Router Advice ~ need new one

It seems I am in need of a new Router for my desktop
that will also serve as a wireless one for my LapTop.
My old one was from my ISP AT&T {2/3 yrs old},
but they will no longer support it.
Need some advice.
I have 3.0 internet, that's all they will give me
where I live.

What do you mean by "they will no longer support it?"
Does it not work anymore?

If you want to choose a wireless router, check ***Newegg***. Choose your price point and check the reviews for the wireless routers listed there.

The speed you get may depend on the wireless cards in your computer(s).

I'm not sure what you mean by "3.0 internet."
Do you mean ***this***? It doesn't seem to be related to what router you're using?

I think that's Katbear's Bandwidth (3.0 MBPS) - could be wrong though.

Did the ISP provide you with a Router, a Modem or a combo unit? If it functions as a router you may need to configure your laptop's connection settings to access it (assuming you've enabled wireless security).

Unless the ISP set up the unit (and password protected it) you should be able to access the setup routine by entering it's default gateway address in your browser (e.g. 192.168.x.x - where x.x can be 0.1, 1.1 etc...)

You can generally display the WEP/WPA passkeys from setup.

okay, yall bear w/me please, I'm sure I'm not using the proper terms.
The 3.0 is my speed, where I am they can't support a 6.0 speed yet.

My current Router{modem?}/Wireless device was installed by AT&T,
but they will not service it as I don't pay for inside wire maintenance. {ripoff}

When they installed/set it up it worked just fine,
until a month or so ago.

We have tried doing resets on the modem, but doesn't solve the problem.

I am having probs w/both my wired desktop
and my wireless laptop {which is w/in 3' of the modem right now}.
Everytime I try to sign on to the internet {IE}
or change sites
I get the message "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage".
If I click on "Diagnose Connection Problems",
9 times out of 10
it will eventually come up {like it has timed out?},
stating "Windows has not found any problem with this network's connection".

Sometimes, however, it states "Windows has found a problem it cannot repair automatically..."
Then it directs me to "Troubleshoot network connection problems".
I have gone there many times and done what they suggested,
but it makes no difference.

Did they say the problem was the modem?
The ISP I used to have was able to test the modem remotely to tell if it was working properly or not.

If your device is a combined router/modem, you might want to ask your ISP which model(s) they recommend.

What was the make and model number of your old router/modem?

The one I have now is :

Westell Versalink 327W
D90-327W30-06
Rev-E
Assembled in USA
08/2007

SSID WEST8982 ADSL2+ Versalink

AT&T wanted to charge me to check it out online

Unbelievable. They really want to scrape out every penny.

I found some information for troubleshooting the Westell Versalink 327W ***here***.

It's a Verizon link, but it's the same modem.
And it's got pictures to go with the instructions.

Perhaps setting the modem to factory defaults will allow you to "start over" with it and get it working for you again.

Try giving the router a PING to see if you can talk to it -

Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and open a Command Prompt. Type "PING 192.168.1.1" (without the quotes) on the command line and press the enter key - do you see any lost packets?

InlandAZ,
I did what you suggested :
katbear50 Router Ping

From the command prompt again, enter:

IPCONFIG /ALL

And post the results...

IPCONFIG/ALL katbear50

I've never seen ping return a different IP Address (you entered PING 192.168.1.1, and it returned 192.168.1.96).

Is this PC directly attached to the Router (or is it a wireless connection)?

It looks like the router is 192.168.1.254 and the computer is 192.168.1.96

Try pinging 192.168.1.254

This is my Desktop PC and it is hardwired to the Modem, InlandAZ

I will get back to you with that, Jenny.

Ping 192.168.1.254 katbear50

Is this right now?

You left out the word ping.

ping 192.168.1.254

You're right - the default gateway is 1.254

Katbear - you didn't enter PING in front of that IP address...

Edit -

The routers IP is user configurable (not sure why 1.254 was used) - try to enter the setup routine by entering 192.168.1.254 in your browser. If it prompts for a password, and you haven't specified one already, the default for nearly all is admin.

I corrected my entry in post # #604055

No issues with the Network Connection then, it's communicating with the PC.

You may have to enter the setip Routine (typing the Router's IP into the browser - 192.168.1.254).

I have on rare occasions seen my modem go offline, I see it under Modem Status (it shows as Disconnected).

If you PING Gameboomers (by IP, not by name - 69.5.22.251) does it send a response?

ping gameboomers katbear50

That looks like it's working OK.
That means the problem is probably with whatever DNS server is doing the DNS lookup. The router is supposed to get the address of the DNS server automatically from the ISP, but if it's not working, you can always put your own DNS server into Windows network properties.

Try pinging the DNS servers on this page and choose two of the ones that have the shortest response time
http://theos.in/windows-xp/free-fast-public-dns-server-list/

Then put those numbers in your Network properties.
Here are instructions for Vista
https://store.opendns.com/setup/device/windows-vista/

Here are instructions for XP
https://store.opendns.com/setup/device/windows-xp/

Jenny, I don't understand.
#1 What is a DNS server?
#2 .......

DNS stands for Domain Name Server.
Routers and Internet services don't understand letters (like gameboomers.com). They understand numbers (like 69.5.22.251). But humans would have difficulty remembering strings of numbers (some of which change occasionally) and have a lot less trouble remembering URL's like gameboomers.com, google.com, amazon.com, etc.

So the solution is to have a DNS server which translates the URL's humans can remember (like gameboomers.com) to numbers that routers can use (like 69.5.22.251).

If you have no DNS server, or have a bad DNS server, your router won't know what you're talking about when you put gameboomers.com or some other URL in your browser's address bar, and won't know where to direct your request. So even if you have connectivity to the Internet, you won't be able to browse the Internet without a DNS server.

Usually your ISP connects you to a DNS server automatically when you have DHCP enabled, but in your case this doesn't appear to be working. The easiest solution is to assign a DNS server in your Windows Network properties.

If my explanation is too hard to understand, maybe this site will explain it better
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dns1.htm

AT&T uses launchmodem.com (DNS server) - I don't know why. Maybe that's your problem, have you asked them if they've changed it recently?

Edit -

The fact the Gameboomers returned a response to your PING proves the Modem/Router is working just fine. Did you modify your TCP/IP settings by any chance?

According to her screenshot, she didn't do
ping gameboomers.com

She did
ping 69.5.22.251

ping 69.5.22.251 will work with no DNS server.

Katbear, if you want to test your DNS server with ping you need to type in
ping gameboomers.com

If ping gameboomers.com also works, then the problem isn't the DNS server.

That's bascally what I was trying to say - it returned a response, so the issue is the TCP/IP settings, not the modem.

69.5.22.251 is Gameboomers (or more specifically the IP of it's host).

Alright, I'm gonna butt in here.

Katbear50 wrote that she accesses the Internet both via a desktop PC hooked directly into the router, and through wireless via a laptop, and both has problems. I seriously doubt the problem is in any of her computers.

Katbear50: The router seems to be a combo, with a modem built into it. I'm guessing the problem is either there or with AT&T. If the router has been reset (not just turned off and on again, but actually pushing the reset button), and the problem still persists, well it could still be either, but it shouldn't really be your responsibility to pay for the problem to get fixed. Since AT&T no longer support it, they really should send you a new modem, either free of charge or very cheap. Honestly, modems and routers delivered by ISP's are made by the lowest bidder, and doesn't cost them much.

Now, I don't live in the US, so I don't know how AT&T handle stuff like this, but if something like that happened to me, and my ISP would charge me for trying to fix an outdated modem, I would call them up a few times a day and tell them to send me a supported modem. And I would keep doing it until they gave in.

I don't think so either. The router/modem should be able to pick up a DNS server from the ISP, but I don't think that part is working. Since she is able to ping IP numbers on the Internet, the router is getting through to the Internet OK.

If you put your own DNS server's IP number into Windows network properties, it supercedes any DNS server your router is or isn't getting from the ISP. Without a DNS server, you won't be able to browse the Internet, even if you have internet connectivity.

If "ping 69.5.22.251" produces answering replies while "ping gameboomers.com" does not get replies, that's a pretty clear indication that either something is wrong with the DNS server, or that you're not connected to one -- and it's an easy fix that does not require buying a new modem.

Alright, I just read through the thread again. I find it interesting that the ping resolves to a different address. I'm thinking anything from a faulty modem, a modified HOSTS file to some sort of spyware even. Of course, it could be something simple like the DNS cache acting up.

Katbear50, try this: Go to the command prompt and write:

ipconfig /flushdns

Who knows, it might work.

Edit: Hmm ok, just tried pinging a non-existent address on my LAN. 192.168.1.2 resolves to 192.168.1.112. That's... odd.

Edit 2: Alright, figured it out. Ping an address on your LAN that doesn't exist, and it resolves to your computers ip.

Check your TCP/IP settings Katbear - Click Start, Control Panel and select Network Connections. Right click your Local Area Connection and select Properties - highlight TCP/IP and select properties again.

Does it look like this?

Normal DNS Settings

It should state: Obtain DNS Server Addresses Automaticaly.

Edit -

Also, at this point you really need to enter the modem's setup routine - use the guide below to go through each of the options. It describes how to test your connection status as well as modify your DNS settings.

VersaLink327WUserGuide

I did it
got mad punched the reset button on the
modem and held it for a few seconds
pulled the A/C wire for a minute
plugged it all back in
and it went to the VersaLink Set-Up Routine pages
I did it
Update
Bad News: Still only partially fixed unfortunately.
Good News: I can come here w/o any problems.
Back to the proverbial Drawing Board.

Ah, the good ol' rage punch. Sometimes you just gotta show your computer who's boss Glad it worked.

The AT&T Repairman just left,
and I think I finally have my prob solved.
He came in, changed me to a different server,
and Voila!
Yall have been helping me try to igure this out
since the beginning of March
and I have spent many an hour on the phone with
those techs {that read off teleprompters}
and he seems to have solved it in 5 minutes.

They must hire them fromthe same job-pool as
fast-food drive thru order takers.
my bad
Well....for all yalls help

methinks I spoke too soon
not completely fixed yet