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[Sydelbow]

Motorola SBV4200 Cable Modem, hooked up with a Linksys Wireless-G 2.4GHz Broadband Router.


I need to know why this combo might not work with a mac computer.

I dont need to hear how linksys is crap and I should have D-Link or Netgear or or or.
No, it's not possible that one or the other machine is defective. Everyone else's computer works when I get logged off, and then my system can't find the router, or 'has trouble joining."


And yes, I avoided posting this question for a very long time, so I have finally hit the last straw, rebooting my machine seven times this hour.

[$hellCoDR]

Hey Syd!

Well, there is no reason that this combo would not work with a mac computer.  Since, technically, the "Cable Modem" is actually a "Network Bridge" behind the router, short of being in the Twilight Zone, it should have nothing to do with your problem.  However, we can determine for sure.  A couple questions though:

1.  I assume based on what you wrote that you are connecting via wireless from your Mac to the Router.  I also assume upon the same basis that you are able to connect, but not at the same time as another computer (a PC for instance).  Is this correct ?
2.  What exact model Linksys router do you have and what is the firmware version?  The model will be written on the unit.  (ie: WRT54G, which is the one I have btw).  The firmware version can be found by connecting using your computer to the ip address: 192.168.1.1 and the default password if you never changed it is "admin".  There is no username.  (FYI:  for our purposes, I suggest you use the Mac because I need more info from the router while your Mac is connected).  After you do this, you will be in the router control panel, and the firmware version will be listed in the top right corner.
3.  With your Mac connected, while in the router control panel, go to the "status" page and then to the "Local Network" subpage and click on "DHCP Clients Table", post all the info that you see.


Following this, you will need to backup your settings, download new firmware from Linksys website, update firmware and then test again.

The reason that I would like to see what the "DHCP Clients Table" says is to determine if the ip config is recognized properly on both the Mac and the router.  I'd also like you to go to the Mac and open up a console terminal (xtrm) and run the command "ifconfig".

[Sydelbow]

Hi Shell

This is basically how it works:
PC User and Mac User sit down next to eachother.
PC User and Mac User get online.
PC User and Mac User play for undetermined length of time.

Mac User suddenly gets kicked off the f'ing internet.

Mac User "has trouble connecting" to a router that it doesnt know is there.
After a reboot, sometimes it gets back on, sometimes it doesnt.
Sometimes it knows its there, sometimes it doesnt.
Sometimes when it doesnt know its there, after a few "Try Again!"'s, it will say "none of your trusted wireless networks are found, do you want to try THIS ONE, that youve been typing in for the last ten minutes?"

Yes I do.

And then 99% of the time, it will let me on again.
Once or twice not even that will work, and I go take a break.

So, in short-- we're on at the same time. I just randomly get kicked off a lot. I'm saying its not a Mac hardware problem because it never happens at my own house. Only at my friends house. Very frustrating.

Model of the router (and firmware version??) and a copy of the DHCP Clients Table info I can get you when I'm back over there this weekend. If I can get connected in the first place.


Back up which settings?


ifconfig, or ipconfig? Just making sure its not a typo.

[$hellCoDR]

The command is "ifconfig", not "ipconfig".  "ipconfig" is a Windows command to bring up the ip address and related information (ie: Internet Gateway addr, Subnet Mask, etc...).  In Unix, the command to do essentially the same thing is called "ifconfig".  Since Mac is Unix (FreeBSD) based, if memory serves, the correct command is def. "ifconfig".  This should allow you to get the current IP address and default Gateway address when the Mac is connected.  Do the same thing for the PC if possible using the "ipconfig" utility (assuming Windows is the OS).

[PsiFire]

Sounds like it might be a DHCP issue. Try setting her up with a static IP address. The DHCP lease might be timing out too soon and wreaking havok.

[$hellCoDR]

Yea, I was thinking about that too.

Syd, we can set that up if you like, just IM me and I'll walk you through it.

aol im:  magnitek

[Sydelbow]

lol okay i read this while connected on my mac and, rereading it, I am not sure I understand where to begin.
Maybe I can keep hoping it will suddenly simply stay connected on its own :/

[PsiFire]

IM myself and/or $hellCodr and we will get you setup with a static IP address to see if that helps your problem.

[Sydelbow]

there are 4 or 5 computers in the house. if i take mine out of the mix, does this affect their connections/ips? Or if i remove mine and then bring it back do i have to do it again? Do I have to do it each time I move to a different connection?

i alternate use between his linksys and my whatever here at home.

[Popsikle]

Its possible that the PC cards are forcing the wireless link to a speed your MAC card cant handle. (ie one of the mid term steps between 1mbps-11mbps)