Recommend a router, and cable modem issues

[roger]

Short version: recommend a good router, no wireless required.

Long version: I've been in networking hell since switching from DSL to Cable modem. I had my DSL hooked up to a wireless router, which gave me internet access to my computer, Tivo, girlfriend's laptop, etc. Most connections were wired, except the Tivo which was wireless. I switched to Cox Cable Internet, and the troubles started. They had to roll a truck for me, but the guy was pretty clueless. Eventually we were able to get my computer to connect to the internet when plugged directly into the modem, so he just walked out the door. We couldn't get it to work with the wireless router (Linksys WRT54GS). I had another of the same router (but newer) and eventually got to more or less work, but I gave it to my girlfriend's father because he needed to set up a wireless network asap.

At this point I have a workgroup switch plugged in. Everytime I lose the internet (we get a lot of power outages), I have to go through a series of steps. boot modem, plug pc directly into modem, boot pc. Get PC connected (eventually). Plug PC into switch, get it working. Plug Tivo directly into modem. Reboot modem. Get Tivo to connect to internet. Plug both Tivo and PC into switch, which is plugged into modem. If lucky, it all works. If not, start from scratch.

So...first, recommend a router that should let everything work together. Tivo, when it doesn't connect, complains about not finding a DHCP server. Some routers advertise being able to act as a server. Recognize that I am not a networking guru. google searches revealed a lot of these kinds of problems with Cox internet - I believe because they are set up to only allow 1 connection - like I'm going to pay extra for my Tivo to connect for 3 minutes, or my DVD player to connect to download new firmware. I gathered that having the right router would allow Cox to think one device is connected, and I'm guessing it is the DHCP server thingy that allows that to happen.

Some routers advertise allowing VPN. I occasionally VPN into the office, and would like to be able to in the future, but I don't know if you have to buy a router that specifically allows this (haven't VPNed since the DSL, to be honest).

If you read a review of Linksys they say "piece of junk, get D-Link". Read d-link, and you get "have to keep rebooting, got a Linksys and all problems go away". Sounds like a lot of people are having similar problems of keeping the network up and running while using cable modems.

So, what router (I just need 4 LAN ports) and anything to help with the stability of the network (so I don't have to reboot everything several times whenever I lose a connection)?

[JWideman]

Your linksys router will do the job.

Try this:
Power down the cable modem for 15 minutes. Then connect your router to it, make sure your router is on and you can connect to it with your PC, and turn on the modem.
If that doesn't work, you might try using the MAC address cloning feature of your router, but this should do it.

[liverleef]

I once worked as a supervisor in a call center for Charter cable. Most customers were happy with their Linksys or D-link routers. It seems like the only one I heard complaints about was Belkin. I have a D-link at home, once I cloned the MAC ID it worked fine. I have to reboot it about once every 2 months or so.

[roger]

"MAC address cloning" I have no idea what that means, but it sounds important. :) Off to google. Thanks!

The whole plug into the router after the modem is power cycled doesn't work. I have to be plugged directly into the modem first, then once I get connectivity, I plug into the router.

[skeptigator]

I would suggest 2 things,

MAC address cloning
Long story short as you say, is it makes your router (the current Linksys should do this) look like your computer. It's usually just a setting in your router and it will do the rest.

IP Address Conflict
This one is bit trickier. I have come across (particularly with Verizon DSL) that some routers dish out DHCP addresses in the same subnet as the ISPs modems; which will shut down routing and therefore Internet access. I hope this makes sense but here's how you can troubleshoot this.

I'll assume you are using WIndows XP.

1) Plug your computer into your Cox modem
2) On your computer, click on Start - Run; Type cmd. Click OK
3) In the command prompt, type "ipconfig" (without quotes).
4) Note the IP Address, probably 192.168.1.100 (the 100 part doesn't matter what is key to note is the first 3 period-separated numbers, called octets).

5) Now plug in your modem to your router and your computer into the router.
6) Do all the necessary rebooting of routers/modems and even your PC just to be safe.
7) Follow the instructions above for for finding your IP address.
8) Compare the two addresses, if the modem and router both give you the same range of addresses then an IP conflict is your problem.

So if the router gives you 192.168.1.xxx and when you are setup with the modem it gives you the numbers 192.168.1.xxx (remember the xxx part doesn't matter) you will need to make your modem give out a different set of addresses.
You can do this by going into your setup in the router and under your DHCP settings change it from giving out a 192.168.1.xxx subnet to 192.168.2.xxx subnet.

[Kaylee]

Skeptigator, can a cable modem be set to be a bridge? (I know that DSL modems can be given that setting.) If so, there's no need to worry about IP address conflicts between the modem and router, correct?

[JWideman]

"MAC address cloning" I have no idea what that means, but it sounds important. :) Off to google. Thanks!

The whole plug into the router after the modem is power cycled doesn't work. I have to be plugged directly into the modem first, then once I get connectivity, I plug into the router.

What you just described is the complete opposite of my suggestion. I'll give you foolproof steps:

1) Turn off modem.
2) Disconnect PC from modem.
3) Connect to router via wifi.
4) Plug router into modem.
5) After 15 minutes that the modem has been off, turn it on.
6) Wait for modem lights to indicate connection.

This should make the modem forget the PC's MAC address.

[skeptigator]

That question can only be answered for the specific cable modem. But in general yes, there is config. page of some kind on those boxes that you can basically turn off the firewalling/NAT/DHCP or it may specifically say "bridge mode" or something.

The main reason I don't do this for people is because anytime ISP service comes out the very first thing they will do is reset your cable/dsl modem back to it's default config which will reintroduce the whole problem again. Might as well make the longer lasting (and completely within your control) change to just set your router to a IP range that isn't likely going to be used by the ISP as a default range. I have seen 192.168.0 & 192.168.1 & 192.168.100 being used, so if you set your range to 192.168.2 or 192.168.13 or something then IP conflicts should be a thing of the past regardless of future resets or modem upgrades.

[skeptigator]

oh and as a side-note to JWideman's comment. That should work as far as clearing your in-house cable modems "cache" of MAC addresses if that's the problem.

It's been a couple years since I've seen this problem but Comcast for awhile there is was somehow "caching" MAC addresses (to keep you from connecting multiple computers to your internet connnection) and you would have to call them and tell them to clear their cache.

[roger]

What you just described is the complete opposite of my suggestion. I'll give you foolproof steps:

1) Turn off modem.
2) Disconnect PC from modem.
3) Connect to router via wifi.
4) Plug router into modem.
5) After 15 minutes that the modem has been off, turn it on.
6) Wait for modem lights to indicate connection.

This should make the modem forget the PC's MAC address.I know it's the complete opposite. I'm telling you steps 1-6 above do not work for me. I've gone through that sequence eleventy-nine times between calls to cox, the truck roll, subsequent fiddling by myself, etc. I'm doing everything Cox, the internet, and you tell me to do, and it doesn't work. That's the quandary.

What does work, after much pain and multiple tries, is to plug directly into the modem via the PC. Get that connected. Then, plug Tivo directly into the modem. Get that working. Then introduce router. Really and for true :).

I'm guessing it's the cloned MAC issue. I didn't have time to try that last night.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I know it's the complete opposite. I'm telling you steps 1-6 above do not work for me. I've gone through that sequence eleventy-nine times between calls to cox, the truck roll, subsequent fiddling by myself, etc. I'm doing everything Cox, the internet, and you tell me to do, and it doesn't work. That's the quandary.

What does work, after much pain and multiple tries, is to plug directly into the modem via the PC. Get that connected. Then, plug Tivo directly into the modem. Get that working. Then introduce router. Really and for true :).

I'm guessing it's the cloned MAC issue. I didn't have time to try that last night.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

Stick with investing and leave these new fangled computers to the pros! ;)

[Bob Blaylock]

Short version: recommend a good router, no wireless required.

DeWalt's routers (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail_listing.asp?categoryID=81) are supposed to be very good.