8
Troubleshooting
I am no longer able to access the Internet.
When your computer connects to the Internet, a number of devices have to work together.
A.
Your computer connects to your Wireless
MAX
g Router via a wireless or wired connection.
B. Your
Wireless
MAX
g Router connects to your broadband cable/DSL modem via an Ethernet
cable.
C.
Your cable/DSL modem connects to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) via your cable/
phone network.
The first step in solving this problem is to diagnose the cause. There are a number of places
where the connection from your computer to the Internet might fail.
First, check the indicator lights of your various devices. If one or more of these devices indicate a
problem, it’s a good indication of where you should focus your troubleshooting efforts.
1.
If your computer uses a wireless connection to your router, does the wireless utility indicate
there is a good connection to your router?
If your computer cannot communicate with the router, it cannot access the Internet.
2.
Are your Wireless
MAX
g Router’s LEDs for power, wireless, and Internet lighted?
If the router is turned off, or the wireless radio isn’t operating, or it has no connection to the
Internet (via your cable/DSL modem), your computer won’t be able to access the Internet
either.
3.
Do your cable/DSL modem’s power and status LEDs indicate a connection? (Please refer to
your modem’s documentation for information on its status indicators.)
If your modem is turned off or cannot communicate with your ISP, your router will be unable
to access the Internet.
Now, let’s step through the various devices and determine which one isn’t connecting properly.
Step 1: Can your computer connect to your Wireless
MAX
g Router?
If you use a wired connection:
If you use a wired connection between your computer and your Wireless
MAX
g Router, ensure the
Ethernet cable is connected to your computer’s LAN port and to a LAN port on the router and that
the corresponding LEDs are lighted.
If you use a wireless connection:
If you have a wireless connection to your Wireless
MAX
g Router, does your wireless utility report
a successful connection to your router?
If your wireless utility reports a successful wireless connection, it’s possible that your computer
has connected to a neighbor’s router instead of yours. You can use your wireless utility to check
the network name (SSID) of the router you’re connected to. If it’s connected to the wrong router,
you can use the utility to force your computer to try to connect to your router. (Please refer to the
documentation of your wireless adapter.)
