Member Avatar for ajaxkappasig

I just added a generic 4 port wired hub to a linksys router. I can access the router configuration pages through the hub, but no internet access through the wired connection. Wireless works fine, and hub is obviously connecting to the router. I've done this on my own network many times without any issues, but this problem has me stumped. Any suggestions?

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Dani AI

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A few practical notes and a short troubleshooting checklist for the exact symptom here: the router’s admin page is reachable from a wired port but wired clients don’t get Internet while wireless does. As suggested, always start by testing a PC directly on the router; as suggested, verify you can ping the gateway. The situation described by is commonly caused by an alternate gateway or DHCP server elsewhere on the cabling, a miswired WAN/LAN connection, or a simple cabling/link issue.

Hub vs switch (short): a hub is an electrical repeater that shares the same collision domain and halves potential throughput; a switch forwards frames to individual MAC addresses, supports full‑duplex and dramatically reduces collisions. Modern unmanaged switches also handle auto‑MDIX (no crossover cable needed) and are the correct choice for small networks.

Quick, repeatable checks (Windows examples):

ipconfig /all        # check IP, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS
ping <gateway IP>    # verify L2/L3 to router
ping 8.8.8.8         # test upstream routing (bypass DNS)
nslookup google.com  # test DNS resolution
tracert 8.8.8.8      # where traffic stops
arp -a               # see local MACs (helps find multiple gateways)

Disable Wi‑Fi on the PC while testing so the wired path is the only route.

If you find a second router/modem path or two DHCP servers: either remove the unintended router from the path or convert it to an access point (disable its DHCP server, give it a static LAN IP in the primary subnet outside the DHCP pool, and connect via LAN‑to‑LAN). Also check that you didn’t accidentally plug a switch into a router’s WAN port. Finally, label cables and sketch a simple diagram of the runs before making changes to avoid resetting unknown equipment at a workplace.

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Member Avatar for tinstaafl

Does the computer connect to the internet when connected directly to the router, without the hub?

Member Avatar for CimmerianX

Can you ping the gateway?
Is it a hub or a switch?
Is it managed at all?

Member Avatar for ajaxkappasig

I'm switching two win7 pcs from wireless to wired at a friends retail shop. The router's ethernet is connected to other items which he is unsure how they are setup or even what they go to. Strange, and a huge pain. The ethernet cables aren't being used by anything as far as I can tell; possibly ran for future expansion in front room.
Router password isn't default. Without being certain of other network components and settings, I'd rather not reset router.

I added a TP-LINK 5-port gigabit unmanaged switch (what's the difference between a hub and switch?)

I can ping router

When hooking ethernet cable directly to router, I still can't connect to Internet.

Thanks for your assistance!

Member Avatar for ajaxkappasig

Found the problem. They ran a second router to the front room and ran a new cable from cable modem directly to new router, bypass the original router I was working with.

Thanks again for your time and help!

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