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dsl modem issues

geargrrl

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
I've been using the actiontecs that Qworst provides, they seem to burn out every 9 months or so.

Based on a recommendation by my isp, I purchased a sisco, they supposedly configured the firmware to be plugnplay. Well, that didn't' work ( system or network isn't recognizing it) It shows up on the other end, but I'm getting no internet through it. I have asked qworst to just replace the freaking actiontec, again.

I'm about ready to just buy something else, any ideas.

gg.
 
Secret Squirrel

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
geargrrl said:
I've been using the actiontecs that Qworst provides, they seem to burn out every 9 months or so.

Based on a recommendation by my isp, I purchased a sisco, they supposedly configured the firmware to be plugnplay. Well, that didn't' work ( system or network isn't recognizing it) It shows up on the other end, but I'm getting no internet through it. I have asked qworst to just replace the freaking actiontec, again.

I'm about ready to just buy something else, any ideas.

gg.
Click to expand...



Start with that.

What model is the Actiontec? Do they just give you another for free when it 'spoldes?
 
geargrrl

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
Secret Squirrel said:
What model is the Actiontec? Do they just give you another for free when it 'spoldes?
Click to expand...
um, yeah they just send a replacement out at no cost... but in the meantime I have to reboot the modem with the powercord sometimes 15x a day.

It's enough to make me consider cable even tho I think Comcast is the devil.

OTOH, I'm getting screwed anyway leasing the modem for a couple of bucks a month.

model - GT701 WG
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
that's the model i'm using; it's been pleasantly reliable, but the qwest user interface / setup guide is teh suck. essentially, i'm running my wireless wide open (WEP & WPA are off) w/ a whitelist & i don't broadcast my ssid, & turnoff the stupid stuff like telnet/ftp/dmz hosting (so suckit wardrivers).

but are you sure you have a hardware issue? if you're not sure, are you comfortable w/ doing all your setup (192.168.0.1)?
 
rainbow_smoke

rainbow_smoke

Monkey
Sep 19, 2003
265
0
Bellingham, WA
we have the same one...ours is pretty good too, rebooted it 3 times in the last year is all, mostly power failures and such required em... but we use the setup stuff ourselves which reminds me i need to make sure the wep and such are off...
 
geargrrl

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
but are you sure you have a hardware issue? if you're not sure, are you comfortable w/ doing all your setup (192.168.0.1)?
Click to expand...
I am not 100% sure it's hardware, but why else would it be stable for months and then start a downhill slide. It did this last year, and once they sent out the new one it was fine until about a month ago.

I know my son did some settings adjustment to the network; he's the geek child but he's off at school right now. Worst case scenario is I will install the replacement and then have him work on the network when he gets home from school.

I am pretty clueless about setting up networks.
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
geargrrl said:
I am not 100% sure it's hardware, but why else would it be stable for months and then start a downhill slide.
Click to expand...
geargrrl said:
my son did some settings adjustment to the network;
Click to expand...
at the risk of being blunt, there are no coincidences. the only other constant may be your modem is getting taxed (bad line; too much juice) or you put it in a hostile environment (humidity, nearby MRI machine, or soviet-era microwave receiver)
geargrrl said:
Worst case scenario is I will install the replacement and then have him work on the network when he gets home from school.
Click to expand...
take a swing at it yourself. when you're finished, you'll be amazed at how easy it was. if your configuration is anything like mine (since we have the same modem), all you need is
  • PPP(oA) uname & passwd (provided by your ISP)
  • check 'obtain IP thru PPPoA'
  • encapsulation is VC-MUX (believe this is the default value)
  • [wireless settings] make an ssid (keep channel 9)
  • security off (if anyone can walk through proper WEP/WPA setup, chime in)
  • [wireless mac auth] check 'enable access list' & 'deny all clients'
  • ...& enter client mac addresses of wireless adapter (run 'ipconfig /all' from a command window and get physical address of wireless network connection)
  • [wireless advanced settings] check 'disable' for ssid broadcast
there's lots of other configurable stuff, but the defaults are fine.
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
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If all you have is the computer plugged into the modem, setup is probably very very easy and absolutely worth your logging into the modem and setting it up.

So, from $tinkle's list... does this modem have built-in wireless? If so, are you even using it or do you just have the computer and modem?
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
actiontec modem has built-in wireless; you don't need the linksys router. disconnect & shelve. you can be up & running in 5 minutes (including reboot of modem).

i'm thinking your other modems weren't so broken after all. just a hunch.
 
geargrrl

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
What you are saying is I am double booked on wireless, that might be stressing the system? that would make sense.

If I just dump the linksys, do I have to change any settings? Or just replug everything into the actiontec and go...?

sorry to need such literal directions, I still get totally freaked about screwing up the system....
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
don't know if redundancy is messing you up, but i can't see that it helps. i believe there's an installation CD qwest provided. keep that handy, just in case. print this page too, for reference.

all-in-all, i don't believe you have to do much after you rip out the router. possibly some minor configuration (see post #11), but most of your heavy lifting is already done.

just found this, which may help if you have to start from square 1 (unlikely): http://www.olympus.net/olympusnet/olympusonly/dsl/actiontecUpdates/usbDSL.html

there maybe some linksys stuff to de-install; not sure. might want to chain your son to the desk until this is fixed.
 
geargrrl

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
lol, I think I can handle plugging the various cables in, it's tweaking the settings that I get nervous about.

Everyone, thanks. I am saving all this info - I'm off on a dive trip tomorrow morning (Bonaire) so I will mess with all this when I get back.

;-)
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
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Well, if you set up wireless on the modem, the absolute easiest way of securing your wireless is to set up the wireless as:

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
PSK (Pre-Shared Key)

These two options could be as a number of different settings. They might be separate (e.g. select WPA, then select PSK), they might be listed together (e.g. select WPA-PSK). You then enter a password of your choice. That password will be the password any wireless device uses to log onto your network.
 
geargrrl

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
update, problem solved.

bought a new router. We think this one was overheating, was ceasing to work correctly in assorted ways.
Now I just have to figure out the best way to secure the wireless...go with what BV suggests?
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
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Wi-Fi Protected Access with a Pre-Shared Key is the easiest way to handle things. There are more secure methods but the reality is that anyone who's going to break into your network probably will be able to bypass everything but the most uber-secure setup, and everyone else will be stumped at "Enter Password."

With WPA-PSK, you just check off the settings, enter an easy-to-remember password and type in that password when you try to connect to the network. No muss, no fuss.
 
Transcend

Transcend

My Nuts Are Flat
Apr 18, 2002
18,040
3
Towing the party line.
What BV says. WPA PSK is super easy to use, and pretty damn secure for a hme network. The only really bullet proof methods to secure wifi are enterprise level stuff like using a Radius server.
 
Secret Squirrel

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
Quick wireless security question:

I just set-up my wireless modem (Actiontec 501g...or something close to that I believe) and actually got my laptop hooked up to it in less than 2.5 hours (new record for my bungling skills....). I used a single WEP key at 64 bits...there's space for three more keys to be input...but I didn't do that (this occupied the majority of my time...trying to sync my modem and my wireless card with the proper info....)...is this sufficient for keeping peeps off my wireless network?

(I turned SSID Broadcast off...fwiw)
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
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WEP has actually been superseded by WPA, as WPA is more secure. If you have that option, use WPA-PSK.

However, yes, it's really plenty for keeping the riff-raff out. Essentially, it's hard to keep a determined hacker out of a wireless network without setting up some hardcore authentication like a RADIUS server, so what you're really protecting against is your neighbors leeching off your broadband or an idle troublemaker trying to sneak a peek at your network. WEP is fine for that.
 
SkaredShtles

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,705
12,739
In a van.... down by the river
binary visions said:
WEP has actually been superseded by WPA, as WPA is more secure. If you have that option, use WPA-PSK.

However, yes, it's really plenty for keeping the riff-raff out. Essentially, it's hard to keep a determined hacker out of a wireless network without setting up some hardcore authentication like a RADIUS server, so what you're really protecting against is your neighbors leeching off your broadband or an idle troublemaker trying to sneak a peek at your network. WEP is fine for that.
Click to expand...
Doesn't MAC address filtering pretty much do the trick? I know it's easy to spoof a MAC addy, but they'd have to know which ones were allowed, wouldn't they?
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
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In the end you get the same result. Sure, you can MAC address filter, but it just means that every time a new computer wants to get on the network you have to re-configure the modem. If anyone wants to know what MAC addresses are allowed, they're transmitted in plaintext so they just have to sniff a few packets to know what address to spoof.

At least with the WEP/WPA, you don't have to re-configure the modem if your friend comes over with a laptop or something.
 
Secret Squirrel

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
binary visions said:
WEP has actually been superseded by WPA, as WPA is more secure. If you have that option, use WPA-PSK.

However, yes, it's really plenty for keeping the riff-raff out. Essentially, it's hard to keep a determined hacker out of a wireless network without setting up some hardcore authentication like a RADIUS server, so what you're really protecting against is your neighbors leeching off your broadband or an idle troublemaker trying to sneak a peek at your network. WEP is fine for that.
Click to expand...
Ah. Cool. Yeah, it gives me the option through my router/modem for WPA as well...I'll just leave it on WEP (I'm not in a high traffic neighborhood...There's only one other wireless signal that's even broadcasting...) as it works for now....Maybe when I get bored one weekend, I'll switch it....
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,100
1,150
NC
One advantage of WPA-PSK (aside from increased security) is that you can use a real password instead of a cryptic keycode that you'll never remember.
 
SkaredShtles

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,705
12,739
In a van.... down by the river
binary visions said:
In the end you get the same result. Sure, you can MAC address filter, but it just means that every time a new computer wants to get on the network you have to re-configure the modem. If anyone wants to know what MAC addresses are allowed, they're transmitted in plaintext so they just have to sniff a few packets to know what address to spoof.

At least with the WEP/WPA, you don't have to re-configure the modem if your friend comes over with a laptop or something.
Click to expand...
I actually use both WPA and MAC filtering. Of course I don't let my friends connect to my Wifi. :D
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,100
1,150
NC
sirknight6 said:
OK, for the obvious question, but thought I'd throw it out there. Will some of the firmware of some routers update for use of WPA-PSK?
Click to expand...
Sure, if the company decides to go that way. However, WEP was superseded in 2003 and I'm not sure how many companies are updating firmware for 4-year old routers - most current routers should support WPA.
 
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