Home Network Problem - Please Help!

-ToasT- · *Last edited by -ToasT-; 08-16-2005 at 06:52.*

*DISREGARD ... MY PROBLEMS ARE ACTUALLY A FEW POSTS DOWN*

Okay, so I got my new networking gear today (a Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router and a Netgear gaming adapter). I go to set the router up, figuring it'd be easier to do it manually since I'm already using a router. That failed miserably, so thinking it was my fault, I grabbed my dad's laptop (the computer that I use to directly connect to the modem) and run their set up CD. The set up CD worked great, all the way up until it checked my internet connection. First try it didn't work. I looked over at my cable modem (a RCA one with 4 green lights, one orange) and only the top two were flashing. This is a bad sign as it means that my modem has somehow restarted. So I waited through about the first six retrys, and then I unplugged the modem, waited about 30 seconds and plugged it back in. The modem appeared to go back into working order, but the Easy Installation CD claimed I was unable to connect tot he internet. So I tried, to no avail. Now I'm worried.

I then tried power cycling the modem, leaving it off for 4-5 minutes and then retrying the connection. This didn't work either. Every time I get it connected, it seems to work (judging from the little lights) but when I try to connect to the internet. It just sits there, eventually telling me the page connect be displayed. I look over at the modem, and it has appeared to reset itself again. What is happening?!?

I have called customer support and they told me it was the modem. Could this be true? The modem is about 2 1/2 - 3 years old, and this router just came in like April.

Right now, my modem is working fine with my Linksys 4-port router. I can leave the thing on for weeks w/o ever have ANY problems. Now, just trying to set up the Belkin router causes serious issues.

This happens on both my PC (not the new one, the Compaq) and y dad's laptop. Could it be that setting everything up on a computer that usually doesn't access the internet screwed everything up? I don't know, proably not since it plays fine with my other router. I ahven't had the opportunity to have problems with my wireless adapter!

Any suggestions are welcome. Finch, if you're out there, please help!

-ToasT- · 08-16-2005, 06:26 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

lol, nevermind (for now) it just hates my dad's laptop. I connect it w/o the laptop on lan, works like a dream.

Damn Toshiba, getting me all worked up

-ToasT- · 08-16-2005, 06:51 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

OKay, now I need help. I have my router working (I'm pretty sure, it's been about 20 minutes w/o problems) but now I can't get the adapter to work. It's supposed to be plug and play, but all I get is the "little or no connectivity" message. I'm sure this has something to do with me not setting up the router correctly. Any settings I need to turn on or off so that the device can find the internet?

The network has no security settings enabled, so I'm not sure what the casue of this is.

kovboi · 08-16-2005, 07:01 | posts: 286

hmm, never messed with one of these gaming adapters before, but it basically looks like an external wireless NIC for your console. is this the one you have:
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGE111.php

-ToasT- · *Last edited by -ToasT-; 08-16-2005 at 07:33.*

Yeah, that's the one. The catch is that I'm using it for my computer, not a PS2/XBOX. Well, I'm trying to use it on my computer, but so far, neither computer is working for me. And the documentation on this thing sucks.

*EDIT*

And also, the wireless on the router is working fine, better than I expected actually. Even my dad's evil Toshiba is connecting several rooms away with Excellent signal @ 54MBS. So it must be some weird issue with the adapter. I might just have to return it to NewEgg (a pretty easy process, right?) and get a Pre-N card. Damn, that will take time and $$. Things I already have too little of.

kovboi · 08-16-2005, 07:38 | posts: 286

well, if you're not going to use the netgear with a console then you'd probably save yourself a lot of hassle (and save a lot of money) by returning it and getting a PCI wireless NIC like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156141

but if you want to exhaust all other options first...

1) are you sure it's the adapter that's not working or is it your computer? if you have access to an xbox or ps2, you could test it to make sure.

2) on the router, make sure you have DHCP enabled. on your computer, open up a command prompt and type "ipconfig /release". then shut everything down, turn everything off - modem, router, adapter, computers. wait a full minute, then turn on the modem. wait for it to connect, then turn on the router, then the adapter. turn on the computers last.

3) if it's still no go, check to make sure you don't have any crucial services or protocols disabled on your gaming pc. sometimes enabling netbios (in TCP/IP settings) will resolve the "little or no connectivity" problem you mentioned.

-ToasT- · 08-16-2005, 07:58 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

Okay, I'll try those. Thanks!

*Wow you are up late. What time is it there? Almost 2:00? 3:00? Thanks for the late-nite help, I'll sleep a hell of a lot better now

kovboi · 08-16-2005, 23:12 | posts: 286

yeah, insomnia strikes again.

hope you manage to get things fixed!

-ToasT- · 08-17-2005, 04:29 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

... resetting the router was a HUGE mistake. Now it's doing the exact same crap as detailed in my first post. I have no idea why, it was working for like 20 hours straight. What is going on!??! I'm going to return the stupid wireless thing because it doesn't seem to work at all. I'll just get a normal PCI one I guess. Hopefully I can get the router back in line.

Please help. Anybody.

-ToasT- · 08-17-2005, 05:45 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

And newegg won't take these items back b/c they are warrented through the manufacturer only. Damn.

kovboi · 08-17-2005, 15:45 | posts: 286

Quote:

Originally posted by -Hardba||er-
... resetting the router was a HUGE mistake. Now it's doing the exact same crap as detailed in my first post.

wait, in your first post you said it was the modem that was at fault, right? you've got me confused now. if that's the case again, the problem may not be on your end but on your provider's. you might check to make sure that your router didn't reset to default values - if so, you may have to provide some basic info in the setup (domain name, gateway, or other info, depending on your type of account).

bad luck with the return. if you pester customer service at netgear about the gaming adapter, you might get lucky and be offered a buyback (but be nice to the people there).

-ToasT- · 08-17-2005, 17:42 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

I said I thought that the modem was at fault. But after teh router worked for a while, I figured it was just bad luck a few times and things were good.

But after last night, the modem was refusing to work with either router for a while, I called Comcast. Amazingly, I got a person who spoke perfect English, knew what he was talking about, and was nice at the same time. We deducted that it is my modem that's at fault, so I'll be replacing that.

Throughout this whole ordeal, I've decided to just get a separate broadband account for my room. The wireless router will have been a waste (well, not completely. I'll use to split the connection between my computer and my PS2). But the adapter is a complete waste ... although it might be faulty. Most people claimed that the plug-and-play worked as advertised, which it should have done with my connection seeing as I have NO security measures on the wireless (when it worked) and my dad's laptop connected perfectly. Even the stupid lights on the adapter claimed it was receiving a wireless signal. So now I get to deal with the fact that I bought a $130 wireless router for nothing, along wiht a $70 adapter. And I'll probably have to foot a $45/mo comcast bill. Ah, life is good

Anyway, thanks for trying to help. I really do appreciate it.

-ToasT- · 08-18-2005, 07:23 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

Ah, things have changed again! I have now decided (which I should have done in the first place) to buy a 100ft CAT-5e cable and just run it all the way to my room from my current router. And how much was that? Oh, with shipping and rush service, $16 at NewEgg. If only I would have thought of that in the first place...

And I nicely emailed NewEgg about my order, explained that I don't need the components anymore, and they issued me an RMA, just like that. Service doesn't get any better than that, especially since both my router and adapter were "warrented through manu. only".

So, when all is said and done, I will have pursued the cheapest and most reliable route ... LAN cables

What a waste of time ... dammit

kovboi · 08-18-2005, 16:53 | posts: 286

good thinking, and glad newegg was willing to accommodate you! wireless is great, but nothing beats the reliable simplicity of running cables.

-ToasT- · 08-18-2005, 17:13 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

Yeah NewEgg's the best

I would have done this in the first place, but I didn't think my mom would let me. But after all of the problems I've had, she's a bit more accomodating. Hopefully the LAN cable going down two hallways and a flight of stairs won't look too bad

kovboi · 08-18-2005, 17:19 | posts: 286

well if you're really industrious you can make it virtually invisible. in my apartment a couple years ago, i ran a cable up a flight of stairs and used some carpet tacks to pin it to the side, just under the carpet's edge. in my parents' house, my dad just dropped the cable through the attic to the electrical outlets in each room and it's totally invisible.

-ToasT- · 08-19-2005, 01:48 | posts: 2,530 | Location: Washington

See, that's the problem. I can't drill any holes, as this is a rental. Holes would make my life too easy

But yeah, I ordered a white one so it should be pretty inconspicuous.

Thanks for the tips though