Tech help needed...

[Nottso]

I need help with a hardware recommendation. I need a wireless router and would like to possibly get one that is also a modem so that I can return the one from the ISP (Charter Cable) and save $7 per month. I can hard wire the PC into it, but would like the wireless capability for the laptop and the smartphones.

 

I have 100mb service, and am told that Charter may do another upgrade soon to 130mb. I talked to a Charter tech and he said that although they're told not to make recommendations, the Linksys "N" routers seem to work well. The one below seems to be a good bargain, but I know very little of such things. I'm not afraid of refurbished goods, I just don't know if this particular model is good, bad or otherwise in this realm. Thoughts?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-Linksys-X2000-300-Mbps-3-Port-10-100-Wireless-N-Router-with-ADSL2-Modem-/281009800557?pt=COMP_EN_Routers&hash=item416d7d456d

 

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[mothershipconnection]

While I don't have your internet service and I used a standalone router, I used to have a Linksys n router and was very happy with it.

 

I have AT&T now because it's basically my only option in this neighborhood and they now require you to use their 2wire DSL modem with built-in router.

[stoutdude04]

I use a belkin. While I was in college I used a linksys and figured it was just a poor connection but realized I probably just had a cheap version. I started with a belkin surf it worked pretty poorly for my needs. Now I use a belkin play and it works great.

[Nottso]

I ordered a refurbished Cisco/Linksys EA4500. The X2000 seems to have only a DSL modem. I didn't see any that include a cable modem and the EA4500 seems to have enough features so that it won't be obsolete by the time it arrives early in the week. I hope. I guess time will tell.

[NeedMoreFans]

I know it's a couple days late, but you may need to check this out...

 

http://www.myaccount.charter.com/customers/support.aspx?supportarticleid=2623

 

It appears if you have Charter and have had it for a while, you are ok to have your own modem, but if you ever switch stuff around, you have to use one of theirs. You may have to call to verify.

[Nottso]

I'll definitely look into this before purchasing a modem. We've had Charter for quite a while now, so hopefully I'll be able to purchase one and stop giving them the $7 per month.

[zurch1818]

I've had Charter for a long time. We have our own modem and router. The key is to have the MAC address of the new modem in their system. I know when our modem died, I had to call to get the new one in the system. I know this isn't always the case. One nice thing about having them separate is that when one goes...the other one will still be fine. But I guess since they need to work in unison, that doesn't do a whole lot of good. It might be cheaper to replace one than both of them. I've also had much better success with routers lasting longer than modems. My parents have and brother have had the same luck too.

[yoshii8]

I'm having trouble trying to access my wireless network at home w/ my laptop. The network shows up on the laptop, but for some reason will not allow me to connect, and I cannot find a solution. Before I started, it would connect, but be local only. Now that I've made some changes it won't connect at all. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[nate82]

I'm having trouble trying to access my wireless network at home w/ my laptop. The network shows up on the laptop, but for some reason will not allow me to connect, and I cannot find a solution. Before I started, it would connect, but be local only. Now that I've made some changes it won't connect at all. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Sounds like an IP conflict. Do you have anything else connected to the router?

[yoshii8]

Yes my desktop is also connected to the router.

[nate82]

Do you know if you have your IP set up as being static or automatic?

 

Example:

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/F6Q/K91Y/H6WG6DTK/F6QK91YH6WG6DTK.LARGE.jpg

 

In Windows 7:

Right click the wireless icon on your system tray, click "Open Network and Sharing Center". On the top right of the screen, click "Change adapter settings". Right click your wireless network adapter, and click "Properties". Find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", click it, and then click "Properties." Then click "Obtain and IP address automatically". If you want to obtain your DNS servers automatically, you can change those as well. Please note that if you use OpenDNS or another web filter that requires you to use their DNS servers, this could shut off the filtering, or in some cases impact your ability to access the internet.

 

In Windows XP:

Click "Start", and go to Control Panel. Double click Network Connections. Find your network adapter and right click it, click properties, go to "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click "Properties". Then click "Obtain and IP address automatically". If you want to obtain your DNS servers automatically, you can change those as well. Please note that if you use OpenDNS or another web filter that requires you to use their DNS servers, this could shut off the filtering, or in some cases impact your ability to access the internet.

[Baldkin]

I'm having trouble trying to access my wireless network at home w/ my laptop. The network shows up on the laptop, but for some reason will not allow me to connect, and I cannot find a solution. Before I started, it would connect, but be local only. Now that I've made some changes it won't connect at all. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

So, your wireless network is broadcasting (you can see it on the laptop?) but you cannot connect to it on your laptop?

Can you plug in your laptop directly to the router and connect?

[yoshii8]

Do you know if you have your IP set up as being static or automatic?

 

 

I'm not sure, I will check tonight when I get home? The desktop computer has windows xp and the laptop has vista.

[yoshii8]

I'm having trouble trying to access my wireless network at home w/ my laptop. The network shows up on the laptop, but for some reason will not allow me to connect, and I cannot find a solution. Before I started, it would connect, but be local only. Now that I've made some changes it won't connect at all. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

So, your wireless network is broadcasting (you can see it on the laptop?) but you cannot connect to it on your laptop?

Can you plug in your laptop directly to the router and connect?

 

 

Yes, that is correct it is broadcasting the network but not allowing me to connect. The only thing it says that it is unable to connect because it had a timeout.

 

Yes, I can plug in my laptop directly to the router and connect it. I'm thinking that I need to change a few settings on my router and laptop, but I'm not exactly sure which ones to look for.

[Baldkin]

Open up a command prompt (start -> run -> cmd) and type:

 

ipconfig /all and paste what you get here. Hopefully that'll tell if it is your laptop or your router. Also, what type of router do you have?

[RobDeer 45]

Super bummed about this. My wife and I finally updated our macbook pro (from 2008?) and got more RAM and then Mountain Lion. When I got it up and running I found out that "power pc applications are no longer supported." So what are our options for having excel and word back on the mac? We use excel a ton so it's a must. Do we just have to buck up and buy office for mac?

 

Everything is running great but kind of bummed airplay is not compatible with older macs! Dumb.

[DatHoser]

RobDeer45, you could try Libre Office. It's the offshoot of Star Office and it's free.

[1992casey]

Some of the free office suites require Java. I'd hate to have to install it.

 

If you're using Office 2008, I wonder if it'll run if you simply drag the app out of the Applications folder on the old machine and drop it into the Applications folder on the new one. If I'm remembering correctly, 2008's installer is PowerPC but the Office apps themsleves are Intel. If you're running an older version of Office, you'd be completely out of luck.

 

Another option is Microsoft's Office 365. It gives you Office for a fairly reasonable monthly fee and allows you to install the current version on up to 5 Macs. You'd also have some cloud services included.

 

By the way, Apple's Numbers app is a lame replacement for Excel. IMO, Pages replaces Word nicely, though.

[RobDeer 45]

Ya we would need Excel for sure. We have some pretty in depth spread sheets on there. I agree there is no replacement for that. I was thinking I could just get Excel and then do Pages. I think Excel is $50.

[bball123h]

If you work at a company with an enterprise agreement with MS, you should be able to buy full Office 13 (or the mac equivalent) for $10 through the home use program. I'd ask your IT or HR department if you have that program.

[1992casey]

If you're using Office 2008, I wonder if it'll run if you simply drag the app out of the Applications folder on the old machine and drop it into the Applications folder on the new one…

 

I just reread your message. I thought you bought a new Mac rather than upgrading the old one. Obviously, if it won't work, it won't work.

 

I'd be pleased if Microsoft offered its Office apps in the App Store. I'm not holding my breath, though.

 

I haven't used it much, but Apple's Keynote has gotten very good reviews as a PowerPoint alternative. Lore has it that Steve Jobs liked presentations but didn't give a hoot about spreadsheets, which would be why Keynote is good and Numbers isn't.

 

Airplay requires newer hardware than 2008 computers offer. I don't recall the specifics.

 

Airdrop (similar name, totally different function) is another feature that requires newer hardware. It's a really simple way to transfer files between two Macs, regardless of the wireless network they happen to be on. There's a way to enable this on older Macs, but when one does that, the feature becomes restricted to Macs sharing the same network. I just enable file sharing and wirelessly transfer files that way. That method has worked forever.

[Invader3K]

I don't know if it helps, but I've found Google Sheets (and the rest of the Google Docs) to be an excellent substitute for Excel.

[Invader3K]

Here's a computer/tech related question:

 

We moved last year, and since then our wifi router hasn't been cutting it anymore. Our new house is more spread out than our old one was, and the signal doesn't seem to get into our basement very well. Hence, I can't stream Netflix reliably on my basement PS3, etc. What's a good wifi router these days? I've had the same Linksys unit for about seven years now so I'm not familiar with what's current. We have high speed internet through Charter, if it matters.

[1992casey]

Cisco/Linksys still seems to be the standard.

 

I'm betting that a newer router with newer technology might do the trick. Where do you have it placed? The AT&T installer told us that upstairs is better than downstairs, but it looks like you're covered there.

 

It's possible that you may need a second unit to extend your network's reach. I'm not sure what to recommend for that.

[Invader3K]

Cisco/Linksys still seems to be the standard.

 

I'm betting that a newer router with newer technology might do the trick. Where do you have it placed? The AT&T installer told us that upstairs is better than downstairs, but it looks like you're covered there.

 

It's possible that you may need a second unit to extend your network's reach. I'm not sure what to recommend for that.

 

We have the current one upstairs. It's a single story ranch type house, but with a finished basement. The router is in our office, which unfortunately is in the "back" of the house. I'm hoping a newer router might have a bit more "range" if possible.