Tag Archives: router

Password protected routers (and WiFi)

Computer Aid Posted on by

A while ago I got called to a client with the complaint of “not able to connect to the internet.”

The setup turned out to be unusual. A PC in the lounge connect via ethernet to a D-LINK router which had a D-LINK wireless (WiFi) adapter added.

There was a second PC at the opposite end of the house connecting to the router via a USB Wireless Adapter and this was the one not working

I found a bunch of malware and evidence of a lot of porn so was not surprised it was faulty.

Returned with it to my workshop and connected to my network, then spent several hours scanning and cleaning with various anti-malware and antivirus programs.

I also was not happy the 3rd Party firewall so uninstalled it and installed a new one. I was able to see my wireless network so I returned to the house and reinstalled the box and found the wireless adapter was working again.

Great!!!!

I had a look at what networks were visible and found 4. Two had unique names and 2 were just D-LINK. All were strong but only one of the 4 was secured so I had the client watch while I powered off the router and restarted it.

As I suspected it was one of the unsecured D-LINK’s.

I went to the lounge computer and tried to get into the router but found it was password protected. It appears he was with a new “Partner” and the Lounge computer was hers. He rang her at work but she had no idea what the password was.

I extracted the email password and tried it but that was no good so we rang again and was told her next day off was the following Saturday.

I suggested that I call then, and we would phone her ISP’s help line and get them to issue a temporary password then I would reset the router and set it all up again. I arranged for her to phone me on the Friday and confirm that she would be home.

I was paid for what I had done and left.

Friday came and nothing…

I rang on Saturday but no reply so called on Monday and she apologised but she had forgotten, so the arrangement was to be repeated the next weekend.

There was no call so I gave up and can only presume it is still running unprotected.

Bigpond SpeedTouch 536 won’t route

Computer Aid Posted on by

A simple situation… I’d done this many times before… but this time it won’t work.

Customer had a bigpond speedtouch 536 modem. They also had a PC, 2 laptops, and a Lexmark MultiFunction Laser printer/scanner/fax/copier.

While transferring some data for them, they mention a few problems (like having to constantly have to plug/unplug the ethernet cable… scanner not working, etc.

I say: the unplugging ethernet ports can be fixed: I just install a wireless router (netgear WGR614), and you can connect the laptops over WiFi, as well as the computer and printer via ethernet cable (printer has an ethernet port, but its currently using USB).

They say sure. So I do the usual: grab the wireless router out of the car, plug the speedtouch modem into the “internet” port of the WGR614, plug the PC into one of the ports in the router, then connect to the router (so I can configure the wireless security).

Well, I can configure the router, but I can’t get to the internet…speedtouch536

The router obtains the correct IP address (via DHCP) from the modem… but internet traffic doesn’t get from PC to modem.

I figure: maybe its a DOA faulty router… So I take it back to the office… where it works perfectly.

I take it back to the customer, try again… and I get the same problem.

The modem works fine, the router works fine, but they won’t work together… this shouldn’t be happening, unless Bigpond have locked the modem… but that shouldn’t cause a problem either… I even disabled firewalls, Norton, connected my own (non-norton) laptop, but no go.

I also realise that this really needs to be resolved because the Lexmark printer is one of these new breed of stupid printers that will not scan over the USB port… it must be done over a network.

We eventually agree to use a netgear DG834G (wifi modem router), and retire the old modem.

It all goes smoothly after that… the printer even seems smart enough, that it doesn’t need to be allocated a fixed IP address… it gets its IP address from the router via DHCP, and the PC printer drivers detect the printers name (rather than expect a fixed IP address)… Well done Lexmark.