My mother-in-law has recently got herself connected to Post Office broadband. However, it doesnt seem to want to work!

The Modem is indicating that the line is connected and the PC is connected. There was no installation CD and the instructions say you just need to plug-and-go.

It has added a new network connection, called "internet connection" and it says it is connected.

However, when you go into IE, it just gives an error page (DNS error).

TCP/IP settings are set to auto, the router has allocated an IP address to the PC and i can ping the router from the PC.

It seems to my inexperienced mind that its a DNS error.

Its a NetGear ethernet modem.

Any ideas?

What does ipconfig /all show?

Chris

You haven't got proxy server ticked have you?

No i've not got proxy server ticked.

I did an ipconfig /all but amazingly I cant remember everything that it said !!

What should I be looking for?

Just copy and paste it in here........

Chris

That may be a little difficult as I'm not there at the moment (because their broadband connection doesnt work )

You've got ADSL filters on every phone line and it's not on a line extension?

You've got ADSL filters on every phone line and it's not on a line extension?

Correct.

The Modem says everything is OK and the broadband is present at the PC. They just cant access it.

The modem is an ethernet modem (not USB) branded "Post Office" but it is clearly a Netgear one in a very thin disguise.

That may be a little difficult as I'm not there at the moment (because their broadband connection doesnt work )

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-35-78-BA-E8

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.110

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

You want to make sure that the gateway and dns servers point at the router....

Chris

Ah yes. I tried that.

I went into the TCP/IP settings of the ethernet card and changed the settings:

IP address 192.168.0.2

subnet mask 255.255.255.0

gateway 192.168.0.1

DNS server 192.168.0.1

192.168.0.1 is the router and it pings OK. After I changed the settings I did a ipconfig /all and it returned the values I was expecting. It still diddnt work though.

Other things you can try are typing in the IP address directly into IE (eg

http://64.233.183.147

is google). Also a tracert to Google might show you how far it's getting although if it can't resolve the name it might barf straight away.

Can you telnet into the router to have a look at the settings?

Chris

Other things you can try are typing in the IP address directly into IE (eg

http://64.233.183.147

is google). Also a tracert to Google might show you how far it's getting although if it can't resolve the name it might barf straight away.

Can you telnet into the router to have a look at the settings?

Chris

I'll try that tomorrow

Helpfully they dont tell you what any of the settings should be nor is there an installation CD. The instructions just say "plug it in and it'll work"

Also, can you access the config page on the router? Unless they're significantly changed the firmware, there should be a router status page within Netgear config, that will give you a bit more info. Hit the 'Connection Status' button when you reach that page.

If you can do everything but gain net access and you say the router indicates a phoneline connection is present and live, I would expect to see a 'CHAPS authenication error' or 'LCP is allowed up' message when you hit the Netgear router status page.

I'm guessing the broadband connectivity is there, but the ISP account isn't live or account information is wrong.

Steve

Is the phone line upgraded to ADSL yet....sometimes takes a couple of weeks

Must be, if Goochie is reporting a 'line connected' light on the router. If ADSL wasn't enabled on the line, this wouldn't be lit, or would be flashing.

Steve

There is an ADSL line present.

I'll go round this evening and take some screen shots of various things to show you all later (I bet you cant wait! )

I spent an hour in the queue to talk to their tech support last night - but having had a google when I got home, it turns out the Post Office broadband support is provided by BT technicians..... who give priority to BT customers.

A usual case of getting what you pay for I'm afraid

I just wish the Post Office would concentrate on getting the basics right, like properly trained staff and getting post to its destination on time, before concentrating on extra services such as this

Anyway - rant over for now, look forward to screenshots

Steve

A usual case of getting what you pay for I'm afraid

I just wish the Post Office would concentrate on getting the basics right, like properly trained staff and getting post to its destination on time, before concentrating on extra services such as this

Anyway - rant over for now, look forward to screenshots

Steve

Apparently they've been targeting older folk with their broadband packages - because they can pay for it in cash over a P.O. counter (assuming its not been closed). Apparently its a doddle to set up as well so old folk wont have any technical problems :confused:

Use a browser to connect to the router at it's private ip address - probably 192.168.0.1 - from there you can check if it's managed to obtain a public ip address itself. Your private side might all be working but until the router hooks up with its dhcp server, you won't be able to access the outside world.

Does the ADSL server require a username/password? If so you need to configure them using the wizard on the router's website - see above.

Does the ADSL server require a username/password? If so you need to configure them using the wizard on the router's website - see above.

These seem to be a new fangled breed of routers that just plug in and go. I recently installed a Sky one and was expecting to have to get my hands dirty setting up everything, but it just worked. Hopefully if the router is open to http/telnet then you can see what's going on, otherwise you'll have to send it back :(

Chris

Yeah, they use a slightly modded firmware to get it to work - at least in the case of Sky routers I've seen.

Which is great, IF they work properly. If not, you can always flash it to standard firmware, but often getting username and password out of Sky can be tricky, and I'm sure 'providers' such as the PO will be the same.

Steve

So what about usr/pass settings. Do the post office jobs have them pre-configure'd ?

Goochie... you have tried setting everything to DHCP havn't you ?

You have tried the obvious one of making sure IE is set up to use a LAN if it's ethernet or the correct connection and isn't trying to use the old modem still I assume.

I've done that myself before

So what about usr/pass settings. Do the post office jobs have them pre-configure'd ?

Goochie... you have tried setting everything to DHCP havn't you ?

The paperwork that comes with it makes no mention of passwords and/or usernames so I assume it is like the pre-configured Sky router Chris was looking at before.

I have set it to "DHCP enabled" under the Advanced tab of TCP/IP properties.

You have tried the obvious one of making sure IE is set up to use a LAN if it's ethernet or the correct connection and isn't trying to use the old modem still I assume.

I've done that myself before

Do I look stupid ?!?!

OK - dont answer that one :P;)