentials are root and root.

VM dont lock you to a specific router however you may wish to ask the router to clone your pc's mac address just so the modem wont have to be set up again.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much :)

Yep you're right, just rang virgin and was told I can buy any router. So I'll go with the TP-Link 300Mbps Wireless-N Cable Route if you think it does a good job and gives me plenty of range.

Few more annoying questions if you don't mind. :p

"you can just plug any router into it ", So I still need my virgin modem and the new one plugs into it, or do I completely replace my virgin modem?
That TP-Link 300Mbps will provide sufficient password security so no one will be able to access my connection? Is the built in hardware firewall important since I already use windows firewall?

I typed in that address and got this:

captureiaq.jpg


And this is my modem. So I just connect the 2 white cables, the coax and the ethernet, let it setup, and then a laptop can use the connection wirelessly? I just need to clone the mac address, and, will I need to input any other information, such as my virgin media account details or a router number or something?


 
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Keep the current modem. Plug the cat5 cable from the modem into the WAN port on the router (it will be a separate and different colour port to identify it). Then plug another cat5 cable from one of the router's switch ports into your computer :)

Nothing is really changing. You can think of the router as a way of allowing multiple computers to use your current modem as opposed to just your current 1 computer using it
 
23JMZ07 said:
Keep the current modem. Plug the cat5 cable from the modem into the WAN port on the router (it will be a separate and different colour port to identify it). Then plug another cat5 cable from one of the router's switch ports into your computer :)

Nothing is really changing. You can think of the router as a way of allowing multiple computers to use your current modem as opposed to just your current 1 computer using it
Click to expand...

Brilliant, thanks! Much less complicated than I expected the process to be. So I'll leave the coaxial cable where it is in the virgin modem, connect the ethernet cable (cat5) to the router, and another ethernet cable from router to pc.

Now, I'm not sure if the TP-Link 300Mbp comes with a spare ethernet/cat5 cable. Probably not. So I'll order one from OcUK at the same time. I'm looking at these http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=46&catid=1799 but in the photos, they all look like they have the type of connection I had when using adsl. Those belkin ones at the top seem to have release clips, but mine doesn't have those. I only need a short cheap cable, is there one here I should go for?
 
23JMZ07 said:
Correct :)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-000-OE&groupid=46&catid=1799&subcat

That should do perfectly
Click to expand...

Excellent! Ye, I just unplugged and took a closer look at my cable connection, and now I can see how they're the same. I didn't notice the clip before which is half hidden under my cable's white sleeving. Thank you very much for all your help sir, I'm all set now and know what to do. :) I'll come back here if I get stuck which I'm sure I won't. Help yourself to tea and scones, you've earned it :D

creamtea.jpg
 
Update: Now that I've won a laptop as of last night, I went ahead and also ordered the TP-Link 300Mbps and the RJ45 cable last night. Then I sent a wenote to OCuK saying:

"I just ordered a 1m Cat6 cable - OcUK Professional Cat6 RJ45 1m Network Cable (B6-501) in case there isn't one included with the TP-Link 300Mbps Wireless-N Cable Router (TL-WR841N) that I also just ordered. If there is an RJ45 cable that already comes with the Router, could you possibly please not send me the extra cable and do a refund? Many thanks."

Their reply is "Dear

Thank you for your web note. I can confirm that the cable has been refunded and shall go back to your card.

Regards "


I'm wondering if they've misread my webnote and I may get no cable at all. Now they've sent me confirmation that my order of just the router has been packed and in the process of shipping. I've sent 2 more webnotes saying


"I got an email reply this morning from you saying "I can confirm that the cable has been refunded and shall go back to your card", but you didn't say if that means there's an RJ45 cable included with the router I ordered? I only wanted a refund on the cable if there's already an RJ45 that comes with the router. Thanks. "

"Further to my last webnote, you've since emailed me with confirmation that my order for just the router has been packed and is currently in the process of being shipped. But to double check, I do need an RJ45 cable sent to me in the parcel you're sending (to save you sending twice) but only if you know if there isn't one that already comes included inside the box for the router. Thanks. "

Anyone here know if that router comes with RJ45 included?
 
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You might want to order a cable....
From TP website..
Wireless N Rotuer TL-WR841N
Power supply unit
Resource CD
Quick Installation Guide
Click to expand...

So no cable included which is strange tbh. I cant move for Ethernet cables i have received with routers, modems etc
 
I'm stuck :( Went through the easy setup assistant, got to 'Successfully configured router' but it keeps failing at the end with 'failed to verify router settings' and to check all connections are physically correct. I've currently unplugged the router and am back directly through my cable modem, just so I can post here. I don't understand why it's doing that.
And the other ways to do it seem a bit complicated.
 
Yay, it's working! :D

I just called their tech support and a very nice and helpful woman took me through the steps to fix it. I had to type in the browser 192.168.1.1

Type username and password both 'admin'

Then there's a bunch of menus and sub menus on the left.

Had to go to 'Network' and into 'Mac Clone' and press 'Clone MAC Address' and then 'Save'.

Then to 'System Tools' and into 'Reboot' and reboot. And then the internet came back into my world. :)
 
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