Wireless Internet - Recommendations Please

[cruisingsam]

Inspired by the recent post on wireless I decided to go down this route however the two router/modems bought to date have failed to work....

1. D-Link Router/Modem/Wireless - Set up easy, worked fine when linked by ethernet cable or wireless however applying WEP security caused an "internal communication error - failed" message and then nothing worked.

2. Belkin Router/Modem/Wireless - Doesn't connect to the broadband at all. Two and a half hours on to a helpline that could only suggest my settings were wrong (despite using the same ISP settings as for the D-Link) and that it was my/the ISP fault.

Have looked at the Linksys (sp) and looked OK except reviews on Amazon reckon it keeps dropping the wireless link.

So does anyone have a recommendation that works, was easy to set up and basically does what it says on the tin???

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]

Have looked at the Linksys (sp) and looked OK except reviews on Amazon reckon it keeps dropping the wireless link.

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazon reviews are to be taken with a large pinch of salt. Got a Linksys set up and running at home. No problems to report. Would recommend it to anyone.

 

[cruisingsam]

Thanks, I'll go and have a closer look at the Linksys

 

[jimi]

I'd recommend the Belkin Wireless Router connected to the Broadband MOdem. Done that .. dead easy no problems .. running 1 PC & 3 laptops in the house.

 

[cruisingsam]

Unfortunately I can't do that as my modem is USB and all the routers I've seen need an ethernet modem

 

[BrendanS]

Nearly all of them work pretty much the same, and have set up a couple of Belkin networks. Unfortunately, occasionally problems occur, and when they do, it helps if you know your way around computers and networks a bit more than average.

If you have XP with service pack 2 (SP2), run the Wireles set up Wizard, this takes a lot of grief out of it.

Turn off any firewalls you have installed (diasble them within the firewall software, don't just turn them off, as their setting can remain resident even when turned off) as you can have problems with IP addresses within the network being blocked, and this is an easy way to see if this is causing problems. Check any 'internet' security software isn't causing similar problems by also turning off at the same time.

Did the 'internal communication error' cause the problems that did not allow Belkin to work? I don't know how computer literate you are, but try looking in the System, Hardware, Device Manager, and seeing if the devices are present, and if they are flagged with exclamations marks or similar.

 

[Flogging_Molly]

Linksys

Works fine, easy to set up.

Make sure you enable the security features (either WEP or at least get it to accept just your MAC address) otherwise anyone can join in and share your bandwidth - and your passwords...

Would never go back to non-wireless, can now sit on the deck in the summer reading SB, drink in hand, laptop slowly broiling nether regions... hang on, why wasnt I sailing instead of surfing?

F_M

 

[cruisingsam]

Thanks, I'll try turning off the firewalls and anti virus and running the wizard

 

[Colin_S]

I've got the Belkin wireless router / modem all in one unit and it is one of the bits of kit that I had to read the instructions to set it up.

Have you made all the correct settings in the wizzard setup including setting the connection type, your name, password and the broadband dial up number? Can you access the modem setup utility via your browser?

 

[cruisingsam]

Yes to all of those and reconfirmed twice with the ISP. They were the only questions Belkins helpline could ask (except for where is Dublin!!!)

 

[Colin_S]

On the wireless setup utility, at the top right of the pages should be your internet status. Does it show connected or not connected?

 

[fireball]

First off - go with the D-Link, it is an easy setup - I'd prefer Netgear, but that is a personal preference. My router here is D-link ..

forget the wireless bit to start with - its like trying to depart from the marina with your kite up - possible, but better to get out there first!

I assume you have the correct hardware setup - with the filters and no other dsl modem on the line.

I'd do a factory reset of your modem/router and start from scratch - connect to the back of it via a cat5 cable (usually comes with it) - I hope your computer has an ethernet connection. then follow the d-link instructions (usually open 192.168.0.1 - login as admin/admin etc etc...) and check that the internet connection works ok. ONCE your internet connection is working then you can go about setting up the wireless ...

I would advise against purchasing a third unit - if you have not managed with the previous 2 then it is unlikely that a third will work!

 

[BrendanS]

If that doesn't help, post in the website feedback forum with any details you can think of, and will walk you through troubleshooting. Saves clogging up this forum with techie stuff.

 

[paulrossall]

The advice AFrogley gives is good. I started of with Windows 98 first edition and tried to upgrade to W98SE just to get the wireless working. Had major difficulties with that and went to Windows XP Home Edition which does seem to be brilliant to use. I got a "Netgear 54 Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router" at 1/2 price from PC World in one of their new year offers, cost about £45. I then tried to fit a Belkin wireless card in my computer and it would not recognise it. I also tried a BT wireless card and again the computer would not recognise its existence. I then got the netgear bit to work by connecting it with a network cable to my computer. This enabled me to make sure the Netgear to BT Broadband bit was working properly and Netgear do recomend that you get the product working via a cable before you start the wireless bit.
I then bought a Belkin "Wireless G USB Network Adapter" and found I could easily connect to the Netgear bit without the cable. My daughters older computer (W98SE) worked with the BT network card and son's with the Belkin card. Someone came to the house who had a notebook with wireless facility and that works OK as well.
I don't know why my computer will not recognise a wireless card but it works OK with the USB connecter so I am happy.
I felt like I had won the pools when I got the lot working but it is brilliant and I would recomend all to get broadband with a wireless connection.
Must thank BrendanS who did try to help me out along the way. Paul

 

[cruisingsam]

Thanks for the advice.... turned all anti virus & firewalls off.. just spent ages getting rid off something called RAS

 

[cruisingsam]

it shows not connected

 

[cruisingsam]

the d-link worked fine when connected by cable. simple set up very impressed. worked fine on wireless until I tried to set up WEP encryption. then got the internal communication error from the router set up pages. then no connection no nothing.

I've been following the instructions, setting up with cable connection before going wireless with no security worked fine. try setting 128 bit WEP and it all went wrong

 

[fireball]

Ah - so the Dlink connects to the internet fine - it is the wireless bit you can't configure ... excellent!!
Wireless settings can be a little bit difficult - I just went through a process of setting up a router for WPA only to get it onsite and have to take it back to 64bit WEP to get it to work! Not only that - other users may be using the channel you selected and that can cause your wireless to fail too. (How many people can broadcast a request for radio check on ch16 in the solent at the same time?)

First off then - get the Dlink working under cable, then we can go through the setup for the Dlink

Just a couple of questions first!

Which operating system are you running on the computer
Which model of Dlink are you using
How vunerable would a wireless network be where you are (close to neighbours, roads, public places etc etc) ...

 

[BrendanS]

Problem is, people on these forums asking for advice want different things.

Trouble shooting network probs is probabably the worst, as there are so many variables, and often pointing them in the right direction is the best you can hope for. Hands on would probably take a few hours sometimes, and trying to provide help at this level expects some comptence at the other end, but you never know what the level is, so take any advice at this level to be hopeful rather than defintive

The more detail people provide, the more the advice is useful. The difficult bit is obtaining the useful information

 

[kingfisher]

I have an

SMC 2304WBR-AG EU
that does the trick.

Goes nicely through a concrete wall and a concrete ceiling.

Forget Win 98, I tried it, and gave up. Installed XP and never looked back.