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Linksys WRT54G and Charter

Last answer on Sep 2, 2009 6:58:22 pm BST Labyrinth, on Sep 11, 2008 11:30:08 pm BST 
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Hi,

I've used my Linksys WRT54G wireless router with Charter cable internet for a few years. Small problems here and there but nothing a reboot/power cycle cannot solve. However since yesterday, all of a sudden I can no longer get online with the router. I can get online just fine if I connect the cable modem directly to my computer, but not through a router. The "internet" light on the router just kept blinking semi-rapidly. I've tried resetting the modem and the router numerous times but to no avail. And I didn't change any settings at all since it's been working fine for me for the past few years.

Can anyone help me? Or is it time to get a new router?

I am running Vista with Charter Cable, Motorola SB5101 cable modem (1 month old). Any help is appreciated, thanks!

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1

halloweendep, on Sep 12, 2008 9:53:34 am BST

Ok dude just try this with the router start up and connected to your computer,

just open command prompt in wondows and then type in the following command :

ipconfig/release
after that if the ip is not automatically renewed just type:

ipconfig/renew

Reply to halloweendep

2

labyrinth, on Sep 16, 2008 10:15:30 pm BST

Hi thanks for the reply. I have tried to release and renew but it's still acting the same. Worst yet, I wasn't able to use internet for an entire day no matter what I did. The technicap support asked me to do the same thing (release renew etc) and to no avail. She said for some reason the modem isn't giving me the correct IP address, and she asked me to shut down the modem for an entire night and see if it fixes itself.

The next day, I am able to connect to the internet, but again, I can't do it through a router, only a direct connection.

I'm suspecting the problem is with the modem, does anyone have similar experience?

Reply to labyrinth

3

a Real engineer, on Oct 23, 2008 3:38:21 am BST

This is a CHARTER problem. I have the SAME linksys with Charter and suddenly, last night, for no reason... Poof! I get piss poor performance through the Linksys but full-speed directly connected. Charter made a change and they're not fessing up to it.

They told me my modem was "antiquated" and the guy hung up on me when I started blowing holes in his script.

Charter sucks but, I'm stuck with them where I live

Reply to a Real engineer

4

cscsjr, on Nov 19, 2008 8:51:50 pm GMT

I had the same problem after switching from dsl to cable. I thought the change had something to do with it, but the router worked fine initially (about 5 minutes) then stopped, internet light blinking or fluttering. After many phone calls and attempts to re-configure/reset the router, I broke down and got a new one WRT110 figuring the old one was fried somehow. The new one works fine, but I haven't done anything more with the old one and am still wondering if it's really bad.

Reply to cscsjr

5

Coach Mac, on Dec 2, 2008 6:55:36 am GMT

Did you ever find a fix with your Linksys. The same thing happened to me and Charter try to sell me there wireless system but would noy admit to a change. Any luck?

Thanks!

Reply to Coach Mac

6

GiantLeap, on Dec 2, 2008 7:09:31 am GMT
  • +2

1) Check the settings of the router as the provider might have changed something on his side
2) Reset the router to factory defaults and re-setup it

Reply to GiantLeap

7

dude, on Dec 7, 2008 6:38:53 pm GMT

Having same problem, reset router to factory settings and re-setup. No avail. The charter modem doesn't seem to allow anything hooked to a router. Even hard wired a router and sent an ethernet cable to another computer, and it will not allow access.

Reply to dude

8

Maverick, on Dec 17, 2008 3:56:38 am GMT

I figured it out, here you go all....

http://linksys.custhelp.com/...

Most cable ISPs use a MAC Authentication to establish Internet connections for end-users. A MAC (Media Access Control) address is assigned a unique 48-bit (6-byte) integer that is attached to an Ethernet NIC for each computer. To set-up your Linksys router to a Cable ISP, you have to do MAC Cloning. MAC Cloning is a procedure which enables a router to copy the MAC address of the PC that�s registered with the ISP.

Reply to Maverick

10

tiplodi, on Jan 12, 2009 10:07:53 pm GMT
  • +1

That did the trick fro me. Thanks for posting!

Reply to tiplodi

18

Terry, on Apr 12, 2009 5:02:41 pm BST
  • +1

Okay, I guess (know) I'm a tech dummy, but since I can't access the internet when the router is connected, I can't do this MAC cloning procedure. Or am I not understanding something? Thanks.

Reply to Terry

9

who'satfault, on Dec 19, 2008 3:23:54 pm GMT
  • +4

I just called Charter with this issue. They maintain this issue is with Linksys. Here's what they say: With dynamic IP renewal every 24 hours Charter provides new IP addresses that are out of the acceptable range that Liksys likes. This results in the super-fast internet light blink. The tech said the remedy is to use the Charter power down cycle (not the Linksys one). Here's the steps:

1. Power down the modem and linksys router(s).
2. Disconnect the coax cable from the modem and wait 35 seconds.
3. Connect the coax and power up the modem.
4. Once the modem has a solid ready light power up the router(s).
5. Try to acces the internet after 25 seconds.

Reply to who'satfault

11

kewa, on Mar 1, 2009 6:46:05 pm GMT

I had the same problem - Lynksys WRT54G worked for years then all the sudden quit working last night.

I did the MAC address cloning config - no luck - upgraded firmware - no luck.

Finally, I reset to defaults, changed the router name, setup the MAC clone config and it started working again.

Now, I'm back to the same config - same name - and everything is working.

It's almost as if there was a block on the router name that got cleared when I changed the name of the router. Very strange.

But all is well now.

Reply to kewa

12

unwired, on Mar 3, 2009 1:33:37 am GMT

I was having the same problem with my Linksys WRT160N and Charter DSL. I just read this post,..thanks. I followed the tip to setup the MAC clone config. It worked...HOWEVER...of course, it couldn't be that simple, could it? Now my wireless printer won't work. It says it's not connected. I uninstalled the printer driver, shut everything down...went through set-up again, reloaded the driver. Still no connection. Any clues?

Reply to unwired

17

nboehm, on Apr 7, 2009 12:07:57 am BST

Hello,
I am having the same problem as many have discussed here with my linksys router. Worked one day unplugged for cleaning and am now unable to get it to work. I can connect directly with my modem but not with router. How did you change the name of your router? This may be my fix- thanks.

Reply to nboehm

19

Terry, on Apr 12, 2009 5:37:29 pm BST
  • +1

Have talked to multiple Charter reps about this problem and they never had me disconnect the coax from the modem. Just tried this procedure and it worked like a charm. Hope it stays connected and/or works again. Thanks!

Reply to Terry

27

 menm, on Sep 2, 2009 6:58:22 pm BST
  • +1

Successs after I found this particular thread! I experienced problems after powering off both modem (through Cox) and linksys WRT54G while on vacation. Tried everything else suggested on linksys website and was so close to replacing the router. Recommend trying to power off/disconnect/reconnect/power on as suggested by who'satfault as a first or second fix attempt:

"1. Power down the modem and linksys router(s).
2. Disconnect the coax cable from the modem and wait 35 seconds.
3. Connect the coax and power up the modem.
4. Once the modem has a solid ready light power up the router(s).
5. Try to acces the internet after 25 seconds."

Thanks who'satfault!

Reply to menm

13

Harrid1991, on Mar 20, 2009 6:15:14 pm GMT

I have been having this problem for a while. And I got the same 'Blow-em off' answers from charter. I hope this works. Thanks Folks.

Reply to Harrid1991

14

AMC, on Mar 25, 2009 11:22:08 pm GMT

WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM !SO I JUST BOUGHT A REALLY NICE NETGEAR AND IT WORKS GREAT !!!!!!!!! FOR GET LINKSYS SUCKS THE BIG ONE!!!!!!!!!!

Reply to AMC

15

Charter Hater, on Mar 28, 2009 2:22:42 pm GMT

Charer is the one who SUCKS

Reply to Charter Hater

16

Golfgal, on Apr 1, 2009 10:58:14 pm BST

The same thing happened to us last night - all of a sudden, the wireless router (Linksys WRT54G) stopped working. Everything shows that there's a connection, but non of the computers can get to the internet. I called Charter today, and all they want to do is sell me a modem/wifi router combo. I did the whole reset, disconnect and reconnect - I have excellent connection via hardwire to the modem, but nothing on the router. I tried to reset to factory setting on the router, change the SSID, clone and MAC address, to no avail. Charter SUCKS!!! and every time I call, I can barely understand them on the phone. It is soooo annoying. I'm going through the whole set up again and see if I can get anywhere!! AAAARRGHHHHHH!!!

Reply to Golfgal

20

MJS, on Apr 21, 2009 1:56:01 pm BST
  • +1

It was great reading through this -- I've been so angry and it is good to know I'm not alone. I am a verizon DSL (fuijitsu modem) user who experienced exactly the same problems. Worked find for years, then suddenly yesterday, no comms between router and modem and no internet access. I could go straight from computer (WinXP) to router and no problem but put the Linksys in the loop and nothing. Hours later with multiple contacts to verizon and linksys talking with reps from halfway around the world -- but I did talk to a southern accented Ralph on one connection--it was a joy to talk to a "Ralph" but anyway -- did all the resets, releases, cloning, new router, and nothing. Got frustrated, left everything alone and went to bed. As of this morning, 12 hours later, it's working again. My guess is the ip address was locked up but frankly I don't know. I have to go back and redo all of my security settings and will advise on anything I find.

Reply to MJS

21

L, on May 15, 2009 9:13:03 pm BST

Yeah there's something fishy going on. Same thing happened to me only with Netgear router. They had me unplug the coax and power twice. They told me my router was resetting the modem's IP. I've never heard of such a thing. Then they tried upselling me their router/ modem combo. I got pissed and hung up. Then I resetted the modem myself, followed by my Netgear router. Bam, works just fine now. I think they are finding a way to block the signal and upsell their router. God I wish I could talk to one of these A holes in person, their full of crap.

Reply to L

22

2slo, on May 16, 2009 2:27:30 am BST

I had the same issue with Charter some time back my older WRT54G stopped collecting and address from the Cable modem. I could not get it to hook back up so I bought a Belkin and everything was good except for the nearly daily disconnect which would sometimes require a power cycle on the modem and/or router. Yesterday it just would not come back and I could not connect even straight from my laptop to the cable modem. Calls to Charter had me doing all the normal stuff they make you do which got me back to where the computer would connect directly but the router would not get an address. All while the girl on the phone asserted a bunch of stuff about networking that I know not to be true.

I asked her if she had re-provisioned my cable modem though and she did say yes.

Anyway, I got out the old WRT54G which is running DD-WRT and it would not connect either. Finally today I disconnected the coax and power from the cable modem for about three minutes, connected it back and what do you know the old router connected right up.

Reply to 2slo

23

teep, on May 16, 2009 10:16:52 pm BST

I am suddenly having a problem with WRT54GC & Comcast, I have a backup router and had the same problem, following: The router would stop functioning at all, no DHCP, but only when the modem was hooked up. I figured out it was the 'MAC Address Clone', I disabled it but now the router works but the modem won't get an IP address. Like I said, this happens on two physical routers with the same config, so something has happened that makes the router stop working when cloning the MAC address.

This is still not working, and I don't know how to tell Comcast to reset the MAC address, the idiots on the phone don't know what a MAC address is. Any ideas? TIA

Reply to teep

24

smallmaster, on Jun 10, 2009 12:51:23 pm BST

I'm an espiring computer tech. and to my knowledge it is a simply tweak of the settings on the router site. instructions are below:
1.access the router site-192.168.1.1
2.under setup go to mac address clone and clonoe your pc's mac.
3.under administration go to manaement
4.under web access click disable
5.under (UPnP) click disable.
6.save your changes
VOILA!

Reply to smallmaster

25

MadAtCharterToo, on Jun 22, 2009 2:47:36 am BST

All you need to do is spoof/clone your mac from a desktop to your router, I beleave it can do this. Enjoy.

Reply to MadAtCharterToo

26

bphilipnyc, on Aug 9, 2009 4:28:49 am BST
  • +1

Here are the comprehensive steps that I took to make my situation work using a combination of the above. I tried other variations (power cycling and MAC address cloning individually did not work for me).

reset Linksys using a pen to click the little button on back
unplug Linksys power
unplug modem power
unplug modem coax
wait 30 seconds
plug modem power and coax back in
wait until modem power light is steady
plug in Linksys power
wait for Linksys power light to steady
go to admin page: http://192.168.1.1
make sure DHCP is enabled, enter hostname
go to MAC Address clone tab, generate and save

unplug Linksys power
unplug modem power
unplug modem coax
turn off computers
wait 1 min

plug in modem coax and power
wait for modem power light to steady
plug in Linksys power
wait for Linksys power light to steady
turn on computers
go to Linksys admin page, configure security (e.g., WEP or WPA)

access through PC(s)
check that PCs are now connected wirelessly

go to admin page and configure anything else (port fowarding, etc.)

Reply to bphilipnyc