Broadband - Modem - Negative Wires

[AJC]

I initially 'pooh poohed' the idea of this section on the forum but now I'm going to use it I think it's a bloody great idea.

What do I need?

I want to get onto Broadband with my current ISP who don't provide their own hardware.

I mainly use a laptop and don't want the telephone lead running to wherever I am so it's a wireless setup I want.

Am I looking at the right bits of kit?

I reckon I need a Modem and Wireless Router and a card (receiver/transmitter) for the PCMCIA card slot. What must I look for to ensure compatability between card and modem?

What is ADSL, MBPS and is a filter in the modem?

In order to search the net what are the correct names for the bits of kit I need and what spec or can anyone recommend a good value for money setup?

Many thanks.

AJ

[Slime101]

Right, firstly do you have an ADSL connection m8??

If not then go to www.adslguide.org and have a nose about, very handy. Personally I use (and so do many of my clients on my reccomendation) Freedom 2 Surf (www.f2s.net) - if you want to go with them let me know cos i get money for reccomending peeps!!

512K will do you fine for just about anything, be careful about restricted packages tho because when the penalties come in for overuse they will be steep, i'm on the Home IP unlimited 512k package £22.50 a month inc VAT. Anything more than 512k is nice, but not nessecary.

What you need is a Wireless Router, preferrably with a modem built in for ease of setup and use. Then on the laptop if it doesnt have wireless built in you need a PCMCIA card.

For compatability you ideally stick with one manufacturer for all the kit, thus going with Belkin, or D-Link (like me) or 3Comm, or Netgear etc. for the router and pcmcia card is wise.

Speed wise the origional standard was 802.11b, and is plenty fast enough for general sufing and light file sharing across a network. Then comes the 802.11g, this is about 5 times faster and is worth having as its no more expensive and more widespread now and is backward compatable. Many manufacturers have enhanced modes which only work within their own kit as they are not "standard"....this can be good or bad, but doesnt matter either way tbh. I use a D-Link DSL-604+ and a built in wireless on my lappy, works flawlessly, has 4 ports for Wired connections, a wireless transmitter and built in ADSL modem...it can be had for under £50 inc Vat now too!!!

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk
www.ebuyer.co.uk

MicroFilters are needed for EVERY point you plug in a phone or modem, they simply cut out the undeeded signal at that point and make it all work nicely, should be under £5 each and are easy to fit as they just plug in!

[AJC]

Slime you're a star.

Checked and I'm within an ADSL area.

I intend to stay with current ISP as I just can't be arsed to change my e-mail address again. Sorry, but if I do I'll let you know.

Lappy doesn't have a built in wireless modem so a PCMCIA card will be required.

Funny you mentioned that modem as I had looked earlier but at the time I wasn't sure what I required. Is this bundle the chappy?

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=1095&CategoryID=80&ShopGroupID=38

What do you reckon to this bundle?

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=82066

Extremely grateful Slime for all that info and advice.

Cheers

AJ

[Slime101]

AJ - Either of those 2 bundles would do the job perfectly well, they both have a router with modem and hardware (ish) firewall built in which is good, and come with PCMCIA card. Takes your pick. I personally use D-Link but 3Com make excellent kit and its slightly cheaper too which is a bonus!

[AJC]

Cheers Slime.

I'll go for the one you have. Any setup snags I have you can sort me out when you come through Plymouth. :D

Cheers

AJ

[Slime101]

Well thats the new version of the one i have, but its a good bit of kit. Never caused me any probs.

[AJC]

Slime,

Finally got round to purchasing a wireless setup.

I got the D-Link items as recommended;

DWL-G650+ Cardbus Adapter
DSL-G604T ADSL Router

This is now the 3rd evening of attempting to get this setup working with no joy.:confused:

The Adapter and the Router are talking to each other. I know that.

I cannot log onto my BB connection.

What connections/settings should I be looking out for.

I'm using XP Pro and went through the new connection wizard, wireless connection and put in the details provided by my ISP.

Help.:(

AJ

[Slime101]

Ok m8....lets start @ the beginning

1) Who is your ISP and what settings have they provided?
2) Have you had your ADSL working at all, do you KNOW its been enabled?
3) Can you connect to and log into the router?


When setting up a wireless router, you need to be connected to it via a cable...seems strange but you do.

Once you answer them we shall continue :)

[AJC]

Ok m8....lets start @ the beginning

1) Who is your ISP and what settings have they provided?
2) Have you had your ADSL working at all, do you KNOW its been enabled?
3) Can you connect to and log into the router?


When setting up a wireless router, you need to be connected to it via a cable...seems strange but you do.

Once you answer them we shall continue :)

Cheers for the quick reply Simon.

1. With Virgin who gave me a username and password (the one I'm using now)
2. ADSL working now with BB modem (wire type)
3. The router shows as connected but I don't know how to log onto the router

Standing by................

AJ

[Slime101]

Ok, at least we know that the ADSL is working then, thats a good start as it can be a right pain configuring a non existant connection :p (experience tells me that!)

1) Logging on to your router, firstly connect a cable (normal patch, NOT crossover...might have come with one) to your laptop and into port 1 on the router.

2) Go to START ---> Run ---> CMD
This will bring up a dos window. Type the following:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

This should get a new IP address from the router to which you are connected, if ti doesnt then we have a problem and have to manually config it!

3) Open IE or other browser and type http://192.168.0.1 this should open the router config page, refer to manual for username and password. If that address doesnt work it could be 10.0.0.1, again the manual should say.

4) Once in you should be able to enable wireless connection, it will be off by default. It will need rebooting after the settings have changed. While you are there check the stats page to see if the router is connected proeprly to your ISP.

5) On the laptop wireless card, check the TCP/IP settings (network settings ---> wireless connection ---> settings etc.) and make sure that the card is set to obtain I.P address automaticall and obtain DNS automatically.

Once all this is done, try rebooting and disconnect eh physical cable, see if the lappy talks to the router then and let me know.

[AJC]

Simon,

Really appreciate this mate.

Right then, what I've done is;

1. Connecte the cable from Laptop to port 1 of the router.

2. In the DOS window entered the commands you gave. Some IP addresses were given of the router which I took note of just in case.

3. Opend up the router Config page with a slightly different No as given in manual. The wireless connection was enabled. Whilst in there I checked the Status section which stated;

Description Type IP State
Connection 1 PPPoA N/A Disconnected

When I pressed the connect button nothing happened.

4. The wireless card is set to obtain IP address and DNS automatically.

5. The connection between the Laptop and the router reports 'Connected to G604T (the router) Signal Strength Excellent'.

6. When I try and connect to my ISP the following reports are displayed;

'Connecting the WAN Mini Port (PPPOE)'

then

'The remote computer did not respond'

7. I did reboot and remove the cable after actions at 2 & 3. The Laptop is talking to the router and reparts an excellent signal.


AJ

[Slime101]

Ok Adrian, i think i know whats happening.

The laptop is working, and the wireless is also working by the looks of things, but the router is NOT conencted to your ISP.

You need to configure the settings in the router, now i cannot say for sure where they are but i will try!!!

By the looks of my Router setup its the main config page...(see image)

Basically your router should connect with PPPoA, not PPPoE, the other settings should be the same apart from your username and password. Connect with the cable again for these settings...

VPI = 0
VCI = 38
Encapsulation = PPPoA VC mux
Username:
Password:
Authentification: Chap

etc.etc.

You will need to save these settings and reboot the router.
Then try and connect and it should work.....if it doesnt shout again :)

[AJC]

Cheers for the quick reply Simon.

Been hard at it and my head is going to explode.

After your last info and having actioned it this is what or what not is happening.

1. I click on 'Wireless Network Connection' which gives a positive report of being connected with an excellent strength.

2. I then click on my ISP connection which I created to connect via my wireless connection. The report is still the same 'Connecting the WAN Mini Port (PPPOE)' even though the settings have been changed on the router to PPPoA.

3. It still fails to connect.

Any further help or advice would be appreciated.

AJ

[Slime101]

I'll have a think today Adrian, i think its the router still not connected rather than a prob with the wireless connection.


It is plugged to the phone line in when you try this isnt it??? ;)

[AJC]

I'll have a think today Adrian, i think its the router still not connected rather than a prob with the wireless connection.


It is plugged to the phone line in when you try this isnt it??? ;)

Cheers pal.

It was plugged into the telephone line. I checked several times as I'm sure you're know it's usually the simple and obvious.

One thing I can't get my head around: Why do I have to be connected to the internet to access the router configuration pages? If I had purchased that setup as my first and only modem, how would you be abkle to access the config pages?:rolleyes:

AJ

[P00DLE]

youre not connecting to the net just using i.e to access the router
have youe checked dns settings are set to auto.
dhcp should be set to system allocated / auto if the option is visible

[AJC]

youre not connecting to the net just using i.e to access the router
have youe checked dns settings are set to auto.
dhcp should be set to system allocated / auto if the option is visible

Cheers for your input Chris.

DNS settings are set to auto.

What is DHCP and where do I locate the options?

AJ

[P00DLE]

cant remember what it stands for but its in the lan options on my router modem. you may not have it i know the netgear router i setup didnt

[TheGurkha]

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: Used to allow PCs to extract config settings dynamically from a server. Most often this is the IP address. Your router is effectively a PC in box that acts as a server, with an ISDN modem built in. Your wireless card isn't a modem it is a network card to allow you to connect to the network that the 'PC' inside your route is hosting. So you have to check the settings for your network connection in the PC match those needed to connect to the router. Trouble is, they have slightly different terminolgy and different defaults, so giving you a list of the settings out of mine (a different make) isn't going to help. Do the people you bought it off offer support or does the hardware have a support website, FAQ or anything?

[AJC]

Cheers for that info Gurkha.

There is a help site but there only instruction booklet downloads which I've only just found out I have (on disk).

I've also e-mailed my ISP for some info that's required.

In your post you mentioned the router being a PC itself. When I was configuring tghe link, one of the options was are you connecting direct to your modem or via another PC. I opted for direct. Should it have been via another PC if another IP address is involved? I'll have a read into that.

Cheers for your input.

I'll post again if a) I ever get it sorted or b) If I need some help or advice.

AJ

[Slime101]

AJ the problem is not with the onnection between the computer and the router, but with the router and the ISP, its not connecting!!

A DCHP server will be auto set to ON, on the router, this basically assigns all connecting computers an IP address automatically, this is why we did the IPCONFIG commands, to make the laptop use the router to gain its IP address, which it did.

[Slime101]

Oops, earlier i mentioned an image....which i forgot to attach....here it is!!

You should have a page like this on the router config page (which you dont access via the web, just via a web-browser).

[AJC]

Oops, earlier i mentioned an image....which i forgot to attach....here it is!!

You should have a page like this on the router config page (which you dont access via the web, just via a web-browser).

Cheers Simon,

The sections on your image are very similar to mine.

I can't access the config page through the browser unless I'm connected to the internet! I thought this strange as if this was my only modem I would not be able to access it.

I'm printing off the manual (only found it on the CD today!) and giving it a good read tomorrow.

Cheers Simon.

AJ

[Slime101]

Hmm....you should be able to connect to it via the cable as if it was an offline page.