Wireless Home Network

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Hello again everyone,

Ok. Here's the story.

Got two computers. One is my downloading/converting/burning pc and the other is just a surfing pc.

I just got a wireless router/modem for my internet connection. However, at this time, my wallet dictates that I can only get one wireless network card.

Is there any way i can set them up so that I can get onto the internet with both? I remember way back in the day before xp, i could do this by installing a program like WinGate and logging in on the 2nd through the first one. I dont know if that is still viable with xp and/or using a wireless connection.

Anywho .. just a tad bit of advice would be appreacited.

thanks a bunch.
LG

[Supreme2k]

Straight-thru cable on one of the PCs to the router.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Umm ok. I guess i should have been more specific. I thought adding that it was wireless was sufficient.

The router wont be anywhere near the computers. It will be about 60 feet away, hence the need for wireless. I dont feel like running any wiring and the 2 pc's will be in the same room.

That help a little more?
LG

[Supreme2k]

Crossover cable from one PC to the other (if they both have basic network cards). Use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

No need to get snippy, though. Just put every bit of info that you can into your question.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Crossover cable from one PC to the other (if they both have basic network cards). Use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

No need to get snippy, though. Just put every bit of info that you can into your question.

Hey Supreme,

My apologies. I didnt realize I was being snippy. It was fairly late when I replied and I was pretty tired. Perhaps throwing in a few smily icons would have been helpful. Again, my apologies

So, basically the ICS replaces a program a la wingate? And, in the one PC, I'll have a standard enet card AND a wireless PCI card. Will that cause any conflicts? Are there any "special" setup notes I should be aware of?

LG

[Supreme2k]

No problem.

Here are a couple of links about ICS:

Overview
How to set up

Yes, the "host" PC needs two cards (in your case, a wireless and a regular). There should be no conflicts, because each card acts as a separate entity.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

No problem.

Here are a couple of links about ICS:

Overview
How to set up

Yes, the "host" PC needs two cards (in your case, a wireless and a regular). There should be no conflicts, because each card acts as a separate entity.

Awesome. Thanks Supreme!! Really appreciate it.

The only thing I was worried about was the two cards. Sometimes things conflict in computers that have no logical sense conflicting, so was just making sure. Good to know. And thanks for the links.

I should be setting this up on thursday or friday. So I'll let ya know how it goes.

Thanks again for my apologies for the apparant snippiness

LG

[Lucifers_Ghost]

So, I havent set up my router/modem yet, but I have a question.

I was talking to a friend of mine here at work who seems to know what he is talking about.

My set up will be: hook up the modem/router wirelessly to one computer and then use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) with the 2nd pc to connect through the 1st pc. According to my friend, I cant do that because the modem has a built in router and will block it from connecting.

Is this true or false?
LG

[bugster]

I see no reason this setup would not work. Try it for yourself to be sure.

If it doesn't work straight out of the box, try switching the wireless card on the PC from from 'infrastructure' mode to 'ad-hoc' or vice versa.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Well, thats what I would have thought. The 2nd pc is using the same "rules" to connect as the 1st pc as its using that as a gateway. So if the 1st pc is set up and running fine and going through the router correctly, I dont understand why the 2nd wouldnt.

I just wanted to make sure and I figured this is the best place to ask since, as I mentioned in another message, some of you guys are insanely smart and are 99% of the time, very friendly with the giving of answers. You all have definately helped me in a few areas of computer

I am very grateful
LG

[Jayhawk]

I'm probably way off base here Lucifers_Ghost and Supreme2K , and I apologize for jumping in late, but almost every wireless router available today also has 4 wired Ethernet ports also (except Access Points). If your's does not then your solution should work fine. If it has both then hooking one up wireless and one wired would be much simplier.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Hey Jay,

No problem for the late start. Have a coffee

The only reasons I am setting up this way are as follows:

1) I dont want to run 80ft of enet cable through my house. I already have my satellite cable which is fairly unsitely.

and

2) I only have one wireless card right now. Within a few months, I will get another one. I know they are cheap but I tend to spent all my money on my son .. damn him

LG

[Supreme2k]

According to my friend, I cant do that because the modem has a built in router and will block it from connecting.

Is this true or false?
LG

False.

It seems that your friend has no idea what he's talking about.

When you use ICS, it is as though only one computer is using the connection. The router never really comes into play in this. Your "host" PC itself acts like a router or hub.

Jayhawk, shame on you for not reading the first few posts :P

[Jayhawk]

Jayhawk, shame on you for not reading the first few posts

Point taken Supreme2K. I did read the early post (obviously not well enough) but missed the "60 feet comment". I also have a bad habit of mapping everything into "what I would do". There's probably a 12 step program I should be in to correct that flaw.

I tend to favor solid (wired or wireless) connections, 1 per PC which avoids having equipment on when I don't need it, and occasional software conflicts.

The solution you offered solves the problem and I should have left it at that. My apoligies.

[Supreme2k]

Well, don't let it happen again or I will spend my hard-earned cash for a plane ticket to kick the ass of a stranger for something they posted on a message board. :P


Actually, my wireless is for one laptop for "anywhere" net access. All the other PCs have permanent locations, so they're hard-wired. If something goes wrong with the wireless (router or card), it's nice to have a direct link.

[Craig Tucker]

Hey Jay,

No problem for the late start. Have a coffee

The only reasons I am setting up this way are as follows:

1) I dont want to run 80ft of enet cable through my house. I already have my satellite cable which is fairly unsitely.

and

2) I only have one wireless card right now. Within a few months, I will get another one. I know they are cheap but I tend to spent all my money on my son .. damn him

LG

Get the hammer chisel out and sink that cable

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Oooook here goes:

Finally got it all setup, except it wont connect wirelessly.

If I plug in the modem on enet, it works. As soon as i unplug the cable, nothing.

In my wireless configuration utility, I am connected to the SSID that i named my network as. My encryption key is in. Signal strength fluctuates between 91 - 100% and the link quality is at 100% steady. The network mode is set to infrastructure and if I try ad-hoc, my signal and link go to zero.

So, any suggestions my friends?

Thanks,
LG

[Jayhawk]

Sounds like the physical conection is there or you wouldn't see the SSID and be able to connect. Signal strenght indicates the physical link between the router and the card is good. Something's blocking traffic.

The only thing I can think of is the firewall. You can manage wireless and wired connections differently. Any chance your firewall is the culprit. Can you turn it off just to check.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Good idea Jayhawk .. sadly, I already thought of that My firewall (Kerio) was off for the tests. Poop!!!

Everything seems correct to me. But I have never set up a wireless network before. I just did some reading and went from there. It seems like I have done everything correctly. But I guess not lol

[BJ_M]

or you used the wrong encryption key or channel or key type (one on accsi and one on hex). or if a USR router - sometimes you got to reboot the thing (full reset to factory settings) a few times ...

maybe you have MAC address only connection set up ?

maybe you selected connection speed - dont , use auto .

lot of other things also -- even network not set up right

[Lucifers_Ghost]

or you used the wrong encryption key or channel or key type (one on accsi and one on hex). or if a USR router - sometimes you got to reboot the thing (full reset to factory settings) a few times ...

maybe you have MAC address only connection set up ?

maybe you selected connection speed - dont , use auto .

lot of other things also -- even network not set up right

For the excryption key, I didnt even have to type it. When i set up the modem, I wrote it down when it gave it to me. I also created a "passphrase."
When I went into the utility for the w-card, I entered in my passphrase and the wep key came up automatically. Both are set to 128 bit, format hex.

Connection speed is set to auto.

It seems both are reading channel 11

I cant find the setting anywhere for only having a mac connection. BUT, on my w-card, i do have a mac address and its the same one as in the firmware for the router/modem.

[BJ_M]

try it without a passphrase and key - just to see if it connects properly ...

[Jayhawk]

Usually when I first set up a wireless network, I turn off encryption, fiewalls, MAC addressing (usually router defaults) until I get everything working. BJ_M is correct that speed should be auto. Channels are usually auto-negotiated but if you have other wireless networks near you you should choose a channel 5 numbers apart. Example: If your neighbor is on channel 6 (usually a default), you should move to 1 or 11. Doubt that's it because your signal strength is good.

Can you run IPCONFIG from a command prompt to see if you're being passed an IP address.

Do you have a friend with a wireless laptop so you could further pin down whether the issue is with the router or your machine.

[BJ_M]

Jayhawk has a good point - maybe DHCP is not turned on (as a server) on router

[Lucifers_Ghost]

hmm .. ok guys. Thanks a bunch. I'll try those suggestions and let you know.

Im going to uninstall and reinstall the w-card, turn off everything and start from scratch again.

I'll keep you updated

Thanks a ton
LG

[BJ_M]

found a good guide here

http://www.epinions.com/content_4112818308

So, You've Gone Wireless With Your Computer and the ##@!!!&###/@!! Doesn't Work Right!

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Hello again all,

Just like to say thank to all who gave me help and suggestions. I dont know if any of them helped or not though :P

I uninstalled my wireless card and reset the modem/router to the factory defaults and started again .. and it worked.

But again, thank you all for the advice. Its very much appreciated.

Until the next problem ......

LG