Setting up a Linksys wireless router and making it work

Question

Does anyone know anything about Linksys wireless routers which are apparently little more than an overpriced piece of junk?  I have tried unsuccessfully to hook up one (1) laptop to the wireless system.  As long as I don't log off, it stays connected.  But wait, there's more:  once the CD tells me it's successfully hooked up, it should work, right?  Wrong.  Insert the card and all this information is supposed to appear on the screen to help you set it up - assuming you insert CD #2 (which never displays anything).   So, the router apparently works - as long as you don't log off - but the card, well, forget it.  And I can't see there's any 'network' involved since that implies more than one computer and I'm just trying to go wireless with one.   This is the second one of these Linksys things I've had - the other one didn't work either - and although I'm following the instructions to the letter, it doesn't work.  And of course a phone call to their troubleshooting line gets me someone in the Philippines whom I can't understand.   And if I can understand them, it still only works while logged on.  For this outfit to stay in business, the equipment must be working for someone, so is there anyone reading this who has had experience with their stuff who has actually gotten it to work?  And if you did, what did you do and what do I need to do?  I'm really about ready to take this thing and place it under the tires of an 18-wheeler or go find the nearest train tracks and place it there!

Midnight Star · Answer

I'm not quite sure what exactly the problem is, but i'll step in and try to help out. I've got the WRT54g and it works just fine. The only problem I had while setting it up was assigning a different gateway from that of my dsl modem (the internet worked only 50% of the time), and gettting the security settings to match on my wireless laptop. To start out with, which router do you have. Second, did you connect directly to the router using an ethernet cable to check/ configure the router?

Mike.

esquire · Answer

Actually there is still a network involved, even with only one computer - because you router is a network device and your wireless card is a network adapter. Even a simple broadband connection (DSL/cable/BPL) involves basic networking from the computer to the modem.

Which operating system, router and wireless adapter are you using?

What do you mean exactly by "as long as I don't log off"? Log off where? Log off the network? Log off your Windows user account?

You mentioned using a CD in your setup, which CD are you talking about?

realwildchild · Answer

Sorry for the delay - wanted to have everything in front of me so I could answer all questions.  We're dealing with a Linksys BEFW11S4 ver. 4 which tells you to go from the Ethernet cable to one of the ports; when you run the installation CD and do all this there's no problem-even I can follow the installation directions and I'm not the most computer-literate person in the world.  Once you're done, it even tells you, 'Installation Successful.'  It's at this point the fun begins since I'm still hooked up via cable to the DSL modem.  Now, you're supposed to install the card and insert the set-up CD-Rom and click the radio button.  Unfortunately, nothing ever shows up on the screen and there's no radio button to click.  Even if - and I've done this as well (I've tried every conceivable possible combination of tricks to get this to work) - I remove the Ethernet cables and move the computer to another location 5 feet away, it doesn't work.   But, as long as I don't put the computer into hibernate/sleep/or turn it off, the wireless system will work.  Put it into those modes though and when I turn it back on later, all I get is the ever-popular 'Page Cannot Be Displayed' message and another one from my ISP (SBC/Yahoo) telling me an error has been detected and I need to be hooked up directly to the DSL modem for a diagnostic to take place (and it of course says there's no problem since I'm hooked up directly to the modem, but that kind of defeats the purpose of trying to have a wireless system.)   That should - I hope - answer all the questions and if anyone has any ideas as to how I can get this stupid thing to work, I'd appreciate it.

realwildchild · Answer

Sorry for the delay - wanted to have everything in front of me so I could answer all questions.  We're dealing with a Linksys BEFW11S4 ver. 4 which tells you to go from the Ethernet cable to one of the ports; when you run the installation CD and do all this there's no problem-even I can follow the installation directions and I'm not the most computer-literate person in the world.  Once you're done, it even tells you, 'Installation Successful.'  It's at this point the fun begins since I'm still hooked up via cable to the DSL modem.  Its at this point, you're supposed to install the card and insert the set-up CD-Rom and click the radio button.  Unfortunately, nothing ever shows up on the screen and there's no radio button to click.  Even if - and I've done this as well (I've tried every conceivable possible combination of tricks to get this to work) - I remove the Ethernet cables and move the computer to another location 5 feet away, it doesn't work.   But, as long as I don't put the computer into hibernate/sleep/or turn it off, the wireless system will work.  Put it into those modes though and when I turn it back on later, all I get is the ever-popular 'Page Cannot Be Displayed' message and another one from my ISP (SBC/Yahoo) telling me an error has been detected and I need to be hooked up directly to the DSL modem for a diagnostic to take place (and it of course says there's no problem since I'm hooked up directly to the modem, but that kind of defeats the purpose of trying to have a wireless system.)   That should - I hope - answer all the questions and if anyone has any ideas as to how I can get this stupid thing to work, I'd appreciate it.

Midnight Star · Answer

'...and insert the set-up CD-Rom and click the radio button.  Unfortunately, nothing ever shows up on the screen and there's no radio button to click...' This, to me, seems like the 'setup' isn't automatically starting from the inserted cd-rom. Have you used windows explorer to look at the contents in the root directory of the cd-rom for an 'icon' that resembles something that would imply setting up the wireless card? Is there a radio button 'icon' to double-click? I've had this happen to me several times and I had to manually go in and start the setup program/ script myself. '...But, as long as I don't put the computer into hibernate/sleep/or turn it off, the wireless system will work...' This could be a BIOS issue, or the card might not be configured to bring you computer system out of hibernation ('allow this device to bring the computer out of standby.'); PowerManagement feature (tab) for the device. You can check the device in question from DeviceManager. Here's the first thing that I would check. Since your router is seperate from you dsl/cable modem, check to make sure they both are not using the 192.168.x.x IP address range as their default gateway. If your modem is set to this, make sure your router uses a different range, like 10.0.x.x. Next, Make sure your computer(s) and router are set to 'obtain an IP address automatically'. Remember, were just going through a checklist, making sure everything is in place. Is all this ok? If your wireless network won't allow connections after coming out of hibernation, select the network icon in the quick launch bar below (if it's not there, use 'Start/Control Panel' --> 'Network and Internet Connections' --> 'Network Connections'), then right click on the icon that represents your dsl/cable connection, select 'Repair' and let it restart the connection. Did that get it back working? Does the security settings on your router, if any, match those for your wireless card? Do you show a wireless card (device) 'icon' in Network Connections (if yes, that might tell you the drivers and software are installed)? Also, make sure that both Windows and Linksys aren't trying to control your wireless card at the same time. This can cause BIG TIME problems. Don't give up. This process sometimes takes awhile to understand just  what you've got on that end so we can  begin piecing it together for you. I don't have that particular router, but maybe some of the other forum members do. I hope that gives you a little more information to work with. Mike.

realwildchild · Answer

Mike....

Thanks for the tips.....I'll give it a try....with the weekend rapidly fading into history, might be a couple of days before I can get around to it. I can safely say though, I've never seen anything that either says "radio" or even looks like a radio icon, although maybe I just didn't recognize it since some of these icons do tend to look a little funky. In the meantime, if you think of anything else I should try, go ahead and post it - I'll check back before I try once again to re-install this thing. It's going to be installed correctly or I'll die trying!!

Midnight Star · Answer

Good luck! The 'radio'' button might also refer to an option for turning the wireless ability on and off; 'radio' on, 'radio' off. It should be an option for your wireless adapter (card). Mike.

KIRK JAMES KIRK · Answer

I just had HS cable installed and set-up a linksys wireless net work with a computer ethernetted to the router, one computer using a USB adapter, and a notebook using a PCI card.  You are right, most of the documentation and CD's left a lot to be desired!   But, the Linksys website with their setup wizards will do everything for you but clean your monitor.  I used it for connecting the router.  My son's computer wtih the USB adapter was connected to the wireless network and the internet before the CD stopped spinning.  I am definately going to work on tweeking the wireless settings to get some security - the initial connection was too quick for any degree of security comfort level!!   The laptop required a call to Linksys (via India).  Yes, the quy was hard to understand, AND yes, he talked faster than a 10,000 HD, but he knew his stuff. BAMM! It was done.   No problems with the equipment.  Note, if the AC power burps, you will have to physically unplug and plug in the power to the router - it cannot figure out what to do with a quick off-on.  You will notice the power LED blinking, if you happen to look; otherwise not a hint as to why the wireless LAN and cable don't work.  Reviews said it runs hot, I've had no problems.  Hang in there, nothing is seamless yet.   One last comment for everyone - STAY AWAY FROM XP SP2.  If you have any volume of applications, no matter how new they are - SP2 will mess up at least one!  And it is a bear to uninstall completely.  Just one person's opinions - but, I warned you!

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Setting up a Linksys wireless router and making it work

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