virginmedia wireless issues

[The Hitman]

Originally Posted by jonnyd

sounds good.
The router has just dropped again. I reckon its a pile of *****...
Everytime I buy something from pcworld it turns out to be ****. But I keep going back!!!!
Have you got the model number?

Sure its a philips SNB5600 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHILIPS-SNK560...d=p3286.c0.m14

Its also vista compatable which is an added bonus

PC world also sell this model. So u might do an exchange or something.

[jonnyd]

thnx again.
Ive bourght it. Im gonna take the belkin back asp.
fingers crossed this sorts the problem.

[The Hitman]

Originally Posted by jonnyd

thnx again.
Ive bourght it. Im gonna take the belkin back asp.
fingers crossed this sorts the problem.

Let us know if it works

[Kymmy]

OK, I've had to phone tech support twice this last fortnightm both times to get the modem reset as it wouldn't give out dynamic IP's, my statics were fine but the modem wouldn;t give out dynamics to my router, laptop, three different nics.

Sounds like your problem and definately wasn;t the router. A quick call to tech support both times asking them to quickly reset the modem thier end cured the problem..

Next time I'm gonna insist on a new modem (currently on a 2050 which is basically a 255 with different case and a USB port)

[pete515]

Johnnyd - I am with you on this,

I'm also experiencing problems VERY similar to yours and I am with Virgin Media. I had VM engineer around today who changed the cable modem but I am still in the same situation as previously. Direct connection to the CM works but connection via a Wireless router does not (either using a cable or wireless connection). The symptoms are that the IP address on the WAN (internet/CM) side is not being sent/configured in the Wireless router. When working (direct) my DHCP IP address is 82.5.70..... (Virgin Media) but the address via the Wireless Router (ON THE Wireless router WAN port itself is NOT in this range). It is the Microsoft default 162 (something).... if I remember correctly.

Most bizarre so I'd be interested if a new WM solves your problem.

Pete.

Everything was working fine until last Saturday.

[jonnyd]

this sounds exactly like my problem.
Im sure it is something to do with the dynamic allocation of IPs as suggested by Kymmy.
Whats so frustrated is that VM deny all responsibility.
Kymmy suggests phoning VM and asking them reset the modem at their end which seems like a total cop out.

Incidentally I still think this thread should be in a different section.

[LondonRoad]

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm picking this up wrong but if the connection stay constant, no drop outs, if the wireless router is not in the circuit then I don't think it's a VM fault. It does sound like Kymmy has a dodgey modem but the set up jonnyd has works fine with the wireless router removed.

Have you tried a different channell? Could be neighbours AV (audiovisual) transmitter or another wireless router on the same channel nearby?.

[pete515]

Johnnyd,

One other thing I should mention. I have tried connecting 2 distinct PCs direct to the Cable Router. One is a laptop using Windows Vista - eventually the Virgin IP address is picked up (82.....) but on my regular machine (Windows 2000 Pro) the Virgin IP address is NOT picked up (defaults to the Microsoft 169.. address). Neither works via the wireless router which was working OK a week or so ago (occasionally the WR gets a 192.168.100... address which is NOT in the range specified for anything configured on it - i.e. the local lan).

Now I am quite prepared to admit that my WR might be playing up but I think it TOO much of a coincidence that...

1. You have 2 WRs not working.
2. I have a Windows2000 PC which also is having issues getting the Virgin DHCP allotted address direct from the cable router.

I really don't know if VM have tweaked their DHCP so that things stop working (for some WRs and Win2000) but that is my guess - and I am a professional network person. Unfortunately there is no easy way of discovering what is going on as VM "Support" just tell you to reboot the CM (yeah, as if we haven't already tried that multiple times) or if you are lucky replace the thing (and it still gives problems).

Pete.

---------- Post added at 11:34 ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 ----------

Harmitage,

Whilst I would agree that on the face of it that our WRs are responsible. The factors mitigating against this are:-

1. The Wireless router has a LAN side (wireless) and a WAN side (wire). It is NOT the wireless LAN which is not working (my PCs are quite happily getting local lan addresses AND I can use the wireless lan to talk to the WR (configuration) itself. The problem is on the WAN side (to the Cable Router) which is hard wired and the Virgin DHCP address is NOT being supplied by the CM. So I don't think it is an issue with wireless interference.

2. Even with a direct connection to the cable-router one of my PCs (running Windows2000 though this might just be a red herring) isn't getting the Virgin DHCP supplied address whilst another one is. Is it likely that so many devices are having issues getting the DHCP address? I don't know.

Pete.

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 ----------

All,

Sorry to bug everyone but there may be a solution in the following article:-

http://www.digitalspy.biz/forums/sho...php?p=11916968

I am going to try a few things this evening in light of what the article says (the clone MAC address bit). If it works I'll post. The original problem in the article mimics 100% what I am seeing - even down to the IP addresses!

Pete.

[LondonRoad]

Pete
It does sound like you have a different problem from the OP who was getting steady direct connection. Good Luck with trying cloning although I have my doubts. I think the VM dhcp server just issues an ip address to the mac address so it doesn't know if it's a PC or a router. Switching the modem off, etc and pluggin any piece of equipment (set for dhcp) with a mac address into it, switch back on and the mac address should be issued with an IP address.

Don't know why your w2k PC isn't working and your and your Vista is. Is the nic OK? set for dhcp? If after switching off modem and connecting laptop, you get ip address every time, I'd be looking to see if there's a fault with the PC nic or set up. I know how frustrating it is, been in your shoes often, sometimes it's better to go back to the start. Good luck

[pete515]

Harmatage,

Thanks, as you say sometimes it is worth leaving things a day or so to reconsider things with a clear head - fortunately I am forced to do this as I'm at work and the equipment is at home!

On reflection I am wondering whether (after the flush of success in getting the laptop working) I simply unplugged the cable from the laptop and plugged it directly in to the W2000 PC. In these circumstances (if I understand the article referred to) the PC won't get the DHCP address from the DHCP server via the CM as it has already given it to a PC with another MAC address. Anyway I'll see tonight when I do things very methodically.

Pete.

[pete515]

Well I am eating humble pie now! I got home after reading extensively about DHCP and cable modems and did the following:-

1. Ensured WAN cable in Wireless Router connected to the Cable Modem.
2. Ensured Win2000 PC cable attached to lan port in WR.
3. Powered on the cable modem. Waited to ensure SYNC and READY lit.
4. Powered on Wireless Router. Ensured WAN light was lit.
5. Powered on laptop (uses wireless lan). Ensured VLAN connection was ON.
6. Connected to internet - worked first time.
7. Powered on PC (hard wired to WR) Ensured LAN light on WR was ON.
8. Connected this PC to internet - worked first time.

DOH! It looks like I was a victim of doing things on the fly and maybe not recognising the technicalities of how DHCP addresses are given out and cached. Upon my "research" I came across a very helpful set of articles at the following URLs:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...tips/dhcp.html


It really is very good and gives excellent insights into issues like this.

JohnnyD - mine is a crappy old Netgear WR so maybe you don't have to chuck away your old WR and buy a new one??

Now, where is the rest of that pie.

Thanks to all who helped.

[sunildhyani]

best of luck

[jonnyd]

Im still having problems.

I have just bourght an SNB5600 but still I cannot connect to the internet.

I am downloadind SP3 for xp to see if that has any effect.

This is really bad!! VM just fob me off saying it is everything but their fault.

My Pc does connect to the router Im sure. I can pick it up in my wireless networks tab But I never seem to have a default gateway.

We I connect directly to the modem by ethernet I get an Ip address no problem.

It seems all the routers have a problem connecting to the VM network.

Can anyone help?

[on in an hour!]

Originally Posted by jonnyd

Im still having problems.

I have just bourght an SNB5600 but still I cannot connect to the internet.

I am downloadind SP3 for xp to see if that has any effect.

This is really bad!! VM just fob me off saying it is everything but their fault.

My Pc does connect to the router Im sure. I can pick it up in my wireless networks tab But I never seem to have a default gateway.

We I connect directly to the modem by ethernet I get an Ip address no problem.

It seems all the routers have a problem connecting to the VM network.

Can anyone help?

if you had a visit from a service tech all he would do is remove the router from the wiring config and prove connectivity wired straight from the modem to the p.c. as youve done,thereby proving that what youre paying VM for you are in fact receiving. i.e. an internet connection.

[Horace]

Originally Posted by jonnyd

It seems all the routers have a problem connecting to the VM network.

Only badly configured or faulty routers. Pay someone to set your wireless network up and stop wasting VM's time.