I can not log into my modem, it has a usb driver for windows but I think even with that you couldn't do it, as there is nothing stating this in the manual.

I left it off the whole day and pressed the reset button for several seconds a number of times, but the only thing that really resets it is via the web interface in the "Restore Factory Default" button.

Than I did what you suggested ( I think ). I disabled "The Gateway acts as DHCP Server", and than I set the IP, DNS values on Network preferences manually. I got connected, but the problem remained. :(

I also tried many MTU values ( including 1492 ), 100/10, full/half duplex etc. nothing. I would even buy another router, but I'm afraid I could run into the same problem again. I don't think it's in the hardware, at least it doesn't make sense to me that it would pick certain sites only.

Connect directly to the modem with your computer. What is the IP address that the modem assigns your computer? (find this in the Network Prefs. Pane under Built-In Ethernet).

(Note: DHCP should be off in the modem, not the router. The router should have DHCP on.)

Connected directly
IP
201.37.240.242

check it out

http://www.estarque.net/router/directly.jpg

Ok, reset your modem so that you get a new IP for safety purposes. Looks like a problem with your router. Reset your router to its default settings. It should have a button somewhere to do that, not in the web interface (read the manual for specifics). To be honest, with a conventional commericially available router, you should not have any problems given your settings. I would carefully check andy set-up guides that came with both the modem and router.

Two simple things to remember: make sure your Built-In ether is Using DHCP and that your router's routing tables match that of your computer's once everything has been configured. The addresses, MAC, etc. You should be able to see how the router has your computer in its tables and then your computer should have that same address.

Just out of curiosity, what modem do you have?

It's a WebStar DPC2100.

I just discovered that you can indeed connect to it via Web Interface, through 192.168.100.1, only you have to use internet explorer, as it uses some asp ****, otherwise you get a blank gif.

I already tried everything you said, to no avail. I just quit, I tired of loosing sleep over it. I'll try to buy a new and set this thing on fire.

Thanks a lot for your help and patience

It might be a MTU problem. If your el-cheapo router somehow sets that value too high, things like that happen.

Try to set it from automatic to a really low value such as 1400 and see if the problem goes away. If it does, ask your ISP for the correct value (first-level script-monkey probably won't know).

I tried 1492, 1400 and even 72. Even at 72 the problem persisted.

PS: I really wish it was an el-cheapo, at least you can say to your self "you get what you paid for". I paid R$ 150 ( about 70 USD ). Welcome to the 3rd world.

So you can log into then; is there a way to turn off DHCP? Also, you may want to the router's site for any upgrades you may need, but i seriously think that the modem is not providing your router the actual IP address, i think it autodetects the router and gives it a DHCP for some reason. I'd be something to play with.

it doesn't let you do anything, it just shows that it's up and running watts etc.
Every setting I try to click claims my ISP doesn't support it etc.

I think you may be right to some extent about the modem not giving it a real IP.
When I connect to the modem directly, my first IP is 192.168.100.10, than it turns into 201.XXX...

But when I log into the router the real IP shows up.
If that's the case changing router might not solve the issue. however, when my mac does the routing it runs OK. Too bad my Performa 630 died, it would have been a nice decent retirement

Yeah, try going to the Planet Broadband site and see if you need any new fireware or anything. That MIGHT take care of the problem if it needs it.

Tried that too, the firmware update address an issue with L2TP. Not the case.
But apparently you need a PC to upgrade the firmware:mad:

I'll take it to work tomorrow and borrow my college's laptop and I'll post the results here.
Thanks a lot everyone once again.

May sound stupid, but did you use known good Ethernet cables ?

Yeah, he said it works fine when he hooks it up directly to his modem, which is the perfect indication that something is not configured right with the router.

For what it's worth: I'm just recovering from a router problem and I have a DHCP router connection too. Do you have PC's on your LAN? If so, you would have to first set up your router using the PC, then go to your Mac, delete all the PPPoE settings. Use Network Setup and create a new location choosing DHCP. When you reconnect your Mac should obtain all the info automatically. Normally you should have no problem after that, unless your broadband service provider has restricted your downloading to 450k for each file! ???

And if that is the case, SIGN UP WITH A NEW ISP!!!! :) Pedro's problems stems from the router's function. The one thing that really makes it strange is that everything works fine while hes directly connected to the modem. I'm still under the assumption that there is a NAT problem involved, which is classic to the on/off characteristics of his Internet functionality. Without being there though, its tough to try to really dial down to what is wrong.

It's a mac only network, and it doesn't use PPPoE at all. It uses DHCP all the way, either for direct connection and router.

It doesn't ;) and it does not happen with all links, for example yesterday I downloaded the combined 10.3.9 update, several MB with no problem at all.

I think it could be some firewall thing trying to "protect me" or a MTU deal.

Or maybe, some links poll from several server's IPs to provide the content and the router's DNS chokes. Like the first few Kbs come from one IP, than the servers is overloaded and handles it over to another server and my router loses track. Like an upload accelerator. And apple's akamai servers can handle just fine so my download goes OK. Could it be it?

Can downloading time out??

What tests would you perform? I can't turn DHCP off on the modem side, and I think that if I did my router wouldn't be able to get a new IP when my ISP changed it. I can't completely turn off firewall in the router, as even after switching all options off it still shows firewall "on" at the front page. :mad:
I can't see how much is the MTU of the router, much less change it.

I should have brought it to work as we have another connection here and PCs too, but I forgot. Well, on monday maybe...

As long as your MTU is set to 1500 and your firewalls are off in all the devices, there really is nothing that should cause your problems that would be related to firewalls or MTU sizes.

As per your DNS inquiry, that is not how DNS lookup works. Through the use of recursion and iteration, the DNS lookup scheme would not be treated as such. Your problem has the absolute classic look of a router than cannot resolve DNS-LAN address links. Bascially, your Network Address Translation(NAT) protocol is getting confused and your routing tables are a mess.