Configuring an Old Router

wibbly

wibbly

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So, I'm trying desperately to get more oomph into to my loft office as far as broadband goes, it's a bit flaky to say the least.

My router and little sky broadband box is placed downstairs and not easily moved, so I've been thinking about home plugs, although not sure these will work as the main router etc. is plugged into an extension lead rather than a physical wall socket (non nearby). It's also not easily feasible to cable through the house, so I'm looking for ideas.

I've been trying to re-configure an old sky router from it's original settings to match the new settings on the fibre broadband router I have, but can't seem to manage it. When I plug it into the PC I'm using, I can get into the admin page (192.168.0.0), and from there I've tried re-assigning the IP address to what has been suggested (192.168.0.250). When I do that and turn the DHCP off it re-boots the rooter without a problem, but I can't then reconnect to that admin page to reset the rest of the settings.

I've tried changing the rest of the settings, as suggested, to match my router before changing the IP address and DHCP change, but still run into the same problem. It still won't connect.

Would anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong? I've no doubt it's something I'm doing! :D

Cheers
 
so youre turning off DHCP and trying to access it while its not connected to the rest of the network? id assume your computer has dropped its IP as there is no DHCP, you may need to assign one manually to reaccess the config.

homeplugs should work through an extension, providing all 3 pins of the extension are functioning.
 
Good to know regarding the homeplugs, at least that's one thing to consider.

As far as the DHCP, all the info I've read and looked at (such as You Tube etc), says assign an IP outside the normal range, and turn off DHCP. In that case, would I not then access the router back through the IP address it's been assigned (ie 192.168.0.250)?

Sorry, I am really clueless when it comes to such things! :D
 
I've never had issues with Homeplugs working via extension cables/adapters.
 
wibbly said:
Good to know regarding the homeplugs, at least that's one thing to consider.

As far as the DHCP, all the info I've read and looked at (such as You Tube etc), says assign an IP outside the normal range, and turn off DHCP. In that case, would I not then access the router back through the IP address it's been assigned (ie 192.168.0.250)?

Sorry, I am really clueless when it comes to such things! :D
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what im saying is, if youre configuring the spare router by connecting your computer direct to it and nothing else (i.e. the rest of the network), turning off DHCP (while the correct thing to do when you connect up the rest of the network) will mean your computer wont be getting an IP. out of interest do an IPCONFIG on the computer, what details do you get.

otherwise if the above isnt the case (and youve manually given your computer an IP) are you sure youve set the subnet correctly?
 
actually, something in the back of my mind is saying that sky routers (or at least some models) do not do DHCP passthrough. ive got a feeling i tried to use mine as an access point and it wouldnt send DHCP requests to the LAN.. so it may not work as an extension device anyway.
 
Ah OK.... I am wondering if that's the case with Sky :( Although I've read a couple of links from the Sky forum on it...

Anyway, here are the ipconfig details are as follows -

Link Local IPv6 Address: Whole bunch of numbers
Autoconfig IPv4 Address: 169.254.13.132
Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway: Not seen

What I do notice different from some of the examples I've seen online is that I can't see the Default Gateway info. I wonder if this is a Sky thing maybe?
 
Isn't that why I'm changing the 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.250 though, or should I be adding something else somewhere else? :thinking:
 
wibbly said:
Isn't that why I'm changing the 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.250 though, or should I be adding something else somewhere else? :thinking:
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like i say, if youre disabling DHCP your computer wont be getting an IP from anywhere so you wont connect to the spare router.

temporarily (until you plug everything to the rest of the network) you'll need to manually give your computer an ipv4 address to get to the config page.
 
I'm disabling DHCP it in the router settings admin page, not on the computer. I understand if I don't disable it from the router settings page it simply confuses the network.

So, if I go into my router settings and assign that router the IP address of 192.168.0.250 which I believe is outside the 'working range' of sky IP's so is safe to do so, do I then need to add anything else in and should the DHCP settings in the router settings admin page be on or off?

Do I also need to leave the computer settings alone or look at those too?
 
wibbly said:
I'm disabling DHCP it in the router settings admin page, not on the computer. I understand if I don't disable it from the router settings page it simply confuses the network.

So, if I go into my router settings and assign that router the IP address of 192.168.0.250 which I believe is outside the 'working range' of sky IP's so is safe to do so, do I then need to add anything else in and should the DHCP settings in the router settings admin page be on or off?

Do I also need to leave the computer settings alone or look at those too?
Click to expand...

right okay...

yes you need to disable DHCP on the router because having multiple DHCP servers is bad. however by doing this while you are configuring the spare router, your computer does not know where to get an IP from. so TEMPORARILY you will need to assign an IP to your computer so that they are on the same range as the spare router so that you can access it.

thats why your computer currently has 169.254.13.132 because there is no DHCP server available it has chucked in an IP used to communicate between windows machines, trying to access 192.168.0.x wont work while having this IP. give your machine 192.168.0.10 and try to get to the config page, itll work. when youve finished configuring the spare router and have plugged it into the rest of your network put your computer settings back to auto.
 
OK great. Thanks Neil. I really appreciate your help.

Off for a play now. I maybe some time. :D
 
OK, I give up! I can't even get the stupid thing to connect properly and when I look at the ipconfig settings it shows as a wireless connection...but won't let me log into the router home page, just keeps telling me it can't connect to it.

Anyone have any great ideas how to inject some broadband love into my loft?! Home plugs?
 
2 x homeplugs and a switch will be your easiest solution (you can get away without a switch if you only need a single ethernet connection in the loft as that is what the homeplug will give you).

I can feel Neils "frustration" from here - networking is - in general - pretty easy if everything is right. The problem is, get one thing wrong (or misunderstand what each step is doing so misconfiguring something somewhere) is dead easy - even for network pros. Once you know how it works, it is easy to diagnose if you are in front of the equipment. It is devilishly difficult to debug remotely via someone else!
 
OK, so on my PC I've now set the LAN settings with an IP address of 192.168.0.250 and on the wireless settings the default 192.168.0.1.

The settings now tell me that the Wireless network connection is trying to connect but can't... and is an unidentified network.

Any clues anyone?
 
Turn wireless off. Assign 192.168.0.10 to the ethernet port of the PC and 192.168.0.250 to the router. Make sure the subnet masks are identical on PC and router (255.255.255.0 is what I'd expect). Then try to access the router config page at 192.168.0.250....
 
Right, thanks Andy. I'll give that a go.

I think I'm shortly off to Maplins for Home Plugs. I just seem to be going round in ever decreasing circles here :D
 
I'd get the 500Mbit plugs. You don't get the full rate out of them but the 500s sync at a higher rate than the 200s. Do you want wireless in the attic. I prefer to spend a bit on network infrastructure...
 
I think I will go 500Mbit plugs. There's not a lot of difference cost wise. That and the wireless and wired option I think will suit.

Yes, I want wireless in the attic, but trying to cable through into the attic is just going to be such a ballache!
 
So, homeplugs :)

Bought some today.... got home to discover the extension lead situation is worse than I recalled.

I have a single gang extension lead, which has a 4 gang extension lead which is used for router, little sky box etc. No other power elsewhere.

Any ideas where I should plug the damned home plug?!
 
Anywhere you can get a network cable from the router to reach. Failing that have you thought about a wireless booster placed upstairs for instance.

P.s. Not sure what your insurance company would think of daisy chaining extension leads, usually considered a fire risk.
 
Thanks for the advice, I'm on it. ;)

I've been mincing about with these homeplugs for the past couple of hours and to be honest, so far they've made naff all difference to my reception in the loft/office.

I've tried a different configuration of plugging in (much to the Wife's annoyance), and even stretched the router cable halfway across the hall into a plug to see what difference that makes.... zip!

I've got a call back with Sky booked for Sunday, as talking to their support people today, they offer a free data extension socket which moves the router to wherever you want. So I'm thinking this maybe the only way to go, and put the damned thing in one of the bedrooms.
 
Yes Neil, wireless ones with a pass through.

There safely packed away back in the box ready to go back for a refund :)
 
I suspect something wasn't set up right. I am assuming you got something like: http://www.maplin.co.uk/devolo-dlan-500mbps-wifi-starter-kit-788209 Did you fully configure the wireless device and attach to that? Without wishing to be rude, but you don't seem to know how to build network infrastructure, so the fact that you didn't get better signal upstairs could be because you are still connecting to the wireless router downstairs, not the one in the homeplug (which should be in the loft BTW). If you can't successfully setup an old router and access its web page on a new IP address, you may not have setup the homeplugs correctly.
 
No rudeness taken Andy. I fully admit I have no clue what I'm doing, I think I've proven that over the course of this thread to date. Normally I use equipment that I simply plug in and it just works ;) :D

The homeplugs were extracated from their box, plugged in (one downstairs plugging in the router to the homeplugs and t'other upstairs) and switched on.

I was under the impression that was the sum total of what was required.

A really stupid question, you mean there's more to it than that? :shrug:
 
wibbly said:
A really stupid question, you mean there's more to it than that? :shrug:
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I would expect you would have to configure the wireless part of it - or at least connect to it with your computer. It may well be plug and play in terms of configuration and self-generate a wireless network (I don't have the instructions to hand) but if you did nothing on the PC that has the wireless connection, you will still have been connected to the wifi downstairs... You will need to connect to the network generated by the homeplug wifi box to actually be using it. Have a read of the instructions and see if you did what it says before giving up on it....
 
I suspect your computer still connects to your downstairs wifi.

You really should RTFM :)
 
Thanks all... I've RTFM until I'm blue in the face! :(:mad:

http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/XAU2511/XAU2511_IG_16AUG2012.pdf

I've looked at You Tube videos and it appears all you do is plug them in, pair them and plug an ethernet cable from the HP to the router. I've tried plugged the s*****g thing into the router, the sky hub and everything else, and still I don't have any better wifi speed.

The only thing I've not plugged it into is my a***! :D

Right, I'm off for left over curry. The highlight of my day :)
 
Hard to find info on that netgear unit but as far as I can tell it's has no wifi. You can use your routers wifi to stream music to the distant plug unit but it doesn't extend wifi. You could use the ethernet socket to connect a computer wired.
 
wibbly said:
.... and still I don't have any better wifi speed.
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This makes me think you are not connecting to the home plug. Have your computer search for local wifi signals. Ignore the one you usually use and connect to the wifi signal generated by your HomePlug.
 
Hummmm! That HomePlug kit is weird. What possessed you to get that one? I think it does generate a wifi signal but the manual is naff.
 
wibbly said:
Yes Neil, wireless ones with a pass through.

There safely packed away back in the box ready to go back for a refund :)
Click to expand...

Good idea!

The blue fella had the right adjective for the manual:D
 
2blue4u said:
Have your computer search for local wifi signals. Ignore the one you usually use and connect to the wifi signal generated by your HomePlug.
Click to expand...

None showing, looking in more detail around t'internet I don't think they are wireless for Internet connectivity. Kind of sums up this whole escapade really :(
 
Yup... not wireless.... You have the wrong equipment to extend your network wirelessly.
 
Still laffin at the "You really should RTFM :)" comment :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
Well, I've had the BT man in today who's moved the router into one of the bedrooms upstairs, and so now the speed of wireless into the loft office is much better than it was. I think I'm still tempted to buy some wireless home plugs to drop up in there at some stage, but things are better than they were thankfully.

What I have noticed is when I'm using my Magic Mouse, the speedtest results are a lot lower than if I flip the bluetooth off. I guess this is simply interference from the bluetooth, hence thinking Home plugs for a bit more oomph, until I can finally find an iMac to pop in there rather than simply working off my MB Air.
 
I use Devolo 500 home plugs - they just work straight out of the box, available from amazon, currys etc.
 
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