Not showing correct network speed

[Gustavus]

I just upgraded from a Motorola SB5121 to an SB6141. I'm with Comcast so what should have been a simple setup and swap has turned into a several day nightmare -- but the question is a simple one. I lost router and switch connectivity and all net access for a couple of days. Am now back to the simplest hookup possible. Incoming cable goes directly to the SB6141 and a length of Cat 6 cable connects the modem to the ethernet connector on a EVGA Z77 FTW motherboard. I have good download bandwidth -- measures 60 mbps consistently -- but the LED on the SB6141 is amber when it should be blue for a Gigabit connection -- which is what the port on the MB is.

This is the least of my problems, but thought I would ask. Only a modem that indicates when it is connected to a gigabit connection and a Cat 6 cable connecting to a MB which only has gigabit connectors out. But the modem is reporting 100 Mbps

Any ideas?

 

[JackMDS]

Your Internet connection is Not Giga.

To see Giga you need another device/computer that does Giga while both are connected to a Giga switch.

 

[Gustavus]

JackMDS
Thanks for the reply. Networking is my weakest suit when it comes to computers. When the router and switch were working there were several devices at Gigabit so the LED flashed when it was being used. If ever I can get the whole thing to operating again from what you said that will happen again.

The unfortunate thing is my only phone service is Ooma, so since I can't get the router and switch to work any more, I have no phone. If I connect the modem to the router -- which worked perfectly with the SB6121, I can no longer connect to the internet. Doing a ipconfig release and renew does no good. Nothing else was changed. Cable disconnected from the SB6121and connected to the SB6140 and the ethernet cable to the router replaced by an ethernet cable to the one computer. If I go back to the old configuration the computer can't even access the internet.

 

[Elixer]

The unfortunate thing is my only phone service is Ooma, so since I can't get the router and switch to work any more, I have no phone. If I connect the modem to the router -- which worked perfectly with the SB6121, I can no longer connect to the internet. Doing a ipconfig release and renew does no good. Nothing else was changed. Cable disconnected from the SB6121and connected to the SB6140 and the ethernet cable to the router replaced by an ethernet cable to the one computer. If I go back to the old configuration the computer can't even access the internet.

Unplug modem & router.
Plug modem in first, let it sync.
Now plug in router.
You should now be good to go.

 

[Gustavus]

Elixer, First, thanks.

I have of course power cycled the modem and router many times -- allowing plenty of time for the LEDs to stabilize. I have even powered down the computer and rebooted after the power cycle completed. Not being able to get the router and switch to work is major inconvenience. I have no phone, I can't access my server, the wireless LAN is off so the laptop is unavailable etc.

Oh, and I live in a remote rural area so am dependent on an AT&T Microcell to have cell phone coverage -- and it is off too. Wish I had paid more attention when they taught us about smoke signals in Boy Scouts.

 

[Elixer]

What router is this?
If the modem works directly to the computer, but not with the router, then it seems that the router isn't pulling DHCP correctly for some reason, perhaps there is a setting on it that is tied to the old modem's MAC address?

 

[Gustavus]

Elixer

It is a Linksys EZ6400. I have done the manual reset (paperclip etc) to factory settings. Did not help

 

[Gustavus]

Elixer

I have eliminated the router as the problem. Got out a D-Link Dir 655 which I know works without a problem made the simple install of modem to router, router to computer and can't go on internet, Have many ethernet cables here in the lab so all cables have been replaced.

So, bottom line I can get on the internet if it is just modem to computer, but not if a router is between the two. I have done ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew with no effect.

 

[Ketchup]

Gustaves, can you get on your network with the router, just not on the internet?

After you turned on the router, did you power cycle the modem?

 

[Gustavus]

No -- I cannot get on my network either. I have a printer server and a server which were connect to the router before the change of modem. Can't see or access either of them. And of course the most serious, The Ooma box can't see the cable so I have no phone.

I ran the following experiment which should have worked but didn't. I unplugged the ethernet cable from the modem to the computer with which I had internet access and plugged it into the Ooma box. It was never able to establish a connection. To my understanding that should have worked -- but just another inexplicable failure.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Normally, when you power-on a cablemodem, it "binds" to the first MAC it sees on the wire (LAN port). To get it to see another, you must power-cycle the modem.

It's possible (but unlikely) that Comcast also binds your account to a CPE MAC, which is either the WAN MAC of your router, or your PC NICs MAC.

Try powering up the modem, connected to your PC, then try connecting the router to the modem, the PC to the router, and have the router clone the PC's MAC address to its WAN MAC. The power-cycle the lot if necessary.

Edit: When you swapped modems, did you call Comcast to give them the new MAC on your modem, to register it with your account? Or did you go through the "walled garden setup" phase, with the new modem, and just your PC connected (no router)?

 

[Gustavus]

Thanks for the response.

Since my only phone access is the VOIP Ooma and a Microcell boosted cellphone I am in a Catch 22 situation. If I initiate the transfer of the MAC remotely, the moment Comcast "activates" the new modem MAC I am unable to communicate with them to go to the next step which is "authorization". Consequently I have to make a 50 mile round trip to the nearest Comcast Center where they can do both these steps, but they have no way of knowing whether the modem will log in or not. What they say is "It should work when you get home". I have now made two of these trips to town -- I've been trying to make the swap to the SB6140 for three days now. The second trip was necessitated by them having made an error in entering the MAC the first time so my modem was unable to connect to the net. I do have a receipt with the correst MAC shown for the last activation/authorization. The fact that I can go on net shows that Comcast does have this MAC associated with my account. That is the authorization part I think.

I have power cycled the modem and router more times that I can recall -- and in the course of that have connected the unpowered router to the stable/power modem thinking it might be like the usual power cycle in which the modem gets powered first and after it is stable the router gets powered.

I have acquired another SB6141 and may start the entire process over on Monday by driving the 50 mile round trip again. Not optimistic -- but have to get back to having phones, servers, printers, LAN etc. It is high risk for me to have no phone service since I live by myself in a remote rural location.

 

[Elixer]

Something isn't adding up here, once you call in with the new modem's MAC, they can authorize you on the spot. All they need is the MAC ID, and name of account.
Once that happens, you unplug old modem, plug in new modem, then reboot router.

Since your PC is plugged into the router, you should be able to go to the router's home page, and look at what it is telling you. You can also do this: http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=142526
Also check the router's logs, and see what it says.

 

[Gustavus]

Elixer,
My PC is not connected to my router. If I connect the router my computer reports no network connection. The link you gave says:

Step 1:
Connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable.

NOTE: If you want to set up the router using a wireless computer, then you may connect it to the default wireless network name (SSID). The default SSID and wireless password are located on the Quick Start Guide and also printed on the label located at the bottom of the router.

Step 2:
Launch your web browser and enter “linksyssmartwifi.com” in the Address bar, then press [Enter].

etc.

The CD that came with the router contains only documentation

I have connected the modem to the router and the router to the computer literally a dozen times and can not go further since a warning box pops up saying Local Area Connection 2 failed. As I said I have swapped routers and all cables but still get the same error box.

 

[Ketchup]

As Elixer mentioned, if you can't connect to the router correctly, it may help pinpoint the problem. Connect your pc to the router and see if you can get to it's configuration page.

 

[Gustavus]

ketchup79

"Correctly"? These are the connections

I connect the incoming cable to the modem. I connect the modem to the internet connector on the router with an ethernet cable. I connect the router to the computer. Is that what you consider to be correct?

I have done precisely that setup a dozen times -- even with a different modem and different ethernet cables

Of course as soon as I do that I have no way to communicate with anyone since I have no phones and no internet connection

 

[Ketchup]

ketchup79

"Correctly"? These are the connections

I connect the incoming cable to the modem. I connect the modem to the internet connector on the router with an ethernet cable. I connect the router to the computer. Is that what you consider to be correct?

I have done precisely that setup a dozen times -- even with a different modem and different ethernet cables

Didn't mean for focus on that, just wondering if you can get to the router setup.

 

[Gustavus]

ketchup79

Thanks. I will try again but will be off net and out of communication with the outside world -- if things go as they have until now -- until I go back to just the modem to computer and do a power cycle of the modem to get back on net

Going to try again

 

[Gustavus]

ketchup79

Well, I am back where I started. I followed the instructions in the documentation as far as I could -- connected the modem to the router. let the router settle etc. The third step says

Connect to the secure wireless name shown in the Quick Start Guide that
came with your router. (You can change the network name and password
later during router setup.) If you need help connecting to the network,
refer to your device documentation. Note: You will not have Internet
access until router setup is complete.

No quick start guide came with the router -- and I still have the original box and every thing in it -- so there is no secure wireless name -- nor have I ever been able to find one to use at the Linksys site. So could get no further than ever. Tried goingto 192.168.1.1 and got the same no network connection etc.

Thank goodness I was able to revert to the cable to modem, modem to computer - power cycle modem and get back on net. This has been my only connection to the outside world for nearly three days.

I can't even think of anything else to try.

 

[boomerang]

Suddenly, when I swapped routers, my SB6121 would not release the MAC is had bound to on the previous router. Power cycling the modem with nothing connected would not clear it. It took a lot of frustration and eventually a call to Arris for me to get my head wrapped around the MAC problem. I am not as knowledgeable as many of you. But once it was explained to me, it made perfect sense.

Normally I would power everything down. Then, with cat cables properly connected:

Power up the Modem and wait for lights to stabilize.
Power up the Router and wait for lights to stabilize.
Power up the Computer. (You could power it up or release/renew Gus. Newer computers just figure all this out while still running.)

And I would have an internet connection. No more, that will no longer work with my SB6121.

The last step I have to do now is power cycle the Modem again. Then I have an Internet connection.

Now, one would think that after doing that once, the MAC of the new router would be stored and everything would be set all set. Not so. We had a brief power outage the day after I got everything up and running and, no Internet connection. I once again had to power cycle just the Modem to get one.

When I talked with the tech at Arris he said that he had seen this problem before.

I am with Comcast. Once that modem is in place, they install whatever firmware updates they require. IMO, they have borked something. What concerns me is that if I am out of town and there is a power failure I will have no access to my files at home because my internet connection will be lost.

This is not good.

To make this simple Gus, without all the back story, power cycle the modem a second time with everything connected as you wish and see if you have an Internet connection. Based upon what I experienced, I think you will.

 

[Elixer]

No quick start guide came with the router -- and I still have the original box and every thing in it -- so there is no secure wireless name -- nor have I ever been able to find one to use at the Linksys site. So could get no further than ever. Tried goingto 192.168.1.1 and got the same no network connection etc.

If you can't connect to the router by going to the router's home page (which I guess is http://192.168.1.1/ ) then, what does your window's IP show?

Open up a command prompt, and type ipconfig.
You should see IPv4 Address and something like 192.168.1.x.
If that is NOT the case, and you have 169.x.x.x, then, you need to type ipconfig /renew.
Once that is done, you should have a IP address of 192.168.1.x and you should be able to get to the router's home page now, and see what is going on.

 

[Ertaz]

Gustavus,

What I recommend is the same first step as everyone else is, establishing communication to your router from your PC. Once you can log into the web interface of the router, I would set it up to spoof the mac of the locally attached PC that works in the alternate config.

The manual for the router is here:

http://resources-www.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/1224698289716/EA6400_combo_PDF_En-FrCA.pdf

On page 33, you will find the instructions on how Clone a MAc address:

How to clone a MAC address
On any home network, each network device has a unique MAC (Media Access
Control) address. Some ISPs register the MAC address of the device (usually a
router or a computer) connected directly to the modem. If your computer’s
MAC address is registered with your ISP and you do not want to re-register
the MAC address, then you can clone the address (assign the registered MAC
address of your previous device to your new router). If you want to use the
MAC address from an old router that you are replacing with your new router,
you should first determine the MAC address of your old router, then manually
enter it into your new router.
NOTE
For many ISPs that provide dynamic IP addresses automatically, the
stored MAC address in the modem is reset each time you reset the
modem. If you are installing this router for the first time, reset your
modem before connecting the router to your modem. To reset your
modem, disconnect power for about one minute, then reconnect
power.
To clone a MAC address from your computer:
1. Log into Linksys Smart Wi-Fi. (See “How to connect to Linksys Smart WiFi”
on page 7.
2. Under Router Settings, click Connectivity. The Connectivity page opens.
3. Click the Internet Settings tab.
4. Under MAC Address Clone, click Enabled.
5. Enter the 12-digit MAC address of your PC, then click OK.


That should alleviate the issue.

 

[Gustavus]

Many thanks to all of you who responded. I could not establish contact with my router from my computer, but my son-in-law brought over his lap top and we linked the laptop to the router with an ethernet cable. That was a crucial first step. After that it was a long and frustrating experience, but I now have my full net working again: LAN, USB server, printer server, Ooma phone. MicroCell through powerline adapters, shared files among four full tower computers, Laptop on net etc.

And speed test shows 60 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up which was why I upset the applecart in the first place

Again, thanks to all who responded to my call for help

 

[VirtualLarry]

These are the connections

I connect the incoming cable to the modem. I connect the modem to the internet connector on the router with an ethernet cable. I connect the router to the computer.

I think most of us assumed that you meant that you connected your router to your PC with an ethernet cable, above. Did you really mean wireless?

but my son-in-law brought over his lap top and we linked the laptop to the router with an ethernet cable. That was a crucial first step.

Just a note for the future, some routers will only allow themselves to be configured over a wired LAN connection, initially, for security reasons.

Was that the problem?

Glad you got it sorted, though.

 

[Gustavus]

Virtual Larry

The original configuration -- with the Motorola SB 6121 before I upgraded to the SB 6141 -- was the modem connected to the Linksys EA6400 router which was connected by a short ethernet cable to a D-Link 1105 gigabit switch. The only things that used the wireless connection were a Toshiba laptop and a computer in the HiFi room on the upper floor of the house. Connected by ethernet cables to the various ports on the router/switch were three computers, a printer server, a powerline adapter servicing a link to an AT&T MicroCell, an Ooma VOIP telephone box, an ethernet cable to the workbench. The USB connector on the EA 6400 was servicing a harddrive server for shared archive and backup for all computers.
When I made the modem switchover, Comcast asked that the modem be connected directly to the main computer. So that was all that was in the system -- modem, computer and monitor. When I attempted to go back to the original configuration by simply reconnecting the router to the same ethernet cable as before and connecting the computer to the router with the same cable as before, the computer would report no internet connection. I could -- and did more times than I care to remember -- go back to the modem to computer etc to get my tin-can and string connection to the internet, I tried repeatedly to connect the computer directly to the router to reach the configuration page. I could never do that. My son-in-law was able to connect his laptop to get to the configuration page in the router, but neither of us was ever able to do that from the main computer. Why, I still do not know.

I have the original net working fine now. I would assume that if I had thought to try to access the router from my laptop using an ethernet cable I could have done so, but I never thought to try that.

So the hardwired LAN handles everything except the computer in the HiFi room and the laptop. Those use the wireless link in the EA 6400

Oh, and the modem now has a blue light for a gigabit connection instead of the amber light which was why I started this thread.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I really appreciate the help I have had over the years from the Anand community.