Netgear Router

[sja]

Hi there I have a Netgear DG834G router. I configured it with my desktop as instructed using the netgear software, first with an ethernet cable then wireless. Works great. However I wanted to use this router with my laptop. Laptop has both a 3com Megahertz® 10 Mbps LAN PC Card or a mercury Wireless 802.11b PCMCIA Card. Bothe these items show connected to the router at decent speeds. However when connected using Ethernet the port is orange not green. Also I cannot "ping" the routers IP address from the laptop.

Do I need to do something to the router? I wondered if any other access apart from original desktop was blocked? Help would be appreciated as I'm stuck.. thanks in advance...

[zumbruk]

Almost certainly an auto-negotiation problem on the Ethernet. Both ends are trying to find out if the other end is 10 or 100Mbps. Set both ends to the (same!) fixed speed.

[roop]

I'd reckon that the laptop's running a fixed IP address instead of being set to obtain automatically via DHCP. This can be cheacked and changed in the properties of the network adapter. Make sure IP address and DNS servers are obtained automatically.

The orange LED instead of green simply means that the wired link is running at 10MBit/s instead of 100MBit/s. I expect that your desktop has a 100MBit/s card hence when you connected that with Cat5 the LED went green whereas you said your laptop only had a 10MBit/s card.

[sja]

Cheers. How do I set the same speeds? Alos will this explain why I cannot see the routers IP address?

[sja]

Sorry forgot
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I'd reckon that the laptop's running a fixed IP address instead of being set to obtain automatically via DHCP. This can be cheacked and changed in the properties of the network adapter. Make sure IP address and DNS servers are obtained automatically
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Done this already..

Anything else? Cheers for your help by the way, this is new to me and doing my head in..

[guydw]

here's what you need to do....

first of all the ethernet connection - I agree with above comment about 10mbs - I would be surprised if you need to set it as it should be auto-sensing.

To check connectivity.... on pc (do this on laptop too): start>run>cmd - you will get a black "DOS" box.

type: ipconfig /all - this will display your IP address, if all is OK you will have received an IP address from the router - I would guess that the router will be 192.168.0.1, so your pc will be 192.168.0.x, if it is not connecting it will read 169.254.x.x, or it will just say media not connected.

The router should also be your DNS server etc.

If the wireless is not pinging, again check the IP address, if there is none then you have either a physical problem, or some other connectivity issue - at this point it is worth calling the helpdesk as it may be a known issue, something to do with authentication etc.

Once you can connect to the router, I guess you need an http connection to set the password etc for your broadband provider .....

[sja]

Cheers Guy, tried the dos ipconfig. IP address returned is empty. Its very strange as both the lan & wireless connections in windows show a connection to "Netgear" and have good speeds etc.. Tried emailing Netgear for advice. Any other suggestions?

>> Edited by sja on Wednesday 17th August 12:09

[aldi]

'tis usually only blank if its trying to pick up an IP automgically but hasnt suceeded yet. If you give it 10 minutes does it turn into a 169.xxx address?

Have you got a firewall or one of those 'internet security' suites installed on the laptop?

[sja]

No windows XP firewall or Security suites.. HAve McAffe on desktop.. Im at work now so when I eventualy get home I'll run IPconfig and copy details to post.. Trouble is I'll not be home for day or so.. Thanks all for your help, watch this space..

[Size Nine Elm]

You could try setting your laptop IP to a fixed 192.168.0.x address. This should at least take the IP address out of the equation - if it still doesn't work, its something else...

[rsvmilly]

I have the exact same router. From memory, I think you can set the range of IP addresses which can access the router/network. This might be something to try.

[bogie]

if the ethernet link light is orange, then thats fine - it means you have a 10Mbps connection, green means 100Mbps.

Sounds like you have a problem with the configuration of connections on the laptop. What OS are you running?

Try doing a factory reset on the router - press and hold in the small button on the rear (with paperclip/pen etc) hold it down whilst powered on.

Then start again - dont use the cd this time - just plug into the router using ethernet and see if you get an IP address - if you dont, then theres something wrong client side - check your network adaptor properties are set to DHCP etc

If you get an address, then configure the router as normal using the web GUI at http://192.168.0.1 - its all in the manual that comes on the CD, including how to troubleshoot your connection on your laptop etc.

[sja]

Cheers bogie I'll have that a go.. So a lotus and computer expert?

[bogie]

errm..yep...I work for NETGEAR ..drop me an email if you really get stuck, although the answers to most probs are in the user manual !

[sja]

Ok cheers for that, Im going to have a look this afternoon. NETGEAR support have suggested setting IP, gateway & dns details on the laptops. Already tried this and didn't make a difference and was bit confused as desktop which connect correctly has all these items empty.

[xm5er]

Hijak alert!

Question for Bogie. What is the difference between the WGT624 108mb and the DG834GT 108mb routers?

Cheers.

[aldi]

With the IP's set manually on the laptop, can you ping the PC or vice versa? (With the firewalls etc. on the PC turned off obviousley)

[bogie]

xm5er said:

Hijak alert! Question for Bogie. What is the difference between the WGT624 108mb and the DG834GT 108mb routers? Cheers.

WGT is for cable use i.e. NBTL or Telewest - theres no modem in it...DG834G is for ADSL use - has an ADSL modem built in.

[sja]

Aldi, not sure how to ping the PC? As I haven't set an IP address for the PC or do you mean the routers IP address? I entrered details as suggested by NETGEAR into to ip seting on the laptop but stil no joy. The desktop has all these settings set to "obtain automatically".. confusing this.. No real hurry to resolve as desktop works a treat, just annoying..

Router loses wirelss signal reguarly, and connection speeds vary a lot as well..

[xm5er]

bogie said:

WGT is for cable use i.e. NBTL or Telewest - theres no modem in it...DG834G is for ADSL use - has an ADSL modem built in.

Thanks, amazing how the sites selling the gear failed to mention that.