Help!: no luck w/modem->router connection via serial cable

[spokes]

I'm trying to set-up a simple wireless network, connecting to a dial-up ISP via an internal modem from one laptop and then using a serial cable to a wireless router -- so that I can be wireless on another laptop.

The dial-up works on the "base" laptop, and the wireless signal is strong to the other laptop, but... the serial cable seems to be not delivering anything to the router. What am I doing wrong? Is there any driver necessary to enable the router's serial port? the router (D-Link 713P) was working great in a cable broadband set-up, but now, temporarily, I am away from broadband and am desperate!!! Thanks for any help.

 

[bozo1]

It's not going to work what you are trying to do.

That serial port is only for connecting an external analog dial-up modem to the router to be used as backup if your broadband connection goes down. To use it, you'll have to have both of your PC's connected to the router either via Ethernet or wireless and an external modem connected to the serial port.

 

[spokes]

Thanks Bozo1.

I tried what you suggested with an external USRobotics Sportsmodem 56k x2 (that's the one before V.90 - i dug out from my attic - used to work fine) but for some reason i can't get my sony notebook to recognize it... it doesn't sense new hardware (in win98) when connected for the first time via the serial cable and if i ignore that and install the drivers (newest drivers available from 3com site) it still does not find the modem. .. so that's why i tried the other notebook route via its internal modem...

something is up with that serial cable connection either way. Any more thoughts?

hoping to get rid of the short telephone wire soon,
spokes

 

[bozo1]

There are no drivers to install.

You connect it to the router. You then configure the router itself with the information needed to connect to your ISP - phone number, userid, password, etc. The router would then use that modem just like it would use a DSL or cable connection, allowing your connected PC's to share the connection. Page 29 in the manual.

And make sure you have a regular modem cable - not a null-modem cable.