WRT54G

[waltstime1]

I have two computers, networked with a linksys befsr41 router and both
connected to the internet with a westfell dsl modem provided by
Verizon. Everything works fine.

I got a laptop, with wireless connection, so got a wrt54g to replace my
router. I cannot install, using the disk provided, and it cannot
install, using the downloaded program from Linksys.

Not only that, when I try to hook up the computer directly to the
modem, it does not recognize the modem any more. It only works with
the old router and modem.

Any ideas?

 

[Chuck]

I have two computers, networked with a linksys befsr41 router and both
connected to the internet with a westfell dsl modem provided by
Verizon. Everything works fine.

I got a laptop, with wireless connection, so got a wrt54g to replace my
router. I cannot install, using the disk provided, and it cannot
install, using the downloaded program from Linksys.

Not only that, when I try to hook up the computer directly to the
modem, it does not recognize the modem any more. It only works with
the old router and modem.

Any ideas?

With many broadband services, you cannot randomly connect any different device
to the service (to the modem) without resetting the modem. The modem knows what
device is currently plugged in to it, by the MAC address of the device, and will
ignore any other devices (such as a computer, or a different router). Try
resetting the modem.
# Power down everything.
# Connect everything as you wish.
# Wait 5 - 10 minutes.
# Power the modem only on. Wait until the mode shows service (Line, Link,
Service light is lit).
# Power the router on.
# Power the computer on.

If the above doesn't work, try again, but wait 1/2 hour or so. Some services
reportably have a 4 hour retraining period, as the equipment behind the modem
(at the broadband head-end) has to reset too. You may even have to involve your
DSL company, in extreme cases.

 

[waltstime1]

With many broadband services, you cannot randomly connect any different device
to the service (to the modem) without resetting the modem. The modem knows what
device is currently plugged in to it, by the MAC address of the device, and will
ignore any other devices (such as a computer, or a different router). Try
resetting the modem.
# Power down everything.
# Connect everything as you wish.
# Wait 5 - 10 minutes.
# Power the modem only on. Wait until the mode shows service (Line, Link,
Service light is lit).
# Power the router on.
# Power the computer on.

If the above doesn't work, try again, but wait 1/2 hour or so. Some services
reportably have a 4 hour retraining period, as the equipment behind the modem
(at the broadband head-end) has to reset too. You may even have to involve your
DSL company, in extreme cases.

Well, I tried the 10 minute test, and I tried contacting Verizon, dumb,
and dumber, but their automated system did download an updated bridge
adapter, whatever that is, so I thought this might help, but it did
not. Tonight, I try the 4 hour retraining period, when I turn
everything off, and then on in the morning. I'll keep you posted.

I mean, does not Shell gasoline work in Ford cars with Bosch fuel
injection systems? There is something I don't understand ...

 

[waltstime1]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
Well, another day, another frustration. The overnight disconnect did
not work, so I am back to the old, hardwired router, which works just
fine.

I once read that the motto of engineers is "better is the enemy of
good" and I think I now understand this, but why?

 

[Chuck]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
Well, another day, another frustration. The overnight disconnect did
not work, so I am back to the old, hardwired router, which works just
fine.

I once read that the motto of engineers is "better is the enemy of
good" and I think I now understand this, but why?

OK, maybe the MAC address isn't the only (maybe not the actual) problem. Is the
WRT54G WAN setup the same as the BEFSR41? What type of internet service do you
have - static ip, dynamic ip, PPPoE?

Right now, I'm not sure where the problem is. Can you connect to the WRT54G
LAN?

Can you make the WRT54G use dynamic ip on its WAN, connect it to the LAN of the
BEFSR41, and connect clients to it? Can you get Internet service to clients
that way? If you can do that, then use it as a WAP until we figure out the
actual problem:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-on-lan-with-two-routers.html>

Engineers have many mottoes, and another one is something like "There's more
than one way to kill a goose". I seem to remember that one from my childhood.

 

[Gary]

Well, I tried the 10 minute test, and I tried contacting Verizon, dumb,
and dumber, but their automated system did download an updated bridge
adapter, whatever that is, so I thought this might help, but it did
not. Tonight, I try the 4 hour retraining period, when I turn
everything off, and then on in the morning. I'll keep you posted.

I mean, does not Shell gasoline work in Ford cars with Bosch fuel
injection systems? There is something I don't understand ...

Did you go into the router configuration page and set DHCP of the external
network to PPPOE and put your user name and password in and if not do so and
see if you can connect after doing that.

 

[John R Weiss]

Well, another day, another frustration. The overnight disconnect did
not work, so I am back to the old, hardwired router, which works just
fine.

Assuming the new router is not defective, the next try should be to clone the
old router's MAC address into the new router. Some ISPs try to restrict
multiple computers by requiring the MAC address to be as originally configured.

In the WRT54G go to the Setup | MAC Address Clone tab and input the MAC address
of the old router (or the MAC address in the "clone" tab of the old router, if
enabled).

While you're looking, print out the setup pages for your old router and see if
there are other settings that need to be transferred to the new one.

 

[waltstime1]

Assuming the new router is not defective, the next try should be to clone the
old router's MAC address into the new router. Some ISPs try to restrict
multiple computers by requiring the MAC address to be as originally configured.

In the WRT54G go to the Setup | MAC Address Clone tab and input the MAC address
of the old router (or the MAC address in the "clone" tab of the old router, if
enabled).

While you're looking, print out the setup pages for your old router and see if
there are other settings that need to be transferred to the new one.

I tried cloning the old address, and then I manually input it, and
then, when I discovered that Linksys's net set program reset it to a
different value, simply did not run net set.

Nothing worked. I even tried after disabling Windows Firewall and
Nortons auto protect.

The old router continues to work just fine, except not for a wireless
connection.

 

[waltstime1]

Maybe the cloning helped, but what really solved the problem was to get
to Linksys web site, and download the detailed, 8 point instructions,
which had me reset the router to PPPoE and place my user name in, with
a password that I could not read from my old router, so I used my new
password, but it seemed to derive that hidden password anyway, and then
.... turn everything off, turn it on one at a time, and

HERE WE ARE.

 

[Chuck]

Maybe the cloning helped, but what really solved the problem was to get
to Linksys web site, and download the detailed, 8 point instructions,
which had me reset the router to PPPoE and place my user name in, with
a password that I could not read from my old router, so I used my new
password, but it seemed to derive that hidden password anyway, and then
... turn everything off, turn it on one at a time, and

HERE WE ARE.

Sometimes, documentation from the vendor actually works. Thanks for letting us
know.