What is causing the connection problem?

Question

I bought a wirless internet connection hub and can only have one comp connected at a time. If the cable is plugged into the hub, then the laptop can connect, but not the desktop. What could be causingthis and how can I fis the problem?

Router make is D-Link, model # DL-524.

There is a wireless card in the desktop.

Answer 1

Are you meaning a Wireless Router? If it is not configured properly this could occur. Is your ISP one which states you can only have one IP Addess? Sometimes this is the case and the ISP does not allow more than one connection from that service. In this situation you need to clone your first computers MAC Address into the Router. It is not difficult, but the steps are a bit lengthy. To clone your MAC Address do this:

To configure a Router for Broadband Internet Sharing:

To use a router to share your Internet access, you need to duplicate the setting used by your computer in the router's configuration. To view these settings use IPConfig.

Click Start-Run, and type: cmd and hit Enter. When the command prompt opens, at the prompt type: ipconfig /all and the information you need will appear in the window. There is a space between ipconfig and /all.

If DHCP is in use all you need to record is the MAC address of the adapter for the PC connected to the Router. It is usually listed by the manufacuters name, such as a Belkin Pre-n or Linksys, or DLink etc. Write down that number. It usually is a combination of numbers and letters such as this:
e3:b7:c8:4t:9H, etc.

Open your browser and type in the IP Address of your Router to access the configuration page. If you set a password enter it and click the appropriate button to open it. If you did not enter a password, just click the key as it one were in it. It is a good idea to set a password for your Router configuration page, but you can do that later. Just follow the instructions, it is really simple, just make sure you Save any changes you make.

In the configuration pages, click the link to the Clone MAC Address section, or whatever wording your particular Router configuration page uses.

The best way to clone this is to do a Copy/Paste, but you can simply type it in the appropriate boxes too. Make sure you follow the instructions in the page, or your users manual.

Once the computers MAC address is in the Router, your ISP will not know how many computers you add to your network. Your ISP will only see the main computers MAC Address and not any other computer. ISPs use the Adapers MAC address to know which computer is connected at any given time. So, if your particular ISP restricts to only one computer and you try to hook up a different computer with a different Adaper, then it does not allow the connection. Also, a few ISPs are mean enough to terminate your account as they think you voided the contract. They like to bill by how many computers you connect to their service. Rather nasty of them, but some are that way. Some are not though, mine isn't, I didn't have to clone my MAC address, but did so anyway.

Now, if you have any problems, there is a book which you can consult. It is a very good book, has step by step instructions and it is easy to follow. The book is not expensive and has a lot more information too, like adding entertainment devices such as an Xbox, DVR recorders, TiVo, etc. It is called,

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Netowrking, by Mark Edward Soper

I used it when I first started hooking up and configuring both my home and work networks. It really is well worth getting as it explains everything so simply and has such great step by step instructions and includes troubleshooting tips too.

Good luck and don't forget to configure your Wireless Security! That is fully explained in the book too, and is really important if you don't want War Drivers and nieghbors hooking up to your Wireless Access Point, if you have one, and using your connection for Internet Access or worse, getting into your computer files!

Have a great day.

Answer 2

Need a LOT more information to help with this one... My best guess from the information you have provided is that the software is not set up properly. A quick phone call to tech support should fix it. I had a somewhat similar problem when I first bought my hub and the whole call to tech support only took about 6 mins. (3 mins holdtime)

Answer 3

Sounds like you might be having a duplicate ip address problem. Click, start/run type in cmd hit enter type in ipconfig/all hit enter if the ip addresses are the same that's your problem. When you look at that screen does it say DHCP ENABLED ---- Yes??? If it does you need to login to your router and allocate more ips for the dhcp score. Post back the make and model of your router for more help....

Answer 4

You have to have a wireless card to access the wireless part of a wireless router most pc's do not have them. Most newer laptops do. There should be a wireless program in your laptop if it is XP it has a built in one to find wireless signals. Also make sure the wireless is turned on,on the router.