Router Install Question(s)...

Hi, Halo suggested that I come over here if I have any questions on a new (to me) wireless-router installation, and I have one right-off-the-bat...

1. The first instruction says: "Unplug your modem's power cord..."

QUESTION: Should I power-everything-down first, then unplug/plug-in cords, and then power-back-up, please?

Thanks in advance...
PS ~ this is a New, Belkin N Wireless Router - model no: F5D8233-4v3 ~ if that makes any difference...(?)

 

You dont really have to, but to avoid unecessary stuff, you might as well. Shut off your computer and modem. Then plug in your router. Modem cable to WAN/Internet port on your router. Everything else plugs into the other ports on the router. Then turn your modem on, then your router, and finally your computer.

 

Thank you your majesty...er, um, I mean, KingSteve lol ... Seriously though - thank you much!

 

:-D Sure thing

 

So the problems begin (why am I not surprised?).

The setup is telling me it cannot connect to any (?) of the network adapters on this PC.

A. Do I need two (2) adapters (one for the main PC, as well as a 2nd one in the secondary PC) - please? If so, I have them, and they seem to be working - but who on earth knows? I mean, all you pretty much do is pop them into a USB port - yes? No??

B. I guess I'll get to "B" later?

One of the main reasons I settled on this router was its supposed "ease" of installation/set-up. However that is not my experience (naturally) . It very rarely is any more...

 

What adapter cards are you using? Im not too familiar with them, so hopefully someone who is can advise.

 

Thanks.

One is a Belkin (N) the other is a no-name brand (I guess?) called "Hip Street"...this second one came with (was packaged with) an HDMI cable and Blu-Ray remote that I bought to go with my sons PS3...

Maybe I need to download this update?? --> http://en-us-support.belkin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/521/p/331

Maybe it's because I'm trying to install/setup in the NON-admin account - though nothing here is balking/telling me not to [no error messages]).

 

this is probably part of the problem if the non admin account does not have install rights to install necessary drivers.

 

Ok. I.m thinking now that it is probably something I did at one point to disable networking capabilities on this first PC (my second PC has been networked before, so I don't believe I'll have a problem whenever it is that I may get to that point).

Years ago, when I had no plans to network this first (main) PC, I thought I could/would make it "more secure" by disabling network capabilities...so i suppose I need to go into the "place" where network stuff is done, and re-enable/reactivate something (?). Does this sound like a possible source of trouble please?

 

Thank you sir, I'm going to switch over to admin, and as I was just saying in my last post, I think I have to go into network connections, and re-enable them...somehow or other...

 

Sorry, I think I gave you bad info. When you asked what "cards" I was using, I gave you the type of "Adapters".

The Ethernet NIC is a Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast...does that sound right?

 

Good Lord. Now I'm realizing that I (per the BlackViper website "Tweaks") switched some things in the "services" of this machine a year or so ago (oh dear Lord) - again, as I was not networked at the time...and had no plans (then) to become networked.

I was (a lot) more paranoid about security back then, as well as trying to gain all the speed out of this machine that I could...

 

Are you trying to set up your computers with a wireless card or just wired?
Lets get them connected wired first i think. Take a cat5 cable and plug a computer into your router. Lets see if we can get you on the internet first.

We'll mess with services if we have to after you plug in.

 

I have a wireless router, and am trying to go that route (need it to be a wireless setup).

The router (itself) is hooked-up, and functioning, to the point of allowing me to access you/the internet right now. This is not a problem. It's "supposed" to be a rather "no-brainer" interface with this router. All the lights are blue (meaning: working/connected), up to the point of "Wireless" and "Security" (in other words, the lights for "Internet>Modem>Router>Wired" are all indicating "Good"). It's the final two lights, for - "Wireless", and "Security" that are not lit (not functioning).

The problem is in getting it to finish its setup, and thereby, to transmit to the other PC (sitting in the next room, with an N Network Adapter plugged-in already).

So back to your instruction - I have a Cat5 (E) cable hooked-up, and working. This is "Category 5", an ethernet cable - correct?

Also, i defaulted the services back to where they belong, but probably need to reboot now - correct?

 

Ohhhh, you mean get the 2nd PC on the internet, the one which I am trying to network?

 

This may help you understand something grc123.
Microsoft uses Network to mean 2 subtly different things.

#1 You connect to the outside world through a Network adapter, either wired or wireless. All a wireless connection does is to replace the wire with radio signals. (Category 5 ethernet cable, which the latest spec, is Cat 5E and there is also a Cat 6 type which is capable of faster speeds. These are the cables used for wired connections.)

#2 You can create a private Network of your own computers to share files, printers, etc. This would be done on your side of the router and only includes your computers. They all have to be connected (Networked physically by cable or wirelessly) for your private network to function.

In most cases, it is best to get the first type of connection done by wire with 1 computer when you are setting up a router for the first time. Once a working network connection is established, then go on to setting up a wireless connection with the same computer if you wish and then add different computers as needed.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes thanks, it does help...anything explained to me here helps in one way or another, but your very concise explanation here is better than most (easier for me to grasp) - so thanks!

I am beginning to nod now though so I better let it go for the night...

 

I guess i wasnt sure what you were trying to do. I was under the impression you had an external wireless nic you were trying to install which you might need admin rights to do so.

Also, if the wireless light isnt turned on on your router, youll have to go in and turn that on.

You should have gotten a manual that will have the default username and password to get into the admin console on the router to turn on wireless.
According to stuff i found on the internet, the ip you type in to access the admin console is 192.168.2.1. type that into the address bar on your browser.

 

Hmmm, very interesting - thanks.

I am away from the house (the two machines in question) for the day, but "should" be back this evening, and I will check into the info that you have been so kind to provide here.

I assumed that the wireless light was not lit because I was not making the connection (hadn't managed to get the setup finished)...

I understand (in advance) if you are not able to help me this evening when I am available, so I will forge ahead with the instrcutions you have provided and see how I do. I will be sure to post back the results either way - thanks again...

 

I swing by the forums pretty often. If not me, im sure someone else will come by.

 

I guess I have jack-squat for a manual. It's very basic...just a typical "quick start" sort of thing.

It seems to want to send me to website/FAQ/Download THIS-CLICK-ON-THAT/1.800.Tech Support/ ~ HELL!?!

One of the main reasons I bought this particular router was that so many of the reviews said (basically/to the effect); 'I just plugged-it-in, and IT WORKED!

I can not believe I am having this much trouble with this "thing"...on second thought, yes, I very well do believe it. I am no geek, and never will be. I simply cannot get my mind wrapped-around this stuff...I had a small window of opportunity a few years ago I suppose, but it's closed now.

 

You will see more and more of this because it is cheaper to have information online than to print, package, mail/ship the hard copies. Manufacturers are saving money this way and if you want a hard copy, (which I do because I process info better with the pages in front of me) you can print it out and use your resources rather than theirs.
If you go to the site, (here is the specific page for your router - http://en-us-support.belkin.com/app/product/detail/p/331) - you will find they do not have a user manual but they do have FAQs and tutorials for this specific router.
As to plugging in and working straight out of the box, networking is too involved with too many options to enable this to be possible. There are too many connection types and providers that may have specific details in their connection process for this to happen. (Besides how many marketing ploys are to be believed in this day and age?)

The window is never closed and it won't be unless you decide to close it. Just being here and posing these questions tells me you want to leave the window open. In your case, this is a harder process than some but look at the number of people who have no clue and don't even know of this resource of information is available. Some people have problems with a computer and just go out and buy a new one. How ridiculous is that.
You need to be able to slow down and walk away from the problem for a short time to wind down. I believe in your attempts to understand this technology, you put yourself in a position where if it does not work the very first time you consider yourself a failure. That's just not the case in the computer world. If everything worked first time and all the time, there would not be the huge IT industry that supports all this technology.

Well that's my rant for this morning even though it doesn't help with your router.

 

Thank you very much. I think it's just that my frustration with computers/technology seems to be growing - EXPONENTIALLY. And then maybe it's just because I'm getting too old for it (or was too old to have leaned this way in the first place)?

It only makes sense (to me?) that technology (in a home-based environment at least) would become more user-friendly over time - much as automatic transmissions, air conditioning, etc. have made automobiles more comfortable for end-users of those products/devices/machines.

My experience seems to be: the more I learn, the more troublesome, and complicated, the tech seems to be - though I'm sure I'm over-simplifying the case here.

All that said, I have no clue what to do next...where to pick-up the pieces here, and what to try to do at this point to get this router working?

Thank you again...

 

Were you able to get into the admin console via web browser by typing in 192.168.2.1 into the address bar?



I was trying to help out another guy with his business servers in another thread a couple days ago. The advice that was given him, since he is in your situation, was to call a tech and have one come to you. It will save you the frustration of trying to figure this out yourself with the help i can give you over the internet. If you call a tech you can watch him/her and maybe get some questions you may have answered while actually watching whats going on. Im 100% sure that you will be able to understand what to do if you can see it happen first.

 

Hi Steve, thanks.

When I copy/paste 192.168.2.1 into the address bar, it takes me to a Belkin page (http://192.168.2.1/setup_help.htm), but I don't know what to do or where to go from that point. At the top of the page I get:

Status

You will need to log in before you can change any settings.

I guess their (dreaded) tech support is going to be my only chance of getting this thing to work.

Thank you again sir

 

I might be able to help if i can get a look at a picture of the admin console. Im looking around online.

Seems there is no login password according to Belkin, So just hit submit if it prompts you to login.

 

Well, it did allow me to by-pass the login (without a password) and get a little further inside of the page, but again, to me, it's pretty much a foreign language at that point. I am tempted to start clicking on things, and making changes that I don't really understand, and that more often than not turns-out to be counter-productive for me.

I am going to wait for now, to see if anyone else here might have suggestions. I absolute dread calling into some foreign-based support tech. I had already called them the other night, and even the pre-recorded menu message is in a voice with heavy accent (I waited on hold for about 15-20 minutes before hanging-up). My experiences have generally not been good at trying to communicate at this level of technical expertise in broken English or with thickly-accented techs.

Nothing personal to anyone reading this, I guess I'm just getting old, a bit hard of hearing, and just never had much patience with "technicalities" in the first place - again, especially at this level of technology. Most likely a great deal of false-pride and inflated-ego on my part too (a 'lack of humility', to put it another way).

 

Well, it did allow me to by-pass the login (without a password) and get a little further inside of the page, but again, to me, it's pretty much a foreign language at that point. I am tempted to start clicking on things, and making changes that I don't really understand, and that has proven counter-productive to me in the past.

I am going to wait for now, to see if anyone else here might have suggestions. I absolute dread calling into some foreign-based support tech. I had already called them the other night, and even the pre-recorded menu message is in a voice with heavy accent. My experiences have generally not been good at trying to communicate at this level of technical expertise in broken english or with thickly-accented techs.

Nothing personal to anyone reading this, I guess I am just getting old, a bit hard of hearing, and just never had much patience with "technicalities" in the first place - again, especially at this level of technology. Most likely a great deal of false-pride and inflated-ego on my part too (a 'lack of humility', to put it another way).

 

Sorry for the double post, it was a mistake. Not sure how to contact Admin here, but Admin - please feel free to delete one of the two posts...

 

Miracle of miracles - I got connected...with only one slight problem. The SECURITY light is not lit.

At the Belkin website it looks as if it will configure for me, but gives me three options and I'm not certain which to choose (?):

64bit WEP
128bit WEP
WPA/WPA2-Personal (PSK)

I'm guessing the last one there on the list is best - or does it depend on my equipment please?