Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Hi,

Rang up Virgin with this query but got put through to an irrelevant department. It would be lovely if someone here could shed some light on what I wanted to know.

I'm interested in subscribing to Virgin's cable broadband service. However, I live in a house with four other people, each owning their own computer, and we want to set up a wireless router so the internet connection can be easily shared between us.

I assume it's just a simple case of replacing the standard modem with a wireless cable mode, something like this?

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/97221

I'm tech savvy, but I want to ensure I have all the right equipment available to me when it's time to install.

Thanks!

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Nope. The VM modem will plug into a cable router which then pumps out the feed to the PCs.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

:welcome: to Cable Forum :tu:

Since virgin don't "support" as in offer help assistance, on routers, you won't get any clear info from them :(

You have to use the Virgin Media supplied cable modem. That is coded to your account.

Cable and ADSL (BT type phone lines) operate differently for broadband. A combined cable modem and router does not exist for Virgin Media Broadband.

Routers with or without wireless are readily available for use with cable, just make sure you don't get one with a built in ADSL modem.

Set up is simple. First ensure you know your cable braodband works by having one PC connected direct to the modem by ethernet. Now power off modem and PC, connect ethernet between modem and WAN port of router, connect ethernet between LAN port of router and PC. Boot up, check internet is working, and then configure the wireless setup.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

You need to keep your cable modem provided by VirginMedia. Just get yourself a Belkin Wireless G Router, it has 4 wired ports and has wireless functionality.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Ah, so wireless without modem is plugged into Virgin modem... Not too bothered about having to use the Virgin one so long as it talks to the wireless!

Thanks so much for all the help! :D

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Hi all
I'm having similar problems. My existing connection is by a Virgin Media cable from wall socket with a SMC USB adapter into a USB socket on my laptop and it works fine. However, I want to connect the router to my cable input and use my laptop with wireless networking built-in, without having to have a desktop as well, ie cable input from wall socket-router-wireless to laptop. I bought a Belkin G+ MIMO Router, but its connection instructions insist on me having a desktop connected to one of the yellow coded outlets as well. This is exactly what I don't want!

Any clues please?

Richard

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

The only reason you would need to have a desktop connected is to initially configure the router

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Unfortunately, most routers require a temporary cabled connection to a computer to set them up. Doesn't your laptop have an ethernet port? If not have you got a mate with a laptop that does? Once the broadband and wireless are setup, you then don't need to have any PC plugged into the router.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

hi guys new to this so, will this do the same job ??
Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router/4-Port Switch

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

:welcome:

If you are using a Virgin Cable Modem, then yes a WRT54GL will do you fine as a Wireless router.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

thanks , appreciate it

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Hi, im new to this forum.

Can someone please provide a diagram on how to connect the wireless please?
Even a cheesy one drawn on Paint will do ;)

Also, do i still need a USB adapter for my PC if i have the VM cable modem?

Thanks in advance, Speedy

EDIT: Is the Linksys WRT54GL compatible with a Netgear WG111 USB adapter?

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Do you not have an installation manual ?

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Not all my apply but take your pick of these!


This may apply:

http://z.about.com/d/compnetworking/...-diagram-1.jpg

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Sorry, i forgot to tell you, i havent bought the stuff yet, i want to make sure everything is compatible before i do.

BTW, LSainsbury, thanks for that find ;) But i dont need an Ethernet Router with VM do i?

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

If you have VM cable modem you will just need a wireless router - just switch everything off - remove the ethernet cable from your PC and plug it into the Internet port of the router...switch on VM cable modem, switch on router, switch on PC's away you go!

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

The cable modem has an ethernet port at the back, connect this to the WAN port of your DSL router.

One note to add is when setting up is to use an ethernet connection from your computer to the router

Also, dont forget to power cycle the cable modem

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

So with the WRT54GL i can use 'wired' with the main PC, and 'wireless' with the Laptop and PSP. Which means i dont need USB adapter with the PC.

Is that correct?

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Yep - just plug the PC's into any of the ethernet local LAN ports.

USB adapter - only if you already have an onboard wired / wireless NIC...

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Thank you guys for all the help! Ive ordered the WRT54G from CCL at £39 and should arrive tomorrow.

PS: anyone else use CCL?

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Yep - excellent supplier in my experience. Their customer service and tech support are both excellent. Shame they're not planning a buyout of VM! ;)

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

The WRT54G arrived on Saturday and my connection was set up within the hour.
Im happy to say it works perfectly, thanks to all those who helped!

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Wireless routers tend to be Ethernet routers as well, it's all in one box (at least, i don't recall ever seeing a non Ethernet wireless router).

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Glad it's all working for you.

Have you got the wireless side of it fully secured?

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Everything is set up nicely, also security.
Ive had to use 128bit WEP because for some reason WPA is incompatible with PSP, but its OK. Besides, i dont think there are any hackers around here:(:(:(

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

It was the WAN port being Ethernet that was being talked about now the Router having LAN ports

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

The question was in relation to the network diagram in post #14 which clearly showed a cable modem, an ethernet router, and a wireless access point. So could have meant the WAN or the LAN ports.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Hi, i was wondering if you guys could help me as I have a very similar problem.

Just got Virgin Broadband in a new house and it seems to be cable. They've supplied a cable modem, which in turn has an ethernet socket which is connected to my laptop and is currently working fine. The model number printed on the Virgin Media modem is E08C007.

I want to connect it to my wireless router (a D-Link DSL-G624M) but the thing doesnt have an ethernet WAN port, rather a 'ADSL' RJ-11 socket which used to connect to the telephone socket (via a splitter). It has 4 ethernet LAN ports but these dont seem to be much use for communicating with the cable modem.

Apologies if someone has already answered this question in a previous post.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Hi Greg and welcome to CF :welcome:

No need to apologise for any questions: there's always something that we don't know about and we come here in the hope of finding someone who does know about it.

Bad news about your D-Link box though: that's an ADSL modem/router so, as you have found out, you won't be able to connect that to your cable modem. What you need is a cable router or ethernet router like a D-Link DI-524 (assuming you want wireless as well).

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Thanks for the reply :)

After reading this and other threads thats what I was thinking - just wanted confirmation before I spent yet more hard earned on more networking stuff :mad: The annoying thing is I bought a Belkin router for my flat at uni which Im fairly certain would do, but is lost in the aether somewhere.

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Since when? My PSP supports WPA-PSK!

Sounds like you need to update your PSPs firmware too! ;)

PS: I use the Belkin N1 router with my VM cable and all work flawlessly

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

Actually, i dont think the WRT54GL's WPA is compatible with the PSP WPA,
something to do with Sony implementing an older version of WPA not used in the WRT

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

I need a little help too.
I've just set up the wireless router for the main PC which connects to the modem...
now how do i set up the second PC downstairs, do i install the software, do i use the USB key thing they gave with the router??? :S

Re: Setting up wireless router with Virgin cable
 

That's exactly what you need to do :)