Home Internet Help :)

[The Boosh!]

Hello,

I know nothing about internet setups etc, but ours seems wrong and it's crap. Basically the wireless times out quite a lot, meaning you have to disconnect it from the power for it to reset, then it works. This happens about 4-5 times a day. Playstation is hardwired and I never have issues with the connection on that.

I'm going to ring up Virgin Media and sort it, but first I want an idea of what i'm on about. Here is our setup:







I don't understand why we have two boxes? When I lived in Maidenhead, sky just gave us one box and all of my mates have only got one box?

My plan was to ring up VM and ask for 1 box.

Just after peoples thoughts and any relevant comments really?

Thanks in advance.

[Adam.]

The virgin box just brings the internet in. The Belkin box should just be an access point.

I'm willing to put money down that it is the Belkin box that keeps s**tting its self.

Belkin networking gear is utter tosh.

[Nik]

Basically you've got a cable modem, which only has a single port and no wireless. This is fine if you just want to connect one PC to your broadband. Instead of plugging the modem into a single device it's connected to the Belkin router to give you more ethernet ports and wireless. Same setup I had many years ago when I was with NTL / VM cable broadband.

People on ADSL usually just have a single box (like your belkin box) which acts as modem and router in one.

[The Boosh!]

The virgin box just brings the internet in. The Belkin box should just be an access point.

I'm willing to put money down that it is the Belkin box that keeps s**tting its self.

Belkin networking gear is utter tosh.

Basically you've got a cable modem, which only has a single port and no wireless. This is fine if you just want to connect one PC to your broadband. Instead of plugging the modem into a single device it's connected to the router to give you more ethernet ports and wireless. Same setup I had many years ago when I was with NTL / VM cable broadband.

People on ADSL usually just have a single box (like your belkin box) which acts as modem and router in one.

Thanks Adam/Nik.

Whats my best plan of attack then? I'm inclined to agree with you Adam about the Belkin box s**tting it's self, as it's that thing I always have to reset.

Option 1 is try and get a 1 box jobby off VM.

Option 2 is to buy a more suitable access point(?), which if this is the better option I will need your guidance on which one to choose

[Nik]

They dish out this thing these days, so might be worth trying to blag one of them, but they'll probably want cash for it. Might be cheaper options if so.

http://shop.virginmedia.com/broadban...s-routers.html

[Revels]

Option1. Explain that it's old and keeps turning off. They'll send you a new version. Bin the Belkin.

Done.

[The Boosh!]

Will get in touch and see how much they want for one of those. Thanks Nik

They dish out this thing these days, so might be worth trying to blag one of them, but they'll probably want cash for it. Might be cheaper options if so.

http://shop.virginmedia.com/broadban...s-routers.html

[Mentalpen]

Or go for wireless DSL router of eBay an the like.

NOTE*** DSL not ADSL

[The Boosh!]

Or go for wireless DSL router of eBay an the like.

NOTE*** DSL not ADSL

Why dsl and not adsl? Would that get rid of the modem and Belkin thing?

VM want £100 for their all in one router thing.

[Revels]

Are you in a contract with Virgin?

"Okay. Thanks. Can I have my MAC code so I can move to Sky/BT/BillyBobInternet"

[Dink]

i wouldn't bother with the "super hub"

i use a dlink router plugged into mine from when i had just the modem like you

[Don]

As per Revels...threaten them with moving elsewhere...say its being a PITA and you want reliable internet. (and you've seen a Sky deal which sounds too good to be true...)

They usually buckle (but try the charge BS first)

There is the 'Superhub' but they also do wireless routers of lesser spec (not N300, but N150 I think)

[Dink]

so the mac code thing work for dsl? as it doesn't come down the phone line

[Don]

so the mac code thing work for dsl? as it doesn't come down the phone line

The network router has a MAC (Network) address...they activate the MAC once its registered to allow communications across their network.

[jenic]

Are you in a contract with Virgin?

"Okay. Thanks. Can I have my MAC code so I can move to Sky/BT/BillyBobInternet"

This

Or you need to buy a new DSL (cable) router and stick with the 2 box setup. - http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/cable-...-criteria.html

Don't just go out and buy any old ADSL router thinking it's an all in one solution, it won't work!

[Adam.]

Are you in a contract with Virgin?

"Okay. Thanks. Can I have my MAC code so I can move to Sky/BT/BillyBobInternet"

so the mac code thing work for dsl? as it doesn't come down the phone line

The network router has a MAC (Network) address...they activate the MAC once its registered to allow communications across their network.

I'm out.

[Mentalpen]

Why dsl and not adsl? Would that get rid of the modem and Belkin thing?

VM want £100 for their all in one router thing.

Because DSL is cable so you are buying a cable wireless router.

ADSL is normal BT phone line router.

[Adam]

DSL isn't cable lol... cable is just cable!

ADSL is just 1 of many variants of DSL!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subscriber_line

[Mentalpen]

DSL isn't cable lol... cable is just cable!

ADSL is just 1 of many variants of DSL!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subscriber_line

Well done you managed to quote Wikipedia without any reference to relevance or little explanation to the OP.

Cable/Virgin come is to the property as a DSL signal hence there being no micro filter to split the signal that is usually piggy backed onto a phone line. Hence the need for a dsl wireless router.

http://www.box.co.uk/TP-Link_TL-WR30...L_1116914.html

[Roy Munson]

Agree with the comments on Belkin. Their stuff is toilet.

Just buy a decent cable router. That means one that doesn't have Belkin written on it.

TBH I've yet to experience any problems with the Super Hub (Netgear), but if I do I'll just put it in modem mode and add my own router again. You can't realistically expect VM to give you a free Super Hub just because you're using a crap router. I'm unsure if I paid for mine, but it was a necessary upgrade for 50mb, so they probably subsidised it.