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If a wireless router has no USB port...
- Thread starter stevento
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What is wrong with my router?
I bought it today (thinking it'd have a USB port but it doesn't)
so i plug it in, and it works fine... for two seconds.
then i go into the next room and lose signal strength
so i come back into this room and still losing signal strength with the router right there
is it because i didn't run the CD before entering it in?
the CD doesnt seem to work with my mac
I bought it today (thinking it'd have a USB port but it doesn't)
so i plug it in, and it works fine... for two seconds.
then i go into the next room and lose signal strength
so i come back into this room and still losing signal strength with the router right there
is it because i didn't run the CD before entering it in?
the CD doesnt seem to work with my mac
What is wrong with my router?
I bought it today (thinking it'd have a USB port but it doesn't)
so i plug it in, and it works fine... for two seconds.
then i go into the next room and lose signal strength
so i come back into this room and still losing signal strength with the router right there
is it because i didn't run the CD before entering it in?
the CD doesnt seem to work with my mac
update the firmware as well.
how do you configure a network?
i tried the utilities airport admin utility and airport setup assistant, but those seem to be just for appl routers.
anyway, it doesnt have a USB port, and it hardly works, so its going back to the store.
i tried the utilities airport admin utility and airport setup assistant, but those seem to be just for appl routers.
anyway, it doesnt have a USB port, and it hardly works, so its going back to the store.
You normally configure the router through a Web interface. Read the documentation that comes with it
Good luck with returning it... however, it would really help people here help you if you also did the following thing:
1) Breath. Slowly. Stop hyperventilating.
2) Speak in coherent sentences and actually listen to what people are telling you.
In case it isn't obvious... if interference or damping from the walls of your home are causing this router problems, the next router you get is probably going to do... *gasp* exactly the same thing. And the next router after that, because you won't listen and try relatively simple fixes for these problems.
1) Breath. Slowly. Stop hyperventilating.
2) Speak in coherent sentences and actually listen to what people are telling you.
In case it isn't obvious... if interference or damping from the walls of your home are causing this router problems, the next router you get is probably going to do... *gasp* exactly the same thing. And the next router after that, because you won't listen and try relatively simple fixes for these problems.
Yeah but talking down to him isn't going to help do either of those things. Try 192.168.1.1 in your browser when you get a connection, thats were most routers can be connected to from.
And when trying to configure it it's best to be connected to it by wires and not wireless. Particularly when the problem is wireless....
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Yeah and make sure you go to preferences>network>ethernet and make sure automatic DHCP is turned on there if you use the cable...
OK whoa whoa whoa, everyone slow down.
1. MOST routers do not have USB ports and are not designed to natively host a printer for network sharing. I don't know why you assumed that it would. It is easy enough to have a printer connected to one of your computers, and share it over the network that way. No special hardware required.
2. You never -- EVER -- need a "setup CD" or "wizard" or any other such nonsense to configure a router. This is one of my biggest pet peeves, both with manufacturers and with Mac users in general who flip out because the "installation CD" doesn't work on OS X. Trust me, your computer already has everything you need to configure a router: an ethernet port and a web browser. Once you have connected your computer to your router and have an IP address, open a web browser and enter the router's default IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 but it could be 192.168.0.1 or a few other combinations). That's how you actually configure a router. See the owner's manual.
3. Don't return it already just because you don't understand what's happening. I'm willing to bet the router works perfectly, but you don't know how to use it and haven't given us enough information to help troubleshoot.
1. MOST routers do not have USB ports and are not designed to natively host a printer for network sharing. I don't know why you assumed that it would. It is easy enough to have a printer connected to one of your computers, and share it over the network that way. No special hardware required.
2. You never -- EVER -- need a "setup CD" or "wizard" or any other such nonsense to configure a router. This is one of my biggest pet peeves, both with manufacturers and with Mac users in general who flip out because the "installation CD" doesn't work on OS X. Trust me, your computer already has everything you need to configure a router: an ethernet port and a web browser. Once you have connected your computer to your router and have an IP address, open a web browser and enter the router's default IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 but it could be 192.168.0.1 or a few other combinations). That's how you actually configure a router. See the owner's manual.
3. Don't return it already just because you don't understand what's happening. I'm willing to bet the router works perfectly, but you don't know how to use it and haven't given us enough information to help troubleshoot.
the router is back at the store because i bought it not understanding.
and if all it can do is make wireless connections then i shouldn't have spent $50 on it.
so next rotuer i get will either have a usb port, or it'll be cheaper.
the next router i will head this
the main reason it had to go back to the store was that it didn't have what i thought it would, my mistake.
i didnt use the setup cd wizard and it worked fine, then i went into the next room and it worked fine... two minutes later, dead.
the router is mainly for my dorm which i'll be going to in the next week.
and if all it can do is make wireless connections then i shouldn't have spent $50 on it.
so next rotuer i get will either have a usb port, or it'll be cheaper.
the next router i will head this
the main reason it had to go back to the store was that it didn't have what i thought it would, my mistake.
i didnt use the setup cd wizard and it worked fine, then i went into the next room and it worked fine... two minutes later, dead.
the router is mainly for my dorm which i'll be going to in the next week.
I think the OP would be wise to check with other people in his dorm also, to see if construction might cause problems with a wireless router. Also, check to see if the campus provides wireless access across the campus, and if not...start a campaign to get them to do so.
stevento said:
As far as wireless routers go, that's about the norm for a decent one. A router equipped with USB will definitely not go for under $100 unless you buy used. Sorry, but wireless routers and routers in general aren't that cheap. If you're on a budget and need a wireless router, get a wireless router that does what you need it to do. Simply because you can't print wirelessly...well, it's not that difficult to just get up and go near the printer and plug it in, nor is it difficult to set up an old computer to act as a print/file/media server.
you're right. i'm going to get another router, but not that same one.
it was a linksys, boy i tell you it was hard to look at, not to mention nearly the size of my 5 year old pc monitor. j/k
also i would touch the "one touch setup" button and it would kick my computer off line and blink endlessly and to no avail.
it was a linksys, boy i tell you it was hard to look at, not to mention nearly the size of my 5 year old pc monitor. j/k
also i would touch the "one touch setup" button and it would kick my computer off line and blink endlessly and to no avail.
Just note that unless one side of the router is on a public network, you don't actually need (or want) a router at all. What you seem to be looking for is a wireless access point with print server. (i.e. something like the Airport Express).
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ok here's the update.
i got a new router
the Belkin N1.
i am in the other room and presto... it works!
much better than that dell -excuse me i meant to say Linksys- router i returned.
i got a new router
the Belkin N1.
i am in the other room and presto... it works!
much better than that dell -excuse me i meant to say Linksys- router i returned.
$50 is is pretty cheap. Don't expect top of the line for that price. If the building has construction that make wireless not work well you may need a router that allows for an external antenna. Then yo can position the antenna or try different antennas with a directional patern.
One nice router then does have a USB port for a printer is the Apple Airport Express. Look for a refurb for $99 or new for $120. The new Apple router announced today will sel for $179 and really looks to be good except for no external antenna. I'm thinking of mounting it up high on the wall. Reception is not good in my house unless unless the antenna is at least 5 feet up off the first floor. (Has to do with metal pipes, Aluminum foil backed insulation and chicken wire mesh inside the walls.)