Advice Needed!

ice27 · 11-09-2006 9:52am #1

Hi all,

A freind of mine just got a new wireless router and set up a wireless connection for his laptop. He has an Esat BT Zyxel Prestige modem which is feeding his PC by USB connection (connection is perfect). The new router (Linksys Wireless-N Broadband Router , 300 Mbps draft-802.11n) is attached to the zyxel by ethernet cable, it is on to one of the 4 ports on the Linksys router. A secured network was set up (WPA) and the connection is excellent. However, it keeps losing the connection randomly. It may stay on for an hour, sometimes maybe two, othertimes for only 5 mins at a time. Does anyone know of any solution to this problem. Unfortunetely we both only know the basics so are at a loss as to what the problem is? Any help of advice would be very welcome!!!!:)

NutJob · 11-09-2006 10:17am

Does this happen on the Cable ports?

Are you using AES Or TKIP? (Sometimes can happen with AES)

ice27 · 11-09-2006 10:40am

NutJob wrote:

Does this happen on the Cable ports?

Are you using AES Or TKIP? (Sometimes can happen with AES)

Hi,

I am nearly positive it is TKIP!

irlrobins · 11-09-2006 11:00am

What I would do is simplfy the network setup by putting the BT modem into bridge mode. Then connect it via ethernet to the Linksys WAN port. Then configure the Linksys to handle the PPPoE authentication.

That way you rule out any problems with ip conflicts, different subnets etc.

Also make sure you have latest firmware on the linksys.

ice27 · 11-09-2006 11:05am

irlrobins wrote:

What I would do is simplfy the network setup by putting the BT modem into bridge mode. Then connect it via ethernet to the Linksys WAN port. Then configure the Linksys to handle the PPPoE authentication.

That way you rule out any problems with ip conflicts, different subnets etc.

Also make sure you have latest firmware on the linksys.

Thanks for the advice! ill give that a try. Also where do I get latest firmware, probably on their website I guess?:)

irlrobins · 11-09-2006 11:09am

ice27 wrote:

Thanks for the advice! ill give that a try. Also where do I get latest firmware, probably on their website I guess?:)

Yep. And instructions on how to bridge the Zyxel are in the FAQ stickied at the top of this forum.

ice27 · 11-09-2006 11:10am

irlrobins wrote:

Yep. And instructions on how to bridge the Zyxel are in the FAQ stickied at the top of this forum.

thanks a mill! much appreciated!!!!!:)

Foxwood · 11-09-2006 12:48pm

ice27 wrote:

it keeps losing the connection randomly. It may stay on for an hour, sometimes maybe two, othertimes for only 5 mins at a time.

What connection is it losing? Is it just a wireless problem - you lose the connection between the laptop and the router, or are you have a problem with internet connectivity?

Wireless connectivity issues can occur for all sorts of reasons - interference from other devices (some portable phones, "digisenders", etc). And because this is all wireless, it's all invisible, and very difficult to track down.

In this case, I'd focus first on the new Linksys, using the still not ratified 802.11N standard. Check the Linksys website for firmware updates - there may be an issue with the router itself.

Buying the "latest and greatest" is not the recommended way to an easy life!

ice27 · 11-09-2006 1:03pm

Foxwood wrote:

What connection is it losing? Is it just a wireless problem - you lose the connection between the laptop and the router, or are you have a problem with internet connectivity?

Wireless connectivity issues can occur for all sorts of reasons - interference from other devices (some portable phones, "digisenders", etc). And because this is all wireless, it's all invisible, and very difficult to track down.

In this case, I'd focus first on the new Linksys, using the still not ratified 802.11N standard. Check the Linksys website for firmware updates - there may be an issue with the router itself.

Buying the "latest and greatest" is not the recommended way to an easy life!

The connection that is being lost is that only of the laptop. The PC connection remains on all the time, therefore some tweaking with the network is required, and the problem definetely lies with router compatability/serttings.

I agree with you on the last point. Before my friend got a router i advised him to get a 3com router, for no other reason then I have one with the exact same esat zxyel modem and it works a treat. he obvoiusly did not listen:mad: I knew this draft n would cause a few problems and I was right.

ice27 · 11-09-2006 1:27pm

Just read the previous post on setting up a wireless connection and something clicked.

I know the zyxel modem and the new router both have the 192.168.1.1 address. Would this be the cause of the problem? Would this be the reason the laptop is losing the connection every now and again?

If so am I right in just changing the address of the new router? How difficult is this? Is it just a case of giving it a new number or do you have to adhere to certain addresses or something?:)

irlrobins · 11-09-2006 1:36pm

It could be. But if you follow my advice and bridge the modem this is the simpliest solution. The modem will just act as a pass through device and so there won't be an ip conflict.

ice27 · 11-09-2006 1:54pm

irlrobins wrote:

It could be. But if you follow my advice and bridge the modem this is the simpliest solution. The modem will just act as a pass through device and so there won't be an ip conflict.

Seeing as there is a pc connected to this modem by USB wont that be a problem? Will the PC connection still work if the zyxel modem is set up as a bridge?:)

irlrobins · 11-09-2006 1:57pm

Ah, you mean that the PC doesn't have an ethernet port to connect it to the router?

ice27 · 11-09-2006 2:19pm

irlrobins wrote:

Ah, you mean that the PC doesn't have an ethernet port to connect it to the router?

Unfortunetely No! the only ethernet connection is between the modem and the Router. There is no ethernet port on the PC, just connected by usb to esat modem:)

irlrobins · 11-09-2006 2:23pm

Ah that's a bummer. I that case, you need to ensure that the two devices (modem and router) are not ip conflicting.

Foxwood · 11-09-2006 2:49pm

ice27 wrote:

I know the zyxel modem and the new router both have the 192.168.1.1 address. Would this be the cause of the problem? Would this be the reason the laptop is losing the connection every now and again?

If that was a problem, then it wouldn't work at all.

Are you sure that you're not connecting to your neighbours wireless router?

ice27 · 11-09-2006 2:52pm

Foxwood wrote:

If that was a problem, then it wouldn't work at all.

Are you sure that you're not connecting to your neighbours wireless router?

No its definetely the new router the laptop is connecting to. The pc is connected to the modem by usb. The laptop definetely connects to the wireless network, but times out randomly. long periods /short periods no pattern here. When I type in 192.168.1.1 i get through to the zxyel modem. If i disconnect the pc to the modem or plug the laptop into the router directly by cable I type 192.168.1.1 and get into the router that way. they both defo have the 192.168.1.1 address?

Foxwood · 11-09-2006 2:58pm

ice27 wrote:

No its definetely the new router the laptop is connecting to. The pc is connected to the modem by usb. The laptop definetely connects to the wireless network, but times out randomly. long periods /short periods no pattern here. When I type in 192.168.1.1 i get through to the zxyel modem. If i disconnect the pc to the modem or plug the laptop into the router directly by cable I type 192.168.1.1 and get into the router that way. they both defo have the 192.168.1.1 address?

Odd.

Change the Linksys to use the 192.168.0 subnet so (or any other 192.168.x subnet). Don't just change it to 192.168.1.something.

RangeR · 11-09-2006 3:05pm

ice27 wrote:

No its definetely the new router the laptop is connecting to. The pc is connected to the modem by usb. The laptop definetely connects to the wireless network, but times out randomly. long periods /short periods no pattern here. When I type in 192.168.1.1 i get through to the zxyel modem. If i disconnect the pc to the modem or plug the laptop into the router directly by cable I type 192.168.1.1 and get into the router that way. they both defo have the 192.168.1.1 address?

Change the IP address of one of them.

The best thing to do is bridge the devices. You don't want the hassle of having two routers in your setup. Buy a cheap network card in any computer shop for about €20.

ice27 · 11-09-2006 3:08pm

Foxwood wrote:

Odd.

Change the Linksys to use the 192.168.0 subnet so (or any other 192.168.x subnet). Don't just change it to 192.168.1.something.

Cheers Foxwood!

Maybe something to do with that linksys draft N modem who knows ! Thanks for the advice. Excuse my ignorance but how simple is it to change the linksys to this address. Is it just a matter of just going into settings etc and typing in a new ip address. Also , I just put in "192.168.0" - that’s it. I really am a novice here so please excuse the elementary questions.

Foxwood · 11-09-2006 3:24pm

ice27 wrote:

Cheers Foxwood!

Maybe something to do with that linksys draft N modem who knows ! Thanks for the advice. Excuse my ignorance but how simple is it to change the linksys to this address. Is it just a matter of just going into settings etc and typing in a new ip address. Also , I just put in "192.168.0" - that’s it. I really am a novice here so please excuse the elementary questions.

According to the manual for the Linksys WRT300N, there's a box right inthe middle of the basic Setup page on the router that specifies the routers LAN address, and it defaults to 192.168.1.1. Just change the 3rd element of that to 0 and click Save Settings.

Your laptop won't be able to talk to the router once the routers address changes, so you need to renew the IP address. The simplest way is to reboot the laptop.

Foxwood · 11-09-2006 3:31pm

ice27 wrote:

No its definetely the new router the laptop is connecting to. The pc is connected to the modem by usb. The laptop definetely connects to the wireless network, but times out randomly. long periods /short periods no pattern here. When I type in 192.168.1.1 i get through to the zxyel modem. If i disconnect the pc to the modem or plug the laptop into the router directly by cable I type 192.168.1.1 and get into the router that way. they both defo have the 192.168.1.1 address?

I just had a thought. There's no chance that the ZyXEL he already has is one of the wireless ones, is there?

That's about the only reason that I can think of that would explain why he's getting the ZyXEL interface from the laptop.

ice27 · 11-09-2006 3:53pm

Foxwood wrote:

I just had a thought. There's no chance that the ZyXEL he already has is one of the wireless ones, is there?

That's about the only reason that I can think of that would explain why he's getting the ZyXEL interface from the laptop.

No its definetely one of the earlier ones, the same one i have in fact. Ill try changing address in the router and see whats happening. Thanks for all your help foxwood!!!Cheers!

ice27 · 14-09-2006 5:35pm

Foxwood wrote:

I just had a thought. There's no chance that the ZyXEL he already has is one of the wireless ones, is there?

That's about the only reason that I can think of that would explain why he's getting the ZyXEL interface from the laptop.

Just got round to setting it back up. I changed the router IP address and all seems to be okay now. It had been on since 1 o clock and has only lost connection once. I did not secure it yet. I hope that me setting up WPA with TKIP dosnt feck it up again other wise he will just have to leave it un protected as I dont think I have the will to find out how to fix another problem.

Cheers for all the advice,

Advice Needed!

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