NTL set top box router

MarkinStoke · 22-11-2005, 23:00

Hi Guys,
After reading some of the other threads and thinking to myself "god these know what they're on about" i thought i would ask you a hopefully simple question.
I have a NTL set top box which i run Broad Band for my computer from, i also have a works laptop which i'm trying to connect up to it to, i have tried just plugging the ethernet cable into my L/T but nothing happens and have been told i need a router. is this correct? if it is can you recommend a good one not bothered about it being wirless to be honest.
i did speak to NTL BB enquires and they said i should be ablt to run 2 machines from my STB, and that i only need to input my PID and password again, but no that didn't work because that box never even came up. or would it be easier just to get NTL to fit stand alone Modem

Wicked_and_Crazy · 22-11-2005, 23:06

You dont need a router however it would be easier if you had one. IF you dont want to get a router you need to clone the MAC address of the NIC in your PC onto your laptop. This is because the STB will only provide access for one MAC address and this has to be register to the STB.

Linksys WRT54GS would be good if your laptop can connect wirelessly

this is a bit convoluted, but in the thread below the person had the same problems except they were using a PS2 and a PC on the STB

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ht=mac+address

MovedGoalPosts · 23-11-2005, 00:28

Moved to Computers & IT

MovedGoalPosts · 23-11-2005, 00:33

You can only have one device at a time connected directly to the STB. If you want to switch devices, i.e. your home PC, to the lappy, you must power off the STB, and all computers, rearrange the ethernet wires, so that only the alternate is connected, then power up the STB and then the new PC, or lappy (old one off). Your new PC or lappy then needs to be registered with ntl (go to start:ntl in Internet Explorer). Once registered, next time you swap over, you shouldn't need to reregister.

A router saves all this faffing around of power on / off, etc. Power off the STB, plug the router to the STB, Power on the STB and then the router. Plug the router to PC one, and register the router with ntl via it's admin functions (that's where MAC clonign might come in), then plug whatever computers or lappys to the router and the router will take care of their connections.

MarkinStoke · 23-11-2005, 11:36

I think it's a pity NTL don't support Router's as this is driving me mad.
i bought a router today the instructions are awful computer keeps asking for pid and password, so i called NTL, who told me to dissconect the router and then sorted the BB out for me, which is fine. but was then told we can't help you with the router as we don't support them "really did my head in" so now i'm back to square one and so frustrated.

SMHarman · 23-11-2005, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkinStoke

I think it's a pity NTL don't support Router's as this is driving me mad.
i bought a router today the instructions are awful computer keeps asking for pid and password, so i called NTL, who told me to dissconect the router and then sorted the BB out for me, which is fine. but was then told we can't help you with the router as we don't support them "really did my head in" so now i'm back to square one and so frustrated.

Which router? How are you connected to it, wired or wireless? Do you connect through a Set Top Box or Cable Modem?
We should be able to help.

MarkinStoke · 23-11-2005, 12:05

it's a sitecom broadband xdsl /cable router running from my Set top box
i connected it all up fine, but then then intructions went haywire and am currentley lost, have been trying to call the support but it's engageded all the time

SMHarman · 23-11-2005, 12:52

Have a look at this
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...r.html#pacereg

You need to get the MAC address of the Router allocated to the STB. Plug it in, power cycle the STB, then the Router, then the PC and you should be able to access.

http://start.ntl or
https://autoreg.autoregister.net/start.html

ntl-ct8-cb487 is the serial number you might need, you will also need your UID and PW from the welcome letter(s).

Once the router is registered it should all be fine.

I assume this is a wired only router? If not do all the set up wired then once you can surf wired setting up the wireless is another step.

Ramrod · 23-11-2005, 13:31

Netgear WGR 614 router works fine with my samsung stb and my laptop is connected with a pcmcia card
.......and the router will give you a hardware firewall as well

MarkinStoke · 23-11-2005, 16:02

It's working fine now, a techqui from work told me too just set it up and wait, i did this and 3-4 hrs later rebooted and it was fine. she told me it usually takes this time for NTL to recognise that a new ip is present..
Thanks guys for all your help anyways, some of the links were very interesting and a more capable person may have used them better than myself.
Cheers mark