Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Hi guys

I know you probably get asked this lots, but I cannot seem to get my cable modem swithced over to an ethernet connection from USB, which I need to do so I can install a wireless router. A few specifics:

Wireless Modem: Motorola SURFboard SB5100
Modem IP: <mod edit (Chris W) IP and Mac addresses removed>
PC: Dell (can't remember exact name, but is a P4-2800 roughly 18 months old)
Network Card IP 192.168.1.1 MAC: 00-0D-56-61-C2-31
Wireless Router : Linksys WRT54GC/HR200 compact.

I have read a thread where someone tells Chabbychang how to do this, and I followed that, but although my pc could talk to the modem (PC/Activity light flashing) I couldn't connect to the net.

If I connect up the wireless router to the modem and the PC, my laptop sees the router (strong signal strength), but the PC doesn't want to connect to it.

Please help - need to get said laptop up and running wireless before Xmas for my daughter.

Thanks in advance.

Pete

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Best thing to do is to connect via cable first of all so that you can set the router up properly and then go wireless. Which thread did you read and follow?

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Paul

Tried it with just an ethernet cable between the modem and pc, but to no avail - as I say, got the orange pc/activity light flashing, but not able to connect to the net at all, so I need some help getting the modem running via the ethernet cable, then I believe that the wireless router will work fine after that.

Just to say, I know the network card is fine as I have had a laptop connected on a local network using a crossover cable to this pc.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

are you rebooting the cable modem when you are changing the device that connects to it? You need to do this.

Also, are you using a straight ethernet cable or a cross over? The Surfboard modems need you to use a straight cable.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Hi Chris - thanks for replying

The cable is definitely a straight ethernet cable. I have switched off everything and disconnected the power from the modem, disconnected the usb cable, connected the modem direct to the PC with the ethernet cable (light on the ethernet socket on back of PC), then booted the modem first, waiting for the lights to settle down, then switched on the PC. No access to the net.

Plugged the usb cable back in, access to net.

Help - beginning to pull clumps of hair out!

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Hi Pete,
Change your PC Network Card settings to automatically recive an IP address.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Thanks AP - will try that when I get in from work.

Where do I go to change that option?

Cheers

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

control panel
network and internet connections
network connections
right click the Local Area Connection
properties
double click TCP/IP
check the Obtain IP address Automatically radio button
check the Obtian DNS server address automatically radio button

also, if you are using XP, check the Alternate Configuration tab and make sure that is set to Automatic private IP adress

once this is done open up a DOS prompt and then type:

ipconfig /release
and then
ipconfig/ renew

and hopefully everything should work.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Follow Kevins instructions Pete.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Thanks Kevin (and AP)

Didn't get a chance to get anywhere near the PC last night, but should hopefully be able to do that tonight.

As soon as I've done the above, presumably I need to switch off, disconnect the usb cable from the modem, connect the ethernet cable, boot modem and then the pc once the modem has settled down? Once that is up and running, connect the wireless router between the modem and PC?

Thanks again.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Superb Kevin, you're some machine!

All up and running with the modem connected by ethernet cable now.

Thanks again.

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Hey guys I'm getting this problem also, but a lot stranger.

I power cycle both surfboard and pc.
Swap USB for CAT 5.
When the OS finishes it faffing I go to a prompt
IPCONFIG /ALL
Which shows:

IP in the 82.*.*.*
gateway as number 1 in that subnet.
and three DNS servers.

yet, I can't get a webpage or ping ANYTHING appart from myself.

So I go to Ethereal and set it sniffing and it's see's all the beautiful ARP of the internet and the occational DHCP offer or my PC going "DNS!" every so offen when something like AV trys to update.

Seriously p!553d by this point so I uninstall the AV and Zone Alarm (Windows Firewall has been disabled as a personal 'default' along with ncacn and dcom)

Still no luck! Any idea's?

Gonna reboot in linux now and see if I get any better luck.

Si

ps I've heard rummours about MAC logging at the ISP's end. Would I need to register a new NIC? if so do you know the uri?

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

no problem...glad its all working now!


syndaily, you need to power cycle the modem as well so that it picks up the MAC address of your NIC - just swapping the cables around doesn't work (as you've found!) You have picked up an IP address but as the MAC address isn't registered with the modem (which is the reason for the power cycle) you won't actuually be able to get outside your internal LAN.

---------- Post added at 21:49 ---------- Previous post was at 21:48 ----------

this registration is for the MAC address of the modem, not NIC's in machines

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

You just cannot swap, from usb to ethernet, and think everything will be ok!
When you installed the software you had to choose one or the other.
If you just run the software, and follow the instructions for an ethernet connection, you should be fine as i swapped over some time ago.
Thinking back you may have to have a new email address and you will notice the speed difference as networks were ment to run with ethernet
connections!!!

Re: Please help... cable modem from USB to Ethernet
 

Thats rubbish. There is no need to run the Software provided by NTL at all and you will not get a new Email Address either.