Have BT, Linxsys WRT54GS wireless router not working...New package or switch?

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puglover

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I've gone through lots of posts here trying to find an answer but I'm still confused. Here's my problem and i hope some of you have a suggestion for me:

1.) My Linksys 54GS is unreliable. It's currently not letting me connect wirelessly, and i just called them to help me reconnect only 2 weeks ago. i don't want to call them again and waste an hour of my time. I think I need a new wireless router. I've had to call them several times this year to get the router back working.

2.) I currently have BT Broadband and Talk 2 [broken link removed]

for $46 a month. With my national, local, and international calls adding a further €15 or so a month (my BT bill was €60 for last month). I'm getting this on my speed test . My computer is directly linked up to the BT ZyXEL Prestige 600 modem for this test as my Linksys is not working.

3.) I can sign a new contract with BT to get the #3 package for €56, which has a free wireless modem (solves the Linksys problem), up to 7.6 downoad and free unlimited upload (i'm in Newbridge), any call in Ireland is charged as local, and I could optionally add the extra €5 to charge intl calls as local.

4.) I can switch to a new provider. Am very confused here as there are a lot of options. Hear good and bad about UPC/NTL/Chorus. Dont want to spend more than I'm spending now (around €60 per month).

PLEASE help me decide what to do!!! Switch or just go with a new BT package? I haven't had any problems with BT yet, just the Linksys. i would like faster broadband as I upload a lot of photos.
 
puglover said:
1.) My Linksys 54GS is unreliable. It's currently not letting me connect wirelessly
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It sounds to me like the problem is not with your wired broadband service but with your wireless router.

If you changed service providers and continued to use the same router, my guess is that you'd still have a wireless problem.

There are some common reasons you cannot connect wirelessly:

1: You've not set up the security correctly.
2: Contention with a neighbour using the same frequency.
3: You have not configured the router to work with the ZyXel. (I am assuming the LinkSys is not a modem/router.)
 
Thanks for the reply! I know the problem is with the router. I'm trying to decide if I should get a new package and therefore get a new wireless router as part of that package for BT or elsewhere. The last time I had to call Linksys was 2 weeks ago. The agent there had me encrypt my router with a password to make it more secure. I wouldn't know how to configure the router to work with the BT Zyxel modem. How do I do this? When I open Network Connections, I do see that 2 neighbours are using Eircom. I guess they are using the same frequency then?

I'm tired of having to call Linksys to get the wireless router back running. That's why I want to get a new router. Can you recommend a router or one as part of an ISP package? Thanks!
 
Had the same issue, problem is with the config of both the linksys and the zyxel.

BT uses pppoe so you have to send the pppoe to the linksys. Dont bother calling bt or linksys. Bt dont support use of non BT supplied routers, linksys wont help you sort something local.

Once you get it working and dont reset the routers youll be fine. Its been so long (2 years running router glitch free) since I set it up I forget how I did it but I'll check later on for you at home and post back. In fact if you search AAM the forums I think I posted the solution here a long time ago.


edit: i searched myself....;)

On the zyxel modem set bridging as its only acting as a bridge. On the setup page on the linksys set PPPOE and your login for your ISP that you would have had on the zyxel modem. The linksys should then acquire the IP through the modem from the ISP, the zyxel wont have an IP at all. Go to status page on the linksys router to see if its getting the ISP supplied IP.
 
This sounds like it might work! I'm really dumb when it comes to this stuff though, so I need a little more explanation.

1) How do I set "Bridging" on the Zyxel? I don't see a button on the modem. Do I need to find an installation CD for the modem?

2.) How do I get on the set-up page for Linksys? I've got on before with the help of customer service, but I don't know how to do it myself.

3) How can i find the login for my ISP? Will BT have it?

Thanks!
 
1) How do I set "Bridging" on the Zyxel? I don't see a button on the modem. Do I need to find an installation CD for the modem?

phone cable into zyxel > cat 5 from zyxel into laptop

you should have a set up manual somewhere, Connect the zyxel to your laptop. Go to a browser (firefox or IE) and type 192.168.1.1 and you should get your setup page for the zyxel. Take note of the connection info, your login should be your email address with BT. Password, if you dont know it can be got from BT. Usually 4 numbers. If you dont know it, ring BT tech support (early in the morning for prompt reply) and theyll change it.

Bridging should be on the main page there somewhere. Set it.


2.) How do I get on the set-up page for Linksys? I've got on before with the help of customer service, but I don't know how to do it myself.
disconnect the zyxel once you have bridging set, take the cat 5 cable thats in the laptop from your zyxel, out of the laptop and into your linksys, and run another cat5 to your laptop from the linksys. So you have

phone cable into zyxel > cat 5 from zyxel into linksys > cat 5 from linksys into laptop

go to 192.168.1.1 again and you should now be on the linksys admin page. On the main admin page you should see all the settings for where you set pppoe and your Bt login and password. If you dont have your linksys manual handy, google for setting linksys wireless settings but dont worry about wireless connectivity until you can connect to internet wired, it just complicates things

3) How can i find the login for my ISP? Will BT have it?
Yes, if you didnt note the password when you initially got the zyxel, Bt tech support will change it for you with a phonecall. see above.
 
you are incredibly helpful! I will try this when i get a chance (when my 2-yr old gets off the back of my neck)! here's hoping! thanks again.
 
My wifi router gets unreliable when it overheats. Make sure its got room to cool.
Click to expand...

.... random router advice performs better in cooler temperatures. :D
 
Before you go buying a new router make sure that it is the router that is the problem. I had a similar problem last year with my own linksys router so i bought a new one of the same model. This didnt solve the problem, the connection still kept dropping regularly. Eventually i figured out that the builtin wireless network card in my laptop was the problem. I bought myself a usb wireless network card and the problem disappeared.
 
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