Dell TrueMobile 1184 & Comcast Cable ISP

Question

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 Desktop Computer and a Dell Inspiron 1100 Laptop Computer both with Windows XP. I recently acquired a new Dell TrueMobile 1184 Wireless Broadband Router for my Dimension 8200 and a Dell TrueMobile 1150 Series Wireless LAN for my new Dell Laptop. I have tried feveresly to install the router to no avail. My ISP is Comcast Cable. Has anyone out there successfully installed the Dell Router and Wireless LAN with Comcast Cable as their ISP?

I thought the Dell Router and wireless LAN were simply for 1st timers. I can not believe the trouble that I am having. One other thing, what is Comcast Cable's MAC address because the router wants it and if you skip over that, it will come back and tell you to enter the MAC.

HELP!!!

RedsB3 · Answer

I think the MAC address you are looking for is the one for the router.  That is how Comcast identifies you in my area, I'm unsure if they do it the same way all across the country. You also should look back on previous posts in the network forum, there are many posts about Truemobile and Comcast and the problems people where having. I don't know anything about TrueMobile equipment, so I am afraid I cannot be of much help. When you installed the new router, was everything powered down and did you restart in the proper sequence?  Modem first, wait about 5 minutes until it is syncronized with ISP, then router, wait another 5 minutes or so until router is synced with modem and then turn on PC.  Many times, you will have internet service right away, it is the easiest part of networking.  Otherwise you may have to make adjustments in My Network.   Post back results and wait, there are some very knowledgeable people here that can help you.

Geo0347 · Answer

RedsB3,

Thanks a million for your prompt response, I never would have guessed that was the MAc address that they wanted was the address of the router.

I did the power off and power on sequence 3X's to no avail. The Dell TrueMobile 1184 start-up sequence is as follows:

a) Shut doen your computer, turn off your cable modem, & do not power up the router at this time;

b) Connect an Ethernet cable from the cable modem to the "Internet" connector on the back of the router;

c) Connect an Ethernet Cable from the network connector on your computer to anyone of the four LAN ports (LAN1, LAN2, LAN3; or LAN4) at back of the router;

d) Turn on your cable modem;

e) Connect the power cable to the router's power adapter. Plug tha AC power cable into a wall outlet, and plug the DC power cable to the router's DC connector;

f) Turn on your computer;

g) Insert the TureMobile 1184 Wireless Broadband Router Setup Wizard & goto Configure the Router;

h) Download the control utility.

Then it acts as though the setup process has been installed and is complete. However, I have not had such luck after trying to set-it up 3 times already.

I will continue to look over the community forum to see if I can find additional help.

George

Geo0347 · Answer

On Sunday, April 27, 2003, My wife and I called Dell Technical Service and they were able to get the Router & Wireless Network working on my Desktop Computer & my Laptop Computer. Thanks a Million.

The Installation process was totally different than the way the instructions stated. Nevertheless, the wireless network is up and running. Thanks a Million, Dell!!!!!!

Geo0347 · Answer

Mikael,

Yes, the router & wireless network work perfectly now.

As far as what the Dell Tech Rep did, I really have no clue. She told me to do things that did not follow the directions & when I told her, she said that she is doing it by shortcuts & I never really bothered documenting what she did.

Sorry about that, I wish that I could remember or help you more but I did not document it because I did not think that what she was doing would work but it did. It is very frustrating & if I had to do it over again, I would have documented everything she said.

Best of luck or maybe the Coordinator can help you.

Mikael S · Answer

Hello,

I read your messages and saw that you have solved the problem. You said that the installation (with DELL tech) were different than what the manual said. Could you tell us what you did this time, please? I have the same problem I think. I live in Sweden, and DELL says that they don't have any support for configuration - only hardware problems.

Regards,

/Mikael

Itzokae · Answer

After very long absence I have started having connectivity problems with my 1184 and comcast again. Anyone else seeing this problem again??

jwatt · Answer

Yep, the problem's back once again. See this long and current thread. Jim

Itzokae · Answer

An ugly workaround that gets the 1184 working again--at least until your DHCP lease expires next time

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_wireless&message.id=6940&view=by_date_ascending&page=3

(see message from hfbg)

LAwoman · Answer

I too have been affected by this Truemobile 1184/Comcast ISP issue. First, I tried every fix offered here, nothing worked. Next, I called Dell & they couldn't help b/c they say it's Comcast that made a change making their service incompatible w/ the 1184 router. Then I contacted Comcast & here's their "oh so helpful" response:

"It is not true that Comcast made a change to our network that blocks

routers which support the 802.11b wireless networking standard. It is

disappointing to learn that a Dell representative may have made such a

claim. Since the part of a router that supports wireless connections is

in no way related to the part of the router that is plugged into the

cable modem, it is not even technically feasible for Comcast to

determine if the router supports 802.11b or 802.11g and block devices

that support 802.11b. In most cases, we cannot even determine if the

device is a router or if it is a computer.

Beginning in June, Comcast did change the way we configure cable modems

connected to our network. The configuration change was made to enforce

our existing policy of charging for the use of more than one IP

(Internet Protocol) address. Cable modems are now configured to allow

one, two or five devices to connect at the same time, depending on the

number of IP addresses requested by the subscriber. The new cable modem

configurations do now make it necessary to powercycle the modem each

time a different device is plugged in.

When the new configurations were implemented, we did begin receiving

reports from subscribers who were not able to connect through a router.

In most cases, the issue was resolved by powercycling the cable modem.

The only router that has been confirmed to not work with the new cable

modem configurations is the Dell Truemobile 1184. Many different models

of routers that support the 802.11b wireless networking standard do

still work. This leads to the logical conclusion that a design flaw

with the wide area network (WAN) adapter or the dynamic host

configuration protocol (DHCP) client in the Dell Truemobile 1184 router

is the cause of the issue with that device. Comcast has been working

with Dell to identify the exact cause of the issue so that it may be

resolved."

Yeah, when is what I say. I give up...my time's worth more than this. So I just bought a Linksys router (there's a $10 rebate going on now) & we'll see how that goes. Good Luck to the rest of you out there!

deciv · Answer

Hi All,

I've been through this since it first happened well over a year ago. I did the manual entry of info for awhile which meant re-doing it every two weeks or so--until last week. The IP I pulled last week had a zero in it and the 1184 web admin tool refused to accept the zero. That was all I could take.

I went out and bought a Linksys WRT54G from Circuit City (69.99 after $10 rebate). Brought it home, turned everything off, swapped out the 1184, turned on the modem, router and computers in that order and everything just worked right away. The relief is incredible--more than enough to offset the frustration of having to cave in and buy a new router.

Signing off for good (hopefully:)!

Itzokae · Answer

I finally gave up too--bought the same linksys model WRT54G and it just works--I forgot what that is like. Even works wireless my X-BOX too which the 1184 wouldn't so bonus time there also. I HAVE BEEN SO Tired of fighting this for so many months. Feels like I have been holding my breath and I finally came up for air.

Totally, utterly, completely unsatisfied with Dell's failure to address, and barely even aknowledge this issue. And oh yeah comcast blows also.

I will never by another Dell router product and I am likely to look elswhere next time I buy a computer. I have bought 5 machines from Dell over the years and this is probably last one. Are you listening Michael Dell? You have about $12,000 of my money and you might have gotten a lot more. But now you won't because your "Award Winning" support team dropped the ball and then kicked it across the floor as they reached down to try and pick it up.

--Dave

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Dell TrueMobile 1184 & Comcast Cable ISP

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