Topic: Router problems and tech support

[Elvis]

Well router problems may not be the case but I really need to vent. Yesteray I went out and bought a Linksys wireess broadband router and accompanying wireless pci card. Now my problem starts with configuring the router.  I'm using AOL DSL and that is probably the other problem. (My third and last problem is probably XP home.but that I am not sure of, yet) The quick installation card basically lays out 2 ways to configure the router. The first method is to use the installation cd. So I start the cd and follow instructions, it tells me that It will automatically check my internet connection and then configure the router. Wothout the router being connected I start AOL and connect to the internet.the CD then performs a check on my internet connection. I am obviously connected to the internet but the installation cd says I need to check my internet connection because it cannot detect an internet connection. Ok. We'll try the manual method, AOL is a PPPoE connection so I make the necessary changes and save on the web based utility. I check my status, and I get an authentication failure. I figure I'll give tech support a shot(I'm thinking, based upon what I've read in this forum; tech support is going to be from India or somewhere else in East Asia and scipted. Sure enough my expectations are met.) My first tech guy, after running through what I had already done, punted me. "Your modem needs "refreshed" give AOL a call and have them do a refresh on the line. I've seen many problems solved by this." So I call AOL and I'm thinking to myself, from one dubious support department to another. Sure enough, AOL has no clue about "refreshing" my modem. (I"m thinking I need refreshment.) O.k. I'll try a couple other things before i call Linksys support again, I swich compueters and try to configure the router with it hooked up to the second, still no go.  I call Linksys again, this one asks me what version of router I have, they have three of that model number. I figure that out, and then he wants to know what version of AOL I'm using, I reply 9.0; then he tells me that 9.0 isn't supported, I need to reinstall 8.0. As a side note here I've been on Linksys's website and accessed their knowledge base and FAQs, AOL 9.0 is not mentioned only 8.0 and 7.0. I figure there is no way I'm going to reinstall 8.0,  thats probably like trying to roll back to a different version of DirectX, hard and whats the point. The tech insists, I say O.k. and think to myself I'll try again, maybe I'll get someone better next time after lunch. Once more into the void, this time I wait a few minutes, the tech guy was barely undestandable and the call disconnects.  The last time I tried the tech guy I could barely follow and then his steps would change. End result the compueter freezes and now I couldn't even access the router web based utilty. I hung up on him. I spent the next couple of minutes resetting the router and figuring out the next step. I still havn't figured it out. I don't like being beat.
 

[NoCuteName]

If you first had the DSL modem connected to your computer, then put the router in between the two, you'll have to unplug the modem so it can recognize the router. If you don't, the modem won't talk to the router. Same thing with your computer, if you had it on and plugged in to the modem, you'll have to first connect it then reboot so the router will recognize your PC.  

[NCC2012]

Speaking of routers and PCI network cards, I have a Linksys card that's now garbage. About two months ago, my wife moved the computer from the basement to the main floor so she could work on stuff without going downstairs. Later, I get a call from her at work saying she can't get the modem to connect (at the time I had a modem connection for my ISP). I come home and find out she had plugged the phone cord into the network card rather than the modem. Ever since then, I've had on and off problems with getting a stable network connection because the connector on the card is now screwed. Today I slightly bumped the network cable as I was hooking up a microphone, and I could not for the life of me get it to connect properly again. Fortunately those cards go on sale cheap and often. Hopefully I'm able to pick one up within the next week and a half (my next LAN party).

The morale: don't let your wife screw with your computer.    

[JMM]

E-mail chicanica1@yahoo.com and tell Leda Morris your a friend of Jack Morris from Taldren forums, explain what you need, I think I have the linksys router card and the router at the apt. unless she threw it out from two years ago. I usually try to save P/C stuff unless it is outdated or obvious trash, but it may be lying around.

She is not too good at mailing crap on time, but I had a very serious conversation with her, and she knows she best start toeing the line when I'm out of country.  

[SL-Punisher]

Alot of broadband routers don't support AOL high speed due to the differences in PPPoE in standard Cable/DSL and AOL.

[Elvis]

 

Quote:
 If you first had the DSL modem connected to your computer, then put the router in between the two, you'll have to unplug the modem so it can recognize the router. If you don't, the modem won't talk to the router. Same thing with your computer, if you had it on and plugged in to the modem, you'll have to first connect it then reboot so the router will recognize your PC.
 

Been there done that, but will attempt again in the morning.      

[Elvis]

 

Quote:
 Alot of broadband routers don't support AOL high speed due to the differences in PPPoE in standard Cable/DSL and AOL.
 

Now I can't be the first one to attempt to use this particular router with AOL broadband, especially when its advertised and recommended by AOL. AOL support says  that the router should work with their equipment, but until I get it working I will not confirm that. I'm still going to make an attempt but my best bet is going to be switch to COX. AOL pleases the wife and the kids but it plays hell with the system.

My question is why does AOL have  to be so propietary? Does the connection manager in  windows not work as well as the one AOL uses.  I'm going to start to rant aboout AOHell. Its time to switch ISPs and go with cable even though I've been trying to avoid Cox.    

[Capt. Mike]

I've been with Cox for over a year now, and have had 1 problem that I had to call thier tech support for, and that was when I installed the router so both machines could be on line...even though the guy said they didn't support the router, he talked me through it..and it is a local call.

Mike

 

[SL-Punisher]

Have you tried updating the router firmware?

[Elvis]

 

Quote:
 Have you tried updating the router firmware?  

Yeah I updated the firmware this morning , still no luck in getting conected to the internet. Its got to be all about AOL's connection mahanger. The modem and router definitely can communicate with each other, and the computer can succcessfully ping the router, it just won't log on to the net. Maybe it also has to do with how AOL handles screen names and their individual log on capabilties.  (shrug) The DSL tech support guy at AOL says home netwoking with AOL is at best a crap shoot. I just can't believe that the largest internet provider in the world has no real answers on how to network their own broadband. Though I do here the next version of AOL, either 10.0 or 9.1; is supposed to include a home networking wizard that will automatically configure routers and the like. I however am not going to wait, I'm going to order cable in the morning.