Actiontec™ 1520 Commonly Asked Questions

Why are there 4 Ethernet (Yellow Ports) on the back of the Gateway?

The four yellow Ethernet ports on the back of the Actiontec 1520 allow you to connect 4 different PC's to the gateway. The Actiontec 1520 gateway is set to support 4 or more PC's. No configuration change to the Actiontec 1520 is needed to support more than one PC. A straight through Ethernet cable is needed for each PC you hook up to the Actiontec 1520 gateway. Additional cables can be purchased at www.actiontecstore.com/qwest.

What are the slots on the left side of the Actiontec 1520 for?

The slots on the side of the Actiontec 1520 are expansion slots. Expansion slots give the Actiontec 1520 more flexibility to offer additional features in the future. The top slot is for the Actiontec PCMCIA wireless adapter.

Why doesn't the Actiontec 1520 have a phone port on the back as the Cisco does?

Currently the Actiontec 1520 does not have a phone port on the back which allows you to connect a phone to your gateway. A splitter is provided in the black bag to allow a phone to be hooked up at the wall jack the gateway is connected too.

I have run out of Ethernet plugs on my Home Gateway. How do I add more computers?

Plugging in an Ethernet hub or switch can expand the Home Gateway. Run a standard Ethernet cable from the UPLINK port of your new hub or switch to a standard port on the Actiontec Home Gateway.

Which protocols does the Home Gateway support?

The internal LAN connections support multiple protocols (e.g. TCP/IP, NetBEUI, IPX/SPX, and AppleTalk).
The External WAN connection supports only TCP/IP.

What connection speeds does the Home Gateway support?

The LAN connections on the Home Gateway are auto switching, and support 10/100Mbps.
The WAN connection supports up to 8Mbps because of the physical restrictions placed on broadband connections. The 802.11b wireless connection supports up to 11Mbps connection speeds (Depending on signal quality, environmental factors, and physical distance).

Is Actiontec Gateway upgradeable? How do I do it?

Yes, the firmware is upgradeable. You can find a link to the firmware site under utilities in the web-based configuration.

Do I need a specific cable or DSL modem to use the Home Gateway?

No. The Home Gateway has a built in full-rate DSL modem.

WIRELESS

If I install several Actiontec Home Gateways in different locations in my building, will they be able to talk to each other? Will I be able to stay connected as I moved between them?

If you installed several Actiontec Home Gateway devices and were to move between coverage areas, your wireless device would actually have to reconnect to a separate network. The Actiontec 1520 does not act as a repeatable access point.

Can my wireless signal pass through floors, walls, and glass?

The effect of the physical environment can have varying effect on the signal strength and quality. The more dense the object (A concrete wall compared to a plaster wall), the greater the interference. Concrete or metal reinforced structures will experience a higher degree of signal loss than that of wood, plaster or glass construction.

What is the best placement for the Home Gateway to gain maximum throughput and distance?

The best placement of the Home Gateway would be in an elevated position centrally located to the area of service. To reduce the effect of physical barriers, attempt to place the Home Gateway in a location that places the least physical obstructions to the service area.

I have an apple computer that uses the Apple® Airport wireless device. Is this device compatible with the Home Gateway?

Yes, the Apple Airport complies with the 802.11b standards. If you will be using the WEP security feature, you will need to refer to your Apple Airport documentation for information on the proper method to enter the WEP key for compatibility with the Home Gateway HEX WEP entry.

NETWORK

I use my laptop at work and at home, is there something special I need to do to make it work in both places?

Yes, you would need to reconfigure your network setting (Workgroup, Domain, Password, User name, IP addressing or any other specific settings used by your company). You may also use third party software like NetSwitcher to automatically switch between different configurations.

What is the valid IP range I can use for my home network?

The valid IP range for the Home Gateway is 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254.

How do I find out what IP address my computer is using?

Windows® 95, 98, 98SE, and ME
Select Start, Run, and type "winipcfg". Press Enter.
When the winipcfg screen is displayed, ensure your network device is selected.

Windows NT, 2000, and XP
Select Start, Run and type "cmd". Press Enter.
When the command screen is displayed, type "ipconfig" and press Enter.

I used DHCP to configure my network. Do I need to restart my computer to refresh my IP address?

No. Follow these steps to refresh your IP address:

Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and ME
Go to Start, Run, and type "winipcfg" and press Enter.
Ensure the Ethernet adapter is selected in the device box.
Press the button that says "Release_all", and then press the button that says "Renew_all".

Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and XP
Go to Start, Run, and type "cmd" and press Enter.
Ensure the Ethernet adapter is selected in the device box.
At the DOS prompt type "ipconfig /release", then type "ipconfig /renew".

Can I run an application located on another computer over the network?

Yes, if the application is designed to run over a network.

Can I play games between computers on my network, or on the Internet?

Yes, if the games were designed for multi-player or LAN play. For specific information if a game is capable of Internet or LAN play refer to the game documentation.

I have an FTP or web server on my network. How can I make it available to users on the Internet?

For a web server, you will need to enable port forwarding for port 80 to the IP address of your server. (It is recommended to configure your server to use a static IP address)
For your FTP server, you will need to enable port forwarding for port 21 to the IP address of your server. (It is recommended to configure your server to use a static IP address)

CONNECTIONS

How many computers can be connected through the Actiontec Home Gateway?

The Home Gateway is capable of 254 connections, but it is recommended to have no more than 32 connections. As you increase the number of connections, you decrease the available speed for each computer.

SECURITY

What is the difference between 40bit and 64bit encryption?

There really is no difference between the two. They are just different terminologies used throughout the industry for the same level of encryption.

Can 40/64bit WEP devices talk to each other?

Yes, but only if the 128bit device is set to use 64bit WEP encryption.

How do I enter a HEX WEP encryption key on a Lucent® wireless device?

Lucent uses ASCII to enter WEP keys. To enter a HEX key, enter "0x" before the HEX characters (example: 0x3d4e872a).

How do I make a HEX based WEP key?

1. 64bit - Generated as 10 alphanumeric characters (0-9, a-f)(example: 843c29a562)
2. 128bit - Generated as 26 alphanumeric characters (0-9, a-f)(example: 3c29f2536bef3276d32e364a2c)

What is NAT and how does it protect my network?

NAT (Network Address Translation) is a level of security, which masks the private IP addresses of the PCs on your network with a single public IP address.
With NAT the private IP address of any PC on your network is never transmitted over the Internet.

Is my Home Gateway a firewall?

Yes. The Home Gateway provides its security through the use of NAT firewall, which acts as a physical barrier between your network and the Internet. In firmware release 1.60.10.0.30 and later a configurable onboard firewall is available.

Which Virtual Private Networking (VPN) protocols are supported?

The Home Gateway supports pass-through for IPSec, PPTP and L2TP.

Can I use Internet firewall or security programs with my network?

Because the Home Gateway uses NAT firewall security it is not necessary to use any other program for security. The use of third party firewall or Internet security software is not recommended, as certain programs will create problems on a private network (Example. BlackIce Defender, Norton Internet Security and Zone Alarm).

HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS

Does this affect me?

This notice is intended for customers with home security systems and high speed Qwest DSL™ installed on the same line. Home security systems have been around for a long time. Many installations predate the deployment of residential DSL. In fact, some of the alarm systems were built prior to the dramatic growth of the Internet and may not have been designed to anticipate the new ways telephone lines are used to deliver high speed DSL connectivity to our customers. Both new and old security systems may have special wiring requirements to properly operate with today's technology. Home alarm systems use the telephone line by utilizing the portion of the line carrying the voice conversation (the frequency spectrum between 0-4 kHz). On the other hand, DSL uses the capabilities of the telephone line that are not used by the regular telephone conversation (which is above 4 kHz) for the delivery of high-speed data. Since some of the alarm systems may not have been designed to perform under such conditions, it is important to test the alarm system.

Does this affect me?

Every customer having a home security system installed on the same line as the DSL service may potentially be affected. Thus, we strongly recommend that you perform a test of your home alarm system. You must check with your security company for the processes they recommend. In general, performing a test of the alarm system should indicate if the service is working correctly. Most security companies recommend regular testing to ensure the system is working, even when DSL is not present on the line. If you do NOT have an alarm system or have an alarm system installed on a different telephone line than the DSL service, then you are not subject to any special wiring requirements described on this web page.

What do I need to do if the alarm system is not working?

If testing indicates the security system is not working, your alarm system may be malfunctioning or you have special wiring needs and require a professional installation. Qwest does not have the capability to perform tests on your alarm system. Thus, you must contact your home security provider to identify the source of the problem. If it is determined you require a special wiring solution, Qwest strongly recommends you obtain help from a qualified professional to perform this installation or repair. Please contact your security company to perform professional installation services. You may also request a Qwest technician install to perform the installation. (A technician installation charge may apply).

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