Rather than hijack the thread about YouTube TV and Cutting the Cord, I thought I’d start a new thread to encompass All Things Technical.
I still have lots of questions.
Here’s my first question: When I returned the cable boxes to Optimum, since we’re now on YouTube TV, the gentleman also provided me with a New Router. @DadOfJerseyGirl mentioned that with the New Router, I don’t have to change the password on all my devices to the new one; I can simply change the wifi password to my existing PW for the Existing Router, and everything will continue as is. That would be great.
So, first, I had to determine how to change the PW on my network. It’s not very straightforward to find that info, but I eventually did. (So I assume I can find it again, when I’m ready.) But here’s my confusion: If I swap out Existing Router for New Router, and then go onto my computer to change the PW, will my computer be able to get onto the network, since it will be using New Router’s PW??
If instead I use Existing Router to log on to the computer to change the PW, that’s silly – because I want the New Router to use Existing Router’s PW, and I’m already on line with Existing Router and current PW.
I’m sure I’m not understanding something basic here. Thanks in advance.
The new router will come with a default network name and password. Power up your router and connect your computer to that network using that password.
Then go to the administrative screen. You typically do this by entering the URL 192.168.1.1 in your web browser. You will likely need to enter a password. This should be mentioned somewhere in the manual or perhaps on a sticker somewhere on the box.
Once you’re logged in navigate to the WiFi settings menu and you’ll be able to change the network name and password. Change it to whatever your old router used.
@DadOfJerseyGirl , your instructions in the first paragraph are clear as a bell, and I think I did everything correctly. Maybe it’s me – but my computer just did not connect to the internet with the new router. On the new router, the power button was green, and the little internet icon (a globe/map sort of thing) was blinking green – so I assume I plugged everything in correctly. When my computer started, it “saw” the new router’s name. I clicked on that and, as instructed, entered the new password. But my computer never connected to the internet. The computer says the network is secured but not connected. I turned the router off and on again; I did the same with my computer. Just. Not. Connecting.
So I reconnected my existing router, and now I’m back online. I will try again later.
Is the new router connected to the modem (unless it’s a combination modem+router)?
When your computer is connected to the new network can you reach 192.168.1.1 via your web browser?
It is not a combination modem+router. But Yes, the router is conencted to the modem with a thick, yellow telephone-cord kind of wire. I haven’t changed anything at all on the modem; all the cords that were there for connecting to the old router are still there.
I will now try to connect to 192.168.1.1 using the new router. (I didn’t try before; I figured my computer needed to be connected to the internet.) Stay tuned.
(ALSO: Thank you again so much for all your advice. I really appreciate it. I’m not stupid, just uninformed about all this stuff!!)
ETA: I could not connect to the 192.168.1.1 while connected to the new router. I assume that’s because I wasn’t connected to the internet.
This is what the back of the new router looks like. I’ve attached the power cord to the bottom hole – the only place it goes. I’ve put the yellow telephone-like cord in the coupling labeled “Internet.” I assume that’s correct – not one of the other couplings.
That address is not something out on the internet, it should be the admin access to the router. It should work without internet access.
But let’s step back a minute. I assume you are using a desktop or laptop computer to try communicating with the new router. Is it connected with an ethernet cable to new router and plugged into one of the ports numbered 1 thru 4? Or are you trying to do it over wifi?
If over wifi then use an ethernet cable to connect to the router. If you’ve been trying with a cable then try another cable to make sure the first one isn’t broken, if it still doesn’t work I’m out of ideas.
Update: I tried everything I could think of for an hour this morning, and then I finally called Optimum. The gentleman was very nice and told me that whats the other nice man at the Optimum store had given me was not a router but a combo modem/router. Huh. Who knew.
He tried 800 different things to get me up and running, but no luck. Along the way I rebooted the modem. And after that even the old router didn’t work. So, I’ve had NO Internet and NO TV all day. The technician is coming tomorrow afternoon.
I am not happy. Big surprise, huh? They are giving me a whooping $15 “appreciation credit” for being so patient.
I’m typing this from my phone, so it may not be pretty.
I’m sorry to hear that. But hopefully they’ll fix it properly this time. Don’t forget to make sure he changes the network name and password on the new device to match your old.
They should also cover you for loss of service since the day you got the new router. The technician won’t be able to do anything about that but I suspect if you call their customer service line and complain loudly you’ll get a lot more than $15.
Anyway, I hope you’re back up and running soon and enjoying your new YTTV. Good luck.
Thanks, guys. I’ll let you know what happens. And @DadOfJerseyGirl , I had already planned to have the tech change the network name and PW, but thanks for the reminder
I wonder if you could use your phone hot spot for your TV (wifi).
When I am out with my ipad I use my phone’s hotspot to get wifi. The TV is just a very large ipad or PC. I have never tried it.
Now that I’ve had 23 hours to muse on what happened yesterday –
Long story short, Optimum failed to schedule anyone to come during the 2:00 to 5:00 PM window. When I texted their “help line” at 4:30, they lied and said the guy was almost at my house. That’s because they realized at that point that there never assigned anyone to come, so they got a guy to agree to come. He was not at all close – about 20 miles away, trying to go up I95 during rush hour – and he finally showed up at 5:50 PM!!
He told me the alleged combination modem/router is in fact not a combination modem/router – he said it’s just a modem. I have no idea, and at this point I don’t care. The tech set me up with the old router, and now I have internet and TV, so I’m just going to sit tight for a while. I’ll re-address this in a few months, after I’ve recovered from yesterday’s trauma.
I have never tried it.
I do hope you contact them for a credit of more than $15!