I don't know if anybody here knows much about Linksys wireless routers, but if anyone could help me I would be ever so grateful...

Last weekend the internet at my place went down. A couple of day ago it came back on again, but suddenly the wireless router (Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router) wouldn't connect anybody up to the network. It just gave the message "limited or no connectivity".

My Landlord's son restored the router to its default factory settings, and after that it would connect us up to the network, but we can't access the internet with it. It doesn't seem to be connecting to the internet even though it's plugged into the modem, and a computer that's also plugged into the modem does have internet access.

Doing "ipconfig/all" in Command Prompt reveals that the IP address under DNS Servers is the same as the router's IP address, which obviously isn't right. On the Status page in the router settings the IP Address, Default Gateway, and Subnet Mask are all set to 0.0.0.0, and there is nothing under DNS - obviously not right either.

Now I have absolutely no experience with setting up a broadband router, having been on dial-up all my life until earlier this year, so I have no idea of what else might have to be done to the router to get it back online again. The Landlord and his son don't seem to have any idea either.

It's driving me up the wall...

Sounds like to me you might want to call the internet provider, maybe they know what you need to do to get your modem back online.

Yeah, I'll have to do that, but the earliest I'll be able to do it is on Saturday. I have to wait until the Landlord is home to get access to the router and modem, and to get the manual for the router. I was hoping that I might get some advice before then, I haven't been able to find out anything that might help. Looks like it's a problem that'll have to be solved by NTL tech support. Not looking forward to that though...

do you know how to pull your your DNS, DHS and Gateway information on the PC and set the router to it?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but my PC is showing my DNS address to be the same as the router address. Setting the DNS servers manually on my computer won't help either, because the router itself can't access the internet.

type that IP address into the browser:

http://###.###.#.#

it should give you a query box asking for ID and Password

which should be

admin

password

then you can set up from there

here's more help:

http://dotancohen.com/howto/linksyssetup/index.php

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/suppor...router_help.htm

Edited December 14, 200619 yr by j7wild

Unfortunately I've already had a look at the router setup and I don't see anything that I could change that might make it work. I've also had a look at a couple of pages with guides for setting up a router, but they've been for setting up the SSID and Security and that sort of thing, which isn't causing my problem.

Unfortunately I've already had a look at the router setup and I don't see anything that I could change that might make it work. I've also had a look at a couple of pages with guides for setting up a router, but they've been for setting up the SSID and Security and that sort of thing, which isn't causing my problem.

call your ISP tech support

Yeah, I'm going to do that. I wish the Landlord would do it though. This is really annoying, especially since I don't actually have access to the router to do it in my own time. I have to wait around for him.

I am connected through Linksys, but i haven't had any problems yet. All i do is turn my computer on and it says wireless network found, then it connects me to the net. I don't know if Linksys is the same everywhere else, but in Albuquerque New Mexico, i haven't had a problem, but i would call and ask them.

Update: The wireless connection randomly started working tonight!

I don't know what happened. Maybe the Landlord and his son finally dug out the router manual from wherever it was and spent a few minutes setting it up properly.

Anyway: Yay, I don't have to phone NTL now

Update x2: Now the internet stopped working again The DNS servers are there under my network settings this time though, so maybe ISP issues this time. Actually, I never have any idea whether things are caused by router or ISP issues

write down the IP addresses for your default gateway, dns server and dhcp server

go to a computer that is working and click start/run

type in command

at the DOS window

ping each one of those IP addresses and see if you get a time out packet loss

if you do, the issue is in the ISP dns server

call them or have the landlord call them and tell them they are having problem with their dns server and that you know that because you ping them

I can ping the router fine. The DHCP server is the same IP address as the router. I get time-out when trying to ping the DNS servers.

Thing is, my house-mate's internet connection that I connect to using the Local Area Connection uses the same DNS servers and that connection is fine. The Landlord and him might have different types of internet accounts though.

I would think that the problem is with the ISP, but the problem started when I went into the router settings to make a note of what the settings were in case I ever need to set the thing up by myself. As soon as I closed the settings window my internet access got cut off (I definitely didn't change anything). Probably co-incidence, but still...

EDIT: I just looked at the router settings, and under status the Default Gateway, Subnet Mask and IP address are all set to 0.0.0.0, and there are no DNS servers again There were settings there last night. Now why on earth would it work for a little while and then suddenly stop working?

They are set to 0.0.0.0 because Windows IP Config is trying to ping your ISP DNS server (which is a rectangular box with a lot of red and green flashing lights in front and tons of cables coming out the back, sitting on a shelf somewhere at your ISP) through the modem and router and it's not getting a response.

Your ISP DNS server is coming and going, mostly going!!

I bet if you take the CAT 5 cable that comes out of the back of the Cable Modem and plug it straight into your PC, you will still not get a signal!!

Call them!!

Before you do that, I have 1 question and 2 suggestions:

1. How did you set up your new PC to this Internet Connection when you first got it.

Suggestion: remove your Network Connection and LAN connection and re-set up the whole thing from scratch/

Suggestion: Use the same settings your housemates has on his/her computer to set yours.

If that doesn't solve the problem, then call your ISP.

Edited December 16, 200619 yr by j7wild

It's working again Hopefully permanently this time. The settings in the router setup have changed slightly, so the Landlord probably called the ISP today. I've taken screengrabs of all the pages in the router setup so hopefully if we have to do something like this again I'll be able to restore it myself. So I can finally get rid of that cable that I keep tripping over

I know what a DNS is 'cause I used to work for an ISP company (reception work, but you pick stuff up). Didn't ever deal with wireless though. Unfortunately, since I don't have physical access to the router and don't have the Landlord's account details, I couldn't phone the ISP to find out what was wrong. Didn't have the router manual either.

Also, my housemate's connection is separate to the one on the wireless, so it wouldn't have been much use copying his settings. I've been using it with a network cable since the wireless connection went down, but I couldn't keep using it since he's paying for it out of his own pocket, unlike the wireless which is included in the rent.

also take a screengrabs of the settings in your LAN and Network connections too including properties and advanced

Yeah, I know all my network settings. The problem's never with my end of the connection though. We've been nagging the Landlord about this connection since it went down last Saturday and he's only gotten it fixed now..

Thanks j7

i must be a complete idiot because i don't know anything about computers. all i know how to do is create websites. But nothing about IP's DSN, and all that great stuff.