virginmedia wireless issues
 

Thank god for this website!

Hi all,

Please can someone help. I am having problems with my wireless router and virginmedia. The problem has been happening with 2 wireless routers.
1. netgear WPN824 v2
2. belkin F5D8233-4v3

It should be so simple.

I have since had virginmedia send me out a new N256 cablemodem.

The problem seems to be the connection between the cable modem and the wireless router. I have had it working and been able to set the security and had my computers connecting all ok. This inlcudes my wireless printer.

But then from time to time the dhcp part of the wireless router stops working and my computers can not get IP addresses.

I have to then make a direct ethernet connection to the cable modem which works fine.

As this problem happens on both wireless routers im thinking it might be the cablemodem or virgin media.

This is really frustrating as i work from home occasionally and have to setup my network each time i do. Its also been going on for weeks now.

When I call virging media I get a polite but frustrating person in india who takes me through the same troubleshooting checklist and tells me to phone belkin.

Maybe they are right, but 2 routers having the same problem?

Has anyone had any problems with these wireless routers and virgin media?

What should I do?

Thanks for any help.

john

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

If the router's dchp servers aren't working then this is an issue with the router, not Virgin Media's hardware or service. I suggest manually specifying an IP address for each connected device.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

the dhcp does work from time to time. and then stops.
I think it maybe the downstream signal level problems from the cable modem, another thread has had similar problems with their wireless.

But not sure.

Another thread has suggested to get a tech guy out from VM to boost the signal level of the modem.

Does anyone have any numbers?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Have you tried changing channels on the router.. Symptoms could be caused by interference.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

interference?

would that mean I cant get an IP address?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

It can take differnet forms. I had a similar problem where I kept losing my IP address and couldn't get a new one. It was tracked down to an AV sender. Changing the channel on the AV sender solved the problem but I'm sure changing the channel on the router would have done the same.:)

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

AV sender?
Whats that? And how did it affect your wireless?
You mean the AV sender signal stoped your wireless router getting an Ip address?
This is so confusing...
My wireless router worked on saturday then now it cant connect to the canlemodem. changing the channel might fix that?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

how do you know this is not a virginmedia problem?
I thourght low signal strength was a VM problem?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

low signal strenth shuld not cause wifi dropouts from the router, plus your machine into the modem directly, if it all works then it is the router, the router contains the dhcp part, if it is failing to give an address its a router issue not a problem with the modem

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

my machine works fine straight to the modem.

So I have bourght 2 wireless routers and they both are faulty?

wow.

I dont understand how my problems are intermittent.

Soemone suggested changing the channel on the wireless router. Do you think this might help?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Your router should issue it's own IP addresses regardless of whether it has a connection to the outside world.

---------- Post added at 13:42 ---------- Previous post was at 13:39 ----------

Actually one way to eliminate wireless problems from the list of possible causes is to connect your router to the PC via ethernet for a day or two. If the connection doesn't fail, then the problem is probably with the wireless connection. If it does fail, then the PC or router are at fault.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Im wondering if my belkin router is affected by overheating..
Its been unconnected from its power source for a couple of hours now. I have just plugged it back into the power source and it is giving me an Ip address straight away and dhcp seems to be working fine and signal strength if strong.

The wireless is not connected to the cable mode.

I will keep the wireless router in its usual place and see if it goes faulty again. Ive been keeping it in a cupboard in a room out of sight next to the cable modem. Maybe there is not enough ventilation for it.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

I had a problem with that heap of junk router. It kept dropping the internet connection. I lost count of how many times its happend a day. I dumped it in the bin. Got a good deal on a phillips wireless router. No drop outs or anything what so ever. £20 off the bay problem solved.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

sounds good.
The router has just dropped again. I reckon its a pile of *****...
Everytime I buy something from pcworld it turns out to be ****. But I keep going back!!!!
Have you got the model number?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Sure its a philips SNB5600 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHILIPS-SNK560...d=p3286.c0.m14

Its also vista compatable which is an added bonus

PC world also sell this model. So u might do an exchange or something.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

thnx again.
Ive bourght it. Im gonna take the belkin back asp.
fingers crossed this sorts the problem.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Let us know if it works ;)

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

OK, I've had to phone tech support twice this last fortnightm both times to get the modem reset as it wouldn't give out dynamic IP's, my statics were fine but the modem wouldn;t give out dynamics to my router, laptop, three different nics.

Sounds like your problem and definately wasn;t the router. A quick call to tech support both times asking them to quickly reset the modem thier end cured the problem..

Next time I'm gonna insist on a new modem (currently on a 2050 which is basically a 255 with different case and a USB port)

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Johnnyd - I am with you on this,

I'm also experiencing problems VERY similar to yours and I am with Virgin Media. I had VM engineer around today who changed the cable modem but I am still in the same situation as previously. Direct connection to the CM works but connection via a Wireless router does not (either using a cable or wireless connection). The symptoms are that the IP address on the WAN (internet/CM) side is not being sent/configured in the Wireless router. When working (direct) my DHCP IP address is 82.5.70..... (Virgin Media) but the address via the Wireless Router (ON THE Wireless router WAN port itself is NOT in this range). It is the Microsoft default 162 (something).... if I remember correctly.

Most bizarre so I'd be interested if a new WM solves your problem.

Pete.

Everything was working fine until last Saturday.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

this sounds exactly like my problem.
Im sure it is something to do with the dynamic allocation of IPs as suggested by Kymmy.
Whats so frustrated is that VM deny all responsibility.
Kymmy suggests phoning VM and asking them reset the modem at their end which seems like a total cop out.

Incidentally I still think this thread should be in a different section.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm picking this up wrong but if the connection stay constant, no drop outs, if the wireless router is not in the circuit then I don't think it's a VM fault. It does sound like Kymmy has a dodgey modem but the set up jonnyd has works fine with the wireless router removed.

Have you tried a different channell? Could be neighbours AV (audiovisual) transmitter or another wireless router on the same channel nearby?.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Johnnyd,

One other thing I should mention. I have tried connecting 2 distinct PCs direct to the Cable Router. One is a laptop using Windows Vista - eventually the Virgin IP address is picked up (82.....) but on my regular machine (Windows 2000 Pro) the Virgin IP address is NOT picked up (defaults to the Microsoft 169.. address). Neither works via the wireless router which was working OK a week or so ago (occasionally the WR gets a 192.168.100... address which is NOT in the range specified for anything configured on it - i.e. the local lan).

Now I am quite prepared to admit that my WR might be playing up but I think it TOO much of a coincidence that...

1. You have 2 WRs not working.
2. I have a Windows2000 PC which also is having issues getting the Virgin DHCP allotted address direct from the cable router.

I really don't know if VM have tweaked their DHCP so that things stop working (for some WRs and Win2000) but that is my guess - and I am a professional network person. Unfortunately there is no easy way of discovering what is going on as VM "Support" just tell you to reboot the CM (yeah, as if we haven't already tried that multiple times) or if you are lucky replace the thing (and it still gives problems).

Pete.

---------- Post added at 11:34 ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 ----------

Harmitage,

Whilst I would agree that on the face of it that our WRs are responsible. The factors mitigating against this are:-

1. The Wireless router has a LAN side (wireless) and a WAN side (wire). It is NOT the wireless LAN which is not working (my PCs are quite happily getting local lan addresses AND I can use the wireless lan to talk to the WR (configuration) itself. The problem is on the WAN side (to the Cable Router) which is hard wired and the Virgin DHCP address is NOT being supplied by the CM. So I don't think it is an issue with wireless interference.

2. Even with a direct connection to the cable-router one of my PCs (running Windows2000 though this might just be a red herring) isn't getting the Virgin DHCP supplied address whilst another one is. Is it likely that so many devices are having issues getting the DHCP address? I don't know.

Pete.

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 ----------

All,

Sorry to bug everyone but there may be a solution in the following article:-

http://www.digitalspy.biz/forums/sho...php?p=11916968

I am going to try a few things this evening in light of what the article says (the clone MAC address bit). If it works I'll post. The original problem in the article mimics 100% what I am seeing - even down to the IP addresses!

Pete.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Pete
It does sound like you have a different problem from the OP who was getting steady direct connection. Good Luck with trying cloning although I have my doubts. I think the VM dhcp server just issues an ip address to the mac address so it doesn't know if it's a PC or a router. Switching the modem off, etc and pluggin any piece of equipment (set for dhcp) with a mac address into it, switch back on and the mac address should be issued with an IP address.

Don't know why your w2k PC isn't working and your and your Vista is. Is the nic OK? set for dhcp? If after switching off modem and connecting laptop, you get ip address every time, I'd be looking to see if there's a fault with the PC nic or set up. I know how frustrating it is, been in your shoes often, sometimes it's better to go back to the start. Good luck ;)

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Harmatage,

Thanks, as you say sometimes it is worth leaving things a day or so to reconsider things with a clear head - fortunately I am forced to do this as I'm at work and the equipment is at home!

On reflection I am wondering whether (after the flush of success in getting the laptop working) I simply unplugged the cable from the laptop and plugged it directly in to the W2000 PC. In these circumstances (if I understand the article referred to) the PC won't get the DHCP address from the DHCP server via the CM as it has already given it to a PC with another MAC address. Anyway I'll see tonight when I do things very methodically.

Pete.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Well I am eating humble pie now! I got home after reading extensively about DHCP and cable modems and did the following:-

1. Ensured WAN cable in Wireless Router connected to the Cable Modem.
2. Ensured Win2000 PC cable attached to lan port in WR.
3. Powered on the cable modem. Waited to ensure SYNC and READY lit.
4. Powered on Wireless Router. Ensured WAN light was lit.
5. Powered on laptop (uses wireless lan). Ensured VLAN connection was ON.
6. Connected to internet - worked first time.
7. Powered on PC (hard wired to WR) Ensured LAN light on WR was ON.
8. Connected this PC to internet - worked first time.

DOH! It looks like I was a victim of doing things on the fly and maybe not recognising the technicalities of how DHCP addresses are given out and cached. Upon my "research" I came across a very helpful set of articles at the following URLs:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...tips/dhcp.html


It really is very good and gives excellent insights into issues like this.

JohnnyD - mine is a crappy old Netgear WR so maybe you don't have to chuck away your old WR and buy a new one??

Now, where is the rest of that pie.

Thanks to all who helped.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

best of luck

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Im still having problems.

I have just bourght an SNB5600 but still I cannot connect to the internet.

I am downloadind SP3 for xp to see if that has any effect.

This is really bad!! VM just fob me off saying it is everything but their fault.

My Pc does connect to the router Im sure. I can pick it up in my wireless networks tab But I never seem to have a default gateway.

We I connect directly to the modem by ethernet I get an Ip address no problem.

It seems all the routers have a problem connecting to the VM network.

Can anyone help?

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

if you had a visit from a service tech all he would do is remove the router from the wiring config and prove connectivity wired straight from the modem to the p.c. as youve done,thereby proving that what youre paying VM for you are in fact receiving. i.e. an internet connection.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

Only badly configured or faulty routers. Pay someone to set your wireless network up and stop wasting VM's time.

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

:clap: well said horace. ;)

Re: virginmedia wireless issues
 

That is a little harsh. When you hit these problems (as I did) it gets very frustrating and it is difficult to see the wood through the trees.

JohnnyD. As I understand matters you can get to the configuration/setup of your wireless router and the default gateway is NOT a VM IP address? **NOTE** according to the web pages I visited (hopefully in my previous posts) there is a real possibility the router will NOT be given the VM address if the VM cable modem was previously given directly to the PC. (i.e. did you unplug your PC from it and then in to the wireless router and then not see the expected IP in the WR?).

I'd really urge you to switch everthing off - leave it for a few hours and then power on in the following order (allowing a few minutes between each).

1. Cable Modem
2. PC
3. WR.

I'd also recommend the web pages I mentioned. Best of luck.