Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Hi guys, new to the forums so firstly a hello to everyone =]

I've researched a bit over this forum and haven't found my situation so I was wondering if anyone can help (if I've missed a thread, sorry.) :(

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I have;
1x PC [XP SP2]
1x Laptop [XP SP2]
Virgin Media Cable Broadband 2Meg [Phone/TV/Internet]
Belkin Wireless G Cable Router
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PC connected to the Cable Modem works perfectly, never has latency issues, I can play WoW and FlyFF at the same time without lag.
Bought the Router yesterday because my other half [laptop] needed internet connection. Installed the router, exactly to instructions on the CD, hooked PC up to it and was 'ok'. (Cable Modem into Router, PC into Router via Ethernet) Thought there was a slight speed drop but disregarded it. I connected the laptop, also via Ethernet (it's an older laptop without built in WLAN). This is how we wanted it, for time being, until we buy the proper laptop with wireless (hence buying a wireless capable router). Both PCs could browse the internet at the same time, albeit slowly, so connectivity wasn't an issue.
HOWEVER [this is the fun bit ;)]
Laptop's MSN Messenger dropped connection constantly. Literally every 2-3 minutes.
PC started doing the same;
WoW was reporting latency of 1500-2100ms (compared to about 110 before router went in)
PC's MSN started dopping as soon as I fired it up.
I thought; maybe it's just because there are two machines using the connection now; so I unplugged the laptop, disconnected it from the router, and expected a speed boost and no more latency issues.
WRONG. The issues remained. After about 10 minutes of this, I got so wound up that I just bypassed the router and went PC-Modem again, and bingo, all issues are gone... Except we're back to square one and the laptop is internet-less. :mad:
I'm not exactly a whizz with these things, but a 2MB connection, shared between 2 people, neither of which are using wireless, at 11pm Sunday [to avoid any peak traffic], should not have an issue with playing a game on one, and an MSN Messenger conversation on the other simultaneously, right? :confused:

Hoping anyone can advise,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

You can try turning off the router's firewall and other services and see if that helps. Switch off wireless on router. If not used, turn it off.

Try swapping a few cables around.

If it looks like it's the router, give Belkin a call. This is a bit like drawing teeth but Belkin devices have (had?) lifetime warrentees so don't let them fob you off. You could check if there is a firmware update for the router though.

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Thanks for the fast reply;
I've tried it with the cable supplied by the VM engineer, and the one packaged witht the Belkin kit, and 2 spares I had lying around but that's all I have at my flat, all gave the same performance.
I haven't had a nosey into the router's config yet, it was fairly late and now I'm at work! I'll turn wireless off when I'm home and update.
Thanks again,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

df, which router is it by belkin (bottom of the unit is the F5D**** number and also a version number) if you can grab those I can see if I can figure out whats happening for ya

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

I'll have a look soon as I'm home.
If it helps at all, it was £39.99 from PC World in Leeds, is a Wireless G (not G+/Mimo/N etc), has just one antenna, 4 LAN ports on the back and one Modem port. Pretty basic looking, about the size of 4 stacked CD jewel cases...
Again, I'll get the exact number as soon as I can have a look.
Ta,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...&category_oid=

This one?

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

No,
Think it's this one; link
Weirdly enough, I can only see that one on PC World Business? But my link is the right shape and size and has the one antenna so I think it is this one...
Ta,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

That will be because the PC World picture is not of the F5D7230uk4 but of the F5D7231uk4. Which one do you have?

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

It'll be this one F5D7230uk4, the other one is G+
Ta,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

df, on the bottom would be a version number...with that I probably can see where the issues are if there are any.

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Ok, I'll be home in around... 4 hours. I'll update then!
Thanks for all your help so far everyone!
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Model no; from the bottom of the unit;
F5D7230-4
Cheers guys!
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

df, there is a white sticker with a VER.**** number on that....whats that?

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Sorry I didn't get back to you last night - the connection went and it wouldn't come back up whilst attached to the router!
Just a side-note while I'm at work; I'm thinking of upgrading to the next VM package (with 4 or 20mb broadband).. Is it worth it?
Ta,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Ver number: 7001UK
Does that mean anything to anyone?
In the router configuration I pressed on the update section and it told me there were no updates available for my router (i guess this is firmware?)
Cheers,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

df, try to reset the router or give it a reboot itself, quite often that would help sort the issue.

otherwise send an email to belkin with the problems you are having and perhaps they got some tips.

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

I'll give that a shot, thanks for everyone's help so far
Ta,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Hi
SO u have F5D 7230 Ver . 7001
I will give u steps..try this..

1. Hard reset the router for 30 sec(while the unit is on..reset button is at the base of router) and then Switch off the router for 30 sec and turn on.. and Put the CD and Configure the router.. if problem persists..
2. Open the Router interface by typing 192.168.2.1 in the Internet explorer..
Firmware will be on the router will be 9.01.05..if it is Update the firmware 9.01.10. available in belkin website..link is http://www.belkin.com/uk/support/art...id=9080&scid=0
if still persists

3. Turn off Firewall on the belkin router on the interface 192.168.2.1... still no joy

4. Type this address on the Internet Explorer http://192.168.2.1/firewall_spi_h.stm.
Untick the option 'TCP Connection' under the 'Stateful Packet Inspection' header and click Apply Changes.

5. last option is Check whether MSN has to Port forwarding or no..

6. If still no joy..call Technical support..no available on the Box of the router..

Thanks and Regards
Vivek N

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Thanks for that advice Vivek, I will try all the above tonight when I'm home (1hour)
Cheers again everyone,
DF

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Not sure if this will help, but whilst looking for answers on my Belkin wireless networking problem, I saw Virgin Media have identified problems with what appears to be your router.

Follow:

http://www.virginmedia.com/help/belkin.php

Aparently Belkin have a fix.

Good luck:)

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

The steps which i provided will work..
even firmware are availabel on the belkin website..
Regards, cheers
vivek

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Belkin routers are junk in my opinion.

I do however have a belkin switch and that works fine but their routers I don't like

Reason being my dad had a one of their pre-N routers and it kept randomly deciding not to route HTTP traffic yet if you put an NTL proxy in your browser configuration then it would work... :confused:

It was defiantly the router since rebooting it would fix it and it never happened with his old router, It got fried in a Thunderstorm in the end, I think he has a netgear router now.

also had a friend who had a belkin ADSL router and the ADSL part of it decided not to work after a while....

Also had another friend whos belkin died when someone knocked it off the side (ok not belkins fault) he had a WDS bridge setup so to ensure compatibility he went out and bought another one of the same model number only to find it was a newer revision and they'd removed the WDS support.

Belkin seem ok for simple things like switches, usb hubs, powerleads.etc but their stuff that needs complicated firmware to run seems to be a bit iffy.

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Belkin Routers have Few problems , i do agree..
It doesnt mean that , Netgear or Linksys or Speedtouch,or BT Voyger , or orange live box or buffalo or D-link ,..Doesnt have problem..even they have problems..

Belkin router works absolutly fine..when we know how to make it work...
When we do , works fine.. they priced very low..
But the only company which give life time warranty and 24hrs good Techinical support..
So belkin is more than Value for Money..

Regards
Vivek N

Re: Belkin and Virgin Media
 

Don't get me started on dlink or Homehubs (BT) :p: