Wireless Network Troubleshooting-Annoying relative division

[endaround]

My brother's wireless went out last week when the power at his house went out and I'm the one who will likely have to put it right. So a few things to know, he uses Bertram Wireless out of Random Lake as his ISP (http://www.bertramwireless.com/). He is about 500 yds from the tower and that seems to cause some problems so the only way I got it to work to begin with was using a switch with a decent buffer, otherwise the signal would drop and even if up would be really slow(using an admittedly old router). Now when he built the house we spent a lot of time running running data tubes throughout so really there is a possible ethernet port every 5 feet. However his girlfriend wanted wireless so I had her get a new linksys router which I daisy chained to the switch. While the old routers didn't work as a wireless access point this one did. So all was good until this past week. Now the wireless is down, the switch might not be working and I'm being called upon.

I told them to reset everything already and to bring things up systematically instead of all at once. They supposedly did that and they can't get the network back up. I guess they can get a signal right from the modem but not any where else. Bertram told them teh router likely blew, which is possible but I have my doubts. I'll likely be there tomorrow or so, so anyone have ideas how I should start after I cycle everything?

[Diskono]

If I'm understanding correctly, there are two routers (one that is also the modem and actually does the routing, the other being the wireless router that only acts as an access point) and a switch? And they can get to the internet when connected directly to the modem?

 

If that's the case, I'd first connect the switch to the modem, a computer to the switch, and nothing else. If that works, I'd point to the wireless router/access point. It kinda sounds like the wireless access point may have gotten reset to defaults, which would likely cause DHCP and/or IP conflicts. If so, you'll probably just have to disconnect it from everything, and go in and reconfigure it.

[Baldkin]

After cycling everything, go by process of elimination:

 

1) Can you connect with a direct linkup?

2) Can you connect just through the switch?

3) Can you connect via the wireless accesss point?

I agree with Diskono, it sounds like one (or more) things got reset to the default settings.

 

And don't forget the all important #4: Could it be a bad cable?