Linksys router problem?

S

SoNSo1

Registered
I just got DSL and decided to create a wireless network in my house. Unfortunately, I am having some connectivity issues with (I believe) the setup of the router. If anyone has setup successfully a wireless network with similar hardware, your help would be appreciated.

First, the router in question is the Linksys WRT54G 4 port broadband router. I know that the Linksys does not support Macs, but I figured that if you can configure it via a browser it should be no trouble. It is configured for DHCP.

Second, the DSL provider is Earthlink and they sent a Netopia DSL modem. It is configured with PPPoE.

Third, I am connecting via a TiBook with 802.11b, the older, less extreme airport.

My problem basically manifests itself as following:
I am able to connect to my wireless network without any problems at first. Yet after a few minutes the connection is dropped and doesn't come back unless I approach the room where the router is located. When the connection is dropped, I don't have it in the list of available networks immediately. This is funny because my neighbor also has a Linksys router that when I drop the signal, it gets picked up in a second. I have to get up to re-establish the link. Now the signal is strong before I lose the link.

My questions are do I have the router set up correctly? Do I have my PowerBook set up correctly? Should the router be setup for PPPoE too?

TIA
 
I have the very same router you speak of and it works great with my mac. I think you do have to set it up for PPPoE, but I am not sure how to direct you on that. The Linksys web interface is superb and there is a reference to PPPoE there; you could enter your codes there and see what happens.

Make sure you have dynamic IP set instead of a static IP, because your ISP will switch your numbers every so often. Maybe that's why your service keeps dropping out?

If there are neighbors with routers, make sure you secure yours so no one can hijack it, and so they don't criss-cross and get confused. Maybe your computer is trying to pick up your neighbor's router?

Hope some of this helps…
 
I think you don't have a PPPoE issue here, but just a signal problem between the access point unit of your linksys router and the airport card in your powerbook. I am using a tibook 1Ghz with a d-link router which is very similar to linksys. I have some issues on dropping signal as well but this is due to the antenna of the tibook. Since the tibook is made of titanium, the case is successfully blocking or suppressing the 2,4Ghz signal. That's why you have those tiny little windows on the sides of your book. However, this is known to not be enough so that your signal becomes strongly distance limited. Another thing I discovered by time: the hotter the tibook gets, the lower the signal reception.
I would suggest to test the tibook using your ethernet connection first. See if the router works stable at all and your ISP provides a stable connection too. Once things seem to work fine, I would use the wifi connection but first very close to the router. If there are no issues, I would move it to another room and test again.
Also make sure you have all recent updates for macosx and the recent firmware for the linksys router.
 
Thanks for the info/insite. I am beginning to think it is a signal problem. I'm gonna have to check it out a little more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top