wireless router trouble...no wireless signal

eastcoasteddie · #1 10-14-2009, 04:34 PM

I got a LinkSys WRT54G router as a used free-bee. I hooked it up with my DSL modem and it works with my desktop. I also dot it to work with my laptop hard wired into port #2, with which I was having trouble as well. I solved that by setting up in the network properties "allow other computers to acces internet through this one" in my desktop. Not sure if this is the correct way to do that, but it works nonetheless.

So my final problem is the wireless signal. The WLAN LED on the front of the router is not lit. The router does not send any signal, my laptop will not pick anything up. I tried using the setup disc the router came with, but I kept getting an error window saying the router can't be configured.

Are these things supposed to send a wireless signal instantaneously when they are turned on, or are you supposed to turn it on manually? I tried accessing the cisco systems IP web address for this thing, and the page doesn't exist.

How can I get this to work? I already created the wireless network and downloaded it to my laptop via USB flash drive.

help???

TrooperFarva · #2 10-14-2009, 04:46 PM

There should be 5 ports on the back of the router. 'Internet', and then 4 LAN ports. You should connect the router to the DSL Modem through the 'Internet' port. Any wired computer should go through any of the 4 LAN ports.

The default IP Address for the router is 192.168.1.1, so you should be able to access the router by going to

http://192.168.1.1

in any browser. If that does not work, whoever had it before you changed the IP address. There is a reset button on the back. Hold it in for 10 seconds, this will reset the router back to factory defaults. Then the IP address should work.

What do you mean you downloaded the Wireless network to your USB Flash Drive?

eastcoasteddie · #3 10-14-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

There should be 5 ports on the back of the router. 'Internet', and then 4 LAN ports. You should connect the router to the DSL Modem through the 'Internet' port. Any wired computer should go through any of the 4 LAN ports.

The default IP Address for the router is 192.168.1.1, so you should be able to access the router by going to

http://192.168.1.1

in any browser. If that does not work, whoever had it before you changed the IP address. There is a reset button on the back. Hold it in for 10 seconds, this will reset the router back to factory defaults. Then the IP address should work.

What do you mean you downloaded the Wireless network to your USB Flash Drive?

I have reset the router several times when I originally hooked it up, so it should be at default 3x over.

the wiring of the router-to-modem is just as you describe. It does work hard wired with both my desktop and laptop.

What I mean by the flash drive is that when setting up the network properties on the desktop, using the network setup wizard in Windows (XP, btw) you have the option to send the settings to a flash drive, then install the settings into each computer that will share the network via the flash drive. Then stick it back into the main computer serving as the hub to "see" those computers.
You can do it this way or manually typing in the ip addresses & so on. I did it using the flash drive. My laptop has the network "in it" and is ready for use.....once I get the wireless signal to work.

I tried that ip address after I reset the router all those times, and nothing.

I'll try the link to that ip you posted soon and report back. I'mnot working on the desktop right now.

also, what are the chances that the wireless part of the router is busted????

TrooperFarva · #4 10-14-2009, 05:05 PM

I've used that router in a few sites, and I've never used the Windows network setup, it's just not needed. That's likely your problem.

You don't need need to set the IP addresses of your computer unless you're doing Port Forwarding or DMZ, something like that. If you're not doing that, just set up each computer for 'Obtain an IP Address Automatically.' The router has DHCP built in, it'll assign IP addresses.

You said you tried that IP Address, but you're going to try the link that I posted. What exactly were you doing with that IP Address before?

I doubt the wireless is busted. It's possible, but not that likely.

TrooperFarva · #5 10-14-2009, 05:10 PM

Also, what IP addresses are you setting your computers to? If you're setting them to what amounts to a different subnet than the router, you can't connect to the routers IP address.

eastcoasteddie · #6 10-14-2009, 05:17 PM

well, I never changed any of the addresses. I did set it or "acquire automatically". My laptop is picking up like 8 other wireless signals from the apartments all around me...and not my own.

what have I done with that ip?? entered into the browser header and press enter. Comes up "page not found".

TrooperFarva · #7 10-14-2009, 05:26 PM

Open a command prompt (Start->Run, Type "cmd" without the quotes, and hit Enter), type in "ipconfig" without the quotes, and hit Enter. Tell me what the output is.

eastcoasteddie · #8 10-15-2009, 07:23 PM

I'm on my desktop now. Clicking the link to the IP gives me a timeout error. Tried it in Mozilla and IE, both the same.
I also reset the router again to make sure....same thing, timeout error.

Did the run command as above. Got this:

Windows IP configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection

Connection-Specific DNS suffix: [blank]
IP address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
default Gateway: [blank]

PPP adapter Verizon Online
Connection-specific DNS suffix: [blank]
IP address: 71.190.7.183
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.255
default gateway: 71.190.7.183

TrooperFarva · #9 10-15-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

I'm on my desktop now. Clicking the link to the IP gives me a timeout error. Tried it in Mozilla and IE, both the same.
I also reset the router again to make sure....same thing, timeout error.

Did the run command as above. Got this:

Windows IP configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection

Connection-Specific DNS suffix: [blank]
IP address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
default Gateway: [blank]

PPP adapter Verizon Online
Connection-specific DNS suffix: [blank]
IP address: 71.190.7.183
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.255
default gateway: 71.190.7.183

How is your computer connected to the router? How is the DSL modem tied in?

Are you sure that your computer is set to automatically obtain an IP address?

Whats the model number of the DSL Modem you are using?

TrooperFarva · #10 10-15-2009, 08:31 PM

I think I know what the problem is, I want you to try a few more things and report back.

Disconnect the DSL Modem, the Router, and your Computers.

Connect either computer straight to the DSL Modem. Run 'ipconfig' the same way you did before. What's the result? Are you able to get onto the internet this way?

Connect the computer straight to the Router, in one of the 4 LAN ports. Do not connect the DSL Modem to anything yet. Run 'ipconfig' again, what's the result?

What type of DSL Modem is it?

eastcoasteddie · #11 10-25-2009, 09:28 AM

sorry for the delay, got extremely busy...

OK so with only the DSL modem hooked up, running ipconfig, I got:

IP address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: [blank]

and I am able to access the internet this way.

hooking the computer to LAN port #1 of the router and NOT hooking the DSL modem, running ipconfig I got the same thing as above.

The DSL modem is a Westell Wirespeed Ethernet, model B90-210015-04

In my Verizon Online Properties in the Network Connections in control panel, I have
Internet Protocol properties (TCP/IP)
highlighted is : "Obtain IP addresses automatically" and "obtain DNS server address automatically"

I also have a 1394 Connection icon, and ip address is also set to auto as above.

I have a 3rd connection icon; Local Area Connection.
This one is set to "use the following IP address:"
and the numbers from the ipconfig results are in the option boxes.
"Use DNS server address" option boxes are blank.

TrooperFarva · #12 10-25-2009, 06:54 PM

Ok, I think I know what your problem is, I just need a few more pieces of information.

Connect a computer straight to the DSL modem, and try this link

http://192.168.0.1

Does it bring you to a Modem configuration screen?

Now, disconnect from the DSL Modem, and connect to the Router, leaving the DSL Modem completely disconnected. Try the link again. Does it bring you to a Router configuration screen?

If that link doesn't work, try these as well

http://192.168.0.254
http://192.168.0.255

TrooperFarva · #13 10-25-2009, 07:03 PM

Sorry, I finally processed your last post.

In the 'Local Area Connection', the one that's set to 'Use This Address', I want you to set that to Automatically get an address. When connect the computer straight to the router, leave the modem out. Then let me know what your IP address is, with ipconfig.

While you're doing that, try this link again, it'll probably work

http://192.168.1.1

eastcoasteddie · #14 10-25-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

Sorry, I finally processed your last post.

In the 'Local Area Connection', the one that's set to 'Use This Address', I want you to set that to Automatically get an address. When connect the computer straight to the router, leave the modem out. Then let me know what your IP address is, with ipconfig.

While you're doing that, try this link again, it'll probably work

http://192.168.1.1

with router connected only, ipconfig:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection

AutoConfig IP: 169.254.81.118
Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
default Gateway: [blank]

PPP adapter Verizon Online

IP address: 71.190.11.3
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.255
default gateway: 71.190.11.3

Now the Local Area Connection says "Limited or no Connectivity". I click "repair" and it says that repair failed after about 30 seconds of trying to renew ip address. I still can't access that page....

...unless I have to restart the system for changes to take affect?????

also, I tried command prompt: ping 192.168.1.1
and it came back 4 times as "timed out".

TrooperFarva · #15 10-26-2009, 08:21 AM

It sounds like DHCP isn't enabled on the router. Go back into the Local Area Connection, and set it up like this

IP Address: 192.168.1.20
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Connect the computer to just the router, leave the modem out of it, and try the 192.168.1.1 link once more. This should get you into the Router configuration screen

If it does, the username should be 'admin' and the password should be 'password'

There should be an option, I think on the first page, to turn on DHCP. Start with 192.168.1.100, and reserve 25 addresses.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #16 10-26-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

It sounds like DHCP isn't enabled on the router. Go back into the Local Area Connection, and set it up like this

IP Address: 192.168.1.20
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Connect the computer to just the router, leave the modem out of it, and try the 192.168.1.1 link once more. This should get you into the Router configuration screen

If it does, the username should be 'admin' and the password should be 'password'

There should be an option, I think on the first page, to turn on DHCP. Start with 192.168.1.100, and reserve 25 addresses.

+1

IIRC, there is a provision for turning the wireless signal on and off in the router setup. If the wireless signal won't turn on, the RF circuitry just may be dead and you would essentially have just a wired router.

MJ5150 · #17 10-26-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

the RF circuitry just may be dead and you would essentially have just a wired router.

Not that routers are expensive, but this may be exactly why you got the router as a freebie.

-Mike

TrooperFarva · #18 10-26-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Not that routers are expensive, but this may be exactly why you got the router as a freebie.

-Mike

Thats a strong possibility, but thus far, he hasn't been able to get into the router to see if it's turned on.

eastcoasteddie · #19 10-31-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

It sounds like DHCP isn't enabled on the router. Go back into the Local Area Connection, and set it up like this

IP Address: 192.168.1.20
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Connect the computer to just the router, leave the modem out of it, and try the 192.168.1.1 link once more. This should get you into the Router configuration screen

If it does, the username should be 'admin' and the password should be 'password'

There should be an option, I think on the first page, to turn on DHCP. Start with 192.168.1.100, and reserve 25 addresses.

I just want to reaffirm....connecting the computer to the router, the computer plugged into one of the LAN ports, right?
nothing would be connected to the "internet" port?

I still can't get in, with or without the model in the loop.
Sorry if this has become a silly never ending circle.

I greatly appreciate all your help, but I don't want to waste any more of your time. Maybe I should just have someone look at it....or buy a new router.

TrooperFarva · #20 10-31-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

I just want to reaffirm....connecting the computer to the router, the computer plugged into one of the LAN ports, right?
nothing would be connected to the "internet" port?

I still can't get in, with or without the model in the loop.
Sorry if this has become a silly never ending circle.

I greatly appreciate all your help, but I don't want to waste any more of your time. Maybe I should just have someone look at it....or buy a new router.

So you set the IP address of the computer to 192.168.1.20, connected it to router in one the LAN ports, tried to get into http://192.168.1.1, and it wouldn't work?