| [connectivity] Unsure about RE-installing Fairpoint modem softwa Hello,
I want to connect my Westell DSL modem using a laptop (instead of my current tower PC). The PC is very old, and I'm afraid it could die on me any day.
As mentioned, the DSL router is currently connected via Ethernet to my tower PC. The modem is bridged, and connected to a Linksys wireless router.
After purchasing the Linksys at a yard sale, it took me months of online research (and no help from my Fairpoint ISP) to configure everything correctly. So, I'm scared to death of having to figure it all out again.
I'm pretty sure that would mean running my ISP's modem software CD again on the laptop...? Surely it couldn't be as simple as plugging the Ethernet cable from the modem into the laptop and booting it, could it?
Doubting it, can anyone tell me if I'd have to go through 'unbridging' the modem before, and reconfiguring the wireless router after reinstalling the modem software on my laptop?
Thanks for your time.
Tania |
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8
 ·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| Re: [connectivity] Unsure about RE-installing Fairpoint modem so You say the modem is in bridge mode so the router is doing the heavy lifting managing the DSL connection. It is also acting as a NAT router so you can connect as many devices to it as you want.
No need to disconnect the desktop, with a router you can connect as many devices as you want.
/tom |
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| Thank you, tscmidt. The thing is, I WANT to disconnect the desktop computer.
Perhaps my mistake is in assuming there has to be an Ethernet connection from the modem to some type of computer? |
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tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8 Reviews:
·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| said by TeaRowz:Perhaps my mistake is in assuming there has to be an Ethernet connection from the modem to some type of computer?
The router doesn't care what is connected to it. That is the advantage of using a router. It creates a local area network (LAN) that allows you to connect multiple devices.
If you have never used Wi-Fi before just be sure to enable security - WPA2 is best and pick a fairly long password.
Good Luck
/tom |
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| Forgive my ignorance: Why, when I first set up my DSL, did I need to run the CD that came with the modem that Fairpoint sent me? Wouldn't the laptop I want to connect to also need that setup?
And thank you for the Wi-Fi security tip. I've been using Wi-Fi for several years now. Unfortunately, the network adapter in my Dell laptop only allows for WEP security. |
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| Maybe it is the case that when I first set up my DSL, the software CD only set up the modem, and actually set nothing up on the computer itself? |
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tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8 Reviews:
·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| reply to TeaRowz
said by TeaRowz: Why, when I first set up my DSL, did I need to run the CD that came with the modem that Fairpoint sent me? Been a long time since I set up DSL, no longer have FB but I'm guessing the CD was to setup the modem/router the first time. Lots of Telcos have the router default to walled garden at first.
In general the only thing you need to setup the account is enter the username/password used by PPPoE.
If you went with a non-FP modem may need to set ATM VPI/VCI which as far as I know is 0:35 throughout FairPoint land.
said by TeaRowz: And thank you for the Wi-Fi security tip. I've been using Wi-Fi for several years now. Unfortunately, the network adapter in my Dell laptop only allows for WEP security.
WEP has been shown to be extremely weak, can be broken in a few minutes. WPA was developed as in interim improvement until WPA2 hardware was rolled out. See if you can update the Wi-Fi driver. WPA support may have been added.
The other wireless security risk you should be aware of is the Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) mode built into many Access Points has been shown to be weak and should be turned off.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Setup
/tom
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| I don't think I'd gotten my original question across. I'm quite sure there is something I've not been understanding here.
In the process of setting up the wireless router several years ago, one Ethernet cable had to be connected from the router to my desktop computer. I'd always assumed that that Ethernet connection continued to be necessary (even when the desktop computer was off - which did always seemed strange to me).
I just disconnected that cable, and voila - I see I didn't need it connected after all.
But then, I tried connecting that same cable into the laptop, and no LAN connection is recognized. So I guess that's another problem for another day. |
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tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8 Reviews:
·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| said by TeaRowz:In the process of setting up the wireless router several years ago, one Ethernet cable had to be connected from the router to my desktop computer. Since setting up Wi-Fi consists of selecting an SSID (network name) and encryption it is much easier to do it over a wired connection.
said by TeaRowz:I'd always assumed that that Ethernet connection continued to be necessary (even when the desktop computer was off - which did always seemed strange to me). Any you have now proved to yourself that is not the case.
said by TeaRowz: I tried connecting that same cable into the laptop, and no LAN connection is recognized. So I guess that's another problem for another day. Most likely the PC disabled the wired connection because it did not detect an active wired connection and it had an active Wi-Fi connection. This is very common behavior especially on battery power.
If you want to do an experiment disable the Wi-Fi interface, typically a switch or button on the laptop and enable the Wired Interface. Assuming this is a Windows machines go to Network Connections page and make sure the Local Area Connection is enabled.
/tom |
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 NormanSI gave her time to steal my mind awayPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 | reply to TeaRowz
said by TeaRowz:Forgive my ignorance: Why, when I first set up my DSL, did I need to run the CD that came with the modem that Fairpoint sent me? Wouldn't the laptop I want to connect to also need that setup?
It would depend upon what the setup CD was doing. I ran a Pacific Bell CD on an ancient HP Pavilion 6745C when I set up a Pacific Bell DSL Service connection. OS on that PC was Windows Me. No PPPoE client, conceivably with TCP/IP tweaked for dial-up service. I know it installed Enternet 300 (didn't have a router, yet); possibly also tweaked MTU and RWIN for ADSL. I would not run that CD now; did not when I set up the Siemens SpeedStream 4100 replacing the creaky, old, and bricked, Westell WireSpeed B90-36R516.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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