Ok, my wireless router broke about 10 days ago, and I just got a new one..... for the past week or so I have been connecting the laptop I am currently on directly into the modem (it's ntl broadband... though now we pay Virgin of course)

I have been using this laptop, which is my parents, because I couldn't connect directly with either of my laptops for some reason, even though both were connecting fine through my old wireless connection.... I suspect that particular thing is because I originally set up the connection on this laptop, and the others were connecting because I didn't have any encryption on the wireless network. (yes I know i'm a tool... and as soon as I can I will be WPA2ing everything)

Anyhow, in buying the new router I thought I would try to set it up using my newest laptop, I used the setup CD that came with it (it's a Linksys compact wireless-g by the way, but I am pretty sure it is not the router that is the problem) but when it gets to the bit where it tries to find the internet connection, it can't find it.
I thought this might be something to do with not being able to connect straight to the modem with that laptop, so I tried the setup on this laptop but came to the same problem.

I have no idea what's going wrong.... I have a suspicion about the first problem (not able to connect through modem with anything but this laptop) that it may be solved if I knew the username and password that my ISP apparently gave me, but that is so long ago, and I would not be suprised had my mum thrown out the paper they were on....however that doesn't explain why I can't set up the router on this laptop, which as you can see by this post has a perfectly fine connection through the modem.

Please help if you can, a.s.a.p.

Ok, I think I found the passwords from my ISP... which will hopefully mean I can connect wired through my modem with my other laptops.

As such, I am going offline now, and also having dinner during the period.... so I will be back online later if anyone is able to help me.

I don't understand much... Is your router connected properly to the internet? Do you see the DSL and Internet lights on? If so, you have no need for the ISP data, you're already in, you just have to configure your router / laptops.

On my modem there are 7 lights:

pwr (on of course)

USB (off, I am using cat5)

enet (on, so that's fine)

u/s (off.... no idea what this one means... upload?)

d/s (off... occasionally blinks on when I am going through network connection wizard and such... but mostly off)

sync (on)

rdy (on)

-----

Pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the linksys router.... but the configuring of the laptops I guess could be the problem.

---

I tried setting up a new connection on this laptop just now, I think I put the right passwords and such from ntl (I tried with 2 different ones written down on a piece of paper from years ago.... one is the email address they gave us ( *****@ntlworld.com) and the other is called Username which they gave us.

What is the modem ID? is that important?

----

ANyhow, going to eat now.... back in 30 minutes or so.

sync means the DSL connection is OK and rdy must mean that you are correctly connected to your ISP. Therefore, I think there's something off about your network configuration.

Do the following :

1) Hit start -> All programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt
2) Type "ipconfig"

You'll see a whole lot of information come up. What we want to know is what the Gateway IP is (most probably 192.168.1.254)

When you get the Gateway IP, type it in a brand new web browser tab and hit Enter. Type in your credentials (NOT the ISP stuff) and get into the system.

You'll want to find the tab about the wireless network configuration and check some stuff out like:

- Is the interface itself enabled?
- At what channel? Try changing channels, or transmitting in all, if possible.
- Are new stations allowed?
- Try turning off encryption

Tell me the exact model of your router if you need more in-depth help.

I don't have my router connected at the moment, and I know how to configure that when it comes to it..... but I SHOULD be able to connect directly through my modem like I am now, except with my other two laptops.

When I am directly connected to the modem the default gateway is 81.103.92.1. (which will be ntls network address presumably.... as that is not a private address)

----

Whenever I try to set up a new connection I get an error saying the modem encountered a problem or something like that.... I have had error code 651 and 678.... I checked them on google and followed this guys instructions (except his are for dial-up wheras I am broadband... but that changes a couple of steps is all)

Could my modem drivers be corrupted/out of date?

I'm gonna try what you said routsou after connecting the router again... I was in fact going to do that (browse to the address of the router) to set up encryption and stuff after I had set it up and got the internet working anyway.

You could try downloading them from the manufacturer's website if you think that may be the cause. I'm most certain it's a configuration problem, most probably channel issues.

Gotta go to sleep now, sorry, gotta go to work early tomorrow, I'll check what you did and help if I can! Good luck!

It isn't a channel issue.... it's not the wireless that isn't working (I haven't even got to that yet)

I checked the routers ip page and on the basic set up it is set to static ip address... should that be DHCP?

Or shoudl I put the Ip addresses/gateway info that I use when connected directly to the modem into the static ip address set up.... or should I use PPPOE whatever the fuck that is (all I know is that I am supposedly using PPPOE when I connect via the modem)

Thanks for your help by the way routsou (you going to bed quite early though, isn't Greece only 1h ahead of UK?... making it 9:20pm)

It's almost as if my modem can't communicate with any other devices.

It can communicate with this laptop, and clearly worked with the old router, but for instance when I connect it directly to my new laptop and type in ipconfig I don't have a default gateway.