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Scoobing

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#58020 4-Mar-2010 17:12

Ok here goes:

My home network has never really worked properly. I can usually download torrents, play online games, use skype etc all reasonably well. But it's a bit unpredictable and will randomly act up.

I'm hoping if I lay it all out maybe someone can tell me where I'm going wrong, so here are how things are currently.

ISP: Telecom
Modem: 502t Gen 2 modem router
Router: Linksys WRt160N V3

Connected Devices:

PS3 Slim
iPhone
iPod touch 1G
2 new laptops
one desktop using a Belkin F6D4050

My PS3 and Desktop are in a sleepout around 20-30 metres away from the wireless router. Signal strength is not bad, and throughput is usually good, with it around 5.5 mbps which is close to my modem speed which is around 6.5 mbps.

Lately though the net connection is dropping, showing me 'resolving host' in chrome. The connection to the router is fine, but the internet goes down, sometimes for minutes, sometimes longer. I keep getting signout errors from playstation network on the PS3.

The router is set to mixed mode, using WPA-Personal security. If I try and set it to G only, it doesnt seem to broadcast out to the sleepout. If I set it to N only, then my PS3 and iphone cant find the network (obviously). The network adapter in the desktop wont work if i plug it directly into a usb port, but if I use a usb hub, and stretch it so it is ontop of the case, then it picks up the network.

The routing functions on the modem are not disabled, but last time i tried to get the linksys to handle authenticating the internet it didnt work, has anyone else managed to set up a linksys router in front of a 502t modem from telecom?

Thanks for reading all that, happy to give more info, I just want a more stable network running.

Ragnor

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#304505 4-Mar-2010 18:26

Can you post the the line stats from the 502T admin ui (line attenuation, signal to noise ratio etc)?

It's likely it could be a problem with your house wiring, your phone line or it could just be the D Link 502T acting up.

Probably the easiest way to rule out the D Link 502T as the problem is to try another modem/router, if you can.

Also you're effectively running two routers, so traffic has to pass through NAT twice, this can mess with gaming quite a bit.

Almost all ADSL in NZ uses PPPoA so you can't use the Linksys to control the authenticating and dialing of the modem like you can with PPPoE.

I believe the 502T can do half bridging to get around the double NAT problem. You may have to update the firmware on the device if it's running a pretty old version.

Even though you have different hardware you should be able to setup your devices similar to this setup:
http://www.ben.geek.nz/2006/11/adsl-routing-solution-in-detail/

Scoobing

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Geek
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#304541 4-Mar-2010 19:59

Hi Ragnor,

Thanks for replying - I have been wondering about why PPPoE didn't work for ages, thanks for clearing that up!

I'm going to try and get the modem to half bridge following that guide you gave me. What I'd like to do is maybe get an all in one router/modem but I don't want to spend any further money at this point.

Here are my line details:

Item
Downstream
Upstream
Unit
SNR Margin
12
12
dB
Line Attenuation
22
9
dB
Data Rate
6462
847
kbps

Hmm sorry the formatting messed up when I pasted it in. I had some trouble with line noise a while back but I rang up Telecom and they sorted it. I think it must be the double NAT causing alot of my troubles.

Would it also be a problem that its a wireless N router but then most devices are actually G. I went with an N router purely for range reasons.

cyril7

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#304553 4-Mar-2010 20:12

Hi 22dB attenuation as indicated by your modem should support speeds at least twice what you have, what other phone devices do you have, are they all filtered, this includes the alarm system and Sky box should you have one.

Also check out your location at www.telecomwholesale.co.nz/maps and check if you should be in a ADSL2 area.

Cyril

Scoobing

44 posts

Geek
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#304569 4-Mar-2010 20:46

Hi Cyril,

I checked on that map it told me my exchange was recently upgraded with ADSL2+ technology. The info from the modem shows an ADSL2+ connection, however I think I recall one of the Telecom helpdesk people telling me the D-link 502t Gen 2 was not very compatable with ADSL2+, even though it says ADSL2+ on the device itself.

I checked around the house, the skybox does not have a filter attached, when all other devices do. It looks like I need another filter, the ones I have are D-Link 12 MF NZ inline filters, are they sufficient? Where can I buy them from?

One more thing, by virtue of house layout, not choice the cordless phone docking station is sat right by the modem and router. It is a 5.8Ghz Panasonic cordless phone, do you think it would interfere with wireless throughput?

Cheers,

cyril7

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#304690 5-Mar-2010 09:58

Hi, a 5.8GHz cordless phone should be ok with normal 802.11b/g wifi (ie 2.4GHz) so thats not a problem, the WRT160N is a 2.4GHz only AP.

Yes the 502 is not the best of DSL2 players, I would try anything other than a 502. I can recommend the DSE XH9949 they are only $70 and run the Broadcom chipset that is optimal for Telecoms new DSLAMS, with DSE's no question return policy its a no brainer. These units are actually TP-Links in DSE colours/badging. It will come with a filter for that Sky box.

For now just pull the plug on the Sky Box, it does not need the phone line unless you want to book a PPV movie/Event. How many filters/phones do you have across the line, if you have more than 4-5 devices then you really need to think about a central filter. For a test now just pull all the filters and phones off the line so the only thing connected is the DSL modem, now check your line stats.

As for double nating, I strongly urge you to not do that, easiest way is to turn the DHCP server off in the WRT160 and connect it to your modem via one of the LAN ports, not the WAN port. Ultimately to ease setup I recommend that you change the LAN address of the WRT to one that does not clash with the modems IP address pool (which it wont with the Dlink but will with most others) but dont worry about that yet.

Cheers
Cyril

Scoobing

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Geek
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#304847 5-Mar-2010 16:51

Hi Cyril,

I managed to find another inline filter for the skybox, I only have 2 devices connected to the line and they both have filters. The downspeed went up to around 7500 kbps which is great.

I think I will pop into DSE to buy that XH9949 router on Monday. In the meantime for better PS3 gaming should I just plug the 502t into a LAN port on the back of my WRT160N? and turn off DCHP in the WRT160N, is that all I need to do?

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cyril7

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#304854 5-Mar-2010 17:29

Hi, yes but be aware that to make any further changes in the WRT (after turning off the DHCP) will not be possible without fixing your PC address, but dont worry about that for now as I am pretty sure the XH9949 and WRT160 have the same address space, so wait till then I will check for you over the weekend when I get a chance.

Cyril