TalkTalk (A UK based ISP) send out a DLINK DSL 2640R Router as one of their "standard" routers this router unfortunately, has SO many issues, its unbelievable, but the biggest one is this: you CANT port forward it the normal way! you end up with no internet access if you try and set up a static IP address. beginning to see why TalkTalk supply this Router yet? no? well basically ISP's dont like P2P networking, therefore a router which actively denies bitorrent connections (at least to the "average" user) means less p2p downloading.
so how to get round this? well here is my idiot proof guide to port forwarding a DSL-2640R (not implying my readers are idiots, just that even an idiot could do it after reading this guide)
- Undo whatever you have done to set a static IP and let the router set it via DCHP (ie normally)
- Go into the routers advanced menu, (if you are NOT on TT this will be the default page when you enter the routers IP address of 192.168.1.1 default username and password are admin) and click LAN setup on the left hand side
- click the Manual Config drop down menu on the DCHP table and select your MAC address (if there is only one PC it will be the only one available) click save settings (ignore the IP for now)
- once the page has reloaded the IP assigned by DCHP should be alongside your MAC address, click the drop down menu that says "auto" and set it to static
- click save settings again
- click advanced, this will bring up the port forward menu, click add, then select your newly assigned IP address from the list and put the port you wish to forward in the start and end port numbers
- Lastly, check your software Firewall is not interfering with your port forwarding (i found zone alarm was blocking the port even after it had been forwarded) if it is, either disable it when using the application required for port forwarding or see portforward.com for how to configure your firewall for port forwarding
- REALLY lastly, reset your router to make the changes take effect
