[jethsy]

Okay, so I like to listen to LeoLaPorte podcasts. I listened to one and he said there were settings that make a wireless connection more safe. I changed the settings as he said and now my wifi is not working! My laptop tells me the settings are wrong and I cannot get on my network.
Please tell me what to do! Thanks.

[cwwozniak]

Not everyone listens to his podcasts. Can you maybe tell us exactly what you changed? If you changed the wireless setting of the router, did you do it while using a wired connection to it? Editing the wireless configuration of a router while using a wireless connection can easily leave you with a lost connection.

[jethsy]

Thanks so much for replying! Yes, I did do the changes while the wired connection was connected.
I did disconnect everything from power and then reconnect to power in the order that is correct. FYI: I have it set up this way--the modem is directly connected to the wireless router, the wireless router is connected to the wired router and the wired router is connected to the desktop computer.

[cwwozniak]

Exactly what changes did you make that were recommended in the podcast?

If you made changes in the usage of WEP or WPA wireless encryption keys on the wireless router then you will to make matching changes in any computers that are connecting wirelessly to that router.

To possibly help us to better assist you, please provide brands and model numbers of all the networking hardware involved. Also please let us know the exact wired ports being used to connect the two routers.

Is there a particular reason you need a second wired router connected to the wireless router? Many wireless routers offer four or more wired ports for connecting wired computers directly to them.

[Squashman]

Not his fault and if you want to complain, why didn't you just post this on his Leoville technical forums.

Your router manual will show you exactly how to secure your wireless connection. You may want to read that.

As cwwozniak has pointed out, we really need to know how all the routers are connected together to get a grasp of the network connectivity. You have a bunch of nat layers setup if you connected them all wan port to lan port.

[jethsy]

Okay, I am not really mad at Leo LaPorte. I just wanted somebody to blame for my hastiness in changing settings that messed me up. I also DID want to make my wifi more secure and it seemed sensible at the time...

Here is the info you requested, explained as best I can: I have a Linksys wired Broadband Router with 2 phone ports, Model # RT31P2-VD, provided to me through Vonage. I needed to keep that router for my phone service, so I created a wifi network by adding a Linksys Wireless G router, Model # WRT54G. The hookup is: Wired router hooked directly to cable modem; wired router then connected to wireless router; wireless router connected to desktop computer, which has Windows XP. My wifi capable laptop has Vista. I also use an iPod Touch with wifi.

You also asked for ports used: The wired router has the cable from the modem connected in the Internet port and the cable going to the wireless router in the Ethernet port #1. The wireless router has the cable from the wired router in its Ethernet port #1 and the cable going to the computer in its Internet port.

One other thing: I do not have a manual with the wireless router. It only has a setup CD.

[cwwozniak]

Originally Posted by jethsy

FYI: I have it set up this way--the modem is directly connected to the wireless router, the wireless router is connected to the wired router and the wired router is connected to the desktop computer.

To me that sounds like ...
[Modem] <-> [Wireless Router] <-> [Wired Router] <-> [Desktop PC]

Originally Posted by jethsy

The hookup is: Wired router hooked directly to cable modem; wired router then connected to wireless router; wireless router connected to desktop

To me that sounds like ...

[Modem] <-> [Wired Router] <-> [Wireless Router] <-> [Desktop PC]

... which seems to contradict what you said earlier.

Based on what you say later, I am going to assume your second description above is the accurate one.

Originally Posted by jethsy

The wired router has the cable from the modem connected in the Internet port.

Sounds right and matches your second configuration description.

Originally Posted by jethsy

The wired router ... the cable going to the wireless router in the Ethernet port #1.

Sounds right

Originally Posted by jethsy

The wireless router has the cable from the wired router in its Ethernet port #1 and the cable going to the computer in its Internet port.

Say What?
I can see using the line form the wired router going to the Internet port on the wireless router. Then the computer connecting to a LAN port on the wireless router.

The connection method I just described will work but it can get complicated due to double NATing through each router. One of our moderators, JohnWill, has a description on how to to connect two routers using only the LAN ports on the second (wireless in your case) router. A site search for a post containing SOHO by JohnWill should give you a thread with his instructions.

You still have not told us exactly what settings you changed by following Leo's instructions.

[jethsy]

You are right--I said it wrong. The cable from the wired router is in the wireless router's Internet port and the cable to the computer is in the #1port.

I am fuzzy about what settings, but these I remember: Leo said disable the universal plug and play; disable wan administration; and turn on encryption such as WPA2. Honestly, a lot of the settings are over my head, so I don't think I changed anything more than he mentioned, but I am not sure.

[cwwozniak]

Originally Posted by jethsy

The cable from the wired router is in the wireless router's Internet port and the cable to the computer is in the #1port.

If you are able to access the Internet with the desktop PC and routers connected that way then I say, don't mess with them.

Originally Posted by jethsy

disable wan administration; and turn on encryption such as WPA2.

Disabling WAN Administration is a good idea. It prevents someone on the Internet from getting to the administration control panel of the router.

Enabling WPA2 encryption will block any neighbors from borrowing your Internet connection and possibly snooping through your networked computers. However, it will also initially block wireless connection for computers you wish to connect.

When you set up WPA2 on the router it should have been the -PSK version, you should have then been prompted to enter an encryption key. You should make the key as difficult as possible for someone else to figure out by just guessing but that you can still remember. I like to use the opening line from a song that I know and then use the first letter from each word in the line.

You should also change the SSID from any default name to something you will recognize when looking for the wireless connection with the laptop. Setting the router to not broadcast the SSID may make it a bit more difficult for others know you are even running a wireless router bit but could make it more difficult to set up your computers to connect to it.

Then go into the wireless connection control panel on the laptop and tell it to create a new connection. It should be able find your wireless router and display the SSID. You may also see other SSID's listed if your neighbors are running wireless routers. You should be prompted for the WPA key when you try to connect to your router. Enter the same exact same case sensitive key as you did on the router. You should then be able to have a working wireless connection.

[jethsy]

Thanks so much for the help. I cannot complete your instructions right now. I will try to do it later tonight (having people over) or tomorrow morning. I will get back to you, I promise.
Again, thanks.

[jethsy]

I followed your directions and now I am able to get wifi with my laptop. That is the good news. The bad news is I am UNable to get wifi on my iPod Touch!! I hope someone can help with that!

[jethsy]

I followed your directions and now I am able to get wifi with my laptop. That is the good news. The bad news is I am UNable to get wifi on my iPod Touch!! I hope someone can help with that! Thanks so much!

[cwwozniak]

You're welcome. Glad to hear we were able to help you out.

You may want to mark this thread as solved (button above your first post) and start a new thread for the iPod Touch problem.

[jethsy]

I just marked solved for a problem with my router and got lots of help from fellow Tech Support Guy users. Thanks!

Now, I am able to use my wifi network in my home with my laptop. However my big problem still is that I am unable to use wifi with my iPod Touch. I have reset all network settings and I am still unable to connect via wifi on the Touch.

Please help! It has something to do with having reset the router. I am able to set a password on the Linksys site and input that password on the Touch and still it won't connect.
Thanks!

[etaf]

I will need to look up the issues you had
But 1st I would remove the secruity on the wireless from the router and see if the touch connects then

I think it would be better to continue on this post
http://forums.techguy.org/networking...o-laporte.html

you can mark unsloved - i will merge together