Wired cable modem and wireless router conflict

Hi all,

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium, wireless router (Di-524) and cable modem (Motorola). My cable modem was connected to the router's WAN port and port1 of the router was connected to the network adapter on my desktop.

Lately my Internet connection speed became really slow, so I thought I'd change my setup and connect the cable modem to the desktop through USB port and keep the wired connection to the router for Homegroup and file and printer sharing.

Here is my problem: when I connect the cable modem to the USB port I get an error message that I have two conflicting connections and as a result I don't have any Internet access at all. When I unplug the network cable that connects my desktop and router, the USB connection is immediately recognized, so I have Internet access but no Homegroup and printer access (my printer is connected to the router).

Is there a way in Windows 7 to setup the wireless router as a router only (no Internet)? Other words, I am trying to achieve the following setup: use cable modem through USB port for Internet access and use wireless router only for homegroup and printer/file sharing?

Hi there, At the surface of things, you could try and set the router with a static IP address and omit DNS setting.

Slow Connection

sometimes with routers when you notice a slowdown like that a reboot of the router will usually work to clear it up

as for the usb connection from the modem I have seen a lot of modems over the years that could be connected via usb like that and you will usually end up with more trouble using that connection your better off staying with your standard ethernet connection and use your router as is

also you may try a firmware update for your router i believe that router can run DDWRT

You can run two network connections. It's tricky but it does work. One secret is as aem suggested but I'd suggest one change: Don't use the router. Use an ethernet switch instead. If you don't have one, you can still us ethe router but disable it's DCHP server and make all connections to the LAN ports only.

One thing you left out is in addition to Homegroup and printer sharing, will any other PC's be on that connection that will need internet access?

I will say this however:

File and printer sharing should not account for the internet connection getting slow. As long as there isn't any traffic destined for the internet, the router will ignore it. PC to PC traffic should never passes *through* the router. It will stay on the LAN ports. If the ethernet connection is 100Mbps, it'd be very difficult to generate enough traffic to slow down the network. I have 5 machines on my system and(3 wired and 2 wireless) and the wired connection *never* has an issue.

Now it they all want to hit the internet at the same time, all bets are off.

Your D-link Di-524 is not Windows 7 compatible, plain and simple. If it's not compatible then it won't work correctly. Your connection lag is very typical for this type of problem.

To solve your problem simply purchase a new Windows 7 compatible router.

I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that it will fix your problem.

Look here for yourself. There is zero support for Windows 7 and your router.
Windows 7 Compatibility Center search results - Di-524

chev65 said:

Your D-link Di-524 is not Windows 7 compatible, plain and simple.

Look hereWindows 7 Compatibility Center search results - Di-524

Click to expand...

I've never taken the content of those compatability pages as gospel truth, they're compiled based on user input and nobody at Microsoft ensures either their accuracy, nor catalogs any updates or contrary opinions...

Qdos said:

chev65 said:

Your D-link Di-524 is not Windows 7 compatible, plain and simple.

Look hereWindows 7 Compatibility Center search results - Di-524

Click to expand...

I've never taken the content of those compatability pages as gospel truth, they're compiled based on user input and nobody at Microsoft ensures either their accuracy, nor catalogs any updates or contrary opinions...

Click to expand...

If you are connecting to the router's wired LAN ports and not using wireless, the choice of OS is completely irrelevant.

However, if you're connecting to the wireless radio of the router then chev65's observations are relevant. It will depend on the wireless adapter being used.

List

there is a difference between "not supported" and "won't work". Just because the manufacturer of the product (D-Link) does not officially support Windows 7 with that product, doesn't mean that product won't work. This is especially true when the product uses a third-party chipset. D-Link may not release drivers for their product specifically for Windows 7... but there is nothing stopping the chipset manufacturer from doing so.

RedBirdDad said:

Qdos said:

chev65 said:

Your D-link Di-524 is not Windows 7 compatible, plain and simple.

Look hereWindows 7 Compatibility Center search results - Di-524

Click to expand...

I've never taken the content of those compatability pages as gospel truth, they're compiled based on user input and nobody at Microsoft ensures either their accuracy, nor catalogs any updates or contrary opinions...

Click to expand...

If you are connecting to the router's wired LAN ports and not using wireless, the choice of OS is completely irrelevant.

However, if you're connecting to the wireless radio of the router then chev65's observations are relevant. It will depend on the wireless adapter being used.

Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree, these pages are sloppily compiled and often wrong.

Which part of the wifi protocols aren't compatible between Windows7 and this D-Link device? There are no drivers needed in the operating system to use the router, all it needs is a working wifi card and drivers that run that card...

Qdos said:

RedBirdDad said:

Qdos said:

I've never taken the content of those compatability pages as gospel truth, they're compiled based on user input and nobody at Microsoft ensures either their accuracy, nor catalogs any updates or contrary opinions...

Click to expand...

If you are connecting to the router's wired LAN ports and not using wireless, the choice of OS is completely irrelevant.

However, if you're connecting to the wireless radio of the router then chev65's observations are relevant. It will depend on the wireless adapter being used.

Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree, these pages are sloppily compiled and often wrong.

Which part of the wifi protocols aren't compatible between Windows7 and this D-Link device? There are no drivers needed in the operating system to use the router, all it needs is a working wifi card and drivers that run that card...

Click to expand...

That's exactly my point. The router is an external TCP/IP device and the OS on any device on it's LAN ports is irrelevant.

As for the for the wireless piece, I do think there is *some* relevance. But it will be very dependent on the wireless adapter and the router playing well together. It may well come down to a wireless router supporting current implementations of say, WPA2-PSK, or 802.1x which is separate from the low level 802.11b/g protocol. This is just an observation mind you. If you want to get down to the nitty gritty, then I would agree with you completely.

Qdos said:

chev65 said:

Your D-link Di-524 is not Windows 7 compatible, plain and simple.

Look hereWindows 7 Compatibility Center search results - Di-524

Click to expand...

I've never taken the content of those compatability pages as gospel truth, they're compiled based on user input and nobody at Microsoft ensures either their accuracy, nor catalogs any updates or contrary opinions...

Click to expand...

Good for you, fortunately I have found exactly the opposite to be true. IMO I have already seen that exact same router fail to work properly on many occasions right here in this very forum.

I think the bigger problems are with the wireless end on that router. Updating the firmware to the 2.04b02 may help but that firmware was not easy to find.

Firmware version v2.04b02 is supposed to have the best success with Windows 7.
This firmware is not even available from the D-link site. I had to read around for this solution. It may not work for you but you have a good chance of getting it to work with Windows 7 using this firmware.

You can download the v2.04b02 firmware from the link below. It may only work with certain versions of the DI-524.
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/FIRMWARE/Others/D-Link-DI-524-VerB2-Firmware-204.shtml

There are complaints all over the internet about the DI-524 not working correctly with Windows 7, especially the 64 bit versions but from what I have read the 2.04 firmware can make a difference.

RedBirdDad said:

One thing you left out is in addition to Homegroup and printer sharing, will any other PC's be on that connection that will need internet access?

Click to expand...

Not really, my laptop is using its own wired connection, I tried wireless connection but the speed was too slow and signal strength weak (it was back in Vista time), so I thought I would rather pay for an additional line and not worry with signal strength, interferences, etc...

File and printer sharing should not account for the internet connection getting slow. As long as there isn't any traffic destined for the internet, the router will ignore it. PC to PC traffic should never passes *through* the router. It will stay on the LAN ports.

Click to expand...

I never thought there was any connection between file/printer sharing and slow internet, they are not related at all, I agree with that.

but I'd suggest one change: Don't use the router. Use an ethernet switch instead.

Click to expand...

Well, that is exactly what I am trying to achieve. I was thinking if I disable internet access to the router by unplugging the cable modem, this will effectively turn the router into a switch.

If you don't have one, you can still us ethe router but disable it's DCHP server and make all connections to the LAN ports only.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea, I will do that.

Your D-link Di-524 is not Windows 7 compatible, plain and simple. If it's not compatible then it won't work correctly. Your connection lag is very typical for this type of problem.

Click to expand...

I've been using it with Windows 7 for about a month without any problems whatsoever, the slow connection has become a problem just recently. If it was completely incompatible it would break immediately after I installed Windows 7, no?

Anyway, thanks everyone for your suggestions and help, it is much appreciated!

chev65:

My router is 4 years old and was end of lifed 6 months ago. My Wireless AP is 3 years old. Neither is on the W7 compatibility list yet they both work just fine on 5 different machines both wired and wireless.

According to you they shouldn't work at all yet they do. If I had asked a question, you'd have said get a new router, or get a new AP and you'd have been wrong.

No one including me is questioning your skills here on the forum despite what you may think. You don't get to your level by accident. I along with others respect that. But please don't get offended when someone disagrees with you. It's not a black and white issue. The Microsoft list isn't gospel. I'm sure you know there is no one right answer to many of these questions.

MichaelK said:

Anyway, thanks everyone for your suggestions and help, it is much appreciated!

Click to expand...

I was just beginning lol , but it seem you have found many answers already?

aem said:

I was just beginning lol , but it seem you have found many answers already?

Click to expand...

I haven't tried all suggestions yet, but I think I did get some direction. I think I will try to get the router to work as a switch (as RedBirdDad suggested) and if it doesn't work I will try the firmware upgrade (thank you chev65 ).

Solution

Just in case it may help someone else: I upgraded the firmware (again, thanks chev65 for the link) and reduced MTU from the default 1500 to 1450, everything flies now...

Well what do you know, glad I could help MichaelK.

I will say that it took me about 45 minutes to track down that firmware version which is reported to be the only one that works as it should with your router and Windows 7.

That firmware wasn't on the D-link site either, I had to read about your router on a German site which told me there was only one firmware that worked correctly for that router with Windows 7. After that, I had to track down the actual firmware which wasn't even made for your model of router but seems too work for some reason.

Basically the compatiblity guide was correct once again, I had to go out on a limb to find that firmware which is the only reason that router is working as it should. It was just another router compatiblity problem as usual. It's intersting how nobody is speaking up now about my trouble shooting ablities. :sarc:

In case anyone was wondering how Msoft determines compatiblity. You can't just go there and make up stuff at all, it's a ligitimate testing process that Msoft does with each and every piece of hardware. In other words it ain't WIKI and has nothing to do with user input. Even if you send in a report on a router they still test it out to make sure.


To determine product compatibility status for the Compatibility Center, we looked at whether:

• The product has earned the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo which indicates it has met Microsoft testing requirements for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.
• The device manufacturer or software publisher stated this product is compatible with Windows 7 now or will be compatible by a future date.