Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Hi guys,

I receieved my Belkin Wireless router yesterday which works on Virgin Media.. I got the router to work, no problem. The problem arrises when i install a WEP key to it!

My devices find it without a problem (My phone and also the wireless printer), but when i connect and enter the WEP key it doesn't connect to it! I tried reseting the modem a few times etc but no luck!

The modem that i'm talking about is this one. Also i'm not able to see which devices are trying to connect/connected to my system, which after seeing some reviews it shows that it's not able to do for some reason.

Now i'm looking to send this one back and get another one, can anyone recommend me a good one which is N enabled (Which is future proof i guess), and also which shows me what devices are connected/trying to connect to the network etc.. I need a good one. Come on guys! :D

It'll be good if the one you show me is on eBuyer.. they're pretty good at their service!

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

you typing in the correct key then? that could be the only thing really thats wrong here.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Nope, the key is correct but it just doesn't connect whenever i try to connect to it. But it finds it fine.. Also it connects through wireless when there's no key set to it :s I've tried with 64bit WEP and 128bit WEP too, but no luck!

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Ok, first of all (if at all possible) you shouldn't be using WEP.

WEP is horribly insecure and can't be relied upon to protect your data/network.

Secondly, I seem to recall with WEP (if you must use it) that you don't type in the phrase, you type in the Hexadecimal key - you are using the key that was generated by the router and not the phrase that you typed in aren't you?

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

I put the phrase in.. Shouldn't it be like that for anyone who wishes to use the network quickly? Do i have to remember the HEX code each time someone else wants to connect to the network? :|

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

IIRC when you're using WEP you need to enter the HEX key - I could be wrong, but it's worth a try.

With WPA you normally have to enter the phrase that was used.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

But i think i tried the HEX key too - it comes out with an error of "Cannot connect to gateway" or something similar..

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Ok.....

1. Confirm for me that you're using WEP and not WPA

2. Go through your connection routine to the point where you're getting the error you just mentioned

Now.....

3. Where are you seeing the error?

That to me sounds like an Internet Explorer type error message? If that's the case then are you saying that you can't connect to the Internet through the router, or that you can't connect to the router?

4. Have a look in the system tray of Windows (bottom right-hand corner, near the clock).

Do you have a wireless icon there? If you do, hover your mouse over it and see what it says - what does it say the status of the connection is?

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

That's the other thing, i dont have a wireless icon there either, just a normal internet icon - I believe this type of router doesn't show who's connected and who isn't?

That connection error was given when i used my Nokia N82 to connect to the internet.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Wow, you're really trying to confuse things aren't you?

1. The Nokia N82

Assuming that the Nokia is set to automatically get an IP address from the router it should have one in the same range. If the router is 192.168.1.1 then your Nokia should be 192.168.1.<something>.

It should also have detected the default gateway settings, you'll need to look in your Nokia instruction manual to find out how to check this because I haven't got a clue. That default gateway should be the same as the IP address of your router. NOTE: This refers to the internal IP address of the router (whatever address you type in to manage it) NOT the one assigned by your ISP.

2. Assuming that you're using XP (because you haven't said otherwise)

Right-click on the network icon in the system tray and select 'Show Network Connections'.
In the Network Connections box, right-click on the icon for your wireless and select 'Properties'.
Tick the two boxes at the bottom (the ones about showing the icon, and showing when you have limited connectivity).
Click 'Ok'.
Close the Network Connections box.

Now you should be able to see what the status of your wireless connection is.

---------- Post added at 12:59 ---------- Previous post was at 12:58 ----------

BTW. Ignore the fact that the router doesn't show who's connected and who isn't for a minute.

Let's concentrate on getting just your computer connected to the Internet, then we can worry about other things ok :D

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

The problem isn't gettin the computer connected to the internet; it's connected already - the problem arrises from the wireless.

I've tried those steps.. no luck.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Did you try setting the gateway manually on the N82?

Is the N82 pucking up the settings ok from the router?

Have you set up MAC filtering on the router?

Did you remember to re-apply the WEP key after you reset the router?

---------- Post added at 13:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:05 ----------

Ok, partly my fault - apologies, but I'm tired :D

Let's try this again.....

---------- Post added at 13:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:06 ----------

What IP settings has the Nokia picked up (or have been input manually by you)?

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

All manual - i'm not currently at home so i cannot give you the full settings, but i'm assuming it's all automatic. It's fine when it's got a non WEP key assigned to it, the problem only arrises when i store a WEP key to it! arghhhh

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Don't know then, sorry.

I'm guessing that it must be something to do with one of the settings you've got setup on the router - or that you're missing the default gateway or something.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

I would try:

Removing Security all together, then using ONE device ONLY... Set up WPA and use a phrase like "letmein" to start with and then set the wireless device (that isnt a Nokia N82 :)) to use that key. See if it works. Then try adding one device at a time if it does. If it doesn't, remove all security and start again with WEP...but as Raistlin says, you MUST use the HEXADECIMAL key and not the word/phrase you typed in.

---------- Post added at 13:46 ---------- Previous post was at 13:45 ----------

Alternatively, take it back to the shop saying it doesn't work and try a replacement :)

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

ok guys, no luck with this stupid router.

Can anyone recommend me a good one? Something which will tell me which machines/devices are connected to it.. and also something which is good and also possibly futureproof.. around the mark of £60-80.

Thanks!

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Personally i would recommend the d-link dir-635 or dlink dir-655 the 655 is better as it has 4 gigabit ports on the back and it looks a bit better being mostly white (if it's going to be on show) other than that they are pretty much the same they are both 'n' wireless and both have very very good range.
I have had both and have still got the the 655 and i can't fault it, but they are a bit more expensive than your £80 budget
hth
P.S Ebuyer sell them both:)

I would never buy belkin (pc world is great for looking at not what to buy) everything they tend to push like belkin and norton antivirus are rubbish

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Lucky you, I have the same one down stairs which my laptop won't even find. Not only that, but since I bought the router, it no longer gives me my 10Mb, more or less 4 - 6. Also, I can't take it back because when we set it up in Currys using the very router I bought and my laptop it worked straight away with no problems. Is your modem an Ambit 110 or 120?

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

hi,
no i've got the 255 modem if your getting problems like that then take it back or send it to d-link for warrenty repair these routers do have an 11 year warrenty on them :) since buying these i always get 18+mbs (except when stm'd) even down the bottom of my garden which is nearly 200ft long :D

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Currys won't take it back because it works perfectly for them. I was thinking of phoning VM and seeing if it's a problem with the modem conflicting with the router.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

The modem cannot effect the security set on the modem or change or stop a connection to the wireless. The modem is sat on the WAN side not the LAN side.. Sorry this is NOT a virgin problem. There is clutching at straws but in this case even that will not work :).

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

how old is the router? if it is less than 3 months old then currys have to change it all curry's do with returned items is send them to another store to be sold it's cheaper for them to keep rotating the faulty items than to send them back to the manufactuers:shocked:.
have you got a differant store near you? if so try changing it there by law curry's should change it as it not doing what you need it to do so it is not fit for purpose.
i take it that have you tried updating the routers firmware and the drivers on the wireless laptop? there maybe an update or too;)

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Yup, I've tried upgrading the firmwire. We've only got the one store. Thing is, Currys have to pay for the product now if there's a replacement or refund, so when it goes back to the manufacture if the product works then Currys have to pay for it. This is why they test things.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Apart from the D-Link ones, anyone else recommend any other Cable Wireless Routers?

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

I would personally go for anything by Linksys, on the basis that they're fairly bullet-proof.

Whether you'd get any additional mileage out of them though I don't know, as I don't know if the newer models have the features that you require (I have two older models which have served me very well for years, so I've never upgraded to a newer model).

Hopefully someone with experience of the newer ones will know for sure.

Re: Belkin Router bought BUT not happy!
 

Cimt
You do know that belkin gives you lifetime warranty on the product , so forget going to curry's as long as you have a receipt call belkin and after some troubleshooting they should replace it for you.
there was a problem with a belkin router and VM. that belkin have fixed by applying a new firnware .

so its worthwhile giving them a call :-)

realist
you also need to speak to belkin support, because the problems you are explaining are weird, dont understand why a wep key will effect your wireless connection if key is correct. it seems that you need to understand the hex and passphrase options. I perosnally think you need to change a channel.