Help with the creation of an internet network

[rthompson80819]

You have got a cable modem, not a DSL modem if it's using an f-connector.  In that case you are going to need the Optus box and buy a wireless router.  SA is primarily a cable supplier.

[Sid]

I got a bit confused [most likely through no fault of your own] at this point. The 'socket' that is embedded in the wall is not a phone line, nor an ethernet port, but a round cable that is the same on both ends [for refference, the guide that I'm looking at is http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/userguides2/4012160.pdf] - it is described as being a "F Connector", or an "RF Cable".

The ZyXEL doesn't have an input for that, so I plugged in the phone line from the "tel1" port in the optus to the "DSL" in the ZyXEL. Then I used an ethernet cable from the ZyXEL to the computer, but the result was a connection with "little or no connectivity", and when I try to get onto the 'http://192.168.1.1' I get a "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" message. So that makes it impossible to move on.....am I plussing things in wrong?

Thanks!

With this one, is it the same 'plug layout' as the one above? By that, I mean, is the ZyXEL plugged via phone line to the tel1 port on the Optus box [a Scientific Atlanta dpc2203C model]? Or is it just standing alone?

Thanks so much for your help, though...

My fault, I assumed you had ADSL, you've got Cable, so you need to go with option 2.

Basically, take the tel1 <-> dsl cable out, and put an ethernet cable between the two, and re-config the DHCP settings on the Zyxel.

If you get stuck, come back and I'll expand.

[nightreaper]

My fault, I assumed you had ADSL, you've got Cable, so you need to go with option 2.

Basically, take the tel1 <-> dsl cable out, and put an ethernet cable between the two, and re-config the DHCP settings on the Zyxel.

If you get stuck, come back and I'll expand.

Your expansion would be greatly appreciated...I'm a lay-person 

[Sid]

Approach 2:

Disconnect all cables from the Optus box and put it to one side.

Plug Zyxel box in, with the ethernet (normally yellow) to your computer.

Browse to http://192.168.1.1

The default password is 1234, enter this when prompted by the website (or use your custom password as applicable).

Select "Go to Advanced setup"

Select "LAN" in the left-hand column

Select "DHCP Setup"

Disable DHCP -- I'm not sure where the box/button you need to press is, as I don't have a screen shot of it available.

Select IP (in the LAN menu)

Change the IP address to 10.1.1.254 (subnet mask of 255.255.255.0)

Unplug the Zyxel box

Plug the Optus box back in

NOTE: It is also worth setting the Optus box up so that it doesn't assign 10.1.1.254 to something else (unlikely but possible).  To do that:

Browse to http://10.1.1.1

Click Advanced Setup

You're looking for DHCP, and you need to modify the range so the highest one available is 10.1.1.253.  If you get stuck attach some screen shots, because I'm guiding you blind here, sorry.

Plug the Zyxel box in to the power and attach an ethernet cable (normally yellow) from the Optus to the Zyxel.

Attach an ethernet cable from the Zyxel to your desktop.

The network should now work, and you should have wireless.

Finally:

Let me know how you get on.

If you get stuck, screen shots would be a MASSIVE help

[nightreaper]

Sorry for the late reply, and therefore the gravedig, but I keep getting the same problem.

When I just have the ZyXEL [this was a while ago, so this is my router/modem] plugged into the computer [following the above method]. then whenever I put anything in the http:// bar I just get a "cannot connect to the internet" message. That includes when I put in http://192.168.1.1 , so that sort of paralyses me from going any further with that plan...sorry for yet another downer.

[Sid]

Sorry for the late reply, and therefore the gravedig, but I keep getting the same problem.

When I just have the ZyXEL [this was a while ago, so this is my router/modem] plugged into the computer [following the above method]. then whenever I put anything in the http:// bar I just get a "cannot connect to the internet" message. That includes when I put in http://192.168.1.1 , so that sort of paralyses me from going any further with that plan...sorry for yet another downer.

Ok, no problem.

Is there a reset button on the ZyXEL?  If so, try pressing it in for about 10 seconds or so (while plugged into the power), and that should reset all the settings on it to the defaults.

If not, try plugging only the ZyXEL into the computer and running ipconfig and replacing 192.168.1.1 with what is listed as the default gateway
(Start -> Run -> type "cmd" -> press Enter -> type "ipconfig" -> press Enter

[nightreaper]

Start -> Run -> type "cmd" -> press Enter -> type "ipconfig" -> press Enter

I tried that, and the IP is not 192.168.1.1, but how do I change that? In other news, I tried using another port of the ZyXEL to plug into another computer, but the connection just spent a really long time 'initializing' before returning a 'little or no connectivity', and after troubleshooting, Windows identified the problem as "'Local Area Connection' does not have a valid IP configuration".

[Sid]

replacing 192.168.1.1 with what is listed as the default gateway

Did you try that bit?  For example http://10.10.11.1 instead of 192.168.1.1?

It sounds like DHCP might already be off on it.

[nightreaper]

Thanks so much for your help, but as it turned out, we just bought a new router [I think that the overseas router just wasn't working].

Solved.