Belkin Wireless 125g ADSL Modem router - can't even ping it! Help please

[Theo]

Today I received a shiney new Belkin Wireless adsl modem router from Scan (thanks to the ever so kind free carriage offer). However, I seem to have fallen at the first hurdle.

After reading the manual (yep!), I plugged everything in as described in the manual. Modem straight into PC ethernet. I checked that all of the Windows XP TCP/IP settings were set to receive an IP address automatically, shut down, turn the router on, turn PC on.

The manual now specifies that to configure the router, I must enter 192.168.2.1 into the address bar of a web browser. This would always result in a "could not connect" style error message in Firefox and IE. I checked that both browsers were set to connect directly to the internet as specified in the manual, however they already were.

When turned on, all of the LEDs that should turn on do so.

I have tried connecting the router to multiple computers using the provided ethernet cable and the other ethernet cables that were already in my home network. Absolutely no cigar whatsoever. When I try to ping the router IP address, it can't even detect it. I have disabled firewalls, checked and rechecked network settings, but I really can't understand why I can't even ping it!

If anyone out that can help me out some how, I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks.

-edit


It's this model:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=210478

[Theo]

Think I've figured it. Although it's completely the opposite to what the manual says, I changed my PC's IP to static (192.168.2.2) and it seems to detect the router no problem now.

This isn't really ideal though, as there are quite a number of PCs on the network. DHCP would be very handy. Still trucking - will post any more details as I come across them.

[Taz]

Strange as I have the same router and I connect to it with http://192.168.2.1 (when it works that is!).

My PC is set to DHCP. You may have a screwed up network setup on your PC. One thing to try would be to set your TCP/IP settings to obtain an IP address automatically and then repair your wireless network connection.

You could also check that the Belkin's DHCP is enabled before you try this.

I'm actually going to be throwing away this router (I just bought it over a month ago) and going back to Draytek Vigor's as i've had nothing but problems with the Belkin. Hope you have more luck!

One other problem I had: I could not get the supplied PCI 125G card to work properly with the router - this was strange as they were supplied as a bundle. I ended up taking it out of my PC and reverting back to my PC's onboard 54G WiFi which gives me a bit more stability.

[Theo]

It's really strange, if I'm honest. When I first built my network a couple of years ago, I had a similar problem with 192.168.x.x IP addresses. I managed to fix that by using 10.0.0.x IPs.

I've done exactly the same here - no problems with the DHCP now.

Problem number two now though! The modem doesn't seem to like the fact that my Nildram PPPoA connection comes with a static IP and won't connect to the internet. I tried Static IPoA, which connects for some reason, but there's nowhere to put my username/password. I'll have a look to see if there's any firmware that might sort this out.

It's been a right headache this, so far. First bit of equipment I buy in the last 12 months and it hates me already! Nice to have a challenge I suppose. Thanks for the pointers and your opinions Taz. Very much appreciated. I've had a good week at the bookies, so fingers crossed my luck hasn't run out!

-edit

Found this thread:

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.p...977#post529977

Which looks like it might be helpful. I think I'll have a snooze first though.

[Theo]

And it's sorted! The updated firmware added a couple of options to the PPPoA settings to allow static IPs to be used. I've changed the DHCP settings to 10.0.0.x format and this seems to work fine. All that's left to do is the wireless stuff.... which, I must admit, I'm not looking forward to (I'm a wireless virgin).

[Taz]

And it's sorted! The updated firmware added a couple of options to the PPPoA settings to allow static IPs to be used. I've changed the DHCP settings to 10.0.0.x format and this seems to work fine. All that's left to do is the wireless stuff.... which, I must admit, I'm not looking forward to (I'm a wireless virgin).

Where did you get the firmware from? I've checked on the Belkin UK support site and cannot find any. I'm desperate to give the 125G router one more chance before I bin it and updated firmware is the only hope of achieving some stability.

[Theo]

This should do it for you dude. Make sure you cross-check the model number with the one on the base of your router, but it should be the same. The belkin site doesn't have the proper name of the router in the support section so I just used model numbers

http://www.belkin.com/support/downlo...ad=1662&lang=1

Got the wireless sorted in just under 10 minutes. Very easy, only one snaggle. The signal strength between my office (back of house, up a flight of stairs) and the lounge (front of house, ground floor) was very very poor. Kept cutting out, etc. So I've moved the router to the room above the lounge and I get a constant "Very good" signal from it.

Everythings sorted now and done in just under a day. Not too bad, but plugging it in and having it work straight out of the box would have been lovely. I think I need to get myself some more new kit to tinker with now.. got the taste for it

[Taz]

Thanks Theo. Got the firmware upgrade done. It seems to have improved things a bit. Anyway, glad to see you got things sorted.

[Theo]

Everything has been running for the last 14 hours with no problems whatsoever. It is a good buy in my opinion - particularly for the price. However, I'd expect most users will have some teething problems, but these should be fixed with the firmware updates. It gets my seal of approval (for now) anyway

Thanks for the help chap, hope it works out well for you too.

[Taz]

Yeah, seems a lot more stable and reliable with the f/w update. The reason I couldn't find a firmware update was interesting. The router I have is supposed to be the High Speed Mode router. However, the model number on the sticker says it is F5D7633uk4. Now if you look in the Belkin downloads for this model number, the model it picks out is the "ADSL Modem With Built-In 11g Wireless Router". This is different to what it says on my packaging for the router!!! My packaging actually says i've got a "High-Speed Mode Wireless G Router". This shows up as model number F5D7231-4 for which there is no firmware download yet!

How confusing but, as you have rightly pointed out, go by the model number on the actual sticker and all is well.

I might even try out the High Speed Mode PCI card now that the router is more stable to see if I can hit the 125MB speed. By the way, you probably also have this PCI card as you also bought the bundle - there are new drivers for the F5D7001 card on the Belkin site (same place as the other networking download) in case you weren't aware. They were released on 17 Augusut 2005. Hope that helps!

[aspick]

Taz - I've just bought a F5D7001 card to replace a Linksys USB adapter I was having problems with (thought I'd try PCI instead of USB)

Wondering whether I've done the right thing now as the Belkin is causing me a bit of grief - doesn't seem to keep a very good signal but then I can understand that to a certain extent compared to the USB because the aerial is now lower down and closer to my PC (with it obviously being a PCI card).

The drivers do seem a bit flaky though and I'm wondering if there are any newer ones. The Belkin site show drivers back from 2004 so I was interested when I read your post here - where did you see the drivers from Aug 2005 for the F5D7001 ? I can't find them anywhere.

Andy

[wheest]

I have this router and have updated the firmware. I also have a 125G wireless card and a 125G wireless PCMCIA card for the laptop (Both Belkin cards). Only trouble is if I have it on 125G mode I cant connect at all either to the router itself or the internet, I have to use the PC thats wired to it to change it back to 54G mode.

In addition to this problem if I switch of the router off at all the settings automatically change back to 125G turbo mode.

Its a really irritating problem cos I have all this 125G stuff but cant use it. Any ideas?

[killkoy]

i have the old 54mb belkin router and adsl modem and i hade to update the fiemware too, i wish belkin would supply up to date firmware