technical support - dlink wireless router & virgin media broadband

[Paul the 6th]

gonna be quick as feck explaining this one for a change:

• virgin media broadband
• had a netgear wireless router for ages
• router started acting up a few weeks ago - called VM, they sent a replacement dLink wireless router
• only just got around to installing this morning
• all set up and worked fine for about 5 minutes before the internet dropped out
• although I can't connect to any webpages, I can still connect to the router config page (192.168.0.1)
• did the usual 'quick fix tip' of turn everything off, wait 30 seconds and then turn it back on
• this fixed it but then the net dropped out again after 3-5 mins
• rang VM - they say there's now a problem with the modem so it's coming in 3-5 working days
• apparently as we've had the modem for 18-24 months it now needs replacing? I didn't realise routers and modems expire as they have no moving parts/aren't exactly in a tricky working environment

Can anyone shed any light on this as today of all days I need the internet for some really vital work...

Thanks in advance

[Dave20046]

Getting to the dlink config page is normal, that's internal to your home network all that really confirms is your dlink box and your icack can see each other...which is nice.
What do you mean by modem, do you mean the dlink unit is connected to another unit?

I know nothing about macs but make sure it has up to date drivers on the wireless card.

When the internet appears to be down. Can you ping websites?

[timwilky]

When I had a problem with my VM connection some time ago, they said.

Oh there is a known problem with your modem and sent out a new one and problem did indeed go away. Annoying that they know they have kit out there with faults and will not replace unless you complain.

It is a bug bear of mine with most "technology" companies, you can spend time chasing your backside, finally decide it isn't you report it and they say we know. I used to admire companies like Digital who every month sent out a list of all their known faults/workarounds etc.

[Paul the 6th]

the internet hasn't dropped out for 11 minutes now - the virgin tech said he was gonna run a few tests at his end to see if it would fix it..

Seems alright now?

Yeah the dlink wireless router is plugged into the virgin media branded modem which then connects to the wall.

Anywho, all it is with the router config page - the fact that I can still access it wirelessly shows the computer is still connected to router via wifi. No access to external servers or webpages means it prolly is the modem - but this wasn't happening til the dLink was installed.. Think the technical term is an "ãrse about face issue".

[Paul the 6th]

oh and on the funny side, I need to get a virgin media engineer to connect the modem up for me? Connection to the wall looks like a coaxial connection but with a bolt & thread.

I'll fetch me spanners and drip tray

[Dave20046]

Is this on a mac paul?

Could do with seeing the equivalent of a 'ipconfig /all' command.

[Paul the 6th]

Nee I'm on mac os x at the moment but it appears mr. broadbanding's might have fixed it with whatever he did at his end.

If it buuggers up again I'll re-boot into windows and access ipconfig.

Are there other networks around? Change the channel on your router if so.

192.168.100.1 is the address on the main router (often called modem) log into that to check its connected.

Sounds like the either the cabling got distrubed or the modem/router having a sulk after awhile (they can do this is some odd parameter in the networking protocol configuration is suspect).
If you have the same modem as me, then its a black slightly bigger than a fag pack unit. This has a green tick led lit up. If that starts flashing then the modem is uphappy.
Suggest that you just undo the F-connector nut/ cable between the modem and the connector on the wall (Network termination box, where the outside cable comes in).
If the modem/router is sulking, then the wireless router logs might show some clues. Default passwork on mine is username: virgin, password: password.
Good luck