Help me get our Internet devices back on speaking terms.

September 13, 2009 10:40 AM

We have a US Robotics wireless router (USR5461) and a cable modem provided to us by our Internet provider (Rogers, in Ontario--it is a labeled as "WebStar" and "Scientific American"). They don't seem to be on speaking terms however. How can we get our wireless connection back?

For the last several days, we have been unable to connect to the Internet in our apartment. We have the aforementioned router and modem, and can connect to each independently, but they don't seem to be working together. I can get to the router's configuration web page, and can connect to the network using Airport. Also, if I use a cable and plug in directly to the modem, I can get online just fine.

This has been happening off and on for the last several months, but now it seems to be constant. Sometimes I can get a few minutes of connectivity if I unplug every cord going into every device (the power cords, the ethernet cord, the cord that goes to the cable outlet) but it never lasts long.

Also, this is happening with the two computers my partner and I have--both are Macbooks but of different generations.

Any ideas as to how to fix this? It seems to me that everything is working fine except for the part where they are supposed to talk to each other and has me wondering if there's some sort of bad connection inside the router. The little light on the router that is supposed to indicate internet connectivity won't come on, either. I am really hoping we won't have to replace this router as it is only a year or so old.

posted by synecdoche to computers & internet (8 comments total)

1) Reset both, the modem and the router. ( They both should have a reset button at the back)

2) Plug in the modem first and wait for all the lights to go green/active.

3) Once the modem is ready, plug in the router.


If that doesn't work...well, someone else might be able to help you. I switched over from Rogers to Bell a while ago.
posted by Danniman at 10:50 AM on September 13 [1 favorite]

Consumer grade wireless routers are pretty hit or miss. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you get a weak one. Consider replacing it if Danniman's suggestion doesn't help.
posted by Liver at 11:15 AM on September 13

Sounds a bit like you might have a DHCP problem. Check to make sure DHCP is enabled on your router, and look through the settings to make sure everything looks ok. Also check your wireless settings in the router. Sorry - it's hard to diagnose without looking at your settings :( Good luck.

PS: In case you haven't found it, there is some info and troubleshooting tips at your router's documentation website.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 11:16 AM on September 13

Also: Are you seeing a wireless signal from your router? If you can't tell it apart from neighbors' networks, rename your network to something else via the router's web interface. If you can get a signal, but it won't let you connect, you can probably fix it by fiddling with settings...but if you don't even see a signal (and the router is definitely configured to broadcast a signal), then maybe the router's shot.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 11:18 AM on September 13

seconding Danniman - cable modems tend to remember what you hooked into them last, and, since that was your Macbook, it won't talk to your router until it's reset. unplug the cable modem from the wall and from the cable and let it sit for 5 minutes, or use the reset button. during that time, reset your router to factory configs (usually you hold down the reset button while you turn it on, but check your manual) and reconfigure it - you don't really have to have it connected to the modem while you do this.

have you noticed any new wireless networks when you go to your Airport menu to find yours? it seems a lot of manufacturers set them to the same channel (either 5 or 7, if memory serves) - if a neighbor bought a wireless router and set it up and didn't change the channel, it might be conflicting with yours. you can set that in the router's configuration webpage.
posted by mrg at 12:39 PM on September 13

You may need to clone your computer's MAC address on the router; generally this is accessible in the router's config somewhere. If your cable provider authenticates or otherwise delivers connection based on the MAC address of whatever's connected to the cable modem, that would probably do it.
posted by reptile at 2:48 PM on September 13

I've tried Danniman's solution, and it worked this afternoon but after an hour or so it stopped working. Did it again, and have it back, for the time being.
posted by synecdoche at 5:36 PM on September 13

Check the firmware on the router. I used a USR wireless router for a while and had a lot of dropout and reset problems with some versions of the firmware. If there's an update available, give it a try. It usually doesn't hurt. Back up your settings first as it will likely change everything back to defaults after the update.
posted by caution live frogs at 11:09 PM on September 13