As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
So I have a problem involving my router and the switch I just bought.
Arthil
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
A bit of information before I get into my problem. For quite a long, long time I've had to deal with my router not really being able to work correctly. You see it would drop my connection at times and sometimes not come back up until everything had been reset. This makes me unable to connect to a website, and if I am playing a game that is connected to the internet, such as a MMORPG, it will generally drop my connection to the game. This seems to happen more often when more than one person is actually using the router, if the only other person who is even connected to it uses their computer while I am playing a game it will disconnect me repeatedly within a 30-minute time frame, and sometimes even worse than that.
It was the fact that a day or so ago my internet connection altogether stopped working regardless of how many times we reset the modem and router, thankfully it did start working again, that made me want to go out and find a replacement. That was earlier today but I have a feeling I purchased the wrong product. Now I had gotten someone in the store to help me and told them my situation as I have just told to you, I mentioned that the router we have is a Linkys. After a bit of talking he showed us a product that actually didn't say it was a router, on the box it says that it is a Workgroup Switch. Now I've done a bit of digging for information about what that is, and it makes me believe that he may have suggested it because it would solve our problem.
That is why I am coming to you guys, we found out that you do not connect directly into the Switch but you must connect your router to it as well. If we do this will it actually fix the problem we were having? Or should the Workgroup Switch be returned and we purchase an actual router?
It was the fact that a day or so ago my internet connection altogether stopped working regardless of how many times we reset the modem and router, thankfully it did start working again, that made me want to go out and find a replacement. That was earlier today but I have a feeling I purchased the wrong product. Now I had gotten someone in the store to help me and told them my situation as I have just told to you, I mentioned that the router we have is a Linkys. After a bit of talking he showed us a product that actually didn't say it was a router, on the box it says that it is a Workgroup Switch. Now I've done a bit of digging for information about what that is, and it makes me believe that he may have suggested it because it would solve our problem.
That is why I am coming to you guys, we found out that you do not connect directly into the Switch but you must connect your router to it as well. If we do this will it actually fix the problem we were having? Or should the Workgroup Switch be returned and we purchase an actual router?
Arthil on
0
Posts
On your computer you can try this, if you open a command prompt type "ipconfig", if your IP shows that it's a "192.168.x.x" number then your switch or modem has a DHCP server running. Really you could set your computer to be a DHCP server and run your network that way. But generally newer routers have built in switches, it's not a big deal as long as you dont need more than 4 wired devices on the network.
When the internet drops out, does resetting the modem fix the problem, even if you do not reset the router? Or if you just reset the router, does the internet come back? Finally, does it actually require you to power cycle both of them, not just one or the other?
If:
A) Your modem acts like a router (manages network traffic, gives you an IP address) and
then a switch is a good buy. Otherwise the guy at the store misunderstood you/didn't have enough information and sold you the wrong product.
If you can plug your switch directly into your modem, remove the router, plug your PC into the switch, and successfully get on the internet, then things are okay. The only caveat is if the modem is actually the device that is dropping your internet connection, then the same problem will obviously occur.
I'm not certain whether the modem has the capability of a router, it very likely does not. As I mentioned it is six years old and it seems like a very basic one. I suppose I could just connect the router to the Switch and then everything into the Switch to see if it actually helps with the problem. I wanted to check and get some information from you guys before I did this though since I'd need to go and dig up another ethernet cable.
I'll admit I am not sure if it may be the modem dropping the connection either, since if I connect directly to the modem I don't actually connect to the internet, instead I get a page for the settings of the modem in my browser.
Also, your internet should work if you directly connect to the modem I would think.
I have this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320023
Which you can put dd-wrt firmware on and I like it. Linksys also makes good routers, as does Buffalo.
Eh... there's a pretty serious security dd-wrt bug out there right now that has yet to be fixed...
Yes the internet will work if you connect directly to your modem, it will only work for 1 computer/device (xbox 360/PS3). You will just need to reset the modem every time you connect it directly to a different device. Although some modems do require you to authenticate against them, or I have seen an older modem require you to hard set an IP address which is an annoying fix.
If you buy a router it will come with a short ethernet cord so you shouldnt have to worry about that, just remember to plug the modem into the WLAN port then connect your switch to the router, any of the other 4 ports should be fine. (hey maybe it's a good time to add wireless!
Any more info on this?
You're only vulnerable to psyb0t if you allow remote administration via WAN-side access (not the default configuration), and even if that's enabled if you picked a good password you're fine.
Oh, I had heard about that. Not really an issue for me, nor should it be for anyone who gives two shits about creating a half-decent password.
I may decide to keep it, after all it was only $30.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8305568&type=product&id=1173577562535
The 802.11n insures that I can literally browse the web on my laptop down the street (no exaggeration - the signal range is absurdly long, I wish my iPhone supported n) and it has a very recent firmware update that literally corrected all of the connection problems I was having with my Cox connection before I replaced my old router/switch.
It's also very customizable, and I used one at my fiance's house to connect to her DSL connection and it picked up every minute detail and setting of her connection in a minute. It's extremely easy to set up.
A wifi router will also have 4 LAN ports in the back - you can use it the exact same way as your wired router, but you have the added benefit of wireless if somebody has a laptop, etc. All you have to do is just set up security on the wireless portion (easily done through the router's browser interface) so that people can't steal your wifi.
Never say never, also very convenient for consoles, your PSP (if applicable), cell phones that can use wifi, etc. It's the same price in most cases, might as well give it a go. Besides, you can always opt to disable the wifi connection until you want it.