Switch to a Router 2

[porto99]

I currently have a broadband connection (via BTInternet.com in the UK).

The connection is via a BT Voyager 100 USB ADSL Modem.

Now I have a home network using a simple 4 port hub - all working fine

My question is now that I have bought a Netgear ADSL Router (DG834G - 54 Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router) how do I connect via that device. (I have a new Notebook with wireless LAN available hence the need for the change).

I followed the instructions but unable to login to the router via 192.168.0.1 or the internet. Cable unpluged!

The connection is still via dial-up USB modem; i.e. the BT Voyager 100 ADSL Modem and not the new router.

Any advice please, as not a network expert.

Andy.

 

[franklin97355]

Plug the hub into one of the ports on the router. It may require setting a switch or using a crossover cable to connect the two devices.

 

[porto99]

Thanks for your post.

Just to clarify the situation. I did remove the ASDL USB modem and connect up the router, but the system is still configured for the old ASDL USB modem. I did not want to uninstall everything in case the router did not work and I lost my internet connection.

As I just need the router to connect my laptop, could I leave the ASDL USB modem connected and replace the hub with the router or is that silly?

Any suggestions,

Porto

 

[franklin97355]

That's not a good idea. Try connecting the new router and see what you get. If it works change the settings on the other computer to connect. you should not have to remove any software, just disable it temporarly.

 

[cyberspace]

Porto - I am on BT also and I also replaced my Voyager modem with the Wireless GT version of the router you have.

Basically the steps are as follows.

1) Banish the voyager and the hub into a dark cupboard - you don't need it anymore, it would be a waste of your money if you kept it!

2) Take the end of ADSL RJ-11 plug (the little plug that goes into the filter) that was in the Voyager and put it in the port marked ADSL on the Netgear router.

3) Plug a network cable into one of the 4 switch ports, and then plug the other end into your PC's NIC (network card).

If I remember correctly the router will have DHCP enabled by default (this assigns your IP address) - so what you need to do is go to My Network Places > Network Connections and right click on "Local Area Connection" and select properties. From the components listed at the top of that box, find the one labelled TCP/IP and then again select properties - ensure that both IP config and DNS settings are set to automatic.

Then fire up your browser of choice, and type in 192.168.0.1 - and you should be prompted with the login!

From there there are options down the left of the screen, one of which has something to do with the ADSL line (I am working exclusively from memory here and it has been a long time since i configured it so please forgive me!). Go into that, follow the steps entering your account information etc, and then click connect! It should auto determine VCI settings etc so dont worry about that.

If you are on the basic service where no password is required, ensure you enter "btbroadband" into the password box, as there is a known issue with that line of routers that causes authentication to fail where no password is entered. I believe this was addressed in a firmware upgrade however (you should definatley upgrade the firmware as soon as you get a connection).

That should sort you!

As I say I am working completely from memory and it's been sitting doing its job for months now with no interferance from me!

I will take a quick look when I get home and post up anything I might have forgotten.

Any questions just shout

 

[porto99]

Thanks for your post. I have just had a 2 hour session trying to sort it out, I now know even less than when I started.

I did manage to log into the router, but a bit confused about where to put my BT account info (me@btbroadband.com and myBTPassword).

My broadband connection setup had a dial up option with the number .38 in the Dial up Connections Properties

Also with Internet Explorer, I am totally confused as what to put in place of the ADSL Voyager in the Internet Options -> Connections Tab

All the other seting are OK; e.g. IP config and DNS settings are set to automatic.

I have now reverted back to the ADSL Voyager modem, I will be very unpopular if I lose internet connection on this computer with the other users.

If you manage to supply more info (for someone who is so confused) that would be great.

I did think that the switch would be easy, how wrong I was.

Porto

 

[cyberspace]

Ok, I’ve checked my exact settings, since we are on the same ISP, these should be exactly the same for you.

Since you currently have a connection, i STRONGLY reccommend you go to the Netgear site and download the latest firmware for your router.

Don’t worry about the Connections tab in IE, nothing needs to be there, because you are using the Local Area Connection to the router, which is in turn connected to the internet.

Here goes:

Log into the router.

On the left hand pane, click the option “Basic Settings” and configure as follows:

Does your internet connection require a login? : Yes
Encapsulation: PPPoA (PPP over ATM)

Login: <yourname>@btbroadband.com (may differ)
Password: Enter password if you have one, otherwise enter btbroadband
Idle Timeout: 0

Set IP and DNS to automatic, and make sure NAT is turned ON.

Click test, see what happens – all should be ok.
Click apply.

Go down to Router Status (on the left hand side toolbar) and Connect.

This should now report back as connected (please paste log if it wont connect)

One thing you can check if you have any difficulty - click the ADSL settings option:

Multiplexing method: VC Based
VPI: 0
VCI: 38

The above SHOULD be automatic and this is how it should be set up.

Also ensure in the LAN settings that you have DHCP enabled and specify the address range if you need to, starting from 192.168.0.2 – for now, don’t bother with address reservation or MAC address filtering, or indeed any security for that matter, let’s just focus on getting you connected

please let me know how you get on.

 

[porto99]

Updated the firmware and now got connected - great, many thanks for your help. Your instructions made it clear.

As you are with BTInternet, any suggestions for the security settings. Currently I have a McAfee anti virus program and the freeware ZoneAlarm in place.

Regarding the Hub, which is upstairs (and wired) could I plug that into the router and connect a couple to computers to the hub or should I fit wireless LAN network cards as required?

Again many thanks for your help

 

[cyberspace]

That’s not a problem, what we are here for!

As for the security settings, the router has a dual Firewall (NAT/SPI), MAC address filtering, MAC address reservation, and for the wireless, WEP or WPA….so plenty to choose from, just depends on how tight you want your security to be.

The firewalls are on automatically, but you can configure rules for certain programs if you wish.

For both wireless and wired connections, MAC address filtering is a good choice – what this basically does is, when a machine tries to connect to the router, the router will look at it’s MAC address table, and if an entry exists for the machine trying to gain access, then it will be issued an ip address. Otherwise it will get the boot, and won’t be allowed to connect. (I cant quite remember what section this comes under though).

If using wireless connections, I would recommend you use a form of wireless security – note that WPA is more secure. You can configure this in the Wireless Settings.

Certainly keep the AntiVirus, and I would also recommend you keep Zone Alarm aswell. With the rising Spyware problem, Microsoft AntiSpyware is certainly worth a look. Ensure all three are installed on every machine on the network. Don’t forget to patch windows aswell!

As far as using the hub is concerned, it’s not a problem…only you might have to drape cables everywhere! Other than that, you can just plug the hub into a port on the switch, and it will work fine. Certainly cheaper than buying some wireless cards, and you will have the added bonus of faster network transfers over the wired connections.

Once everything is set up on all the machines, go into the wireless settings, and uncheck the box that allows the name of the wireless access point (this is called the SSID) to be broadcast – further improving security.

If you do all that, you can be pretty sure of hastle free, safe surfing.

Before you do anything though, I would recommend that you bad up the config file as it is now, and save it as something like “basic” or whatever, just in case you make some security settings and then find that you lose connection and can’t fathom out why!

Oh, and don’t forget to change the password from the factory default

Should be about it!