Why do I have to use a router?

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Smith
  • Start date Start date
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John Smith

I had a home network consisting of a cable modem, a router,
a switch and several computers.

After I moved to NC, I called the local cable company to set
up internet service. The serviceman came, installed a cable
modem, and left. When I got home, I found that I could not
surf the internet. At that time, the computer was connected
directly to the cable modem. I called the help line and
talked to a cable company's technician. We went throught
many things but none worked. I released and renewed my IP
address many times and had no problems getting an IP address
from the cable compnay. He said he could communicate with
the cable modem but could not see signals coming from my
computer.

After I hung up the phone. I changed the network
configuration and inserted a router between the cable modem
and the computer. The connection instaneously worked.

Why do I need the router to make the internet connection work?
 
I had a home network consisting of a cable modem, a router,
a switch and several computers.

After I moved to NC, I called the local cable company to set
up internet service. The serviceman came, installed a cable
modem, and left. When I got home, I found that I could not
surf the internet. At that time, the computer was connected
directly to the cable modem. I called the help line and
talked to a cable company's technician. We went throught
many things but none worked. I released and renewed my IP
address many times and had no problems getting an IP address
from the cable compnay. He said he could communicate with
the cable modem but could not see signals coming from my
computer.

After I hung up the phone. I changed the network
configuration and inserted a router between the cable modem
and the computer. The connection instaneously worked.

Why do I need the router to make the internet connection work?
Click to expand...
Could be the setup in your computer is looking for the IP address of
the router to access the net?
 
Could be the setup in your computer is looking for the IP address of
the router to access the net?
Click to expand...
You might WANT to use a router for its built in firewall, most have
that now. It is better than not having one at all!
 
f/f george said:
You might WANT to use a router for its built in firewall, most have
that now. It is better than not having one at all!
Click to expand...

I know. But my question is about why I couldn't surf without
a router. I had released and renew the IP address several
times and my computer was able to get the IP address from
the cable modem without problems. Thus, the physical
connection had no problems. Since I couldn't ping yahoo.com,
it might have been a problem of DNS server setting but I set
it so that the computer automatically got the DSN server
address from the cable modem along with the IP address. It
seems to me my computer without a router could only receive
but not send packets.
 
I know. But my question is about why I couldn't surf without
a router. I had released and renew the IP address several
times and my computer was able to get the IP address from
the cable modem without problems. Thus, the physical
connection had no problems. Since I couldn't ping yahoo.com,
it might have been a problem of DNS server setting but I set
it so that the computer automatically got the DSN server
address from the cable modem along with the IP address. It
seems to me my computer without a router could only receive
but not send packets.
Click to expand...
My suggestion then would be to remove the connection and re-install
it. That will remove any settings you have and you should then be able
to conenct without the router. Make sure you check IE too, it has
settings too that can be changed.
 
The most common cause would be because your PC's network settings weren't
configured properly, some require your machine be set to "automatic", other
ISPs require you to statically enter them. Some ISP's also register your
MAC address and perhaps that was screwed up somehow. In any case you are
right,...you don't need the Router. You're ISP is really the only one who
can answer those things since there is more than on way to implement a DSL
or Cable Internet system.
 
John Smith said:
I know. But my question is about why I couldn't surf without
a router.
Click to expand...

[Snip]

If you set up your account as a home network your ISP only knows the MAC
address of your router. With that removed your account is invalid.

If you wish to remove your router (unwise) you will have to install the CD
from your ISP and redo you account setup using one of your computers MAC
address. Unfortunately that will be the only computer that will have
permission to access the internet unless you use ICS (Internet connection
sharing). If you use ICS then you will have to leave you internet box
(Gateway) on when other computer surf. I have not tried that. That is my
experience.
 
Stuart said:
[Snip]

If you set up your account as a home network your ISP only knows the MAC
address of your router. With that removed your account is invalid.

If you wish to remove your router (unwise) you will have to install the CD
from your ISP and redo you account setup using one of your computers MAC
address. Unfortunately that will be the only computer that will have
permission to access the internet unless you use ICS (Internet connection
sharing). If you use ICS then you will have to leave you internet box
(Gateway) on when other computer surf. I have not tried that. That is my
experience.
Click to expand...

I did call the helpline of my ISP and was told that if I
need to switch to another computer, all I need is turn off
the cable modem for a minute then turn it back on. I had
used another ISP who asked my to re-register my computer. In
that case, I think they kept track of my MAC address.

Also, in my earlier posting, I stated that the ISP's
technician on the helpline told me he could see the cable
modem but not my computer. He said there was no signal
coming from my computer. The connection between the cable
modem and my computer was fine as my computer could get its
IP address from the cable modem.

It looks to me like there is a firewall blocking the traffic
but there isn't a built-in firewall in Win2k and I had
turned off my firewalls.
 
As I understand it, you can surf the Net when you have a router between your
PC and the Cable modem. You should be able to wire directly into the cable
modem but when you do, no reply even though you get an address.

Do you have a software firewall configured. It could be set to see one
address range as local and the other as foreign and deny access.

What kind of router is this? It configures itself? The outside of your
router obviously takes a DHCP address from RoadRunner. If you can, configure
the internal addressing on the router to a diff range. If your PCs Internet
conncetion stops working, then I've broken your Internet connection. But
that would mean that it is that your PC is somehow secured to one address
range.

Maybe you have a static route set up on your local PC or something. Try
Route print at a Cmd prompt. Any persistent routes? Shouldn't be.

Do you download a lot of porn?

Do you have traffic indicator on the modem? If you ping from you PC can you
see corresponding outgoing traffic on the cable modem?
 
John Smith said:
[snip]
Also, in my earlier posting, I stated that the ISP's
technician on the helpline told me he could see the cable
modem but not my computer. He said there was no signal
coming from my computer. The connection between the cable
modem and my computer was fine as my computer could get its
IP address from the cable modem.
Click to expand...

Your router is considered a computer to your ISP because that is the MAC
address on file as a computer. With out your registered router all your ISP
can see is the cable modem.
It looks to me like there is a firewall blocking the traffic
but there isn't a built-in firewall in Win2k and I had
turned off my firewalls.
Click to expand...

It would appear that way but that's not the case.

BTW The very last people *I* would call for help is the cable techs from
my ISP, Comcast.

Good luck
Stuart
 
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