Re: AOL cable modem - DHCP only works intermittently - IP Address Information


>I was trying to get an AOL cable modem (I think it was described as a
>"model
> 200") working for a customer whose PC I'd needed to reinstall with XP
> Home SP2 after he'd cocked up an upgrade from W2K to XP.
>
> The AOL broadband installation program on the CD installs drivers on
> the PC and then, if the modem is connected by USB, creates a network
> connection object that looks like a LAN card. Having done this, it
> tests the connection oer USB or Ethernet - not sure exactly what tests
> it performs. Only if this stage passes does it install the AOL client
> software.
>
> However the modem was failing to give the PC an IP address, whether
> connected by USB or Ethernet: the two computers icon in the system
> tray stayed in the "acquiring network address" state for a minute or
> so before timing out.
>
> Trying a manual ipconfig /renew showed that the network device (USB or
> Ethernet) was eventually being given a 169.x.x.x address.
>
> If I powered the modem off and on, the network device was allocated a
> valid 192.168.100.x address and could ping 192.168.100.1 which I
> presume is the modem. However, left to its own devices, it soon lost
> the IP address and then failed to get given it again by DHCP. Also if
> I re-ran the AOL connection test, this invariably caused an existing
> IP address to be released and then DHCP to fail to assign a new
> address.
>
>
> Has anyone experienced this problem and do they know how to fix it? I
> dare say the modem has a web interface, but I received a
> username/password prompt and all the standard passwords failed
> ("password", "admin", blank).
>
> I rang up AOL tech support but had the standard cross-purposes
> conversation with an Indian person which is becoming a common feature
> of all PC support. The person I spoke to hadn't a clue what I meant
> when I asked whether there was a web interface to the modem and what
> the username/password were to access it.
>
> The modem showed the following steady lights:
>
> - USB or Ethernet light (as appropriate)
> - SYNC
> - RDY
>
> U/L and D/L lights did not light, apart from a few seconds of activity
> whortly after the modem was powered on.
>

Belive it or not, when using a cable modem on NTL, an IP address
starting 192.168.100 is a BAD thing! This usually occurs when the
coaxial cable has become disconnected. To prove this - disconnect the
coaxial when both the PC and modem are powered down. Then boot the
modem, and the PC. You will get a steady 192.168 ip address. You may fnd
when you get a 192.168 IP address, that the Sync and RDY lights are off
or flashing. On the other hand an IP address starting 169.254 is
generally very GOOD with AOL cable modems. Although, it can also be a
sign of a DHCP problem. in 99% of cases, a 169.254 IP address indicates
that the cable modem has been registered and is functioning correctly.
Why this IP address has been chosen, I don't know.

Forget the AOL connection test - firstly make sure AOL 9 is installed.
It is possible to bypass the connection test etc by looking for a file
on the CD's root directory called SetupAOL.exe. The use ethernet - or
ensure the cable modem drivers are correctly installed - the relevent
..inf file are found on the CD also. Check the coaxial cable - make sure
it is firmly connected. Also make sure both the Sync and RDY lights
remain steady. You should be able to maintain a 169.254 IP address. If
you can, AOL should be able to sign on. If, however, you cannot maintain
a steady IP address, contact AOL support. They will need to escalate
this to NTL level 2 support - based in Swansea - not India! In honesty,
if you get an Indian when you call AOL - you would be as well to hang up
and call back. Eventually you will get through to the Waterford or
Glasgow call centres. They will need to run a check on the modem - but
if you explain what is happening with the IP addresses, they should put
you on to NTL level 2.

George Hamilton


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