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General discussion

how to use new ISP (time warner) with old wireless router

by ratmonkey Jul 15, 2008 6:33AM PDT

I'm not sure if this is in the appropriate section but I thought I'd give it a shot since my last question posted on here was answered quickly and was extremely helpful.

I just moved into a new apartment and got cable and internet hooked up today. We went with Time Warner cable connection with an RCA modem. However, they did not provide a router. The only router we have atm is a Verizon Actiontec MI424-WR from my roomate's old apartment. He doesn't know if he has any of the software for the verizon router. I was wondering if it was possible to connect the new modem and isp to the verizon router or if the verizon router had a firewall against other isps and how to bypass it if this is the case. Any suggestions on how to get our wireless network up and running without buying a new router would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

10 Posts
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Look for ports. . .
by Coryphaeus Jul 15, 2008 8:52AM PDT

if the input port on the router is RJ-45, maybe. If it is RJ-11, definite nope. If it's RJ-45 all you can do is try.

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If It Was A Verizon Router, Then ....
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Jul 15, 2008 12:04PM PDT

..it may be a combo DSL modem/router.. If that's the case, then it may not support what you want to do.. It's worth a try though...

As Wayne suggested above, look to see exactly which ports are there.. A standard router will have one "input" port which is an RJ-45 jack (ethernet cable size) and multiple "output" ports which are also RJ-45 size.. If my suspicions are correct, the Verizon router will have one "input" port which is an RJ-11 size (telephone cable for the DSL cable from the wall) and multiple RJ-45 "output" jacks which could run to multiple computers.. If that's the case, then it may not work..

Your only option would be to plug the RJ-45 cable from the cable-modem directly into one of the "output" ports, then run an ethernet cable from one of the other ports directly to the computer.. No guarantees but it might work.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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If it is really a Actiontec MI424-WR ...
by Edward ODaniel Jul 15, 2008 12:48PM PDT

You should have no problems using the router. Routers actually need no software to get them set up (the software that sometimes comes with them simply connects you to the router via the browser which you can do just as easily manually).

Plug the ethernet cable from the cable modem into the WAN port of the router then plug an ethernet cable into any of the 4 lan ports and to a computer that you will use to configure the router.

here is a link that shows the front and back of the Actiontec MI424-WR (which is a 802.11b/g router so it isn't too old and has decent range) -
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30022/51/

Here is a link to the router's user manual to assist you in accessing it and setting it up -
http://www.fiberfaq.com/admin/attachments/actiontec_mi424wr_manual.pdf

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MI424-WR doesn't work for me, either
by doughboydeluxe Jul 19, 2008 5:20AM PDT

I am having the same problem with the MI424. Verizon had provided me with this router for use with their FIOS service, but when I moved, I could not get it to work with AT&T internet. The internet works fine if I plug the ethernet cable directly into my laptop, and my laptop connects with the router without problem. When I plug the ethernet cable into the router, though, I cannot access the internet on my laptop. Neither Verizon nor AT&T customer support were very helpful. Any help?

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How are you connecting to the Internet?
by ctrl_alt_delete Jul 19, 2008 4:59PM PDT

For the following, I'm assuming that your service is DSL. I don't live in the US so forgive me if my assumption is wrong.

What I need to know from you is if AT&T requires a username and password to connect to their service? In other words, were you given a username and password when you signed up that they told you to use when connecting to the Internet?


1. If you DO have a username/password...

A. When you had the modem hooked up directly to the laptop, did you have to connect to AT&T by logging in first using Windows XP's "network connections" (or similar for other OSes), like when connecting to the Internet with an old-fashion dial-up modem?

OR

B. Did you have Internet access right away?

If situation A. is true, then hookup the modem to the router's WAN port and the router to your laptop. Next, you will need to access your router's setup page and look for something called "Internet Setup" or similar (I don't have your router so check your manual if you can't find it). You want to find a page that will let you select PPPOE and enter in your username and password. Save the configuration and now you should be able to access the Internet WITHOUT logging in with Windows XP.

If situation B. is true, then things will be more dicey since your modem is doing the login on your behalf. You will first need to find a way to access your MODEM's setup page and change the configuration from a "routed PPP" connection to a "bridged" connection (this is how my modem labels it). You will probably need to have the modem connected directly to your laptop in order to do so. Next, hookup the modem to the router WAN port and your router to your laptop. Follow the same steps for situation A above for programming your router with your login information. Basically what you've done is delegate the modem's task of logging-in to AT&T (technically creating a PPPOE session) to your router.


2. If you don't have a username/password...

Then hookup the modem to your router's WAN port and the router to your laptop. Access your router's setup page and look for something called "Internet Setup" or similar. Look for a selector that will let you choose DHCP. I don't think you'll need to enter any other info so go ahead and "Save changes". Hopefully that will work, if not then post back and we'll see what else we can do!

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I see you mentioning ...
by Edward ODaniel Jul 20, 2008 7:19AM PDT

that you "plug in" but I haven't seen anywhere that you mention taking advantage to the link to the User Manual that is necessary for configuring the router and different ISPs require different settings for the router.

configure yours.

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Help please!!
by pilotzulu Jun 4, 2009 6:05AM PDT

Hi,

I have Time Warner Cable and I have a LinkSys Wireless G 2.4 GHz WRT54G Router. If i connect my computer computer directly into the Internet Cable modem that Time Warner provided..then the Internet works...but if i connect it to my router...and then connect via wireless...I can connect to the router but I cant connect to the internet? I checked my router settings and it shows "Automatic DHCP" instead of PPPoE since its a cable modem i dont think its a PPPoE..right? Anyone have any suggestions of what i can do..!?!

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And are you ???
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jun 4, 2009 6:27AM PDT

To move from cable to router many forget to:

1. Power down the cable modem.
2. Move the ethernet wires around.
3. Power up the cable modem.
4. Wait for blinky lights to stop.
5. Turn on the router.

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IT WORKED!!!
by pilotzulu Jun 4, 2009 7:02AM PDT

Thanks for the suggestion!! It WORKED!!! yay!

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Sorry.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jun 4, 2009 7:07AM PDT

How could one forget what no one told them?

Sorry about that. But I'm glad it was the usual.
Bob

PS. Feel free to chastise me.

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