[clesh]

because I kept losing connectivity to my ISP (NTL) I swapped from having my 2 computers networked using a crossover cable, to using a router. It cured the frequent need to reboot. but since fitting it neither I or anyone else can acess my FTP files.Not quite true , I can get into them using 127.0.0.1 but that is no help for anyone the other side of the router.
I have spent much time in correspondence with the router manufacturer's website attempting to cure the problem without success.Something I saw on this site gave me the idea that perhaps your knowlegeable users could help.
Unfortunately I have absolutely no experience of programming , and at 68 am a bit old to be learning new skills, but I can hope!

i am very much a newbie so would appeciate full and simple instructions please.
Thanks in advance.

[Thorian]

There should be a section in the routers configutation called port forwarding. Basically it will forward the FTP requests ( or any other port for that matter ) to the machine running that service.

I hate to do this Chris but these guys (link below) only do tutorials for port forwarding and they are trying to have step by step instructions for every router out there.

http://www.portforward.com/routers.htm

if you need any other assistance with this clesh besure to post the router make and model, your ISP, and modem make and model#.

I just verified their tutorial against my router and it is good with screen shots and step by step walkthrough.

first you pick your router from the drop down list then you pick the service or program. (I selected FTP) then you enter in the static Ip address of the computer that you want to forward it to and it customizes the tutorial for your config.