Ethernet Problems.

tezmac · 09-10-2006, 20:34

I have been trying to set up a wireless router for a while now, to get the internet on my laptop.

I bought a belkin router, and went through all the wizard and that, only to be told the router cannot connect to the internet.

I was orignally connecting my NTL modem, to my computer by USB. To get the router to work I needed to switch to ethernet cable. When i tested my modem on its own, connected to the computer by ethernet this would not work.

Ive been told NTL can disable the ethernet connection if I am connecting by USB, but I need the ethernet to get the router to connect....

Its all quite confusing... and I dont know what to do!

Help!

Druchii · 09-10-2006, 20:41

Switch the modem off for around 30 seconds, then try

This is called power-cycling

Halcyon · 09-10-2006, 20:42

to the forums.

You may also have to de-install the USB drivers too.

Normally switch on the devices in this order:

1. NTL Modem.
2. Router.
3. Computers and laptops.

tezmac · 09-10-2006, 20:51

Right thanks for the replys! I am a bit of a novice when It comes to this so you will have to bear with me...

I have tried turning the modem off and on a few times, but I always get an icon saying I have a limited or no connection....

How would I go about de-installing usb drivers....

I attempted to put in the NTL world disk and re-install drivers choosing ethernet, but it would not allow me to do so, saying there were problems with the usb cable modem, and to disable it....

all very confusing!

Druchii · 09-10-2006, 20:53

Which ethernet cable are you using? The one that came with the modem, or the one that came with the router?

Might be worth trying both.

MovedGoalPosts · 09-10-2006, 20:59

Which modem have you got? There is always a possibility that it's ethernet port is broken, rather than disabled.

When you switch to ethernet from USB, are you completely unplugging the USB cables from the modem? The modem can only support one at a time, not both. You must, as stated above, power cycle the modem when you change connected devices or cables.

Which Belkin router do you have? It is a broadband router, that does not have an inbuilt ADSL modem, as the ADSL modems are incompatible with cable?

tezmac · 09-10-2006, 21:30

Just the basic ntl home broadband cable wirless. The router is a belkin wireless g mimo router.

And yes, I have taken the usb cables out.... still no luck...

thanks for the help anways and keep it coming ! :-)

MovedGoalPosts · 09-10-2006, 21:36

Really weird. I assume you can get to the router's admin setup pages when the router is connected by ethernet to the PC. It's just you cannot get the router to speak to the modem via a second ethernet cable at the same time.

Assuming the above is correct, power everything off, unplug all the USB cables at each end, plug the ethernet cable end (the one between the PC and router), from the router end into the modem, power on and see if you have a connection - do any of the lights show on the modem, or your ethernet card. If there is no connection, phone ntl, and state that the ehternet port on your router has failed and you need a replacement cable modem.

janipewter · 10-10-2006, 14:03

In this order, making sure you have completely removed the USB cable from the modem and your PC:

1) Switch everything off
2) Connect modem to router with ethernet cable (make sure it's a UTP cable and not a crossover, the one which came with your modem is a UTP so it's fine), making sure you plug it into the WAN port, not any LAN ports.
3) Connect router to your PC with ethernet cable (also make sure it's a UTP and not a crossover, the one which should have come with your router is also a UTP so it's fine). This can go in any of the LAN ports on the router, it doesn't matter.
4) Turn on the router. Give it a couple of seconds to run through the self test, and then turn on the modem. This way the modem learns the routers mac address and it gets an IP assigned to it. Wait about 30 seconds for the modem to fully boot, and then reboot the router. This allows the router to pick up the connectivity from the modem.
5) Turn on your PC and test Internet. It should work fine.

Halcyon · 10-10-2006, 14:16

One of your steps is not neccesary. You don't need to reboot the router if you switch it on AFTER the modem. The modem needs to connect to the NTL network. Then, it will talk to the router. The router sorts out connections for each PC so once the modem and then router are on, you can then switch on each PC and the router will be ready to acquire each PC.

janipewter · 10-10-2006, 21:12

Yes but NTL issues IP addresses based on the MAC address of the device the modem is connected to, and it first needs to find out what it's connected to. If it was connected by USB to your computer and you unplugged it and plugged it back in then it's fine since the MAC would be the same, but since you're going from USB->PC to Ethernet->Router then it needs to learn the new MAC address. Then you must restart the router for it to pick up the connectivity from the modem.