Can I use my ADSL wireless Router with Virgin Media?

Fresco · 26-05-2007, 05:45 PM

Hi,

I have just moved house and have changed from Tiscali where I used a D-Link DSL-G624M wireless router to virgin media cable where they have provided me with a wired cable modem.

I want to use wireless so I have tried connecting the basic modem Virgin media provided to one of the ethernet ports in the back of the router. If i connect my pc to one of the other ethernet ports in the back I can get internet access, however I cannot seem to connect to the internet using the wireless (it only connects locally).

Does anyone have any ideas of why this is? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

MadduckUK · 26-05-2007, 06:23 PM

nope sorry chappy. you need a "broadband router". the only way the g624m would be useful to you was if they had sent you a broadband router to go with the cable modem but it didnt have wireless/the wireless was crap.

burble · 26-05-2007, 06:30 PM

Technically you could use the wireless. Disable the DHCP server on the router and in effect the router is now acting as a switch and access point only.

MadduckUK · 26-05-2007, 06:46 PM

but it wont be able to talk to the cable modem, so while it would give you a wireless network you wouldn't have internet access. not so useful

burble · 26-05-2007, 06:51 PM

Ignore the fact that the OP is talking about a router. Take any old switch and any old AP. Plug the AP and cable modem into the switch. Connect your machine to the wireless network and it'll get an IP from the cable modem so you have internet access.

Now take the router that the OP mentioned and disable the DHCP server so that the only place an IP address can come from is the cable modem. To all intents and purposes that router is now only acting as a switch and an AP.

It'll work.

Edit - The easiest option would be to buy a new router, something like a Linksys WRT54GL would do the job nicely.

TiG · 26-05-2007, 10:02 PM

Sorry Madduck but you are completely wrong on this one.

It is completely possible to use a Virgin media cable modem (providing you use the ethernet output) with a ADSL router.

As long as you set it up right there is no problem having the wireless router setup so one of the ports is the cable router, and as long as you get this setup so this is the route out then it shouldn't be any problem at all.

Indeed this is exactly how i've got my own setup working.

TiG

MadduckUK · 26-05-2007, 10:34 PM

whats handling NAT? does this mean that only one device can connect at a time?

**directhex** · 26-05-2007, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by MadduckUK

whats handling NAT? does this mean that only one device can connect at a time?

bingo

MadduckUK · 26-05-2007, 10:39 PM

hmm. probably why iv never heard of this being done before.

burble · 26-05-2007, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by MadduckUK

hmm. probably why iv never heard of this being done before.

It's basically the same as having the cable modem and PC conencted with a bit of ethernet cable, just with wireless replacing the cable.

Fresco · 27-05-2007, 05:59 PM

Thanks for the help guys.

Does this mean that I would only be able to connect one pc at a time to the internet with this router? (even if I figure out the right settings)

I have a wireless latop and 2 pcs so would need to be able to connect up to 3 at a time.

burble · 27-05-2007, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Fresco

Does this mean that I would only be able to connect one pc at a time to the internet with this router? (even if I figure out the right settings)

Yep. You can't use this router to do any routing - it'll only work as a switch and access point.

Like I've already said, the easiest thing would be to get a new router, something like a Linksys WRT54GL would do the trick.

sitalchauhan · 27-05-2007, 07:16 PM

I agree, just buy a new router and sell you current ADSL router, its a lot earier.
I have got a D-Link DGL-4300 router and it is simply amazing. I was deciding between the WRT54GL and the DGL-4300, but found out that if you do bittorrent or any other demanding p2p, the linksys is known to crap out every now and then because it cannot cope with that many simultaneous connections.
Read up some reviews on the D-Link DGL-4300 and you will see just how good it is

It has never once failed or needed rebooting for me in nearly a year, even when downloading about 15 torrents simultaneously it doesnt show any signs of slowing down (I am on 20meg Virgin Media and it copes easily).
Also, the wireless signal is extremely strong. My router is downstairs in my living room and I can get decent signal even up in my loft (2nd floor).
It is quite pricey at £82, but in my opinion it is well worth it, never had a single problem yet and it worked straight away after plugging it in, no messing around with settings to get it to work:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=d...w=dd&scoring=p

Fresco · 27-05-2007, 07:28 PM

Thanks, I have just bought the Linksys from Dabs.com, free delivery this weekend and I had a £10 voucher to use with them by the ende of the month, so quite a bargain.

Couldn't quite stretch to the D-Link at twice the price.

moogle · 27-05-2007, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Fresco

Thanks, I have just bought the Linksys from Dabs.com, free delivery this weekend and I had a £10 voucher to use with them by the ende of the month, so quite a bargain.

Couldn't quite stretch to the D-Link at twice the price.

you'll like the linksys firmware/settings page to the d-link. i've seen my friends adsl one and its quite a task just to port forward. very confusing without the manual or portforward.com

burble · 27-05-2007, 08:46 PM

The stock Linksys firmware is ok but if you need extra functionality (PAT, ability to adjust the wireless output power and the like) then have a look at one of the numerous third party firmwares available. I'm using Sveasoft and it works great.

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