How do I get internet on laptop wirelessly?

[fsuorange]

Okay here is my setup:

I have downstairs computer with dsl modem and an upstairs computer that is wirelessly connected to the internet through the downstairs access point. (I am using a d-link 5000 access point on downstairs computer and a dwl-A520 wireless network adapter on the upstairs computer.)

What I would like to do is with a laptop a few rooms next to the upstairs computer, connect to the upstairs computer which connects to the internet downstairs since I am not able to get a steady and good connection trying to connect to the access point downstairs because it is just too far away.

I would like to know how to connect my laptop with a d-link dwl-a650 wireless network card to the upstairs computer and get the internet. Is this ad-hoc mode? How do I do this?

Thanks

[canadateck]

You have tried the wirless card in the laptop? and it doesnt work? to far?

[BouncedGranola]

Ad-Hoc is where you just connect one computer to one computer. I'm not sure if you will then be able to access your connection on the third computer. You may consider moving your access point for the distance shouldn't be a problem--it may be something else the is disrupting the signal.

[fsuorange]

yes i have tried the pc card im my laptop upstairs and there a very low signal that eventually goes out. My upstairs computer is in a room that it directly above the access point so there is almost always a good signal, but my laptop I think is just too far away fromt this room considering the walls.

So there is no way to connect to my upstairs which then connects to the internet?

[galactica]

you would need to
1. move the router closer to upstairs
2. purchase a signal booster that you would either mount on the router itself, or install at some location in the house to project the signal to the area you want.

not sure of the specific brand you would need
I use THIS
so look for something like this

[sitlet]

i dont think you would be able to either. the wireless card on your upstairs computer just receives the signal from the router. it wouldnt be able to send it to the laptop. how big is your house? i have a d-link wireless router in my basement, and i can go through my whole house, and outside almost across the street with my laptop

[rallynavvie]

Ditto, I've got a D-Link DI-624 router in one corner of my house and get 76% signal strength in the other corner (and that's travelling through one floor, a brick fireplace, and 2 walls). Ideally you'd want your router located centrally, but if possible maybe try attaching it to the upstairs computer and put the card in the other one. Or perhaps there is something running that is interfering with the signal.

[808smokey]

I'd like to know what your house is made out of if you don't mind me asking. If it's made of metal 2x4"s, like some newer houses are made of, then I would think you could get all kinds of interference from all the metal. IF it's a 2.4giger then it should go about 300ft. with no problems. I'm confused on how your setup is.

Is it:
ISP - DSL modem - 1st floor computer - upstairs computer - laptop
All three daisy chained?

If it is you might have probs with the upstairs and laptop sharing the same Wireless transmission. You'd have to hook the laptop up to a Wireless port out of your router.

Setup like this:
ISP - DSL modem - 4 port Router then seperate lines to the 3 computers. One CAT-5/6 & 2 wireles.

Just my .02¢

[fsuorange]

yes i have i

isp-dsl-router-wirless access point-------- Downstairs

And

wirless d-link dwl-a520 network card in a computer room directly above the access point and the laptop with dwl-a650 a few rooms over.

However I must admit that I'm having trouble even getting a steady signal on the computer directly above the access point. I do not know of any interference but would like to know what to do.

Here is the problem im having with the upstairs computer

When I get on the internet upstairs there is always a dhcp connection but sometimes, randomly, the connection goes to either "Automatic Private Address" or "Invalid IP address" and internet connection is broken. Like I said I will be surfing in dhcp and everything is fine but then it switches to Automatic or Invalid IP address and the internet connection is broken. I have to reset the wireless access point to get back into dhcp. Could I be picking up someone elses network?

Thanks

[rallynavvie]

You may want to give D-Link's tech support a call about that. Before you do visit their website and get drivers/firmware updates for everything and see if those help at all. I had to call their tech support because the wireless card in my internet PC was causing windows to reboot and/or wouldn't keep connected to my router. Their tech support was very helpful, one of the best I've had to deal with.

[808smokey]

When I get on the internet upstairs there is always a dhcp connection but sometimes, randomly, the connection goes to either "Automatic Private Address" or "Invalid IP address" and internet connection is broken.

Change it to Static IP address in your Router/wireless router

Could I be picking up someone elses network?

I doubt it but you could be. Even if it were they would have different IP address and it wouldn't interfere, different signal your computer would ignore. Do you have a HAM radio guy next door or anything. I know that will mess up TV sets I would call the Tech support guys.

[fsuorange]

Is there any other method to update the firmware of an access point (dlink dwl 5000) than following d-link's instructions. They are just too confusing and don't make any sense to me! There must be a program that just automatically udates the firmware isn't there?

Also i changed my router to static ip but again sometimes my connection to the internet goes to "Automatic Private Address" or "Ivalid IP address"

THanks

[rallynavvie]

Updating the firmware on my 624 was as easy as downloading the binary file, accessing the routers control panel, browsing to the binary file on my PC, and hitting the update button. You'll have to reset the router after that and start over, but you should probably go through setting it up again anyway just to make sure you didn't miss something. Firmware upgrades on these things are about as easy as you can get.

[fsuorange]

for router, yes the firmware was easy to update but access point is a different story

[rallynavvie]

Aren't access points the same as a wireless hub? I thought they did away with those