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reset to default button of router broken

Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:14 pm

I got a router and can't remember the settings.
What i usually do is this:
I take the laptop/PC.
I connect the laptop with the internet cable to the routers port for WAN.
I run dhclient eth0
I go to the web-interface of the router, similar to 192.168.1.1 (or 0.1 or such)
I configure it.

Or: that is what i remember. ...

Now if i hold the reset button, it seems to be broken.
The router is a Belkin, N Wireless, F5D8236-4 v3.

I tried to plug the LAN port of the Belkin in the port of the other router.
I connected the LAN port of the laptop to the other router too.
I searched for the address of the Belkin and put that in the address bar of the web-browser,
but that didn't work.

Is there a way to reset the router in case the reset-button is broken?

-
Let me add this:
It's a question in the interest of science. I will soon have another ISP, so this is really just learning stuff (work around problems.

Re: reset to default button of router broken

Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:19 pm

Just out of habit, let me add a bit of complaining
I got bad up and down.
I call the ISP, they tell me: "all is fine here. Restart your router" or "We will send you a new switch". Or "We will send you a new router". Some simple advice.
A few minutes after i called them, up and down is back to normal (half of what i pay for, which seems to be normal)
Coincidence? I doubt it.
Fecking with me? I assume it.
With others too? I guess so.

brave new world, brave new world. Makes me think of Munch, Edward, and then scream for a while.

Re: reset to default button of router broken

Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:06 pm

I've never plugged a computer into the WAN port on a router. That's just weird. (Or I'm just un-schooled.)

Turn off the router, get a pencil or other thin object, push in the reset button and hold it for awhile. Maybe 15 seconds, maybe more. RTFM to be certain (and you can get the FM online, usually.) That should reset it to defaults.

If that fails, another way would be to re-flash the firmware. You should be able to download the latest firmware at the Belkin website. Plug the network cable from the computer to one of the LAN ports and go to the router address. Find where the Update function is located and tell it where you put the firmware file. That's the usual procedure. Uh, I think that will work. Or you might need to telnet into the router and issue a command first to clear nvram. Pretty sure I had to do that once. Don't go by these instructions, because I don't really know what I'm talking about.

If you want to connect two routers together, maybe to have a protected network inside your network, you need to mess with IP numbers, so that the two networks are not in the same block of numbers. For example, the router connected to the internet can be left with default settings. Network cable goes from a LAN port on the first router to the WAN port on the second router. Set the second router to use a static IP on the "internet" (WAN to first router) and a different block of numbers for its own LAN.

First router - dhcp on WAN so that your ISP will give it a public number. I'll assume the LAN on the first router uses 192.168.1.xxx for the local addresses.
Second router - static IP on WAN and pick a number in the 192.168.1.xxx range. Set the LAN to serve dhcp in the 192.168.2.xxx range.
Any computers connected to the first router get 192.168.1.xxx addresses.
Any computers connected to the second router get 192.168.2.xxx addresses.
Port forwarding can be done, but I think I'd have to do it before I could explain it correctly. It's been a few years since I've had such a setup. Oh yeah, on first router, forward a port to second router's address. Then on second router, forward the port to the computer's address.
Probably not what you were thinking about, but maybe it'll help or give you something to do when you're bored.

Re: reset to default button of router broken

Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:23 pm

No, the reset-button is definetely broken.
I tried it more than just twice.
If that fails, another way would be to re-flash the firmware. You should be able to download the latest firmware at the Belkin website. Plug the network cable from the computer to one of the LAN ports and go to the router address. Find where the Update function is located and tell it where you put the firmware file. That's the usual procedure. Uh, I think that will work. Or you might need to telnet into the router and issue a command first to clear nvram. Pretty sure I had to do that once. Don't go by these instructions, because I don't really know what I'm talking about.

Correct me if i am wrong, but if the router is not set to default anymore, and for that reason i don't get an IP by "him", then i can't go to the default web-interface with web-browser to install firmware.

I do it like said (don't connect router to internet, plug the PC in the WAN port instead, do dhclient and _then_ i know what IP range i got and go to the web-interface to reconfigure. As i have set it to not give IP addresses (i used it to simple make two short cables one long) i don't get an IP (and resetting doesn't work, as the button is broken).
_But_ i also tried what you just said, and i don't get an IP. As far i can see (right now) i won't get an IP before i reset it to defaults (which means that it offers dhcp).

Like said: it might well be i oversee something.
(say that i _can_ go to 192.168.1.1 without connecting to the router via dhclient/wicd/whatever ).

In the mean time i found another router. Let me try that one too.

And yes, the rest of what you describe, router one with 192.168.1.*** and router two with 192.168.2.** is interesting.

Re: reset to default button of router broken

Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:47 pm

Look here:
http://www.mentorlog.com/2011/networkin ... outer.html
The author say: "Its pretty hard to locate the the reset button- find the picture below for reference." which is a bit of an understatement. Mine has the reset-button like shown in the middle picture.

No flashing of lights if i press the button, as long as i want.


PS: I am getting more and more confused about the ports (WAN or LAN). LAN makes most sense, and sure enough works, but i am very sure i had to use WAN at a certain operation. The problem is that i can't remember when and why (perhaps it was only with the AppleAirportExtreme, which is a very odd device).

Oh no

Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:45 pm

I try to be short.
reset sometimes finiky
unplug everything
let it sit a day, at least an hour
plug in power only
wait for routers bootup sequence of flashing leds to stop blinking
just touch reset button
did the button actually move?
If you know the button is getting pushed in ( sometimes it takes a few tries to feel it)
Next time hold reset button in as long as it takes,
to get the leds to turn off. and show the test flashing again. ( even if it takes several minutes)

if really broken, have isp get you another.

did I miss something?

Oh yeah

If you know the routers (set of dhcp addresses) ( the dhcp scope ) default should be in the manual
and if you changed it you would most likely remember you did.
you can access the router by setting a static IP
on your computer
that is not in the dhcp scope.
Sometimes depending on the router, you can even use one of the IPs in the dhcp scope
as long as the IP you use has not previously assigned to a nic by the router which is the dhcp server.

Then plug that computer into the WAN post first.
If no joy
plug that computer into the LAN port
and try to get the routers web interface again.
.
All routers I own,
about 5 different manufacturers,
all say to administer the routers web interface from a LAN port.

But reading the manual for your make model is the best.

ps: Most of us already know the ISP can sniff the router.
Some ISP are worse about it then others,
my isp $&(#*%&(*&^#%(*@$&

Re: reset to default button of router broken

Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:16 pm

Suggestion . . . a Q-tip stick is the perfect size to reset my modem/router. Might work for yours too.

Re: reset to default button of router broken

Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:48 pm

If you look at the photo from the link above you will see that a Q-tip is huge compared to the reset button. I used a staple (assuming ding translates that correct. A matchstick is too big too).
But that is not really the problem.
The problem is that you get no feedback if something happens or not. You stick dat think in the dark and void, so to speak.
Iow: while i am not very handy with such, it really is a problem of the device too.

The end of the story is that after holding it for 20 secs you need to turn off the router and then start it again.
Then i could access it like described by fsmithred:
laptop in LAN port
dhclient eth0
web-browser and default address.

In the meantime another fritzbox arrived, so i will get my head into that one and let the belkin live in my drawer (if i want to fool with routers i will either use the netgear or the old fritzbox, but sure not that one). Four ports for LAN seems a little bit too few, for my taste (well: i could plug and unplug all the time, but that is not much fun).

ps: Most of us already know the ISP can sniff the router.
Some ISP are worse about it then others,
my isp $&(#*%&(*&^#%(*@$&

Yes and yes and yes.
I think it is cool that they let _me_ pay, and horribly much, so that they can sell my data later.
Not sure how much worse it can get, but i got no doubts "they" will come up with something soon.
I wish i would understand mesh networking. Or Netsukuku. Or such.
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