Wireless router and Laptop help please

[alisonbestford]

I recently bought a laptop and Belkin wireless router.

After several aborted attempts at attaching the router (problems opening e-mails and chatting on MSN, on both pcs) I've given it up as a bad job and think there's a fault with the router (despite Belkin arguing me blue in the face that there isn't!! I've followed their suggested remedies with no positive result )

We have Virgin Media broadband and the engineer I spoke to today suggested a Netgear router.
My question is, what exactly is it I need?
If someone can point me in the right direction I can be off and installed tomorrow afternoon

Thanks for your help.

 

[Claire L]

I know Belkin is often not compatible with AOL so maybe that is why a Netgear is being suggested.

Claire

 

[tony64]

Hi Alison
We are on Virgin broadband and have a Belkin router, It works really well for us. I did have a few problems setting it up but to be fair the "overseas " help deck was very very good, answered my phone calls promptly and sorted my problems out very quickly. The one thing I would suggest is to check you have the correct Belkin router for Cable. The Guy at PC world said you need a specific one and lots of people come back and have to change theirs as they have picked up the wrong one, ours is a F5D7320-4 Model.

Hope this helps you to get things sorted out soon.

 

[Goofyish]

I'm also on Virgin Broadband (ex-NTL) and have a Belkin router and had no problems getting it to work first time.
It works with my wife's Acer laptop and my DELL works laptop and I've had my PSP working in it too.

 

[paulh]

As tony surgests make sure is compatable with a cable provider.just had a look on belkin http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.process?Section_Id=204039 at there G+ routers and two types listed
Paulh

 

[alisonbestford]

As tony surgests make sure is compatable with a cable provider
Paulh

That's what I was wondering
To be honest I got so fed up with it I just uninstalled it and hid it in a corner of the bedroom where I couldn't see it and throw things at it.............

I'll have a look and ask around.
When I've looked to purchase another there's, often, no mention of Windows Vista in the specifications.
Might this be a potential problem also?

 

[edinburghlass]

Are you running Vista on the laptop as that seems to give a few problems to some wireless routers?

 

[paulh]

go to the above site and look for your router and if says asdl/cable ok for you but if says asdl only you got wrong one

 

[edinburghlass]

I see we crossed posted there, yes Vista seems to give problems in some cases. I had problems with mine after adding in a new laptop with Vista and while the laptop and pc and another laptop were all finding the wireless router it just wouldn't connect to the internet.

I wasn't convinced the router was the problem but found a bargain in the reduced bit in my local Tesco for £27 odd, set it up and no problems since then.

I believe the BT Hub has problems with Vista.

 

[alisonbestford]

Yes, Vista on the laptop and XP on the desktop

DD's boyfriend (works with PCs) was very scathing of Belkin and said I might as well throw it in the bin - not very helpful but it did give me a kick to look into it properly ;-)

Thank you for all your suggestions

It does say, on the box, that it's cable compatible but I am tempted, like edinburghlass, to look for a bargain elsewhere.
The customer service, from the online shop, suggested there might be a fault with it and to go directly to Belkin..........................

 

[paulh]

The customer service, from the online shop, suggested there might be a fault with it and to go directly to Belkin..........................

weve had 6 replacements over 4 years your DD BF could be right
Paulh

 

[paulh]

DD's boyfriend (works with PCs) was very scathing of Belkin and said I might as well throw it in the bin - not very helpful but it did give me a kick to look into it properly ;-)

hope you can purswade him to have a look a good teckie can fix it ;-).Think a bit of blackmail here as well might do the trick
Paulh

 

[Disneycrazycrewuk]

I to have virgin media with a belkin g router and am having problems.
I`m running xp on a acer,xp on a dell and leopard on a apple and can`t seem to hold down a convo on live messenger on any of the laptops.
I have tried wireless,wired to the router and the problem persists untill i wire straight to the modem.
getting very stressed now as i have tried everything twice over.

 

[alisonbestford]

hope you can purswade him to have a look a good teckie can fix it ;-).Think a bit of blackmail here as well might do the trick
Paulh

I think I'll drop it off at DD's this weekend so's he can have a look at it

He's offered to talk set up through with me, on the phone, but I just haven't been organised enough

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Not sure if it helps but Netgear equipment gets a pretty good write up and it is recommended by virgin.

I'm with Virgin ADSL, just set up my first wireless network last week with an XP machine "wired" and two Vista Laptops using Netgear DG834 router.

Worked a treat, just followed the wizard, no problems at all and a decent range.

Virgin recommended range for cable can be found here http://accessories.virginmedia.com/webstore/Default.aspx

The netgear one at £37.35, but out of stock, seems the equivalent one to the one I used but it doesn't state vista support which mine did.

 

[Disneycrazycrewuk]

I only bought the router a week ago but have no idea what me other half did with the receipt,do you think will take it back with the proof being on my bank statement ?