Setup D-Link DI-524 router w/ Cisco adapter (Westell modem)

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 08, 2005 Posts: 3

Please forgive me if I am in the wrong forum or if the answer to my question appears in an earlier thread. I searched but could not find the relevant info, and am at my wits end after trying to troubleshoot this on my own for hours with very little technical knowledge.

I have a Cisco adapter, a Westell modem (Verizon DSL service), and a D-Link DI-524 router. I can’t get a dial tone on my phone.

I have had Vonage for several years and it has worked properly in the past with my previous Netgear router as well as with this D-Link router. But I just returned from a lengthy trip and had to reconnect everything, and now I can’t get the dial tone working.

Because I have had Vonage set up for years, I am certain that everything is hooked up properly. But apparently I forgot to make a note of all the router settings when the system was functioning properly and now I can't figure out whether the router even recognizes the Vonage equipment or what to do about it.

The different tabs on the D-Link router's setup screens are filled with terms I don't understand - virtual server, private IP, protocol type, and so forth. I know what the Cisco adapter's MAC address is, but I don't know what to do with this information.

I used the D-Link's setup wizard and it recognized my computer's LAN and wireless connections which are functioning properly.

I would greatly appreciate if someone can help me set this up or point me in the right direction. Many thanks.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

I'm sure you have it hooked up right, but give us the details anyway. What cables are going to what ports on what equipment? What are the model number on your adapter and modem?

I gather that you're getting internet service on your computer with it plugged into the D-link router. Is this correct? Is the computer set up to get its IP automatically with the D-link set up as a DHCP server?

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 08, 2005 Posts: 3

Thanks, I am happy to go over the setup. It seems to be working properly except for the phone, but if I did something incorrectly you might be able to pinpoint it where I couldn't.

The adapter is the Cisco ATA 186. The modem is the Westell 2200, provided by Verizon. I believe that it is set to be used in "bridged" mode but in any case, apparently it's working properly because I do have the Internet connection working well.

What's hooked to what: Phone line runs from wall to modem. Ethernet cable runs from modem to the DI-524 router.

One ethernet cable runs from the computer to the router (the LAN connection), and another ethernet cable runs from the Cisco adapter to the router.

A regular phone cable runs from the Cisco adapter to the phone itself.

I tested all the cables independently to be sure none are malfunctioning.

I'm not sure what "DHCP server" means (is that what the router is functioning as?) but since my Internet connection works well both wirelessly and through the LAN connection, everything seems to be set up as it should be.

The TCP/IP settings were initially set to "Obtain an IP address automatically." Somewhere during my attempts at resolving the problem, I did change this to a static IP address (I think that's the term) with "Use the following IP address," using info found from running ipconfig/ all. It didn't solve the problem but the Internet connection continued to work well so I left it like that (static IP address) for the time being, but of course I can change that back to "obtain an IP address automatically" anytime. Also, please keep in mind that I'm spouting off terms I don't necessarily understand, just parroting what I'm reading off the screen.

Again, thanks for helping me try to untangle this.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 08, 2005 Posts: 3

Problem solved - The phone line is routed through the second port on the Cisco adapter (Telephone 2) which usually remains disabled. I dimly recall a Vonage tech changing it from the first port some years ago when we were troubleshooting another problem, and it remained that way since.

When I set up the network today, I routed the phone cord from the Telephone 1 port - hence, it didn't give a dial tone.

I changed it to the second port, and it's working fine now.

Thanks for trying to help.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

I'm glad that it's fixed. I gather that the Cisco adapter doesn't give a warning when you're plugged into the wrong phone port. Others- like the RTP300- do.