New To VONAGE - Major connectivity issues with WRT54G

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 21, 2005 Posts: 1

Ok Heres the deal.. Just got vonage, i already had a router, (the wrt54g without phone ports, vonage sent the RTP300, but we couldn't use it because we need a wireless router.

SO we went to bestbuy, purchased the WRT54G with 2 phone ports. I come home to set it up, to replace my old wireless router without the phone ports which had connectivity fine.

No matter what i do, it will not let me connect to the internet, i thought the router was defective to i exchanged it for another one, which had the same problem. so i thought maybe its that specific type of router, so i tried the RTP300, SAME thing..

The only router that actually allows connectivity is my old wrt54g without the phone ports..

Can anyone help me? both vonage and linksys couldn't help me they had me run all these tests and all this stuff, but nothing helped i am completely lost.

Adelphia Cable is the internet service we have..

Any help is appreciated, thank you

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:42 pm Post subject:

why didn't you just plug the rtp into the wrt? it most likely would have worked right off the bat and you wouldn't have had to go spend a ton of money on redundant items.
at any rate, sounds like adelphia requires mac address registration, so call and ask about that. if they don't, sounds like you just need to power everything off, including cable modem, for several minutes, then turn the modem on, then the wrtP54g which is probably what you went out and bought (or the wrt54gp2, but there's no such thing as a wrt54g with phone ports). or just take that back and use the great wrt54g and the great rtp300 plugged into the wrt, sit back and be happy.

Posts: 57 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 03, 2005 Posts: 57

There are a lot of people asking for help on this board on how to set up WRG54G. I was one of them. Dump the darn thing and get a Motorola SBG900 wireless cable modem instead. I was so sick and tired of fussing around with the modem, the WR54G and Vonage router. Actually if you have a little more cash, buy the SBG1000 that has 5 ports and a print router built in as well. Once you have a cable modem with wireless gateway built in, the set up is plug and play (well almost plug and play). Really, I see people posting for help about the WRT54G ALL the time. I spent so much time trying to set it up myself before I got the SBG900, I get a headache just reading these posts popping up over and over again. Just want to pass on a tip to let you know that you don't have to go through this.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:36 pm Post subject:

and yet it's the most popular and most recommended router on this board...and it is plug n play.
oh, and it has nothing to do with his question either since he already got rid of it as stated in his second sentence.
or maybe I'm just confused since everyone is referencing nonexistant linksys models, while two of the correct models being spoken of (WRT54G and WRTP54G) are very similar model numbers.

Posts: 244 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject:

The WRT54G is hands down the best router for the money. If you cannot get it to work right you really just didnt put forth enough effort.

Posts: 84 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:00 pm Post subject:

reebok wrote:

sounds like adelphia requires mac address registration

I'll bet that is exactly what is happening.

This is from the RTP300 help for MAC Address:
MAC Address Clone

The Router's MAC address is a 12-digit code assigned for identification, like a social security number. Some ISPs require that you register a MAC address. Enter this MAC Address in the MAC Address field or press the Clone button, then click the Save Settings button. To use the Clone button, the computer viewing the Web-base utility screen will have the MAC address automatically entered in the MAC Address field. This "clones" your network adapter's MAC address onto the Router, so you don't have to call your ISP to change the registered MAC address to the Router's MAC address.

As my signature says, I use the RTP300 first after the cable modem, and connect my WRT54G to the RTP300 via one of the the WRT's 4 ports, with NOTHING connected to the WRT's WAN port.

This makes all ports on both routers share the RTP300's 192.168.15.1 gateway, so you can plug anything into either router and every device and the wireless devices see all the resources on every other device.

I disabled DHCP on the WRT and set its address to 192.168.15.2. No need to set up "Remote Adminstration", as every device can access either router's setup screens with this configuration.

Posts: 276 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject:

libbyloo wrote:

Dump the darn thing and get a Motorola SBG900 wireless cable modem instead. I was so sick and tired of fussing around with the modem, the WR54G and Vonage router. Actually if you have a little more cash, buy the SBG1000 that has 5 ports and a print router built in as well. Once you have a cable modem with wireless gateway built in, the set up is plug and play (well almost plug and play). Really, I see people posting for help about the WRT54G ALL the time.

So do you extend that train of "logic" to other things too? When your car has a mechanical problem, do you just "dump the darn thing and get a new car instead?" Because you know, if you go to automobile boards, really, you'll see people posting for help about that model of car ALL the time. You can always throw out whatever's bothering you, and just throw money at the problem to fix it - go buy something new! Some of us prefer to learn how to use what we have. As reebok and AspectTec have both already stated, the WRT54G(S) routers are pretty much THE best routers out there, bar none. If you see more people asking questions about it here, its probably because more people have them than have any other router out there - NOT because they're better than what you bought when you "dumped" yours. Feel free to dump it in my direction - I'll be glad to pay your shipping costs.

Posts: 57 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 03, 2005 Posts: 57

Wow, I didn't mean to set all these people off. I am very sure many of you who knows how to do networking feel WRT a great router. I can't disagree. Actually I believe WRT is a great router judging by how many people here love it.

Then there is the underline issue. "Look" around this board and count how many people are having problems with setting it up with Vonage router and how many people are having problems with it. Does that speak in volumes? That is not to say it is WRG's fault. I am merely stating that for the average person with average networking knowledge, like me and many others (just count the help wanted post). There is an alternative to set up a wireless gateway that requires very little "frustration" like with WRT. How much effort to put in depends on where your interest lies. Put forth enough effort, you can be a heart surgeon.

So for those of you who have your heart set on the WRT, continue. For those who simply want a wireless gateway at home, wireless cable modem is the simpler choice. And much less cluster under your desk I might add.

Regards,

Posts: 244 · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:37 am Post subject:

Without continuing the argument, most of the posts I saw about the WRT54G series have been people asking for configuration examples and or which third party firmwares to use.

Had I honestly seen a post about a problem I would have been speaking out more often.

I have taken all of the posts as requests for advice.

But as the previous poster said I will be GLAD to pay your shipping I need another Razz

Posts: 6

I have that model and I needed to do the following things, (resolved by fourth try.):
First, make sure my Microsoft Firewall was off and my Symantec Corp Ed Antivirus was completely shut down.
Then I followed directions exactly as prompted.
When on the second try it didn't work I completely disconnected and rebooted computer and started with straight internet connection only, while using a pin and doing a cold reset on the modem.
Then again following directions exactly, it hooked up.

One other item if you haven't looked into it...always a good one...
Go into control panel and if program for router is there, uninstall, reboot and start again...however.. before you hook up the router, after you get straight-line internet connection, go to "router website" and see if there is an upgrade to your model to possibly fix a software problem. Good Luck