Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[VDodi]

Hey guys,

I've bought a DIR-645 router a month ago and I'm having some issues with it since. I've used to switch off the router and the modem for the night and switch it on in the morning. However sometimes the DIR-645 does not get an IP address from the ISP modem and I do not know why. I've tried to switch on the IPS modem first, wait for it to boot up and establish connection, then switch on the router, but usually the router does not get an IP address. I've tried every combination, but usually when I switch on the router and the modem, the router does not connect to the internet - due to the fact it does not have an IP address. If I switch off-on several times it used to get an IP address and I can connect to the internet. Any thoughts what can cause this?
I've talked with the ISP and they said there is no problem on their side. I've tried to use the modem directly connected to a PC and there was Internet - so the modem gets an IP address, but the router does not... strange.
I think the modem is a stand alone model and it seems bridged (at least the IP address is not 192.168.0.# at the status/WAN section). I'm using the latest beta firmware for the DIR-645. (I though the problem is firmware related, but no, it seems it is not.)

Previously I've had an older Belkin router and there were no issues with it, everything worked flawlessly, the router always got an IP address from the modem. (The wireless coverage though was awful...)

I've done all things in this checklist, but no success:
Turn off ALL QoS or Disable Traffic Shaping (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices ON the router. Setup/Networking
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP under Advanced/Firewall.
Enable uPnP and Multi-cast Streaming under Advanced/Networking.

I'd really appreciate any help to solve this problem.
Thank you for your kind efforts in advance!

VDodi

[FurryNutz]

Link>Welcome!

Sorry I didn't see this post till now...

• Link>What Firmware version is currently loaded? Found on the routers web page under status.
• What region are you located?
• Are you wired or wireless connected to the router?
• Has a Factory Reset been performed?
• Was a Factory Reset performed before and after any firmware updates then set up from scratch?

FW Update Process

• Was the router working before any firmware updates?

Internet Service Provider and Modem Configurations

• What ISP Service do you have? Cable or DSL?
• What ISP Modem Mfr. and model # do you have?
• Is ISP Modem/Service using Dynamic or Static WAN IP addressing?
• What ISP Modem service link speeds UP and Down do you have?
• Check cable between Modem and Router, swap out to be sure. Link> Cat6 is recommended.
• Check ISP MTU requirements, Cable is usually 1500, DSL is around 1492 down to 1472. Call the ISP and ask. Link>Checking MTU Values
• For DSL/PPPoE connections on the router, ensure that "Always ON" option is enabled.

I recommend that you have your ISP check the cabling going to the ISP modem, check signal levels going to the ISP modem. For DSL or Fiber service lines, ensure that the ISP is using good working phone or cable lines to the DSL modem and that the phone lines are filtered correctly. For cable Internet, RG-6 coaxial cable is needed, not RG-59. Check for t.v. line splitters and remove them as they can introduce noise on the line and lower the signal going to the ISP modem. I recommend having the ISP service physically check the lines going from the out side to the ISP modem. Connecting to the ISP modem could result in a false positive as the signal to the modem could be just enough to that point then adding on a router, could see problems. The router operation is dependent upon getting good data flow from the ISP modem and the modem is dependent upon getting good signal from the ISP Service.

[VDodi]

Hey,

I'm on a firmware from 1.04 Mon 19 May 2014.
I'm located in the CEE region (Hungary).
I have wired and wireless connection to the router. (3 wired connections and 4 wireless - but they are never connected at once)
I've performed a factory reset when I've first encountered the problem.
Indeed, I always did a factory reset, before and after a firmware upgrade (I've read it in one of your posts about firmware upgrading/downgrading), and set up everything from scratch.

This problem is present till the first second, with the first firmware, than with two others. (One from my region one from NA.)

ISP is cable.
Manufacturer is named Webstar (by Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.) (probably chinese) and model is EPC2203 (there is a model number also, which is 145139099 - but I think the previous is the right one).
I've tried to use static WAN IP addressing, but after I switched it on the router, the Internet was gone. When I changed it back to DHCP everything was fine - so I think it is DHCP. But to counter this I noticed a very interesting thing. In the last few days, since I wrote my original message, when the rooter booted up and had connection to the Internet I've always checked the WAN IP address and it was the same all the time... do not understand why, and foremost: if it is the same why could not have a router it always...

My downloadspeed is 30 MB/sec, upload is 3 MB/sec (according to a speedtest).
MTU is 1500 (it is 1472, but addig 28 more it is 1500 - from 1474 the packet is always fragmented.).

I'll check TV splitters on the line, but I doubt there is any, because if I'm right there is a separate cable for the Internet - although I'm not sure, will check it tomorrow.

I'm almost 100% sure the coaxial cable is RG-6. (As far as I see at the input side of the modem.) Will check later on the other side.


Any thoughts how could it be if the connection is working with DHCP setting only, then the router receives always the same IP since 8 days?

Thanks in advance,
VDodi

[FurryNutz]

Where did you acquire v1.04 from? which site? I see v104 B11 dated 9/2013 on the Hugarian site.

DHCP would be a norm to use if the ISP supports it. I would ask the ISP on there DHCP lease policy's are and how long they allow users to keep the Public IP address before changing to a new one if they detect a router reboot or power cycle.

Also can you test the router at a different location with a different modem? Like a friend, neighbor or family's place?

[PacketTracer]

Hi,

I'm in doubt if your modem really operates in bridge mode. The information I found via Internet research stems from 2006, for example a manual you can open here. It primarily describes the connection of one PC, which was quite usual in those days. When it comes to the question "How Many Ethernet Network Devices Can I Connect?", it says at page 26:

"The ... modem can support several Ethernet network devices using external Ethernet hubs that must be purchased seperately. The theoretical maximum number of Ethernet network devices supported by the cable modem is 63. However, under normal circumstances, the number of devices connected should be a much lower number"

Assuming that your ISP won't offer you up to 63 public IPv4 addresses, this can only mean, that your modem is indeed an IPv4 NAT router deploying an RFC1918 private network of size 64 (something with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.192 out of RFC1918 ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 or 192.168.0.0/16). And your DIR-645 router's WAN interface will get an IP address out of this range via DHCP. Could be a problem if this is the same IP-Range the DIR-645 will use on its LAN-site?

PT

[FurryNutz]

From what I can tell as well PT, his modem is a stand alone modem. No NAT.

Hi,

I'm in doubt if your modem really operates in bridge mode. The information I found via Internet research stems from 2006, for example a manual you can open here. It primarily describes the connection of one PC, which was quite usual in those days. When it comes to the question "How Many Ethernet Network Devices Can I Connect?", it says at page 26:

"The ... modem can support several Ethernet network devices using external Ethernet hubs that must be purchased seperately. The theoretical maximum number of Ethernet network devices supported by the cable modem is 63. However, under normal circumstances, the number of devices connected should be a much lower number"

Assuming that your ISP won't offer you up to 63 public IPv4 addresses, this can only mean, that your modem is indeed an IPv4 NAT router deploying an RFC1918 private network of size 64 (something with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.192 out of RFC1918 ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 or 192.168.0.0/16). And your DIR-645 router's WAN interface will get an IP address out of this range via DHCP. Could be a problem if this the same IP-Range the DIR-645 will use on its LAN-site?

PT

[PacketTracer]

Hi Furry,

From what I can tell as well PT, his modem is a stand alone modem. No NAT.

If so, DIR-645 router's WAN-Interface should have a public IP address (if it gets one). Can't see this from the information given so far (or I overlooked something)

PT

[FurryNutz]

Also, To tell if the modem is bridged or not, look at the routers web page, Status/Device Info/Wan Section, if there is a 192.168.0.# address in the WAN IP address field, then the modem is not bridged. What do you see here?

Hey,

I'm on a firmware from 1.04 Mon 19 May 2014.
I'm located in the CEE region (Hungary).
I have wired and wireless connection to the router. (3 wired connections and 4 wireless - but they are never connected at once)
I've performed a factory reset when I've first encountered the problem.
Indeed, I always did a factory reset, before and after a firmware upgrade (I've read it in one of your posts about firmware upgrading/downgrading), and set up everything from scratch.

This problem is present till the first second, with the first firmware, than with two others. (One from my region one from NA.)

ISP is cable.
Manufacturer is named Webstar (by Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.) (probably chinese) and model is EPC2203 (there is a model number also, which is 145139099 - but I think the previous is the right one).
I've tried to use static WAN IP addressing, but after I switched it on the router, the Internet was gone. When I changed it back to DHCP everything was fine - so I think it is DHCP. But to counter this I noticed a very interesting thing. In the last few days, since I wrote my original message, when the rooter booted up and had connection to the Internet I've always checked the WAN IP address and it was the same all the time... do not understand why, and foremost: if it is the same why could not have a router it always...

My downloadspeed is 30 MB/sec, upload is 3 MB/sec (according to a speedtest).
MTU is 1500 (it is 1472, but addig 28 more it is 1500 - from 1474 the packet is always fragmented.).

I'll check TV splitters on the line, but I doubt there is any, because if I'm right there is a separate cable for the Internet - although I'm not sure, will check it tomorrow.

I'm almost 100% sure the coaxial cable is RG-6. (As far as I see at the input side of the modem.) Will check later on the other side.


Any thoughts how could it be if the connection is working with DHCP setting only, then the router receives always the same IP since 8 days?

Thanks in advance,
VDodi

[VDodi]

In the WAN IP section there is an address which is 89.###.###.##, so it it not 192.168.0.#. So I think the modem is bridged.

Also, I've checked in the attic that is there any splitter on this line - and there is not any.

The firmware is from an address what you have posted FurryNutz. I've also tried the firmware from the hungarian site as well, but it was not functioning. I can go back to that firmware, but I do not think it'll make a difference.

I'll ask one of my friend to try out the router at his place and see what will happen.

Anyway guys, I really appreciate your help! Thank you so much!

VDodi

[FurryNutz]

I can get the FW from the Hungarian site. Let me know if you have any problems downloading it.

I recommend putting that version back on...factory reset, load the .bin file, then factory reset again then set up from scratch. Do not load any saved router config files. Use DHCP and let the router aquire the WAN IP address automatically.

[FurryNutz]

Any progress on this? 

In the WAN IP section there is an address which is 89.###.###.##, so it it not 192.168.0.#. So I think the modem is bridged.

Also, I've checked in the attic that is there any splitter on this line - and there is not any.

The firmware is from an address what you have posted FurryNutz. I've also tried the firmware from the hungarian site as well, but it was not functioning. I can go back to that firmware, but I do not think it'll make a difference.

I'll ask one of my friend to try out the router at his place and see what will happen.

Anyway guys, I really appreciate your help! Thank you so much!

VDodi

[PacketTracer]

Hi,

I did some research in the Internet and found a similar scenario which describes how to configure a Cisco router behind a non-Cisco cable modem (CM).

The interesting part of this description is the "Troubleshoot" section which tells us possible reasons why the router didn't get a WAN IP address via DHCP. According to this, one reason might be that the ISP only allows one device (identified by its MAC address) behind the CM. Hence, if you connect a (first) device (e.g. a PC) to the CM, it will get an IP address via DHCP, and the ISP stores the MAC address of this device and the IP address given to it up to 24 hours after you have disconnected or switched off the device again. Hence, if you unplug this device you would have to wait for 24 hours to make the ISP forget its stored MAC address, before you can plug another (second) device (with a different MAC address) to the CM.

PT

[FurryNutz]

I wonder if using Mac Clone on the router under Setup/Internet/Manual could be something to test out. 

[VDodi]

Hi,

Sorry for not posting, but I've had some things to manage.
Now it seems the problem has been solved. I changed every cable from the entry point of the house till the last wired connected computer. The router now connects to the address every time when I switch it on. I'll check the results, but thus far seems promising. (I did not changed any settings, nor the firmware - not until these settings are working.)

Thank very much for your help again. Soon I'll be back and report what happened in the meantime.

VDodi

[FurryNutz]

Those darn cables. Glad you found the problem. Hope it keeps working well for you.
Come back and visit if you need help and information.

Enjoy.