Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with router

How to move a computer onto a switch and keep the IP address?

michaelh — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 03:57:52 -0800

I have a Mac Pro set to DHCP manual assign and a certain IP address that cannot change. I also have a printer plugged into a certain network jack; IP address less important. I am moving the physical location of the Mac Pro near this printer and the printer's network jack is the only one available. I'll have to plug both of these machines into the same network jack via switch/router. What switch/router is the right one to buy in 2013 (bonus if I can find it at Best Buy) and what the right way to set this up so the Mac Pro is still reachable at the same IP address on the network?

Why is my wireless router so slow, and how can I make it faster?

Greg Nog — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:06:56 -0800

My Wi-Fi is slow, and it seems to be the fault of the router. How can I make it faster? Barring that, is there a better router I could buy? Details inside. My wireless router is a Netgear WNR2000 model, and it is slow. When my computer's plugged in to the router by a physical ethernet cable, I have the following results from SpeedTest.com:

12ms ping
14.59 Mbps download
.99 Mbps upload

But over the air, the results are:

20 ms ping
2.62 Mbps download
.97 Mbps upload

I feel like it didn't used to be this slow, but maybe I'm wrong? Is it possible for a router to get slower over time? I've had it for about three years now.

I have checked the channel it's on, and it seems to be the only router in the vicinity on its channel, so I don't think that's creating interference. The router is also about a foot away from the wall, so I don't think that's interfering with it (plus, the speed is the same when my computer's right next to the router).

Is there anything I can do to speed it up? Is this just the maximum speed for this type of router? (my guess is no, given the puported specs from Netgear) Would I be better off buying a different router?

Possibly-relevant details: WEP encryption is being used on the wi-fi, and my computer's a MacBook using an AirPort to receive the signal.

Intranet only Wi-Fi router? I want to make one.

usermac — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:05:43 -0800

I want to use a captive portal, limiting the connectee to only the website I put on the router. No internet access nor is it being connected to my internet. First I want a way to only have the user connect then interactive with a one page or small website that does not connect to the internet. Ideally I'd want this to be an openwrt with CoovaChilli on a very small inexpensive wifi router. Possible?

How can I improve the wireless network signal in my large house?

freecellwizard — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:05:34 -0800

I just moved into a large house where my Netgear router does not provide a strong wireless signal to the whole house. I tried buying a repeater but despite being a programmer, I am lousy with hardware and am not really grasping how to set it up, or whether it's even the right answer. Help! I've Googled this and there is a wide range of conflicting info out there. Current setup:

- Netgear RangeMax Dual Band N Wireless Router WNDR3700 - two networks active at 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz ( I tend to connect to the 5G one)
- Time Warner cable modem and "turbo" service
- (new) Winstars WS-WN518N2 Wireless Repeater/Access Point

This whole thing started because the router is downstairs in a front office but we have a Mac upstairs as well as an iPad, phones, and a DVD player with dongle that streams Netflix. Network speeds using speedtest.net are like:

- wired connection to router through 5G network - 24-27 Mbps
- wireless connection through 5G (iPad in same room) - 18 Mbps
- iPad test on back stairway landing - 2 Mbps, sometimes fails test

The PC store guy said the extender was easy to set up, but not for me. It has two modes (Repeater and Access Point). I didn't expect Access Point to require ethernet running through the house, but it seems to so I picked Repeater. However then I got a different network name; also in the initial setup while attached to my Vista PC I've got it showing multiple connections somehow. On top of that the speed tests go way down for all the wireless tests while the repeater is plugged in.

Obviously I don't know what I'm doing :-) Mainly I just want to know if I'm even on the right path. I've heard of using a second router as an extender but am unclear if that solves the "two network names" problem. Or maybe there's a way I can just tweak the original router (or buy a better one) so it covers the house better.

Thanks in advance ... I wish setup of this stuff was like my Sonos system ... 2 buttons and good to go.

I'd like to buy 6 months of unlimited Internet in England.

iamkimiam — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:25:57 -0800

I'm moving house next weekend and new place does not have WiFi. It's a six month lease and I'll probably be moving out of the country after that. I use a lot of internet (streaming music, downloading podcasts, films, sending large files, using cloud services, etc.) and so I need something unlimited or pretty near it. Everything I'm seeing online so far is either too much £ for too little internet (£20 for 2GB per month, seriously??) or too much commitment (12-18 month contracts for phone, broadband and TV). I only need internet. What are my options, if any? Thanks!

What should I do: Ext. Hard Drives, Media Servers, NAS, etc.

aswego — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:34:00 -0800

Please talk to me like I'm stupid. I have a bunch of video files (~5TB...so far) hanging out on a bunch of external hard drives. Right now I just take turns plugging them into whichever laptop I'm going to use to watch the videos. I'd like something a little more convenient and easily accessible from multiple rooms in my small apartment, but I'm not awesome at setting up networky things (I've never successfully gotten two different laptops in my apartment to even "see" each other over the wireless router). What should I do? More specifics:

Current external hard drives owned (in case these could be repurposed somehow): A Seagate 4TB that needs a wall outlet to be used, a Seagate 3TB that needs a wall outlet to be used, and two 1TB WD drives that don't need wall outlets to be used (but are presumably very fragile).
I would probably be adding more video files to this collection on a daily basis.
Several different Windows laptops and VLC would be the primary potential viewing methods.
Don't own or care about Netflix/Roku/Video Game Systems.
Would avoid using iTunes to the extent possible (have an iPhone and iPad, but use them primarily for podcasts and ebooks).
Though the ability to possibly watch some of these video files on a television someday could be nice, it's not a priority as I don't currently have one.
Similarly, being able to get at the files from somewhere else (via FTP, maybe?) in an emergency seems like it'd be cool, but it's not really a priority.
Don't really care about backing up my laptops constantly...nothing too important on them.
The appeal of having redundant copies of the video files comes from experience with hard drives failing and the months/years it takes to accumulate all those files all over again, as well as the idea that it might be harder to accumulate them next time (basic digital hoarder mentality).

I checked out previous AskMefis, but a lot of the cheap NAS's recommended maxed out at something like an 8TB setup where two 4TB drivers were mirrored for backup purposes. I'm already well past the 4TB point, so I'm hoping for something with even more space. Also, I would probably need a lot of hand-holding setting one up. I can learn this stuff if someone explains it slowly and walks me through, but if somebody starts out by mentioning something like "Tomato" or "firmware," I'm probably lost already.

I also saw the recommendation of the ASUS RT-N16 wireless router, which at least seems like it'd get me partway there by just plugging my two largest external hard drives into it (is this correct?). My current router seems to work fine as far as upload/download speeds go, even though it's pretty old (>5 years), so maybe that money is better spent toward an NAS.

In search of a lasting wireless network solution

Rhaomi — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 07:12:09 -0800

After wasting two different off-days trying to get my damnable modem+router working, I want to return them both and get something entirely new. Any good recommendations for a solid, reliable DSL modem and wireless router set-up with decent NAS support? THE STORY SO FAR:

- had an ISP-supplied hybrid modem/router for a few years that worked fine
- bought a new laptop last year and swapped the hard drive for an SSD
- decided to use the spare hard drive as an external drive for storing large media files and performing automatic backups
- bought an Apricorn USB hard drive enclosure designed to support NAS stuff
- bought a Western Digital My Net N600 router with a USB port designed to support NAS stuff (the old modem had no USB ports)
- ran into endless bizarre problems trying to get the N600 maintaining a connection to the old modem in bridge mode
- discovered plugging in and using the external drive was crashing the router firmware
- exchanged N600 for a better-spec'd N750
- more bizarre problems; dropped connections; router web interface sluggish
- tried installing a firmware upgrade from the official website
- now the router won't even boot up, *not even after a paperclip factory reset*

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

There are just too many potential glitches and conflicts here for me to deal with any more -- the fact that the modem is old (and in bridge mode), the general bugginess of Western Digital's routers, the fact that I'm using a laptop hard drive instead of one purpose-built for NAS work.

So I want to start from scratch. New DSL modem. New router. Maybe even a new hard drive and/or hard drive enclosure if that might help.

What I need to know:

- What's the best option for a reliable dedicated DSL modem? No-frills is fine as long as it's reasonably fast and can support a PPPoE connection type.

- What's the best option for a reliable wireless router with support for an external USB hard drive? I'm willing to spend more if it can buy me quality, dependability, and a no-hassle set-up with a decent web interface. I'm seriously tired of troubleshooting unaccountable wifi problems via unhelpful router settings pages that crash often and don't tell me anything useful.

- What's the best option for a reliable external hard drive set-up? I'm not doing enterprise-level stuff here -- I just want it to store my iTunes, my movies, and have some space left over to automatically back up a ~256GB SSD. I already have a laptop hard drive in the Apricorn enclosure I mentioned, and it did allow me to (temporarily) access my files wirelessly. But I'm not sure if the crashes I mentioned were due to the Western Digital router being shoddy or the hard drive/enclosure set-up being inappropriate for that purpose. Should I maybe reformat the hard drive for use as a NAS? Or would it be better to just get a purpose-built USB NAS drive?

I'd also be interested in a decent combination DSL modem/router with NAS support if that would be easier to set up. My current, years-old modem/router hybrid works flawlessly, but just doesn't have any USB ports to plug a drive into (only a USB B port, which apparently can't support that kind of thing).

Any recommendations -- especially based on personal experience with the device -- very much appreciated!

Help fix my hotel wireless

Zosia Blue — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:28:40 -0800

Can't get my hotel wireless to work on my MPB running Mountain Lion. Help! At a hotel in Duluth, MN. Trying to get the wireless to work on my MPB, Mountain Lion. Wireless is working for everyone else and on my phone -- just not my laptop.

The facts:

-Wireless doesn't require a password, but does first require a connection to the hotel's site (like when you sign into Starbuck's Internet).
-In Chrome, I get an Error 107 SSL protocol error.
-In Safari, the site trying to get to the welcome page just endlessly loops and never connects.
-The page trying to connect says: 192.168.100.1/login?username=username&password=password (note that I don't need a username or password -- the router is bypassing this step by filling it in for me)

What I've tried:

-Firewall on and off
-Renewing my DHCP lease
-Restarting the browsers, computer and wireless connection

The internets say to check my Proxy settings, but nothing is checked or notable about the settings.

Help me so I don't lose my mind on this work trip? The front desk wasn't helpful (and it's an issue on my end, so not their fault). Thanks.

Windows 7 and the unseen wireless router

Inner Universe — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 06:47:26 -0800

I've been blessed with the task of finding out why my father's windows 7 laptop can't connect to his new Virgin Media Broadband router. The laptop can't find the router, and I can't find a fix... The broadband router is newly installed, the laptop less than a few months old, but it seems like the laptop can't find any wireless networks whatsoever. A lot of the suggestions and fixes involve changing the router's security or downloading drivers, but obviously the laptop can't connect, and I'll be damned if I know how to mess with the Virgin box, as my own is much different.

As I'm posting this at his place, I can verify that the router works fine; another laptop in the house can also connect easily with just the SSID. The fault must lie with the laptop/operating system but... For once, I'm stumped. Any ideas on how to get W7 to detect the wireless router? I should hopefully be able to progress from there.

Please help me diagnose my wifi problems

ottereroticist — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:19:45 -0800

I'm having problems with my home wifi network. I'm seeing sporadic periods (a couple of hours a day) where websites load slowly, partially, or not at all. How can I diagnose this problem? Are there router settings to try setting differently? Should I just get a new router? Sometimes a site stalls out on the message "Looking for [server]..."
Sometimes reloading a few seconds later works fine.
Sometimes sites are just dog-slow to load. Sometimes they load partially, then hang.

Restarting the router helps for a while, then it slows down again.

The problem started a week or so ago. I can't think what would have changed.

I'm pretty sure that problem lies with the router -- I just tried connecting directly to the cable modem via Ethernet, and the connection was fine.

Comcast Motorola SB5120 cable modem
D-Link DIR-655 router
Mac OSX 10.8.2 / 10.6.8 (on different laptops)

Internet, you're being weird. Stop it.

Rhaomi — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:01:41 -0800

Trying to set up a new wireless network and running into all kinds of strange problems. Connections dropped every few hours! Some machines work, some don't! Can connect to internet, can't connect to router! DOGS AND CATS LIVING TOGETHER (literally). Please help. The set-up is a little convoluted, but does work (until it doesn't).

The original router is an ISP-provided 2wire HomePortal 1700HW, a combination DSL modem/router that plugs directly into a phone jack and broadcasts it as a WiFi network. It's a few years old but has worked decently on its own up to this point, so I don't think the problem lies there.

The newcomer is a brand-new Western Digital My Net N600 router, acquired both to improve on the range of the old one and to provide networked storage capability for shared music and such.

Configuring the two of them to work properly was a bit of a dog, but I finally did get it working. The phone jack plugs into the old 2wire, now set to bridge mode to disable its built-in wireless capability. The 2wire plugs into the N600 via Ethernet. And the N600, armed with all the correct PPPoE login information from the ISP, correctly connects to and interprets the DSL coming in from the 2wire and broadcasts it out. Even the network storage works!

Problem is, every couple of hours this connection fails, and in the weirdest way possible.

Right now, I'm typing this on an old 'n' busted laptop running Windows XP. It's currently connected to the N600's wireless network and can browse the web no problem. All the status lights on the routers are green, running an ipconfig command returns normal IP address information (including the router's IP), I can ping the router at that location fine.

But I can't connect to the router's settings page (192.168.1.1). WTF?

Also, a visiting Chromebook can connect to the network but can't load any websites... except for AOL webmail, of all things. A test email sent from a phone showed up in the inbox fine, while Google, Facebook, etc. look dead. Not even Gmail, mail.live.com, or even just plain old aol.com work -- just mail.aol.com. This Chromebook doesn't have a data connection, btw, just WiFi. I say again: WTF?

Meanwhile, a newer Windows 7 laptop can't connect to the N600 network at all ("Unable to connect..."), and even plugging directly into the N600 router via Ethernet won't work -- I can ping it fine, but neither websites nor the router settings page itself will load.

Various mobile devices are likewise denied -- various iPhones and iPads can't connect to the network at all.

Power-cycling the N600 router solves all these problems and things work alright for all devices... for a few hours. Until everything craps out again, for no apparent reason.

What could be triggering this issue, and how do I fix it? I've dealt with wonky router stuff before, but it seems totally bizarre to me that:

- the status lights on both routers are fine, including the N600's "internet connection OK" light
- ONE laptop can connect to the router's WiFi and browse the web, and can ping the router, but can't access the router itself
- the other laptop can ping the router through a wired connection, but can't access the router settings or browse the web that way
- a Chromebook can connect to the network and can load *one* website (mail.aol.com), but nothing else
- no other device (apart from that first laptop that mysteriously works fine) can connect to the WiFi network at all

Any thoughts or advice appreciated; I'd love to get this problem fixed rather than have to venture back to Best Buy and try to find a replacement (maybe an N900? who knows).

New modem or new router?

jeather — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:39:55 -0800

I have a Zhone wifi router/modem which I purchased from my ISP. It drops connection occasionally but regularly (a couple-few times a month) which can be fixed only by restarting the modem which is sort of a pain. Googling around suggests that my modem is a crappy router. Is it better to purchase a different router/modem or just to buy a wifi router and turn off wifi on the modem or to buy the wifi router and to run the modem in bridge mode (I have access to the web UI)? If one of the latter two, what is the current first choice for routers?

WIFI networking: two routers on the same network

Mokusatsu — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 05:45:37 -0800

Hi, I am trying to set up a surplus router as a NAS and torrent appliance, to integrate into an existing network. The setup will use two routers, one to provide network and internet to everyone, the other will use TomatoUSB and will be dedicated to torrenting. Existing setup: A Netcomm all-in-one router which does VOIP, modem, WIFI, routing etc currently does all networking for the house. The household has three Windows PCs, three iPads, two smart phones, one network printer/scanner/fax. The most network intensive thing it ever does is torrent downloads, but VOIP call quality can be an issue sometimes.

I have an ASUS RT-N16 router, which I have flashed to TomatoUSB, which includes built in support for Transmission torrent software. I wish to use this as a dedicated torrent downloading machine, integrated with my existing network.

Flashing TomatoUSB on was fine once I found a compatible build, I installed Transmission QT on my PC and that's working fine too. Everything works.

But it's not set up properly. To get my computer to talk to the Tomato router I need to log in to the Tomato router's WIFI network. When I'm logged in to that WIFI network I can set up the torrents, but I'm disconnected from the rest of the network and can't print. Therefore I've got this awkward arrangement where I have to switch between WIFI networks depending on what I want to do.

Why? Because I can't figure out how to get it working the other way!

So this is less a question about TomatoUSB, more a basic question about network and WIFI setup, router configuration etc.

Currently the Tomato router is wired via its WAN port to one of the LAN ports of the Netcomm router. The Tomato router refuses to let me set it's network IP and subnet ranges the same as the WAN, hence I have two networks that don't talk to each other.

I do not require the Tomato router to do anything wirelessly, I'm happy enough to turn off its WIFI signal and have it communicate only with the network with ethernet cables.

I've heard about "bridging" routers, but admit I'm not knowledgable enough to know how to use it properly. My attempts to muck about with it and figure it out resulted more than once in being locked out of the configuration screen and having to factory reset, so maybe I need expert help!

Of course I have Googled the issue, but everything I have found so far describes setups different to what I want, like bridging Internet to the Tomato router and having it handle the whole network, or using the second router to extend WIFI range.

Also, I want to be able to quickly kill torrents if I have to, so although I could configure it so the Netcomm router bridges its internet connection to the Tomato router which then would handle all the WIFI, this is not the option I would like to go with. I wish for the Netcomm router to continue to handle everything it currently handles, which it does perfectly well, and for the Tomato router to simply join that network and be able to be switched off any time I so wish. Also, the Netcomm is doing a great job where it is, I am not worried about needing to increase the wireless range or anything like that.

Briefly, my questions are as follows:

Do I need two cables, one to the WAN and one to the LAN, or can I set it up so that a single ethernet cable (to either the LAN or WAN ports of the Tomato router) would join the Tomato router to the network? I assume it's possible to use one... how?

I also suspect I should be turning off DHCP and NAT from the Tomato. How do I do that without getting locked out of the device? Both previous times I've played with that I've had to reset to factory settings to get back in.

What LAN and WAN settings on the Tomato router would tell it just to passively join the other network and not try to form its own one?

Why are PCs pulling IPs from the wrong router? (Diagram included)

Unhyper — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:06:33 -0800

We have two offices, front (sales) and back (paperwork) and we have our "main" router in the front, which serves the front desk computers, and then from the router we have run Ethernet to the back office into a hub which then serves a bunch of PCs, a printer, and, we would like, a Wi-Fi router (or rather a router with Wi-Fi). The purpose of the Wi-Fi router connected to the hub is only to allow Wi-Fi devices access to the network. Unfortunately, for some reason, when the router is connected to the hub, all the other PCs also connected to the hub pull their IPs from the Wi-Fi router's DHCP / use it as gateway instead of the "main router" in the front office. Why is this? Here is a link to a masterfully crafted diagram of the setup.

As long as the wi-fi router isn't connected, everything works. Once connected to the hub, the back office PCs switch to using it and pull IPs from it etc.

Network switch can't access internet behind router

Pantengliopoli — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:01:41 -0800

Why can't devices on my new 8-port switch get internet access on my network? I’ve got a new wired network set up in my house and am fine tuning it, getting everything to connect to the internet… Main computer and xbox are working (connected directly to D-Link DGL4300 Wireless router), but the Tivo and anything plugged into the new switch-based jacks aren’t getting to the internet, though they see the network. Here’s the network layout:

Comcast Cable --> Cable modem --> Router --> Trendnet Gigabit 8-port switch wired from router in upstairs bedroom to the termination point for all wiring in the downstairs closet, where the switch is located.

That switch feeds plugs in the kitchen (1), downstairs bedroom (1), TV room (2), upstairs bedroom (1).

Basically, every plug that comes off of that switch can see the network, but cannot connect to the internet. The Tivo’s network test says that it can’t find the DHCP server. Plugging the laptop directly into the router works fine, as does connecting via wireless.

I've reset the configuration on my router to factory defaults, with no change. All new wiring tests okay. I have shut down everything and brought it all back up from the cable downstream to the devices, with no change. I was able to get the Tivo connected to the internet briefly, after a modem reboot, but then the main computer/router etc wouldn't connect.

Are there specific configuration changes I need to make on my router to allow a downstream switch? What am I missing?

Can I use my old router as a repeater?

rybreadmed — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 12:18:32 -0800

How can I use my old router as a wireless repeater? I just replaced my Trendnet TEW-639GR router (this guy right here) with a Netgear N900 (this guy). I did this because I have an old house with thick plaster walls; the signal just wasn't reaching to the other side of my (relatively small) house.

So I got the new router set up. It seems to work pretty well. At the other end of the house, though, it still shows a poor signal--better than the old router, but still pretty crappy.

I would like to use the old router as a repeater or wireless access point. I'd like to take the signal from right before where it drops off (the kitchen), and repeat it to the bedroom (crap signal). I have no idea how to do this. It seems to have the capability, though. The old (Trendnet) manual says, "When WDS is enabled, this access point functions as a wireless repeater and is able to wirelessly communicate with other APs via WDS links." That's the last mention of it in the manual. Thanks for the help, Instruction Manual. You're a big help. And in case you can't tell, Instruction Manual, I'm being sarcastic.

So, is there a way to do this?

dsl modem/router choices

Red Loop — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:47:45 -0800

I'm looking for advice on a dsl modem/router thingy and rural connectivity... I live rurally and have had somewhat poor internet connectivity for a long time; first through Verizon and now with Frontier (after they bought out Verizon's land lines). I had Westell modem/router combos that they gave me with my service, and while I don't know much, I could at least check the connection log and see the connection would just drop randomly. I now think that's an issue with their crappy infrastructure, but I made many calls to customer service to see if there was anything else going on. Sometime in September they said "we'll send you a new modem" which they did. It's a NetGear 7550 and from the start it would drop the wireless constantly (I can't find if it's related to service drops because there's no connection log I can access). I've called about 10 times and after having me change the channels or fiddle with little settings or resetting the modem finally they said they were going to send another one, but that now I'd have to pay the 6.99 a month modem fee that I hadn't before. For some reason.
So. I'm probably better off just buying something myself, but then there's no tech support for issues with it (not that they've been particularly helpful in the past). I'm wondering if there are any modem/routers that have an interface where someone with limited knowledge can at least troubleshoot problems, or am I better off paying 85 bucks a year for their "help". I worry that the connectivity problems are hard to separate between network issues and my hardware issues and there might be less possibility of isolating them.
I'd rather just have an internet connection that works, but out here in the sticks I'm probably dreaming.

Bridging a Cisco router thru a Verizon FiOS Actiontec router to improve WiFi speed: worth the trouble and, if so, how?

Jamesonian — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:54:27 -0800

My FiOS speed is a blazing 75Mb/s thru a wire but only about 30-35Mb/s wireless. Verizon tells me that this is all I can expect through their Actiontec modem/router. Can I improve this WiFi speed by bridging my Cisco EA4500 thru the FiOS router? If so, can anyone provide me with a step-by-step way to re-configure the FiOS router to allow for the bridge? All of the resources I can find on-line are confusing and don't cover my specific situation. All help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Good Skype Phone

tabubilgirl — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:59:04 -0800

Recommendations for a standalone Skype phone? I've been looking for a dedicated Skype phone, cordless, where the base station plugs into the router. Support for normal phone line is optional. I'm in Canada and looking to spend less than $100. I found this one on skype's webstore, but the reviews aren't convincing me. Anybody here have a model they really like (or hate)?

Monitoring network usage with multiple SSIDs

rhapsodie — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:50:59 -0800

Please help me solve my router management issues. At my house I want multiple SSIDs (at least two), AND the ability to monitor network traffic by device or by SSID. My house consists of two adults, one teenager, and approximately 11 devices that connect to the internet through our wireless router. We currently use an Encore ENHWI router which allows us multiple SSIDs so we can turn off the teenager's internet as necessary. Our ISP limits our bandwidth, and there are days when our bandwidth goes over 10gb. I want to be able to monitor which device or which SSID is the main bandwidth culprit.

I've seen previous questions about monitoring traffic, but those solutions (Tomato firmware and DD-WRT) don't support tracking on multiple SSIDs. Our main computers all run Windows 7, and I'd rather not buy a $300 router.

IPv6 help on Windows 7 with Airport router

rbf1138 — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 20:11:47 -0800

After several years away from Windows, I built a PC with Windows 7 and I'm using it with an Airport Extreme router. On my wireless icon in the tray is a small yellow shield and when I right-click for status I see "IPv6 Connectivity: No network access." I'm getting slow speed tests on my new PC and I think this may be the cause of it. Otherwise, my status shows that my IPv4 has Internet, speed is 130Mbps, and my connection is at high strength. I'll have a long enough ethernet cable to test that out next week but I'd like to get my Wifi up to the speeds that my Macbook gets routinely. My wifi card is the Asus PCE-N15. My Airport has updated firmware, as does my PC wifi card. I'm on Comcast cable internet with a 30mbps tier. Thanks!

Can you help me connect to a wifi router?

Kattullus — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 04:50:29 -0800

I'm having problems connecting to a wi-fi router. I've tried connecting both with my iPod Touch and my PC without any luck. Other computers have not had any problems connecting to the router and I have never had any problems connecting with other routers. I can connect using an ethernet cord. Can you help? Here are some specifics. I'm using a Windows 7 PC. When I try to connect to the router, I get the message: Windows was unable to connect to [ROUTER NAME]. I don't get asked for a password or anything.

When I try to connect using the iPod Touch, I get asked for a password, but when I enter the WEP key on the bottom of the router, it says that the password is wrong.

I have verified that the WEP key on the bottom of the router is correct.

I have a bridged router acting as a modem, and a non-wireless vpn router. I need two add one or two wireless routers...how?

Unhyper — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 23:50:32 -0800

I have a bridged router acting as a modem, and a non-wireless vpn router. I need two add one or two wireless routers...how? I am talking about my brother's home network setup. He has a router (Zyxel) which is in bridge mode, and connected to a Cisco non-wireless vpn router which was bought specifically for its terrific vpn features. The Cisco doesn't have built-in ADSL modem so that's why he needs the bridged Zyxel.

He would like to add wireless capability by adding one or two wireless routers (to cover the whole house) to his network, but we're not sure whether these should be connected to the bridged Zyxel or to the Cisco. I assume they would work connected to the Cisco so long as each router had separate dhcp ranges, gateway IPs, and subnet masks.

Am I missing something, or is there a better way to do this?

How can I access my NAS remotely?

This_Will_Be_Good — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 17:07:54 -0800

Does anyone know how to access a Synology (or other) NAS remotely -- esp. if they seem to be behind multiple routers in a big network? I recently got a Synology NAS to use as a server since my new laptop has a pretty small SSD. One of the features I was excited to use was the ability to access this remotely -- Synology has apps for streaming media to your phone from the NAS, setting up security cameras, etc.

However, I can not for the life of me figure this out.

I think the problem is that I am behind multiple routers. I recently set up in a small co-working space, and I'm not really certain what the network setup is (and nobody else seems to know either).

Here is what I know:

- I plug my wireless router into an ethernet jack in the wall. The NAS is attached to the router.

- The NAS has options to configure my specific TP-Link router for port forwarding and all that. I have also tried virtual servers for the ports, and all sorts of other options.

- I think the problem is due to the network setup. When I check my public IP address, it is different than my WAN IP address. I am assuming that means that there is another router between me and the net.

- When I did a traceroute in my Mac's Network Utility, it seems there may even be a few routers, as it went from mine, to a 10.1.X.X IP and then to a 10.10.X.X IP, and then didn't go anywhere.

- So, I am guessing port forwarding isn't going to work, since incoming connections would go through those other routers first -- however, I'm not very good at this networking stuff, so this is a lot of trial and errors and research.

If this port forwarding stuff isn't possible, are there other options? Would a VPN be an option?

One note: I use LogMeIn to remotely access my Mac, and I had no trouble making that connection. Are they doing something secret, or does that mean some version of a remote connection may be possible with the NAS/Router software I am using.

Trying to get to my "unplugged and seated" years

orange swan — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:58:00 -0800

I'm trying to switch my laptop from a DSL to a wireless connection. I was told this would function as the modem/router I needed, and so ordered it. Today it came and although it works perfectly as a modem it doesn't seem to have wireless router capabilities. Please tell me whether it does, and if so how to set up a wireless connection, and if it doesn't, tell me what I should buy or do instead after I return it.