Problem setting up a wireless modem. Plz help if you can.

[Death Metal Moe]

OK, I am fully aware that it's very hard to figure out networking problems without seeing the network configuration with your hands on the problem. I'm just going to throw all the info I can out there in hopes this rings a bell with a tech-head on Ronfez. Maybe my story will raise a red flag with you, maybe you experience this problem in the past and can give me some pointers. If not, hey, I understand.

This was my 1st ever attempt to set up a wireless modem.

The computer runs the current service pack of Vista. It's a HP, about a year old, it's the one some of you may remember me talking about having to wipe, twice. It is functional though, no real threat of a problem with that comp as far as I can tell.

So I got a Netgear WGR614 v6 wireless router with my mother's laptop I got her for Christmas like 3 or 4 years ago. I never needed it and never used it so I decided to give it to my uncle's family since they had recently been given a decent Dell workstation computer for his oldest daughter, that I of course set up.

So I get it over there and follow the instructions. It tells me to power cycle the modem they got from Optimum Online, then plug it into the Netgear modem, plug that in, and then put the computer into a port on the Netgear, then open a browser and follow the wizard to set it up. I did all that and everything worked great. I used my Droid to detect the WEP protected wireless signal I set up, it found it and connected. Wonderful.

I leave all that and go upstairs, set up the Dell in her room, get it going and...nothing for a wireless signal. It just won't connect. It shows a very strong signal is available, and it also shows other local networks at various strengths, but it just won't connect to this new wireless signal I just had working. So I go downstairs and now for some reason the HP computer that is hardwired to the Netgear router, the one I just had working, wasn't on the internet anymore. It displayed it was connected to 2 Local Only networks, Local 3 and an unidentified network with local only. That's odd.

So I power cycled everything no dice. I plugged the Optimum modem back into the comp and I had to power cycle it to work but it got internet again. So I started from scratch, again. I couldn't even get back to having the hardwired HP get internet again through the Netgear when everything was hooked up again.

This is REALLY frustrating because I HAD IT WORKING and it just died. I'm not sure if something in the computer automatically adjusted itself, I never saw a prompt. I don't know if there's a chance the Netgear just up and died on me, but I'm banking on it being OK just because it's new in box.

If anyone has even some general networking advice I'd love to hear it. If you have a more specific answer, that of course would be even more cool. If someone has an idea but needs more info please just ask.

Thanks. I'd like to get this thing working for my cousin, I've dropped like $30 bucks on a wireless adapter and a new surge proctor for the comp. What good is a comp that's not online? It's like a tease, just sitting in her room now, not on the web.

[StanUpshaw]

Do you have any other routers to test with? Netgear products that function like shit are not at all rare.

Normally I wouldn't trust any equipment supplied by the ISP, as it's usually second or third hand, but if you're able to get online when the router is eliminated, it sounds like the modem is fine.

[Death Metal Moe]

I unfortunately have no other routers to try. I was under the impression that Netgear wasn't an amazing name but was at least decent. Was I wrong?

[StanUpshaw]

I doubt they have a worse record than any other company, but they do have a large share of the market, so you run into a lot of failing Netgear products.

I wouldn't dissuade anyone from buying Netgear, all I'm saying is that the fact that it's brand new, regardless of brand, doesn't mean that it's not the culprit. With the odd intermittency you're describing, it would be my first guess.

[Death Metal Moe]

I understand your point, trust me. Everything points to a problem with the Netgear, obviously. It just wouldn't route the internet through itself to the hard wired computer.

The Optimum modem got the computer back on the internet once the Netgear wasn't in the way.

I'm just so pissed that it was working and then died as I was setting up the computer upstairs. I understand that there's nothing that says the Netgear isn't DOA, i was just kinda hoping it wasn't since it was new and never used.

I guess I'm gonna have to either see if a friend has an extra one to test it or just get a different one.

It would still let me get into the router settings for whatever that's worth.

[instrument]

first thing to do is to plug the modem into the router, then go to the routers main menu and see if it has an IP assigned from the modem.

IF there is no ip assigned from the modem then that's your first problem.

if there is an ip assigned from the modem then the issue isn't with the router or the modem, but with the computers connected to em.

so go to 192.168.1.1 (or whatever you use to get to the router) go the the main system status page, and see if it has a regular ip address...

[Death Metal Moe]

I will have to go back of course but I am almost positive there was an IP address assigned to the router when I was in the router menus. I will check that out though, ty. I just have to get the courage up to go fuck with it again.

[KnoxHarrington]

Anything that could be a source of interference? Baby monitors, cordless phones, microwave ovens in use?

If it's getting a legit IP address from the modem (see above), try changing the channel it broadcasts on.

[Death Metal Moe]

I didnt even get to connect to it, the router stopped being on the internet as I was setting up the comp upstairs that was going to accept the wireless signal.