I think my router's spannered

[Ian Osborne]

I think I have a problem with my router. A few days back, I lost the internet, and had to restart it. It had trouble 'seeing' the computer over the ethernet cable. Last night, the problem returned and now I can't get the computer (Mac, OS X 10.4) to connect with the router (Linksys WAG54G) at all. The green LED indicating an ethernet connection won't come on, but if I run the diagnostic I see there's a flickering, intermittent connection every now and then.

I've brought the router to work to see if it works with another computer, and will probably get a new router from Argos today too, so I can take it back if it proves unneccessary (Argos is a UK store that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee). Can anyone here shed any light on the problem in the meantime? My thoughts are it's probably a loose connection in the cable. Does this seem likely? I don't mind buying a new router if I have to, but I hope it's not my Mac's ethernet card that's faulty.

 

[Molinaro]

Did you try rebooting the modem as well?

- unplug modem, router and turn off computer
- turn on modem and wait for lights to settle
- turn on router
- turn on computer

Make sure you've tried that before replacing anything.

 

[Ian Osborne]

The router and modem are the same unit. I tried it out on another computer, and it didn't connect. I tried plugging a second cable with both ends in other ethernet ports, and the lights came on, but never steadied, and although diagnostics told me I had ethernet now, I couldn't access the router settings with my browser. I think it's well and truly spannered, and am trying out another router this evening.