Hi Everybody

Reading Phyllis Evans' story of frustration in dealing with the Gateway modem/router with SBC/Yahoo reminds me of my recent experience setting up our two new MacBook Pros with Earthlink.

I want to let whoever reads this know my experience in case it might be useful to you.

I started out setting up our wireless access with the straightforward instructions Earthlink sent with the router. When the responses I got did not correspond with what Earthlink directions said would happened, I called Earthlink tech support. It took 5 or 6 hours of going back and forth between Earthlink support and Linksys support (for Linksys WRT54G router) before I finaly had two computers with security set and working wirelessly about 4am. One thing I learned: getting through to tech people at Earthlink and Linksys in early morning is lots quicker than days and evenings.

The second thing I learned: if at all possible, stay with Earthlink support and stay away from Linksys support.

After getting some useful help from Earthlink I asked for assistance getting security set up. The Earthlink tech person said he could not help me with security and that I should go to Linksys support. I followed his advice. Big mistake!

Several hours later I returned to Earthlink support after Linksys support concluded there was a problem with our computers. He insisted that I should contact Apple support. If I am correct, Apple support is not open weekends.

So I returned to Earthlink support. This time my luck was good. I got a support person who discovered the problem: Linksys had unbridged our modem (or router???), and it needed to be bridged for two computers. This Earthlink support person also knew how to set up security. So I finally got wireless internet access about 4am. Then I was back to the delightful experience of using our new MacBook Pros online, now with wireless access.

My second lesson from these hours: when Linksys support people say, "Linksys does not train us to support Macintosh systems," believe them!

For a while I appreciated the two or three Linksys support people who tried to help. However, it was one of those untrained "helpful" people who unbridged what needed to be bridged.

My third lesson: when an Earthlink person says, "I don't know how to do that. Go to Linksys," I need to hang up and call Earthlink support again.

Then I need luck: getting an Earthlink support person who knows what I need and how to help me do it! Not all do, but now I am convinced Earthlink is a better risk for Mac support than Linksys. And since Earthlink supplies the Linksys router for home networking, there is a decent chance of getting someone who knows Linksys routers and Macs.

That's what I want any of you who are dealing with Earthlink and Linksys to know about my experience. At one point I was ready to search for a new internet service provider, but now I am inclined to think Earthlink may be a good choice. Over the years I have been quite pleased with their support, and since our wireless has worked well for two days, my "Earthlink pain" is subsiding.

And Judy and I are simply delighted with the ability to sit in front of a fire in our living room and do internet stuff on our new MacBook Pros. Quite a change of worlds from our 1998 model PowerBook G3 with OS 9.2!

I hope what I have learned will be useful to someone else at some point.

Best to all,
David Snider

Another good support source for Linksys (and other vendors) is the MacGroup iBBS. For example, see "Wireless routers other than Airport" in the Wireless section, November 2005, for a step-by-step procedure for setting up a network like yours.

Thanks for reference to "Wireless routers other thah Airport," James.

Your reference reminds me of what a rich resource past MacGroup iBBS conversations are. Until recently I had not even realized that I can search the iBBS for topics!

I think it would be useful for all of us who do know the rich resources already there to let others know to search the iBBS.

That may let folks who are not using it know that they do not have to post a question to get help. And that it may be useful to begin looking for our answers with a search rather than posting a question. One great advantage is that we get lots of info immediately. Another is that people who already have responded to my topic are not asked to respond again.

David