Wireless Router (Lynksis WAP11) and Cable Modem Woes

[Ira]

I finally entered the 21st Century yesterday and had cable modem installed at home.

It's hardwired to my bedroom desktop where I do most of my porn--I mean scientific--web browsing, and everything is working just fine there.

But I have a WAP-11 Access Point Wireless Router (correct term? router?) connected so the fruits of my loins can connect with their laptops.

My older boy from my left loin can connnect, although we've had an issue here and there since yestrday, from his iBook.

But the right loin kid wanted a damn PC, and he can't connect at all.

Keep in mind that I'm Mac all the way, and all I can do is look at myself in the mirror in total disgust at the fact that I don't know what the hell I'm doing on a PC. (What's with the two mouse buttons?)

And I don't WANT to know.

To make matters worse, I'm supposed to be able to dial up a default IP address for this router via Safari to configure my security, name and other settings--but that don't work either. "Can't find server."

I HATE THE 21ST CENTURY! AND IN THE WORDS OF MICHAEL CORLEONE'S BROTHER FREDO FROM THE GODFATHER:

"I'm not stupid! I'm SMART!!!"

Except I don't feel that way right now.

I know this is way off topic, but you never know when someone is gonna wanna install a wireless network in their TD, and your assistance could help them too.

[elmo]

"I'm not stupid! I'm SMART!!!"

Don't do that when I am drinking beer...it hurts when it comes out the nose!

[Juneaudave]

Ira...what's the Linksys model number...it is usually written right on the front in tiny, tiny, numbers so you will have to get your glasses on. I think they write small so the more mature and technically competent owners won't mess with it. We'll go from there!!! They are all a bit different. Linksys has a good web site to help.

[Ira]

I printed 10 pages this afternnon from Lynksis forum posts on the web site from people with similar problems, and I figured that would be my Independence Day task tomorrow.

It's a WAP-11, "Wireless-B Access Point," firmware version 2.8--the latest version. I manually reset it 5 times (I PUSHED A BUTTON FOR 90 SECONDS!!!)...but I still can't get to the IP address to configure the thing.

Yeah, I HAVE to get my boy Timmy to connect to it, although he's the PC problem kid. But I figure first things first:

I want to at least rename the network "Ira" so when they scan for networks on their laptops, they know it's OURS and not some guy across the street.

I have a suspicion that this may have to do with the way everything is WIRED:

The feeder cable modem service cat 5 cable is now going into a 5-port switch, and this switch is also taking the cat 5's from my modem, my desktop Mac, and the Linksys.

This all sounds correct, right?

The nuttiest thing is that I printed out the manual...downloaded the set-up wizard and other mishigas software...and burned it onto a CD..but...

That's all necessary for a PC--not a MAC. The manual doesn't mention Mac at all, and those software files are exe files--useless on a Mac anyway.

[Micro469]

Ira, How many modems do you have attached? your feeder cable should be attached to your cable modem, then from there to your switch. Your computers should be attached to your switch.

[Ira]

John, only one modem.

And that modem only has one cat 5 port and a USB port.

[Juneaudave]

Gee Ira...I feel your burning desire to whack Bill Gates...but play along with me here, I'm trying to be helpful. When I read your first post, I assumed the fruit of your loins with the Apple could connect to the wireless router (wirelessly), however, the fruit of your loins with the PC could not connect with his wireless connection. In that case, I suspected that the router is probably working OK, that it was simply a matter of configuring the PC.

The reason I wanted the Model Number was to quick scan the users manual. It is important that you are able to access the router, change the settings and give your wireless network some protection. I have no clue, but if entering Http://192.168.1.251 does not give you access to the router from your machine wired to the router or hub, then something is wrong and we need to find out what that is. I do not believe that WAP 11 is the model number, rather it is a family of products. This link will help you identify exactly which model you have so we are on the same page Linksys WEP11

Help..John...Help

[Elumia]

I think what you want to have with a router is:
Cable goes from wall to cable modem, cable modem then connected to router.
Hardwired PC/Mac connected to ethernet ports on back of router
wireless computers connect via 80211-b (whatever you router is)

Your Router is the one computer connected to your cable. The router assigns an IP address to the other computers through DHCP and "routes" the traffic for each computer. You are then sharing this one connection to the internet.

I helped my friend set her,s up. I called Comcast. It was as simple as power cycling the router and cable modem. Much easier than when I set mine up (it's been so long I forgot how)

Mark

[Ira]

Well--I'm real impressed that you got the exact IP address!!!

There are two numbers marked on the router:

One has a sticky label next to an S/N which I assume is the serial number, which I guess we'll ignore for now.

Then there's a MAC # hard printed onto the casing:

000C416727A0

(They mock me with that MAC acronym.)

[Ira]

I think what you want to have with a router is:
Cable goes from wall to cable modem, cable modem then connected to router.

That's what I can't have:

The cable modem only has one Cat 5 port. You have to bring a swith into this equation, although switch is kind of a stupid word for it because it's really a hub.

But like I said above and maybe you're right--maybe it's not WIRED correctly.

Either that, or I'm being screwed by the 'man" again. (In this case, Advanced Cable.)

Anyway, I appreciate all of your thoughtsand efforts, but it's 1:30M here in not-sunny-right-now Florida, and I'm gonna collapse from exhaustion. I'll check back in the AM.

When I was 15, I could go another three hours here. Now that I'm 50, I'm just hoping I can survive the night.

[Juneaudave]

The MAC address is something different..if we ever get to security...we'll get into that...you are looking for a number like...BEFW1154 or WRT51AB...something similar for the Model Number. Also, grab the PC, boot it up and tell me what the Windows Operating System is...Windoxs XP, Vista, or an older edition.

[Elumia]

typically your router is a router AND a switch.

You only have one connection to the internet from the Cable MAN. That goes to the router from the cat 5 cable (ethernet cable) from the router/switch you connect all the other puters.

If the wiring isn't convenient for hardwiring your MAC can you get a wireless network card for your MAC?

[Greg M]

What Ira has is a wireless access point, not a router. I sounds like he has the WAP plugged into a multiport switch, not a router. I think the problem is that what he really needs is a wireless router instead of that switch and WAP.
Ira, head on down to you local circuit city (or whatever) and get yourself a proper wireless router. I've tried to set up one of those Linksys WAPs before, and only had intermittent success. The headache isn't worth the $40 for a decent wireless router.

-Greg

[Juneaudave]

If child of loin with the Apple can connect wirelessly, I trully believe child of loin with PC can connect. It's probably something really easy like configuring the PC to talk to the wireless router. Not a big deal, I think we can solve this one in the morning!!! Nighty night Ira!!!

[jdarkoregon]

Ira,

If the router is only broadcasting in "B" it must be an older model. There is an outside chance that the PC (especially if new) doesn't do "B" and only does "G"

Try this on the PC (I don't know the equal on the MAC).
Wire it to the router,
then start the command prompt (DOS window) done by clicking the Start button, clicking on Run... and then typing cmd and clicking the run button. that will open the dos window (which you MAC people laugh at) when the prompt is there blinking away,
type ipconfig and then the enter key (which you call the return key)

It should come up with a few lines of stuff, the main one to be looking for is IP address 192.168.?.?
and Gateway 192.168.? ?

write down that information.

IF nothing like that comes up, then I doubt the router and the pc are talking, even though in ethernet and not wireless

if the numbers do come up, THEN

Open the Browser (( Internet Explorer or Firefox)
it will come up with the dreaded "Page Not Available" or "Can't be displayed" page, that's okay

in the address bar, type the gateway address that was displayed in the dos window and then the enter key

that should take you to either the linksys webpage in the router or the password dialog box asking for the username and password , that manual you printed out should have that for you.

IF that gets you into the router configpage (linksys webpage) in the router, then you should be able to configure it

Be patient when you type the gateway address into the address bar, sometimes it takes awhile

I look forward to reading your results tomorrow,

Happy 4th of July

John, on the left coast