Tech Geeks (HELP!)

[Paul]

Ok I contracted with NTT for Hikari (Fiber) TV service, and set it up for a two month free trial starting on January 1st. The cable TV runs through my internet connection and everything is running fine TV wise, BUT......... now when I log on to the 'net with my computer, using a Buffalo Air Station wireless connection, it has stopped automatically recognizing my connection and I have to manually set the wireless router each time I want to use the 'net.

Does that make sense? I mean up until I set up the fiber TV my wireless connection automatically connected me to the internet no problems, ( I set it up according to instructions and everything worked fine) now however every time I try to use the net with my computer I have to go through the rigamaroll set up routine to connect. It's a pain the arse to say the least. Any ideas on what I should do?

If I go direct from a lan connection things are ok, but in my house I have a PSP(2), PS3(1), IPOD (2), and two other computers using the wireless and EVERYONE else haas been kicked off each time we try to log on with the wireless router giving me an error saying that it isn't recognized. (seriously scratching my balls here!)

[Otaku]

I've never had cable TV in Japan so I can't help. I'm sure once one of our 'real' techy geeks log on, they'll have a clue.

The only thing I could think it could be would be to change the 'automatic connection' option located in 'tools'?

In IE:
Tools --> Internet Options --> Connections --> (then change the configuration of how you connect)

It's just a shot in the dark...

[Paul]

I have been thinking about this since last night and here is one thing that I came up with, don't know if it's the reason but I would like to think it's an educated guess.

I have my router, which the fiber line comes into, from there, only one lan port, so I connect it to a hub, (5 ports) one lan cable goes to the wireless buffalo airstation, one connects directly to the tv, and the last to the router. When the TV is on using the cable, my internet connection for my computer goes down. When I shut off the cable, the computer connection works fine. So my conclusion, maybe totally off base here, is that the cable connection is drawing too much bandwith and does not allow me to connect to the internet at the same time. The status bar for my internet access keeps trying to connect to the wireless for a few minutes then gives me an error that the airstation can not be found.

Does that sound plausible?

[Jeimuzu]

From your last post it seems to be an issue with the 5 port hub itself or there could be an IP conflict.

Too tired to think as I've only had about 4 hours sleep the last two days, will attempt to help again tomorrow.

[peet]

Yeah, that sounds like some kind of IP conflict. There shouldn't be any issue of how many devices are connected.

Your router and your wireless station are both capable of dishing out IP addresses to your various machines (via protocol called DHCP). But only one of the two should be actively doing this, otherwise you get IP conflicts.

The best setup is to have the main router connected to the NTT fiber box thingy via LAN cable. Then from that router's LAN ports, connect your hub, wireless, and whatever else.

The Wireless box should have a WAP (wireless access point) mode (the first mode in this list of router modes: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linking_Routers#Alternatives ), or some similarly named mode where it is not the DHCP server for your LAN.As long as DHCP is active on your router and not your wireless, you should be good. Here are similar instructions, but exact steps might vary based on your setup: http://www.speedguide.net/faq_in_q.php?qid=92 . The wireless staiton might be smart enough to configure iteslf automatically as long as it's after the router in your network chain, so I'd first make sure everything is chained in order, then worry about settings if it doesn't work.

Also, your router should have a browser based control panel where you can change DHCP settings, etc (albeit probably all in Japanese) if you want to tinker further. Google your router model for the IP address, but it should be something like 192.168.1.1 (typed into the URL bar at the top of your browser), and there should be some defaut login/password (like "admin/admin" - you should aslo find by googling.) When I got FIOS with NTT/Plala, I had to change the some "security" setting of the particular router they gave me, because it blocks a bunch of ports by default (which are used by Skype, AIM, Bittorrent, etc).

[peet]

Also, you have 3 routers (including the wireless station)?

The single port one that you first mentioned is maybe not a router, but rather the NTT box that converts fiber-optic to normal ethernet (called an ONT box - no idea what it means). From that, you connect your router. Then in your router's LAN ports, attach the Buffalo wireless station, your hub, etc.

The ONT box doesn't have a DHCP server so can only deal with 1 IP address until it goes through your router.

[Paul]

Ok I think I follow part of it, yet I think I missed something as well. From NTT I have the box (ONT I think you referred to it as), and it is a combined box with router, with only one lan port.

I can either connect directly to my wireless or TV, but not both, without using the hub. So I connected the ONT to the hub and then ran one lan cable to the wireless and one to the TV, and that is where the conflict comes into play.

[peet]

Hmm. I wonder if the combined ONT/1-port-router is really a full featured router that has a DHCP server built in, or if it is just meant to connect to a bigger multi-port router (which is what your hub is currently acting as, but it's not meant to be used that way and isn't smart enough to handle the range of IPs coming in through the wireless station).

Just a guess though, I know a bit more than most folks, but I'm no network guru. Network problems are always a pain to troubleshoot, esp. when everything is in Japanese You can always resort to bugging NTT, but sometimes they don't know what they're doing either. Good luck!

[Paul]

NTT only supplied the one "box" when I upgraded my fiber service, I wish I had kept the old one which had more lan ports.

[Paul]

Ok on my airstation I tried setting the IP to a static address with a set sub-mask, (prior to which I set the airstation itself from 1st auto to on) and while it took a few minutes to try to reconfigure itself, it still did not allow me to keep the setting.

I tried setting the airstation then to "off" setting, using it purely as a router, and I was unable to connect with anything at all.

Fortunately the "contract" I have with NTT for Hikari TV has the first two months free, with no service charges for stopping the contract anytime prior to the end of the first two connected months.

I'll be calling NTT within the next couple of days and get them to help, if they can't figure it out, it isnt worth it to me to keep on changing back (lan cables) and forth between tv and internet whenever I want one or the other.

Side note...there is no setting or any way I can access the NTT ONT(ONU?) router/connection. (At least as far as I have seen and gone through the paperwork once again. I can not use the set up disk that came with the box as it is all in Japanese and my OS right now is English Windows 7 64 bit.

[Paul]

Peet thanks, I contacted NTT as well and what I had to do was reset one of the wireless settings, the IPv6, I still have no idea what that is really, but what they told me was essentially the same thing you wrote earlier here. By shutting off the IPv6 I am now able to watch both the tv and still use my internet.

My family thanks you as well, they were a bit, well more than a bit, annoyed, that they couldn't use their toys when I wanted to watch TV. Things are good now! Thanks again for your help!

[Jeimuzu]

Good to know you got it sorted in the end.

[peet]

Glad you got it sorted!

Those network problems are a pain because almost every router/hub/etc has a different set of functions/abilities so any "general" troubleshooting always needs to be adjusted a bunch to your specific setup.

Enjoy your internetz