I recently bought a Linksys four-port router to share my DSL connection. I have no problem connecting my three Windows PCs to the Internet, but I cannot figure out how to connect my PowerBook G3.

I set the TCP/IP settings to use Ethernet and a DHCP server, but when I go back into the control panel, I see that IP addresses which do not correspond with my network have been assigned. The IP address is 169.254.58.22 (it should begin with 192.168), the subnet mask is 255.255.0.0 and the router address is 169.254.58.222 (it should be 192.168.1.1). Does anyone know why I am having this problem? Linksys is no help - their technical support does not help with Macintosh issues.

I have already tried several potential solutions for my problem. I have set the Mac manually, assigning an IP address of which the last number is one higher than the higest on my network (104). I have trashed the TCP/IP prefs. I have reinstalled my system software. I have gone into the installation CD and run the TCP/IP options file and asked the computer to release IP addresses.

After reading other postings, these solutiosn seem to work for other people, but not for me.

I know that the cable and the port works because I have used them with a Dell, which works.

If it's any help, the lights on the linksys router for the port corresponding to the Mac are lit.

I hope someone can help.

Thanks in advance,

Adam

Adam,

I sympathize with you. I have the same router- have other PCs working just fine with it, but cannot get my wife's iMac to access the internet without it crawling in speed. I can bring up the config info from her machine on the linksys and it appears almost immediately when accessed via the browser. The internet is another story. The router is correctly handing out the IP address to the machine, and it recognizes and is using it- but the internet is worse than turtle slow. I've tried a utilty program that forces the iMac to use a specific connect speed (10/half duplex, etc..) but I don't know if I am using it correctly since the documentation says "Drag to system folder." and that's about it.

If any other Mac-PC internet sharers are out there, your contributions would be helpful!

RAndy

My advice would be to return the router and get a different brand. More people have had problems with Linksys equipment than with any other brand among the users I've helped out. We're talking basically 90% of the router problems I see are with Linksys hardware, and the other 10% are random failures that aren't manufacturer-specific.

p

Since I have had absolutely no previous trouble with the LinkSys router and my 3 PCs, I guess I hadn't even thought about it being the problem.

Do you have any recommendations for a router that might be more compatible for a home LAN running 3 Pcs and then the iMac? I belive my wife's iMac is running OS 8.5? It is an older iMac.

Randy

Basically any brand other than Linksys is probably a pretty safe bet.

p

Does anyone have any other suggestions that don't involve changing my router?

I am reluctant to do so as I only have one Mac on my network and it is old.

Adam

You could try sticking a 10Base-T hub between the Mac and the router...

If you "just bought" the router, though, why the big deal about exchanging it?

p

I've had the same prob networking a iMac into a 7 system, Windows peer-to-peer network.

I don't think it router specific. I tried with a Linksys, then a D-Link. Neither made a difference.

The funny thing was that when I ran Virtual PC on the Mac the internet worked great in the Windows OS session! This lead me to think that something strange is going on in the Mac OS. However Apple tech support makes Linksys tech support look like gods!

In the end I sold the iMac and used the money to buy a nearly new PC. That's one thing about Mac's, the resale value is pretty good (if you're selling).

no more mac, no more porblem.

Returning the router will be the pain in the ass as I live in Bermuda and will have to send it back to outpost.com, wherever they are located.

Ah. Fair enough :) I understand.

Yeah, try the hub.

p

I hope that will work for you Adam. While my problem is not quite the same, I also tried using a hub between the iMac and router and it made no difference. My wife's iMac does not HAVE to be hooked into the network for internet as she can use of our PCs- I was just trying to be a nice guy and give her broadband access on her iMac.

Randy

Adam (and Randy), have you checked to see if
your router has a firmware update? Linksys has
firmware updaters for many of their routers for
problems with Macs.

James

Thanks for the suggestion James but I have the most current firmware for my router (1.42.7)

Randy