Can't get online with new Ambit modem

grahalex · 11-05-2008, 19:10

My mother in law has had a V+ box fitted along with new modem, Ambit 256.Even though the engineer couldn't get online after fitting new modem he left saying she should contact help line as he couldn't sort it out.I rang them on her behalf as she's a bit deaf and after trying various things, disconnecting modem etc Virgin said her drivers need updating, a bit difficult when you can't get online !!
She has a USB to Ethernet convertor, but they said NIC drivers needed updating.Can anyone help please.

BenMcr · 11-05-2008, 19:26

Are there 3 lights on the modem Sync, Ready and Power?

The only thing I can recommend is fit a proper NIC card.

The USB to E-net adapters can be more trouble than they are worth

grahalex · 11-05-2008, 19:36

Yes there are 3 lights on, it tries to connect but says finding address and hangs.The USB- E-Net adapter worked fine with the old modem.

11-05-2008, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahalex

Yes there are 3 lights on, it tries to connect but says finding address and hangs.The USB- E-Net adapter worked fine with the old modem.

The 256 is an Ethernet only modem and will not work with a adapter for it to work with USB it would require drivers, and the are no USB drivers available for that modem so you need to bin the adapter.

The only real solution is to go to your local PC store and purchase a Network Interface Card for around about Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£15 and install it, then she will get online.

BenMcr · 11-05-2008, 20:14

I think what the OP is describing is something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-USB-1...d_sbs_ce_img_1

They were issued way back by ntl when they used to do STB broadband

grahalex · 11-05-2008, 21:22

Thanks for that, will get Network card, will any do or do I neeed a specific type.It's a pity Virgin couldn't have told MIL that, would have saved a lot of aggro.

grahalex · 13-05-2008, 14:17

Turns out mother in law had a network card, she got a visit from Virgin to make sure everything had been connected properly, he connected ethernet cable to PC, still no internet, he said he wasn't a computer technician and left.I went round today, network connection said cannot find IP address.Rang technical support again, they told me to unplug white cable from modem and power off modem then reconnect.Did that, still no good, she told me to reconfigure network connection did that, still no good.Then she said nothing wrong at there end must be a winsock file missing on PC.
Everything was ok with old modem, suddenly new one fitted and files are missing, I suspect modem is faulty, can any one help on this ?
Also I have heard on this forum of a direct number to helpline in UK, does anyone have this number ?

Jonnymeg · 13-05-2008, 15:42

Was the modem connected via USB before?
Are you sure you are trying to connect via the ethernet card?

If is was usb delete all references to it form the network options in control panel.

grahalex · 13-05-2008, 17:49

Hi Jonnymeg, yes it was connected by usb before, but I have only got Realtek RTL8139/8 10x familyfast ethernet NIC now.

grahalex · 14-05-2008, 16:52

I'm just wondering why when MIL first got NTL Broadband they used USB convertor intsead of NIC connection, perhaps I need to install a new one, think the winsock idea Helpline came out with isn't right.

BenMcr · 14-05-2008, 17:05

Because when NTL first started doing broadband they did it through the STB which only had a Ethernet connection.

However at the time most PCs did not have a ethernet card in them

grahalex · 14-05-2008, 17:43

What I mean is MIL had an ethernet connection but NTL didn't use it, they used a ethernet to usb convertor.

BenMcr · 14-05-2008, 17:45

*shrugs* prob just down to the tech defaulting to it

grahalex · 14-05-2008, 18:08

Cheers BenMcr, what do you think about it being Winsock files missing ?

Peil · 14-05-2008, 18:29

Is she running XP/Vista or something older?

Reason I ask is that Winsock has been used since Windows 98.

If it's XP, right click on My Computer, go to Manage. Then open the Device Manager and go to Network Adapters in the right hand pane.

See if the NIC is listed, if not try clicking the blue computer icon on the toolbar (says scan for hardware changes when you hover your mouse over it)

Once you've done that try opening a command prompt and type IPCONFIG

If nothing is showing there, IPCONFIG /RENEW should force a new DHCP lease, if it doesn't work, call em again.