Home Networking / Router / & WiFi Gateway Help

[chewbkka]

Finally I got rid of those terrible Gateway router thanks to all of you and they put in a Netgear WNR1000v2 which seems to be working well.but I having problems setting up my Roku model N1100( a basic one). When I type in the correct network and password, Roku can't find it and asks me to add a MAC address to my router.well I tried looking to find where do I add this but can't seem to find the location.CAn anyone help me with this. Thanks for all your help.

[sabretooth]

First of all turn off all security on the router and connect with NO security to see if you can connect to the correct SSID you have set up.  Once done and verified go back and add your security WPA2-AES with your password.  See if that helps.

[chewbkka]

I am on the Netgear router page. where do I disable the security and reconnect. sorry but i am a novice at this.

[sabretooth]

Select advance and now go through all the tabs so you can see all the features of the router.  Under wireless and security you can select none.

[chewbkka]

this was in the wireless setting;

Wireless Network Name (SSID): Region:   Channel:   Mode:   Security OptionsNone   WEP WPA-PSK [TKIP] WPA2-PSK [AES] WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]

WPA/WPA

do I turned off the security options hit apply then reinstall the previous settings

[chewbkka]

this was the only thing under advance wireless setting.

Wireless Advanced Setting Enable Wireless Router Radio Enable SSID Broadcast Enable WMM (Wi-Fi multi-media) Settings Fragmentation Length (256-2346) CTS/RTS Threshold (1-2347) Preamble Mode   WPS Settings Router's PIN: 29762934 Disable Router's PIN Keep Existing Wireless Settings

[sabretooth]

Great, select NONE for security for now.  Also, disable your WPS PIN and leave it disabled.  Now try to connect the ROKU with no security to see if it connects at all.

[chewbkka]

ok I tried turning off the security and went to the roku and still it won't connect. then I turned the security back on using the WPA2-PSK [AES]. before it was WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]. still the roku hasn't connected. they still need to add the MAC address. any other suggestions. thanks

[chewbkka]

 I turned everything off like you said and still no connection to the Roku

[sabretooth]

Can the Roku find your SSID on your router?

[chewbkka]

yes it does. then I click on the network put in the password wait for the connection. then it comes back needing to have the mac address added to the router.

[sabretooth]

Well something is wrong because you turned off the security so no password prompt should be presented.  Make sure you have the MAC filter (Wireless Card Access List) is off.

[Baric]

Well, the WNR1000v2 is not really a step up here.  While it basically works, it will never be a great router with good range and performance.  I highly recommend you go and buy your own decent wireless router, like the Linksys E3200 or Netgear WNDR4000, or something similar.

If you want to try and use the WNR1000v2, then if you got it from Comcast you have no clue what state it was previously in, so the first thing I would recommend is you reset it to factory defaults.  To do that, make sure the router is plugged in and nothing is connected on the LAN or WAN ports, then press and hold the recessed Reset button for more than 5 seconds.  The lights on the front will start to cycle to indicate a reboot.  Once the router is up, it should now be in a clean default state, with NO MAC address filtering in place.  Connect it back up and log into the router's admin interface and if you ahve to disable wireless security as you did before.  Now attempt to connect with the Roku.  Any better?  If not, go into the router's firewall setting and turn off IP Flood detection and try again. If it connect, go and turn on wireless security (WPA2PSK with AES) and choose a strong password.  You will have to connect again with the Roku, this time it should ask for a password, give it the wireless password you configured on the router.

Oh, and after the reset to factory defaults, if your computer can't get to the Internet, make sure you power cycle/reset your cable modem.

[chewbkka]

thakns for all the device. right now I am totally spent. I still have the Linksys E3200 that I bought last week for the Gateway. Tomorrow first thing is to reinstall the Linksys E3200 and see what happens. the tech who install the comcast router did say I did have a bar stronger on the wifi with the Linksys E3200. The tech was good as he install a separate router and modem for me. if not then I will try the above method.

also I contacted Roku support and awaiting for their response.

thanks

[chewbkka]

Ok after all the frustartion I did I did all the changing of the accounts and settings and basically said FRAK it and put the Linksys E3200on the wall and try config. it the roku but it must be me not putting in the correct connections because once I had a certain connection the Cisco router I had gotten roku but no home internet access so I had to go back and put the ethernet back into the Netgear router and runa erthernet to the liks rounter and put it in the internet designation on the back of the LInks E3200. I am totally confused and tired so I am taking a break.

thanks

[Baric]

Do NOT use both routers at once,  Connecting routers in series leads to double NAT situations and that can cause all kinds of odd problems.  Not recommended unless you really know what you are doing and know how to modify the settings on the downstream router.

Recommended setup:

1. Coax to cable modem

2. Ethernet from cable modem to WAN/Internet port on the router

3. Ethernet from LAN port on the router to the Roku.  Or...

4. Wireless link from the Roku to the router.

It should not matter what router you use as long as it is a decent model in good working order.  To insure a clean state, follow your router's manual for resetting it to factory default settings before starting over.

Problems like having connection on one device but not another are usually wiring related, as in the etherent cables are not plugged into the proper ports.

[chewbkka]

Ok here is the update on my 8 hour attack of the modem. somehow after earlier attemps trying to switch software where you change this or check this I decided to add the other router. since it has more strength the tech said it would harm the Netgear router. Well after trying a couple of things with it and trying to set the links e3000 with the modem, somehow I reset the factory settings on the roku and finally got it to work to be denied by netflix with a code activation. when going back to get another the page wouldn't allow me access a new code. so I started playing around with the wireless connections and then I lost all internet connections so I had to revert back to the beginning of everything. I did a complete loop of being a dimwit for trying this. I have now internet connection, a weak wireless(Netgear) and no Roku. so I am back to square one. a complete waste of a day. I am going to get a shot and a beer and maybe with someones help( I need step by step) could help me . I do really appreciate everyone's help so far.

[chewbkka]

I am sitting in my basement looking at both routers thinking wouldn't it be easy to take the cables off the netgear and put them in the same spots on the LinksE3200 and power it up. Is it that easy or am I making it complicated.

[Baric]

It is as simple as that, with one addition, you have not said what cable modem you are using.  Exact model would be nice.  I would connect things like this:

1. Disconnect the ethernet and coax from the cable modem.
2. If the cable modem has telephony ports (ie voice telephone jacks), then press and hold the Reset button on the back until the unit reboots.  Otherwise, simply remove the power cable for 10 seconds or so then plug it back in.
3. Connect the coax back up to the cable modem and let the modem connect to Comcast.  Wait for it to stablize.
4. Disconnect the ethernet and power from the Netgear router and set it aside.
5. Connect an ethernet cable from the ethernet port on the cable modem to the WAN/Internet port on the Linksys E3200.  It's important that you get this in the right port on the router, if you plug into one of the LAN ports, things won't work properly.
6. Connect the E3200's power cord and plug it in.  Wait for it to finish booting.
7. Connect your computer's ethernet cable to one of the free LAN ports on the E3200 and reboot the computer.

At this point you should be up and running on the Internet through the new router.  Now follow the router's instructions to configure it for wireless usage.  Then attempt to connect the Roku as per it's instructions.

If the computer doesn't connect to the Internet, run "ipconfig /all" on it and post the output here.

[chewbkka]

Ok Thanks to everyone who help me with this problem. I decided the other day to calm myself and really follow the directions of everyone including the Linksys E3200 cd. so I discennect everything and place everything in the right port, discoonect the power source and the ethernet cable on the back of the computer and started from scratch. after a half hour I did it. I think the earlier problem was the tech guy had me use my laptop to connect the new router and this time I used my home desktop. well once I reconnect the pc ethernet cable established a internet connection, follow the directions on the cd everything went well. next was Roku and it was simple there once I had a more powerful connection. so far everything has been working great. keeping my fingers cross. But Thanks to everyone who sent help.

[Baric]

Excellent.  Enjoy.