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Danni · Dec 19, 2006, 06:53 PM

Last night, I couldn't connect to the internet via my SMC 7004VWBR through a wired or wireless connection even though the set up has worked for years. Set up is Terayon cable modem, SMC 7004VWBR, DLink Wireless print server and a couple of Macs connected wirelessly to the SMC.

Here is what I have tried in no particular order:

1. I can connect to the internet when hooked up directly to the cable modem.

( I must interrupt this list by saying I just got 4 boys come to my door to sing Christmas Carols. It definitely put a smile on my face after having a long day)

2. I have rebooted everything several times: router, modem, MBP C2D and wireless print server.

3. I can access the SMC and the Print Server admin page via browser.

4. My Mac's Network pref pane indicate that my MBP is connected to the internet: All green lights. This applies to both the wired and wireless connections.

5. The lights on the modem do not work much when connected through the router although they work fine when directly connected to the computer.

6. The appropriate lights on the SMC are generally on as they should be... I have noticed a bit of additional blinking but then they do go solid as usual.

7. I have tried playing with the settings on the SMC such as turning the firewall on and off, turning off MAC addy filtering and so on. No WEP key involved as I was never able to get it to work.

I haven't tried pushing the reset button on the SMC as this would mean having to reinput all my settings (which can be done but would rather avoid if possible as I have changed the ip addy of the Barricade)

Any ideas on what is going on?

Danni

ghporter · Dec 19, 2006, 07:00 PM

DO NOT HARD RESET YOUR ROUTER. Turn off the modem. Turn off the router. Plug the router back into the modem. Turn ON the modem and wait TWO FULL MINUTES. Now turn ON the router and wait another two full minutes. (These delays allow the machines to do their boot up stuff and actually become "ready.") NOW try it through the router. When you're done and have some result, post again to let us know that it worked (I'm obviously betting that it will).

Most cable modems will not connect to more than one different ethernet device without being restarted, and usually then only with that device plugged in when it's turned on.

Danni · Dec 19, 2006, 07:23 PM

Ok, thanks to your instructions, I have it working wired. I still have no luck with the wireless. When the router's lights lit up after being plugged back in, the WLAN light took forever to come on, unlike the Power and WAN light. This is unusual.

Any more thoughts about my wireless?

Danni

PS. I haven't plugged the wireless printer server in nor turned it on.

ghporter · Dec 19, 2006, 08:41 PM

It sounds like the wireless portion of your router is failing. Check with SMC to see what they say about your box. For what it's worth, SMC says that (in general) if you're having problems with the wireless portion of your router, try using the configuration pages to disable it then re-enable it, then save settings and power cycle the box. It could help...

Danni · Dec 19, 2006, 09:17 PM

I did do that previously but it does't hurt to do it again.
In a worst case scenario, if I have to replace my wireless access point, what do you recommend? I have a TiBook 667, a G5 iMac and the MBP C2D... so it is a bit of a variety in Macs. A couple of weeks ago, I did buy a D-Link G+ router and the connection rate was horrible. It was supposed to be faster but ended up much, much slower than my old SMC. I kept the D-Link wireless print server as that worked correctly.

Danni

ghporter · Dec 20, 2006, 09:19 AM

Just about every home networking product is platform independent (the exception is the AirPort line from Apple, which requires software to configure it -though Apple DOES provide that software for both Mac and Windows). Go for price and features. I personally like Linksys because I've had great success with it, and in particular I've had success with their wired routers and wireless access points (I have not tried their wireless routers). If the wire part of your router is working fine, then adding an access point gives you the wireless back without changing your whole network.

That "G+" router was probably expecting to be used with D-Link's "G+" compatible NICs. If you configure it to ONLY work with G standard equipment (basically turning off their "rate boost" stuff), then it may just do the trick for you. STANDARDS are best at this point, and "G+" is most especially NOT a standard.

Danni · Dec 26, 2006, 01:17 AM

Just a quick update; the SMC router got very quirky with the wireless working on and off. I decided it was time for an upgrade and got a linksys wrt54g. It took a little bit to get it working with the wireless print server but everything seems to be up and running just fine so far. Thanks for the suggestion of going with a linksys.

Danni

MacPC · Dec 30, 2006, 01:46 PM

I have the Linksys WRT54G router. It works great with my mixed Mac, PC, Linux, Desktops and Laptop enviroment. Love it.

MacPC.

Danni · Dec 30, 2006, 06:22 PM

So far the Linksys WRT54G wireless router is working wonderfully well. I did have a minor pet peeve with my whole setup in terms of the wireless light flashing erratically on my d-link wireless print server. According to the documentation, that light should be a solid green to indicate a proper connnection. I did a lot of reading and did as ghporter suggested in another thread; I turned off the UPnP on both devices. I also removed the ethernet cable that joined the two at it was no longer needed. I don't know which worked for me but the light is now solid green and everything is peachy. I wonder how many of the linksys WRT54G problems exist because of the UPnP being on...

Danni