[sac84371]

Here goes.

I have a linksys 4 port wireless router, a tibook 800 and a old mac desktop. These elementes all worked great for months. I was able to connect to the internet using both computers and the same time if I had wished.

I recently got a new Tibook 800(long story). The old one is back with apple. This is the only element of the setup that has changed. I now can not connect to the internet using both computers and the same time. Infact I have to physically hard reset the router to even allow me to use one computer versus the others. Example, If I want to use my laptop for the internet but I used the desktop last time I must unplug the power to the router and then plug it back in to the power outlet(router that is) and hit the reset key on the router. The router then automatically allows me to use my laptop and blocks my access to the net with the desktop.

Strange thing though, If I bring up the DHCP table in the setup/configue web menu I am getting the assigned ip address for both the ethernet(desktop) and the wireless(laptop) computers. 192.168.100 and 192.168.101

This is what appears in the DHCP window. DHCP Active IP Table
Refresh

DHCP Server IP Address: 192.168.1.1
Client Hostname IP Address MAC Address InterfaceDelete192.168.1.100 00-30-65-06-E1-3A Wireless
Sac84371 192.168.1.101 00-00-C5-46-2D-7E Ethernet

This is the exact setup that has worked for months. MAC address are being shown as well and my router address at 192.168.1.1

I called att&t and they said that there is a server issue with the "SAS" server, somthing to do with renewing IP addresses or leases or something like that. Something about not being able to issue new IPs. Told them I could connect to the internet via both computers but with a very strange protocol to get this task finished. Would this cause the problems I am having. I can connect to the internet just one computer at a time and then if I chose to switch computers I have to do that hard reset.

Linksys supports which was just terrible wants me to send back my router for a return unit. I really doubt the router is bad. What to do. Please help me if you can.

If you live in the bay area and you can help me via email or just post to this newsgroup lunch is on me. Please help. Thanks.
Regards,
Richard

[msuper69]

Get the router replaced.

[ghporter]

I don't think your router is the problem-I think there's a setting on the new computer that's interfering with your router's functions. You don't say what sort of internet connection you have, but I suspect that it's DSL. If that is the case, you need to make sure the new computer isn't trying to connect through the router via PPPoE-behind the router it should simply be set to use the LAN and disregard any DSL settings.

Check this out right away. If it fixes it, fine. If it doesn't, take Linksys up on their offer, since, though their phone support isn't great, their replacement support is.

[sac84371]

I am using at&t broadband through a cable modem. I have the computers connecting using DHCP and using my router as the DHCP server. ON the setup scrren i have the router obtaining IP address automatically.


Hope this helps. You are right the Linksys customer support is the worst I have ever seen. Three hours of phone calls and counting.

Oh well.

Thanks.

[vmarks]

Okay.

I think I would do this:

Delete any and all internet connection settings in the powerbook. For network, only enable the airport card port. Set it to DHCP.

Power down all computers.
press the reset button on the front of the router. unplug the router.
Unplug the cable modem from the wall for a period not shorter than 1 minute 30 seconds.

The cable modem will reset and lease a new DHCP address from AT&T.

Plug the router back in, and it will get a new DHCP address from the cable modem.

Power on your computers. They will lease new IPs from the router.

It should work in this manner. If it does not, I would like you to try MAC Address Cloning, making the router pretend to be the MAC Address of your desktop Mac.

Let me know what happens next.

[sac84371]

Vmarks,

Thanks so much for the insight. No luck. Here is what I ended up doing. I was so frustrated I went to Best Buy purchased version 2 of the Linksys wireless router.

Guess what still didn't work. Geeze. Then I upgraded this router to the most recent firmware dated 9/5/02. Low and behold it worked. My orginal version one Linksys router wouldn't accept this firmware upgrade but it was running the most current version for that router version 1.427 dated in May of 2002.

Now the question is how the heck did I fix this complex issue? Secondly why did this router stop working for no reason at all and why did the version 2 router not work out of the box but worked after a firmware upgrade.

I am so confused and worn out over this whole ordeal. I normally can handle just about any mac problem I encounter on my own but this was a ordeal that I hope no one ever has to deal with. The Linksys support line is enough to drive someone to crazy. I know they are trying their best but I have never gone through such a ordeal. Linksys is willing to replace my router. I could care less about the money or the router it is working and as far as my old version 1, that router is sitting in the kitchen garbage.

Thanks everyone for thier help and if you have any additional insight please feel free to add them to this thread.

Richard

[gromit95]

Do you still have the old router V1
I’d be interested in for parts .
Thanks fred

[sac84371]

Sorry Fred, The router is dead and buried. I threw it out over the weekend. I should of thought to offer it for parts to someone on this forum. I was so mad that I was lucky I didn't run over the darn thing with my car. LOL.

Richard

[gromit95]

no problem
fred

[ghporter]

One thing to note about Linksys' routers (and all consumer grade routers, for that matter) is that they are small computers. Sometimes they need to reboot, and sometimes they need a hard reboot. Your old router may have simply siezed up, though it is also possible that one or more ports had simply died.

As for the new router, your actions to upgrade the firmware probably woke the thing up. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the firmware gets corrupted, even out of the factory, and reflashing it is the only way to fix it.

At this point, I'd be satisfied that everything is working for you. By the way, don't get on a "I've got to have the latest firmware" kick because of this. That can be somewhat dangerous. As with most fundamental software, like a PC's BIOS, don't mess with it unless you need to, as when a new feature is introduced, or a bug is fixed.

Sorry you got a headache from the experience, but at least your network is running!

[sac84371]

GH,

Great advice. I am so happy all is well now that I am not going to flash this firmware unless there is a huge compelling reason.

Love this forum. Great help and such a resource for any type of problem.

Thanks for all the help.

[ilukas]

yeah, i take what GHPorter said to be true. i usually change my LAN addresses twice a month or so. when i left the router running the same addresses for the longest time it just woke up one morning not working, so i had to power cycle it. it's almost as if it got bored or something…

[yuriwho]

So who gets the reward, and what is the reward exactly?

[ilukas]

sa got the reward. a new router