set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Hi everyone.

I'm having a little trouble with my new router. I'm not a total computer fool, but there are some areas which completely confuse me, and networking comes top of this list. The guy at the shop said this was so easy to set up, just stick the CD in and it will do it all for you - I knew deep down this would not be the case.

Now, I am getting as far as where it refuses to automatically detect my settings and asks me to put them in manually...

How do I find out such things as:
My host name and domain name
local IP address
subnet mask (I think I know this one: 255.255255.0 - right?)
Static DNS 1, 2 and 3
and the other settings that it asks e for?

I am sorry as I know that this will have all been asked a million times before, but I have searched the forums and can't quite find the info I am looking for. If anyone can be of any help I will be extremely grateful!

Mimi

PS - when this is set up will I be able to use the following with the connection:
My PC
Mac laptop
Wii
DS

Cheers for any help or suggestions!:monkey:

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

you shouldnt need to do all that just power everything down and wire it all up. switch on modem allow to settle switch on router allow to settle then switch on pc. This should then allow you to connect . look in your manual for setting up wireless and explore your router settings enable wireless then set up wpa security(its just a password) this should then set your wireless connection. All them devices will work but you will have to rtfm on setting them up :) :welcome: to the forum :)

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Ok, thankyou - I will give it another go - I have no idea why it all seems so difficult if it is just a case of plugging things in! Thanks for the advice :monkey:

One thing though, what does RTFM mean?

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Read the - manual ;)

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

OH, yes, I understand, I won't bother asking whatthe 'f' stands for.

WEll, I have read the manual, and followed through both installation processes, neither f which worked as one required me to enter settings which I didn't know and the other won't obtain the settings automatically and so brings me to the same problem.
I tried your method, crossed my fingers and waited, but it didn't work. I powered down everything, connected it all up and then powered on everything in the order you specified with 'settling' periods as described, but I still cannot connect to the internet when the connection passes through the router. I can get as far as connecting it up, and all of the lights SEEM to be doing the right thing, but I can only the access the http://192.168.1.1 screen. Could there be something there that is not configured right? Or is it possibly something wrong with my PC settings? I am sorry, but I have gone through the instructions with a fine toothed comb, and done all that I understand, but still it isn't working for me.

I am using a cable modem from NTL if that makes any difference.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

If you can get through to the admin page (192.168.1.1) then there is a working link to the router.
Go in to the Status page of the router and tell us the beginning and end of the WAN IP address (eg 80.X.X.80). The router's 'Admin' tab also allows you to do a diagnostic Ping or Trace Route.


BTW, how are you able to post? You have still got a USB cable plugged into the modem do you?

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

No, I have to keep on reverting back to my usual cable>modem>(via Ethernet)>PC to get back onto the internet - I have to keep on taking the router out of the equation every time I want to connect to the internet.

I had a look at the admin tab and can't find anything that specifically says 'WAN IP', just I, and all that gives me is a string of '0's (0.0.0.0) Is this the number that you are asking for - and if it is I assume it is supposed to be something other than that?

My sister's boyfriend suggested that I press the reset button in case someone had previously tried to set the router up on their own PC, but this seems to have made no difference.

I have my fingers crossed that someone knows what on earth I am doing wrong, as I am getting slowly more and more stressed :monkey:

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

If you have attempted to change any of the settings on the router, do a complete reset on it, so it's back to factory default. Then do nothing else but power it down.

Now power down the modem, and your computers. Disconnect any ethernet and USB connections that are made into the modem and PC.

Now connect the ethernet port of the modem to the WAN port of the router by ethernet cable. Then connect the ethernet port of one of the 4 LAN ports on the router to the ethenet port on one computer.

Power up modem, let settle, power up router, let settle, power up computer. Hopefully you can now use the internet.

If after following, exactly, the above, you cannot connect, try swapping the ethernet cable between modem and router (powering all down). If there is still a problem, please confirm the model of your modem, and also if you are able to connect, without the router, using ethernet direct between modem and PC.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

I'm at work atm so I can't visualise the screens on my own WRT54G.
Might help if you can screen capture the first 'Admin' screen and the WAN status screen - make sure you airbrush any personal info!

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Hi, Rob

I tried what you said first - I reset all of the factory defaults and followed, exactly, what you said above, but it did not work at all - still no connection to the internet. I tried swapping the cables as you suggested, and also tried a couple of different LAN ports on the back of the router, in case the one I was using was faulty, but no change.

As for the modem, it is an ntl:250 modem this one here, and yes, I can connect fine with the modem connected directly to the PC, with no router in between.

Aagorn, if you think that it will help posting the screens then I will give it a go

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Can you confirm - on the 'Basic setup' main screen, does the Internet Connection Type show as 'Automatic configuration'?

Example shown on this page.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Is it a brand new router and where did you get it from?
You may be better off cloning your PCs' registered MAC address onto the router to try and get around that side of the problem. When you plug the modem into the WAN port on the router does the light on the router come on and flash?

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Hi - Aragorn, yes - it does come up with 'automatic configuration'

Here are the pictures that I took - I wasn't sure if the MAC address was unsafe to give out, so I blurred it, but if itr is needed, please let me know.

Here is the admin screen
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/01/10.gif
and here is the status screen:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/01/11.gif

Paul - yes, it is new. I was recommended it in a small shop near where I live, but we actually bought it online (from Amazon I think) because it was much cheaper. This said, my sister's boyfriend did take it to his house yesterday to try it with his computer after I started having troubles with it, and it worked fine with his, though we cleared the settings afterwards and restored it to factory defaults.

Mimi

---------- Post added at 15:57 ---------- Previous post was at 15:56 ----------

PS - I have not actually entered anything into those password fields, it automatically displayed that string of asterisks - it did this even after restoring factory defaults

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Very odd. That should work quite happily!
Can you describe (or photo) the Leds on the router & modem and describe what cables are going where?

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Yes, indeed.

Firstly, the leads. Cable (like an RF lead) goes into back of modem.
Ethernet cable comes from back of modem into the 'internet' port of router. Another Ethernet cable comes out of port 1 (I have tried other ports in case this is faulty) of router's four ports, and into the PC. The Router and Modem also have power leads (I know that seems obvious, but I am trying to cover all bases, in case I have missed something obvious.

Now for the lights...

MODEM

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/01/22.jpg
power: ON, STATIC
usb: OFF
ethernet: ON (occasionally flashes)
send: Occasionally flashes on, once every few seconds, but mostly off
receive: OFF
sync: ON, STATIC
ready: ON


ROUTER

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/01/23.jpg
orange rectangular light: ON STATIC
power: ON
dmz: OFF
wlan: ON, STATIC
Ethernet 1: ON, STATIC (2, 3 and 4 OFF)
internet: ON, STATIC

The modem lights are different when the router is removed and previous set-up replaced, such as now. The Ethernet, send and receive all flash intermittently, whereas the receive is always 'off' when the router is connected.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

This is really weird as it should work, especially if it worked at a different address (presumably you were able to simply plug in swithc on and go without changing other settings), and also given you get a direct ethernet to PC connection to work.

The modem to router connection must be into the router's WAN (internet) port. It will not work on the LAN side.

Does it make any difference if you release and then reset the DHCP in the router's settings?

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Just a thought, but what IP address are you getting on the PC when it is connected to the router?

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Hello again.

Firstly, Rob.
Yes, the modem to router connection is definitely going into the single 'internet' port at the back, I have that done fine.

I tried what you suggested, releasing and then resetting the DHCP in the router's settings, but it appears to make no difference. :erm:


Gareth (nice picture, BTW), I don't know how to find what IP I am getting on the PC, I did try searching for how to find it, but I am not quite sure what you meant, sorry :dozey:

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Hmm, I wonder if it could be something odd at the modem end? As you are trying to setup a network, do you have a second computer with ethernet card? If so can you connect that direct to the modem, instead of the PC you are currently using. Will that pick up an internet connection?

Remember, (suck eggs teaching time yet again), only one thing can be wired to the modem at a time, and the modem must be powered off for at least 30 seconds when swapping things over.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Hi, my boyfriend is bringing my MacBook over tomorrow morning, as it has been at his house since Christmas - I have not tried it on this connection as yet but will give it a go then.

As soon as the guy in the store said 'it's really simple to set up' I knew it wouldn't be...

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

You are having many more problems than you should do. It's usually the wireless side that causes the aggro, not the basic cable connection.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

As has been said before, it 'should' be working!

If your 'sister's boyfriend' got it working on NTL Cable, the only difference would be your cable modem and the ethernet cables.

Can you try swapping the cables around, eg take the cable connecting the PC to router and use it connect modem to router, and vice versa? Might give us a better view of things.

---------- Post added at 20:10 ---------- Previous post was at 19:57 ----------

You could also try using both cables between the PC and modem direct.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

I know, I didn't think it was supposed to be THIS roblematic. I don't know what set-up my sister and her boyfriend have got at hme, he just said he'd tak it away and make sure that it wasn't faulty, and he said that he got it to work OK with what he has.

Yes, I have swapped the cables over to make sure that there isn't a problem with either of them, I even, in vain, swapped which ends I was using, 'just in case', I was just trying any little thing by the end of it.

God only knows what the problem is, and why I am always the one to have the problems!

Could it be anything on the side of my PC? Someone suggested cloning the PC's MAC address onto the router to me, and I tried that, but it still didn't work. I feel lke I have a big stormy raincloud over my head :(

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

I would check exactly what he got working - ie was he trying NTL cable.
If so, were back to the difference being the cable modem, but I've never heard of a modem working with a PC but not a router!

One other thing to try - browse to http://192.168.100.1 (user - root, password - root) to bring up the modem diags and make a note (or screen image) of the info (obscuring the IP add). Then plug in to the router and see if you can still get to the modem config - it 'should' work even if it's not getting an external IP.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

HI, well, it never had an IP address on the screen, so I hope that it wasn't anything else I was supposed to obscure :confused: but here is the information as displayed - I hope this is the right screen?

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/01/20.jpg

Once I had connected the router up, this screen was no longer reachable, the browser just said there was a problem loading the page, as it does with any web page I try and open once the router is connected.

:mis:

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

You should obscure the mac address and serial number.

I'm using the same router and you should just need to plug it in and away it goes.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Ah well, there must be something wrong with something I am using or doing then, it's so frustrating, I am really getting almost annoyed now, I'm tired and feeling ratty, and so I am off to bed. Maybe one of the shoemaker's elves will come and fix it for me overnight? If not I will just have to check back in the morning and see if anyone else has some idea as to what it might be, otherwise the whole lot is going out of the window...

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Don't you have to register PC's with NTL cable? As in registering a pc to the account? Or is this just STB's?

You could try cloning the MAC address of the pc that connects to the internet fine. There are normally options to do just this within the routers own config.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

That is just for STBs, not Cable Modems

I think he's tried that, looking at the stuff above, but to no avail.

I really think we need to know now if a different computer other than the one that has been used to post this thread, can connect as an alternative, direct to the modem. If that work, we know it has to be something odd between router / modem configuration. If an alternate computer won't connect then we have to suspect a very unusual weird modem fault. We've got to start ruling things oout otherwise its round and round in circles time.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Just a thought... are you using a firewall such as Zone Alarm, and has it been configured to only allow connections to/from your cable modem within it's Trusted Zone (think that's what Zone Alarm refers to it as... it's been a while since I used ZA).

If you are using a software firewall on your PC, it might be worth disabling it to see if it's causing the problem.

ps - forgot to say this earlier, but to determine your IP address, you should click Start -> Run -> cmd -> ipconfig. The IP address is listed for whichever interface you have plugged in to your router or modem at the time.

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Guys! It is a bright and portentous day, for I have an internet connection going through my router (hoorah !)

I asked my sister to drag her boyfriend around to my house and he played around with the settings, whilst we sat and drank tea, and an hour later, ta-daa!

Now, I haven't attempted to link anything else yet, so the fun might start there, but I wanted to thank you all for your help and the time spent trying to help me, I was so totally stuck that it was mind-numbingly irritating.

Thanks again to all of you.

PS, Rob, I am a she, not a he, but I forgive you

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Good stuff... however, you're gonna have to ask your brother-in-law what was wrong with it, just to put all our minds at rest ;)

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Glad it's sorted, but we really want to know what was wrong!

Re: set-up of linksys WRT54G router with NTL cable modem
 

Well, he said that he changed some settings on the administration page and tried bout six combinations but nothing worked, so he had a feeling it was something to do with one of the cables. He went down to the car and bought up an identical dark blue ethernet cable (the one that came with the router, as opposed to the turquoise one that came with the modem) and used that. It still wasn't working so he tried resetting the factory settings and then cloning the MAc numer again. At some point alon this it started to work, though he said he didn't know what it was that he changed that done it. He tried the thernet cable again when he got home with his own router, and it is fine...

I am sorry I cannot be more specific, I was purposefully staying out of the way when he was working on it, I was already fed up enough with it.

Once it was set up I had no problems linking my Macbook, DS and Wii up wirelessly, and I have set the security on it so that my neighbours aren't gtting free internet ;) so, I feel, at least I acheived a little something painlessly to make up for all of the trouble at the start

Thankyou again for all of your help guys!