No wireless when ethernet computer is shut off.

Hello,
I have a question concerning my wireless network. I have a Netgear modem/router and connected to this is my desktop via NIC and ethernet. This computer is running Windows Home Premium 32 bit. Also connected via wireless to the same router, are a netbook running Win 7 starter and a MAC laptop.
All is well until I shut down the desktop. Afterwards I cannot connect to the internet with either laptop.
I had hoped to be able to use the wireless to connect to the internet and shut down the desktop at night as the computer is in my guest room and had thought that the modem/router would allow me to do this.
Is this normal or do I need to tweak something?
Thanks

Hi, just so its clear in my head your internet is coming from your cable/telephone line and not from the Desktop PC, if I am wrong about this please correct me.

This is not normal for any Netgear router that's set up although I used to have this problem regularly before I abandoned Netgear completely last year.

Please can you post the exact model of your router as well.

I would try a couple of things

First: While your Desktop PC is turned off connect to your wireless network and go to your router settings in your web browser (default url:192.168.0.1, default username:admin, default password: password) and make sure it is still connected to your broadband.

Second: With your desktop PC disconnected try a hard reset (remove router power cable for 10 seconds and then plug it back in) and then try connecting to the internet.

Third: try connecting one/both of your laptops to the router via ethernet and see if that works

Fourth: Make sure your router firmware is up to date (this can be a tad fiddley to do as you have to check on the Netgear website and then cross reference that with your routers firmware version, if you get stuck I'll be more than happy to help)

This is usually a good place to start with Netgear routers.

Oli

Netgear's fine, but I need to clear one thing: A router and a modem are not the same. A cable/DSL modem recieves the Internet connection from the ISP and transfers it directly to the router. The router connects your devices to the web via LAN or WLAN. Please be clear about your network set-up.

Antrikshy said:

Netgear's fine, but I need to clear one thing: A router and a modem are not the same. A cable/DSL modem recieves the Internet connection from the ISP and transfers it directly to the router. The router connects your devices to the web via LAN or WLAN. Please be clear about your network set-up.

Click to expand...

In the UK people with ADSL lines tend to have one combined router and modem. Its just easier that way if all you have to do is stick the phone cable into the back of your router/modem and enter your ADSL login, then connect to your wireless/wired network opposed to having to setup 2 separate devices.

Oli

Oh, is it like that, Osholt? Thanks for the info. I didn't know it.

osholt said:

Hi, just so its clear in my head your internet is coming from your cable/telephone line and not from the Desktop PC, if I am wrong about this please correct me.

This is not normal for any Netgear router that's set up although I used to have this problem regularly before I abandoned Netgear completely last year.

Please can you post the exact model of your router as well.


Oli

Click to expand...

Hi Oli,
Thanks for your reply. My internet is coming through my phone line (broadband) directly to my modem/router and from the router I have the desktop connected via ethernet cable to the NIC on the back of the desktop. Also connected in this way is an HP printer. The two laptops are wireless. Everything works just as it is supposed to until I turn off the desktop. When I try to sign on wirelessly with the desktop off, I see the name of my network on my list of available connections, but it is listed with an ethernet computer (you know the three little computer logo for ethernet?) and on my friend's MAC, it's picked up as a device. It asks for a password, and when I try to put in the password for my wireless network, it doesn't work.

My router is a Netgear DGN2000.

osholt said:

In the UK people with ADSL lines tend to have one combined router and modem.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply Antrikshy. I do have a combined modem/router.

Oli, I will try the steps you've outlined above and will let you know how I make out.
Thank you

Hello,
Sorry for the late reply- I have been researching this problem on another forum. First, because I am not so good with descriptions , I will post the link to my modem/router's specs page:
WIRELESS-N SERIES ROUTERS – DGN2000

I have found that the problem is not my desktop or my router but there is a possibility raised by a poster on another forum and I was hoping for some input from you guys..

This is what they suggested:
Looking at the reference manual for your modem/router, I see the following possibility:

Your ISP allows only one Ethernet MAC address to connect to Internet, and might check for
your computer’s MAC address. In this case, do one of the following:
– Inform your ISP that you have bought a new network device, and ask them to use the
router’s MAC address.
– Configure your router to spoof your computer’s MAC address. This can be done in the
Basic Settings screen. See the Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router DGN2000 Setup
Manual.

Does this sound reasonable?
Thanks for your thoughts

Peppurr101 said:

Hello,
Sorry for the late reply- I have been researching this problem on another forum. First, because I am not so good with descriptions , I will post the link to my modem/router's specs page:
WIRELESS-N SERIES ROUTERS – DGN2000

I have found that the problem is not my desktop or my router but there is a possibility raised by a poster on another forum and I was hoping for some input from you guys..

This is what they suggested:
Looking at the reference manual for your modem/router, I see the following possibility:

Your ISP allows only one Ethernet MAC address to connect to Internet, and might check for
your computer’s MAC address. In this case, do one of the following:
– Inform your ISP that you have bought a new network device, and ask them to use the
router’s MAC address.
– Configure your router to spoof your computer’s MAC address. This can be done in the
Basic Settings screen. See the Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router DGN2000 Setup
Manual.

Does this sound reasonable?
Thanks for your thoughts

Click to expand...

This may well be true but can we first know who your ISP is please?

Going slightly off topic here if you've had your current broadband contract for more than 2 years you're basically being ripped off.

You could be paying up to £20 more per month for a slower download speed with a data cap on it compared to what a new contract could offer you.

Oli

Hi Oli,
My ISP is OneTel, (or (TalkTalk) in their current incarnation.
I know there is probably a better deal out there as far as speed goes, but my situaton is this:
I have my broadband, landline and mobile in a bundle which costs £24.99 per month.
I have free mobile to home landline (and vice versa) calls. My minutes aren't great and the handset selection is, shall we say, a bit narrow, but I have free one hour calls overseas to my friends at home which, considering the number of calls I make is a considerable savings. All this will go away if I change anything as this arrangement was made before OneTel sold out to TalkTalk.
The speed of the broadband is comfortable for me and tech support is in Scotland..
I have looked into other deals, but nobody offers the free home phone to mobile deals or as good a deal on overseas calls..

It's a good idea though, and I'll keep it in mind..Thank you!
:P

Peppurr101 said:

Hi Oli,
My ISP is OneTel, (or (TalkTalk) in their current incarnation.
I know there is probably a better deal out there as far as speed goes, but my situaton is this:
I have my broadband, landline and mobile in a bundle which costs £24.99 per month.
I have free mobile to home landline (and vice versa) calls. My minutes aren't great and the handset selection is, shall we say, a bit narrow, but I have free one hour calls overseas to my friends at home which, considering the number of calls I make is a considerable savings. All this will go away if I change anything as this arrangement was made before OneTel sold out to TalkTalk.
The speed of the broadband is comfortable for me and tech support is in Scotland..
I have looked into other deals, but nobody offers the free home phone to mobile deals or as good a deal on overseas calls..

It's a good idea though, and I'll keep it in mind..Thank you!
:P

Click to expand...

I just did some reading on the subject of ISP having only one Mac Address registered. It seams this only applies to ISPs who supply cable broadband (Virgin Media etc.).

This is because with a phone line, the wire coming into your house is a specific telephone number whereas a cable connection could be exactly the same all the way down a road, This means to give different people different services they have to allow and block certain things by some method, ie a Mac Address, I think.

To be perfectly honest this just sounds odd to me.

If you unplug your desktop PC from your router and then reset the router does that do anything?

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Oli

just a thought but if pep is tied to a contract needing him to use that device only and only one mac how about adding another router to that as well, then the isp will only see the routers mac only, unless they scan for the machine/session name as well.