Wireless Network Blues

AllanL · Post by **AllanL** » 01 Jun 2006, 21:01

Help!

My daughter has launched herself and her housemates into the wireless world and got in a stew. As I'm 450 miles away, and not up to speed on such advanced gizmos I wondered if anyone here could point us towards a solution.

The story so far - a previous housemate provided the internet link which my daughter connected to via a wireless link. When the previous internet provider moved out my daughter bought a Belkin Hig-Speed Mode Wireless G router from Amazon so that she could provide the link for the new household setup.

What she failed to appreciate was that said unit, a F5D7231uk4 I'm told, comes with the following connectors

1 x network - RJ-45 ( WAN ) Â¦ 4 x network node - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 Â¦ 1 x network - Radio-Ethernet

Now, she has a modem supplied with a USB connector. Can she get a USB to any of the above to link the modem to the router, and then will she and the others be able to link in via their wireless connectors? As the main link to the server will her PC need to be wired up to the router?

All this is greek to me, Tovarich.

andy · Post by **andy** » 01 Jun 2006, 21:20

Allan, I find it difficult to believe, that somewhere in the UK, there is a housefull of young ladies, and not one of them hasn't got a fellah who is PC savvy!

Toby................get yer arse into gear......!!!

I'm sure C.B. will meet you there.

blanston12 · Post by **blanston12** » 01 Jun 2006, 22:24

If the modem is a regular 56k phone modem I think its not going to work. You would have to plug the modem into a PC, have the router plug into it and then setup the PC to act as a bridge between them. But don't ask me how as I have not had to do that yet and I am even further away.

Hopefully its a cable or DSL modem then they have a chance.

AllanL · Post by **AllanL** » 02 Jun 2006, 00:15

It's a broadband connection that they have.

Sooo, if I/they get an ethernet-usb connection between the router and the PC might we be heading the right way?

Post by **DaveB** » 02 Jun 2006, 00:39

Hi Allan'

My setup is now considered so old at 2years that it's not even listed on the BT site :shock:

However.. I have a BB connection (which is used only for the internet) that connects directly to a BT Wireless Router. I have 4 PC's connected wirelessly to the router and two hard wired via an ethernet switch. The router connects to the phone socket and my wireless pc's connect via USB wireless adaptors. These seem to have been replaced by PCI adaptors these days but 18months/2-years is a long time isn't it!

I was asked to look at a laptop some months ago (purchased from PC Blurb) as the owners couldn't get connected, despite being assured that what they'd bought would work. The instructions for the laptop said that it had to be connected (via ethernet cable) to a PC first (FIRST) and then the wireless router would be setup by the PC which would enable wireless connections to other pc's. At this point.. I gave up and told the owners what pr@ts they were for buying from PC Blurb in the first place

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Charlie Bravo · Post by **Charlie Bravo** » 02 Jun 2006, 00:40

She's bought the wrong router.

There are 2 types....

Cable Broadband Routers - A router with which you plug a cable modem into and the signal is then broadcast.

ADSL Broadband Routers - A router with which you plug the phoneline into as they have a modem built in and then the signal is broadcast.

You cannot use a cable router with ADSL (which she has, hence a USB modem) and likewise you can't use an ADSL router with cable internet.

She needs to return the router to Amazon as it is of no use to her. Also forget Belkin. I've used an number of their products and have had nothing but trouble. Netgear is the way to go.

Another problem sorted

One of my mates refers to me as the BBC..... Barretts Better Computers

Edit:
Also.... don't go to PC Blurb for one. When I had the misfortune of working there (needed work inbetween airport jobs) I had to butt into a number of networking sales to stop the customer being sold the wrong item.

blanston12 · Post by **blanston12** » 02 Jun 2006, 00:54

Charlie Bravo wrote:She's bought the wrong router.

There are 2 types....

Not so fast. If she has a cable internet service or a ADSL service they usually provide a cable modem or a DSL modem. A network cable would then connect from the modem to the router using a CAT-5 cable. I am not sure if the USB cable on the modem would connect to the router, probably not.

My old Linksys router just died last weekend and I had to replace it. It was pretty simple operation. I did have to get a network cable and connect it directly to the router so I could configure it and turn on the wireless part.

Charlie Bravo · Post by **Charlie Bravo** » 02 Jun 2006, 01:38

"If she has a cable internet service or a ADSL service they usually provide a cable modem or a DSL modem"
Correct

"A network cable would then connect from the modem to the router using a CAT-5 cable"
Incorrect.... a cable modem would connect to the PC/router using a CAT5 cable (or USB - also available), whereas an ADSL modem connects to the PC via a USB connection.

"I am not sure if the USB cable on the modem would connect to the router, probably not"
USB modems and routers DO NOT go together. She has an ADSL broadband service through a BT phoneline. I know this because she has a USB modem.
All UK ADSL providers give you a USB modem, whereas cable modems have both USB and Ethernet options.
Because of this, she requires a router with a built in modem as her current USB modem is now surplus to requirements. The router she has purchased does not have a modem built in and so I refer to my above post.

blanston12 · Post by **blanston12** » 02 Jun 2006, 02:26

All UK ADSL providers give you a USB modem.

Oh no, I am sorry to hear that. The DSL providers here (AT&T) provide modems with Ethernet connectors.

The Netgear router I just bought does have a USB connection on it but I am not sure if you can use it to connect the modem.

I tried to look up the modem on the Belkin site and they did not list the product specifications. I never had a good feeling about Belkin and usually avoided there products, preferring to try from companies I had actually heard of. Good luck.

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 02 Jun 2006, 12:26

I agree with CB - dump the USB modem.

In fact looking on the Amazon site

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 54-2186369

is a Netgear DG834G that provides ADSL modem, router and wireless networking in one box

Just Â£8 more than the Belkin that leaves out the modem bit.

Is the DG834G any good CB? (I've got the DG834 which works fine)