Have we gota problem with our router?

katies_mum

Yesterday we had internet access on my desktop and daughters laptop. Last night whilst she was doing her homework the internet went off. I rebooted etc numerous times and still nothing. Gave in earlier and rang Virgin 50min call to ..a non uk call centre and I now have our little netbook plugged into the modem at the back of the telly on a 3ft cable. Despite doing everything I was told the laptop and desktop still won`t connect....the laptop also won`t connect when the modem is plugged directly into it:( Virgin said its broken.

I`m not sure what to do now as Virgin said the router was nothing to do with them. Its a Linksys router and we must have had it about 4-5 years.

Please can anyone suggest anything to try, so I can tellif its the router. Also can`t workout why the laptop won`t work on the internet when the modem is plugged straight in to it.

Any help and advice would be great.

Many thanks

grimsalve

I'm a bit confused - you said that you couldn't get onto the Internet when you had your PC plugged directly into the modem (which is Virgins responsibility?) then you mentioned that Virgin said the Linksys router was broken?

If the modem is working and you can get onto the Internet when your PC is plugged directly into it then it sounds like the wireless lan (assuming you're using the Linksys router to provide wireless lan around your home?) has stopped working for some reason. Do you still have a username and password for the Linksys? Can you check the configuration?

katies_mum

Hi
I`m as confused as you. The laptop would not work on internet with modem plugged directly in but the netbook will (on it now) so Virgin said laptop broken and router broken!

Sorry havn`t a clue how to check the configuration. May have the codes in the router box in the loft, but will have to wait for hubby to come in.

I`m baffled as to how it could just stop working, could it be something my daughter did last night? she is good at pressing buttons and not admitting to it, but for the desktop to loose its connnection as well is a bit odd. But then if things are working I`m fine, when they stop I`m completely useless and out of my depth.

tracey3596

For what it's worth, I've been plagued by problems with routers.

Problems with these seem difficult to diagnose.

These are/were modem routers, connected to phone line.
My Netgear lasted 4 years before randomly behaving like it sounds yours is - losing wireless then re-appearing; losing connection to desktop then re-appearing etc.
I replaced it with a Siemens which only lasted about a year-and-a-half.
This just lost all wireless connection (but worked almost fine to desktop) - though it started just re-setting itself frequently.
I changed micro-filters etc. but ended up changing the router.

It seems VERY unlikely that the computers are BOTH at fault.
So .... just do a search for whatever type of router you need (I know that's easier said than done when your personal internet access is "down") and you could be pleasantly surprised at how little you can find a router for. :j

I got mine for £8-99 DELIVERED from Play for example.
Good luck & I hope that's of some small help.

katies_mum

I appreciate the linskys one might work if I can find the info in the loft, but have seen this on Tesco site http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.209-9541.aspx would this be any good for 2 laptops, a desktop and hp wireless printer, also do I have to look for one that says it works with cable?

Thanks

tracey3596

That would do the job just fine; got the option of 4 wired connections plus wireless and it's for cable connections like Virgin.

grimsalve

Unfortunately, I think you'll need to learn a bit about how it works to set it up properly. If you could login to the Linksys you might be able to fix it (but it might take a while depending on what's happened).

I'm assuming the way you've got it set up now is - Virgin cable comes into the house and connected to the modem via coax, modem connects to the Linksys via ethernet, linksys then provides your wireless lan (or doesn't at the moment because it's got a problem). I'm guessing the Linksys is therefore just acting as a bridge between ethernet and wireless lan.

The Belkin router you noticed at Tesco would (I think!) replace both the modem and the Linksys. A cheaper alternative would be just to buy a ethernet/wireless lan switch and keep the existing modem.

tracey3596

Oooh and YES, look for ones that are for cable connection.

Jamie_A_2

Hi, had same problem last Friday on Virgin, they claimed it was router which was correct, to resolve the problem I reset the router (most makes its a tiny button on underside of unit) by holding the reset button down with a pencil tip for 10 seconds, Then using the cable connected from my modem to the computer to look up the instructions for the router on the internet. Reset my routers basic operation (a password) and replaced cables as they had been to begin with and all is well.

The virgin guy suggested I buy a new router... it's well worth the 5 minutes trying to fix it.

If any techies are reading why do routers fail when they have a connection to the net ?

katies_mum

Grimsalve - yes thats how its set up at the moment. Got to keep the modem havn`t I as its part of the virgin broadband!!
JamieA did the reset bit and got nothing! I`m hoping the password etc is with the instructions in the box in the loft, funny how similar thing happened to you. When I find it I`ll be back for help please.

katies_mum

Hi, got the router box but can`t understand any of what to try (actually its making me quite stressed as I am so out of my depth with this one) tried to connect the virgin modem to the laptop again and its definitedly not working I can even get HP Wireless Assistant to open when I click on it - do you think there could be something seriously wrong with it? my problem is I don`t know how to check.
Because I unplugged the modem cable from the netbook I ended up having to ring Virgin yet again as couldn`t get connected to the internet on the netbook despite it being connected up! but its sorted again..I`m still on the end of a 2 ft cable.
I wondering if I should just cut my losses and buy the Belkin router I mentioned yesterday and try and start all over again. I need to get my desktop and wireless printer working again as need it for work.
Any advice would be great, I still at a loss as to why 2 computers both had internet connection at 5.30pm on Monday and then when I got in from work at 7.30pm it was gone as thought it had never been set up. Do you think I need to get somebody round that knows what they are doing to see what is going on?
Many thanks