wireless bundle
 

Hi,
Helpless female here trying to use an Actiontec NTL router bundle (got the details from NTL site). Thought I'd got it all working but found I couldn't browse although the Actiontec software said I was connected & their guy in India (yep!) talked me through a few things which didn't solve the prob. NTL also told me I was connected!
Now wondering if the prob could be the fact that my NTL boradband connection is via a 'USB to fast ethernet adapter' and that what I really need is a card in my pc. (more expense). Could any of you expert guys point me in the right direction on this one please?
Jo

Re: wireless bundle
 

Hi Jo

:welcome: to the site:)

no expert here, I'm afraid, especially on wireless connections. However, could you let us know if you connect using a Set Top Box or a Stand Alone Cable Modem?

The reason I ask is that with 'wired' routers you have to copy or 'clone' the MAC address of a Set Top Box into the router and I can't imagine it would be any different with a wireless one. With a stand alone modem, this 'cloning' step isn't necessary.

I don't think the usb adapter is an issue at this stage, unless you have low resources on your pc. Bear in mind if you do get a card for your pc it will have to be a wireless ethernet card, which is more expensive than a standard one - and it will make your USB adapter redundant.

One other thought is can you get into the router setup screens & check you have it set to 'obtain an IP address automatically' & 'DHCP server' enabled, then do a 'DHCP release' & then 'DHCP renew' & see if you get assigned an IP.

Gaz

Re: wireless bundle
 

if it was showing as connected to ntl then they are seeing the modem connecting to the router.


try opening internet explorer and accessing the routers internal config page ususally an ip address 192.168.100.1 or something.

if this page does not display then the pc is not talking to the router. this could be a wireless problem or problem with drivers for the usb adapter.

Re: wireless bundle
 

Hi Gaz, Set Top Box connection. - Checked the Ip address & DHCP server bits with the Actiontec guy - were all ok. - Just been looking at www.dur.ac.uk IT site re networks and it says mac address same as adapter address in 'winipcfig' - should I try that dyathink?
Jo

Re: wireless bundle
 

routers internal config page works ok - showed I was connected, that was when I checked with NTL.
Mac address was loads of zeros & NTL broadband help didn't know whether or not that was right!

Re: wireless bundle
 

do you mean the ip address was loads of zeros?

that could have been a dialup adapter or something else. if you can see the router internal page then the mac address of the router needs regging with ntl - alternatively you could close the mac addy of the modem - its on the bottom and starts with 00

u can do this by accessing the relevant option in the router config page

Re: wireless bundle
 

you lost me on the 'mac addy of the modem' bit (set top box connection) but the mac address on the router internal page was def. all zeros - other addresses were correct (chceked by ntl)

how do I find the mac address of the router or do I assume zeros are right? and how reg with NTL?

Re: wireless bundle
 

Hi Jo

I would try cloning the MAC address of the STB into the router. It should be written on a sticker, probably underneath. i.e. replace the zero's showing in the router config with the numbers/letters of the MAC address of the stb. Then switch everything off & reboot everything starting with the stb, then the router, then the usb adapter & finally the pc. Give each peripheral time to settle down at each stage in the re-boot process.

Gaz

Re: wireless bundle
 

oops forgote it was STB! follow homealone's advice you cant go far wrong

Re: wireless bundle
 

Thanks homealone & threadbare (love the names) for the advice and help, I'll give these ideas a whirl over the weekend and see what happens, will let you know next week!
Jo

Re: wireless bundle
 

no problem Jo, hope you get it sorted, if not post back in here & I'm sure some of the other members will have some more advice.:)

(oh you shouldn't need to re-register your stb btw)

Gaz

Re: wireless bundle
 

best of luck

Re: wireless bundle
 

Surely this is wrong. It makes no sense to clone the STB's own internal MAC address into the router's WAN port. Having two identical MAC addresses on the same network segment will cause all sorts of bad problems.

What sometimes helps is to clone the MAC address of a previously registered customer device into the router's WAN port. In this case, the previously registered customer device is the ethernet-to-USB converter attached to the customer's PC. The MAC address of this can be discovered by opening a command prompt window and typing the command:

ipconfig /all

in the output of which it is listed as "Physical address".

Re: wireless bundle
 

thanks rdhw:dunce: - do you get that jo?

Re: wireless bundle
 

Just reading through the thread what needs to happen is a reboot of the STB that will take Jo to the registration page then release and renew the router IP after registration. Also suggest NIC as opposed to usb to router

Re: wireless bundle
 

Well folks, delighted to say I got it sorted - mac address was what was needed. I think maybe Gaz was right in a kind of a way because I uninstalled everything, started again, put the ethernet adapter address into the router software setup manually to replace the zeros and wow browsing from 2 rooms, great! Many thanks again.

Re: wireless bundle
 

Well it was Robin Walkers advice to clone the MAC address of the adapter, Jo, so I can't take any credit for that:) - but I am glad you got it sorted - happy browsing:)

Gaz