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Wireless Desktop Adapter Card

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by mccoady, 2006/10/23.

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  1. 2006/10/29
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Okay first though I need to mention it had not disconnected this morning everything was fine. Maybe it was a fluke thing that it disconnected the other morning and it's going to work the way it's currently set up. Anyway my modem is a 2Wire HomePortal 1000SW and it's about 3 years old. My isp is SBC Yahoo DSL.
     
    Last edited: 2006/10/29
    mccoady,
    #21
  2. 2006/10/29
    Chiles4

    Chiles4 Inactive

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    Sorry to hear you had so much trouble getting everything working. I guess being a programmer, PC builder and all-around geek has its advantages. :D Obviously, the process isn't very straightforward for those who don't fit that description - i.e. the majority of people.

    I hope it all works out well for you. TonyT is a great "networking" asset of this forum!

    Gary
     
    Chiles4,
    #22


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  4. 2006/10/29
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Well if it's working then leave well enough alone!
    Honestly, I now really don'i understand WHY it works at all. I just did some research and learned your 2wire modem is itself a gateway,a dsl modem w/ built in router. Normally, when use a dsl modem-router you need to config the dsl modem to act as a bridge and then let the other router handle the ip addressing (dhcp). Or the opposite works as well. Oh well, if it works, it works!
     
    Last edited: 2006/10/29
    TonyT,
    #23
  5. 2006/10/29
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well I'll try it the way it is for a few days to see if it continues to stay connected, if not I'll get back with you. I can't express enough how much I've appreciated your help. Thanks!




    Mike
     
    mccoady,
    #24
  6. 2006/10/30
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    That's why we are here. And you are welcome.
    Keep us posted as to how things fare.
    tt
     
    TonyT,
    #25
  7. 2006/11/03
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tony I'm still having a problem where it disconnects every 2 or 3 days, I unplug the router (for about a minute) and plug it back in and then it works fine again. I called Belkin tech support and got someone I could hardly understand and he kept telling me it was because of the cordless phones I have. I'm not entirely convinced that's the problem as an earlier tech said the N-1 router I have is pretty immune to those kind of problems.

    I have noticed there is an updated firmware I want to try to see if that fixes the problem but I can't understand how to use it. When I click on the firmware update to download I get: "You have chosen to open: F5D8231-4_us_1.01.23.bin which is a :Virtual CloneDrive. Would you like to save this file? If I download this to my desktop and click on it, it really doesn't do anything. I have Slysoft's Virtual CloneDrive which I suspect isn't what I want the firmware to download as, so what do I do?
     
    mccoady,
    #26
  8. 2006/11/04
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    re firmware:
    1. download the .BIN file, save to location on computer.
    2. access the router control panel via web browser.
    3. there will be an "upgrade firmware" page somewhere in that control panel where you can browse & select the file you downloaded. The router will "upload" it and install it.

    I am convinced that the disconnects are due to conflicting configs in the modem & router since the modem is also a router. I suggest call isp support & have them walk you through putting the modem in "Bridge Mode" so as to work properly w/ the wifi router.

    Cordless phones can & do play havoc w/ wifi nets too.
     
    TonyT,
    #27
  9. 2006/11/04
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    You're probably right about things conflicting but I was able to upgrade the firmware per your instructions so I will see come Monday if I'm still disconnecting.

    If I end up having to call isp support and they are able to talk me through putting the modem in bridge mode, will I then need to make further adjustments (with your help) in my router settings?
     
    mccoady,
    #28
  10. 2006/11/05
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    mccoady:

    I just read through your thread and can't begin to tell you just how good the advice you've gotten is but you already know that.

    Thought I'd relay a similar scenario for moral encouragement and support. In our neck of the woods, BellSouth is the Baby Bell with the infrastructure and thus, most of the DSL business. They used to provide Alcatel modems as standard fare and those modems communicated flawlessly with most routers so it was rare to get a disconnect when a dynamic IP address was changed or a DNS server was changed. Unfortunately, BellSouth changed to a Westell modem for residential accounts and like your two-wire, it has a DHCP server but worse than that, it doesn't pass along changes to a router. The solution, like TonyT referenced is to disable DHCP and set the modem as an ethernet passthrough (bridge), however, because of the way BellSouth now handles their tunneling protocol, dropped signals are the norm because the Westell just doesn't like to communicate with some routers. This holds true whether one has a static or a dynamic IP address. The only solution in this case (with BS) is a different modem or continually recycling/rebooting the modem &/or router manually. BellSouth used to provide an upgrade to those who complained about this problem and requested a different modem but more recently, they want to change service to a pricier "networked" package and charge for a different modem. It appears that they have moved a bean counter into that top floor corner office with two windows. I hope you find this is not the case with SBC.

    You may find some additional help (not that you need it) in the service provider specific forums at DSLReports. Good Luck.

    ;)
     
    Last edited: 2006/11/05
    Rockster2U,
    #29
  11. 2006/11/05
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    No changes should be needed for the router once the modem is in "bridge" mode. here's what's happening:

    1. The modem is using the ip address assigned to you by your isp. This is a public ip address. For example, verizon dsl ip public addresses are 67.xxx.xxx.xxx. If the modem is plugged directly to the computer, the computer will have an ip address of 67.xxx.xxx.xxx.

    If the modem is plugged into a router, the router "pretends" to be the computer and has the 67.xxx.xxx.xxx ip address. The router uses something called DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Proptocol) and NAT (Network Address Translation). DHCP is for assigning dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network. With dynamic addressing, a device can have a different IP address every time it connects to the network. As opposed to a Static IP with never changes. For example, this windows.bbs.com website has a static ip address, you can access it by typing in the browser this: http://67.15.19.177

    The router uses DHCP to assign local addresses to computers connected to it. Local addresses that routers use are usually 192.168.1.xxx or 192.168.0.xxx.

    The problem you have is that your modem also has DHCP functions built into it. What happens is you have a public ip address and the modem uses DHCP and asigns anything connected to it a local address. Thus the router is getting a local address assigned to it by the miodem. This in itself is not bad. The trouble though, is that you have no control over what DHCP address the modem is assigning the router. The ip handed out by the modem could also very well be an ip address the router is trying to assign to anything connected to it. Thus, conflicts can arise.

    Putting the modem in "bridge" mode disables the modem's DHCP functionality and your public ip gets passed onto the router, who can then manage the local ip addressing.

    Another way to setup your network would be access the router control panel and disable the router's DHCP and assign the router a static ip address. Then the modem handles the addressing of all devices connected to the router. (including wifi)

    Personally, I prefer to let routers handle the dhcp addressing. It makes is easier to t-shoot connection issues down the line using process of elimination.

    I suggested calling your isp because I recently had to setup a lan for a client who had a verizon dsl modem that also used DHCP. I'd never worked w/ that modem model before so I called the isp and in 2 minutes I had it setup. (after the usual 5 minutes of waiting and transferring to reach tech support!)
     
    TonyT,
    #30
  12. 2006/11/05
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Okay I will call isp tech support and if things hold true then it should disconnect Monday or for sure Tuesday morning. My only fear is that my isp tech support will have no idea what I'm talking about if I tell them I need them to talk me through bridging their modem.
     
    mccoady,
    #31
  13. 2006/11/06
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    In case need help reconfig the 2wire gateway:
    1. unplug existing cable between 2wire & router.
    2. plug cable directly into computer from 2wire (instead of into router).
    3. wait for 2wire to assign ip address to comp. (use icon next to clock to verify)
    4. open browser and type: http://gateway.2wire.net/setup
     
    TonyT,
    #32
  14. 2006/11/06
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tony are you saying I should go ahead and try to bridge the modem before I find out for sure whether the firmware update helped or not? It's been two days now since I updated and so far so good, I'll probably know for sure by Tuesday morning as it's never went that along without disconnecting.
     
    mccoady,
    #33
  15. 2006/11/06
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    No, wait & see, then if disconnects, call isp. I posted the above for reference in case you need it.
     
    TonyT,
    #34
  16. 2006/11/11
    mccoady

    mccoady Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tony just thought I'd let you know since I updated my router firmware it's been a week and no disconnects, so knock on wood I think you got me fixed up. Thanks again!
     
    mccoady,
    #35
  17. 2006/11/12
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Very well done. (keeps fingers crossed)
     
    TonyT,
    #36
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