Wireless.

[VCDHunter]

I will be installing a wireless modem/router this evening. The network will involve a Desktop PC on RJ45, a laptop on wireless and a shared printer. I have no experience on wireless networking and very little with networking, so does anyone have any tips before I start ?

[flaninacupboard]

win2k should be relatively pain free to set up. make sure you set IP's for your machines and limit your router to those addresses, don't want neighbours stealing your ADSL!

[tekkieman]

If you're in a heavily populated area, make sure to set encryption. It is off by default. Not worried? Leave the encryption off. Slows down the wireless connection.

Always use your wired machine to make changes. Using the wireless machines and making changes often loses the connection, and leaves you stuck.

Indoor ranges, which are rarely published in large text, are significantly lower than what you are led to believe. Keep the router away from sources of interferrence, and you should be able to enjoy it trouble free.

Finally, don't put too much effort into getting maximum signal strength. My Netgear stuff usually shows low signal strength, but never drops down from the 11Mbs speed (I use 802.11b).

[VCDHunter]

win2k should be relatively pain free to set up. make sure you set IP's for your machines and limit your router to those addresses, don't want neighbours stealing your ADSL!

Well I have the desktop working (eventually) but I am stumped with the laptop, how do I get it to use the wireless network to access the net ? I've installed the wireless card, what now ?

[flaninacupboard]

i take it the modem is connected to the router and not the desktop, and that the network is functioning (i.e. you can see the desktop from the laptop)

Is your laptop set to autmoatically detect internet settings and automatically pick up IP/DNS?

[glockjs]

like he said, make sure its set to automatic...

make sure your connected to yours too, sometimes you'll pick up neighbors signals.

forget the encryption, just make sure and have the user name and password set.

also, some cable/dsl modems require you have their software installed on each puter. it's stupid.

i just had to keep playing with settings to get mine to work. linksys doesnt like d-link.

[VCDHunter]

i take it the modem is connected to the router and not the desktop, and that the network is functioning (i.e. you can see the desktop from the laptop)

Is your laptop set to autmoatically detect internet settings and automatically pick up IP/DNS?

slow down there nerdlinger

Its a wireless router/modem all in one. The desktop PC works fine connected via a RJ45 cable. The laptop(xp) simply goes to dnserror page when i open internet explorer.

My point here is I have no idea how this wireless card lets my laptop use this router.

I have no idea what "automatically pick up IP/DNS" means or how to achieve it.

[flaninacupboard]

ok...

Start -> settings -> network connections. right click and properties on your wireless connection. scroll down the list of protocols to TCP/IP. click it and then hit properties. set it to obtain IP address and DNS server automatically. you may need to reboot for it to work.

[VCDHunter]

ok...

Start -> settings -> network connections. right click and properties on your wireless connection. scroll down the list of protocols to TCP/IP. click it and then hit properties. set it to obtain IP address and DNS server automatically. you may need to reboot for it to work.

Have checked and its all as you described.

I just get a "no connection to the internet is available - do you want to work offline ?" box.

[glockjs]

under wireless connection properties, click on wireless networks tab. configure the one under your name. make sure authentication is open, and encryption is disabled.

can also try under internet option in your browser to set up a connection.

[glockjs]

oh yeah, one other thing.

in your browser, under interntet options>connections under lan settings make sure its set to automatically detect as well

[tekkieman]

glockjs is right, some require you to use their software, and to disable Windows wireless networking. Also, there should be an icon in the system tray showing a monitor - that is your network. Hover over it and see if it shows connected. The router should have a SID - name for the wireless portion of the network. The sid on the laptop needs to match the SID of the router. Some default to "Any", although as glock said, that might connect you to a neighbors network.

Try to ping the router or the desktop from the laptop. Go to a command prompt and type "ping 192.168.0.1" also try "ping 192.168.1.1" since the modems sometimes take the .0.1 and then force the router to the .1.1

If no response, the problem is the laptop network configuration. Did the wireless nic for the laptop come with software?

[tekkieman]

oh yeah, one other thing.

in your browser, under interntet options>connections under lan settings make sure its set to automatically detect as well

While you may be right, I disagree. Most will fail, or take 5 times longer with this setting.

[VCDHunter]

glockjs is right, some require you to use their software, and to disable Windows wireless networking. Also, there should be an icon in the system tray showing a monitor - that is your network. Hover over it and see if it shows connected. The router should have a SID - name for the wireless portion of the network. The sid on the laptop needs to match the SID of the router. Some default to "Any", although as glock said, that might connect you to a neighbors network.

Try to ping the router or the desktop from the laptop. Go to a command prompt and type "ping 192.168.0.1" also try "ping 192.168.1.1" since the modems sometimes take the .0.1 and then force the router to the .1.1

If no response, the problem is the laptop network configuration. Did the wireless nic for the laptop come with software?

both pings yield destination host unreachable.

the wireless nic I picked up today.

[tekkieman]

...the wireless nic I picked up today.

Did it come with software? What is the make and model of the wireless nic?

[VCDHunter]

...the wireless nic I picked up today.

Did it come with software? What is the make and model of the wireless nic?

The wireles nic is a Linksys wpc11. I have installed the software and the laptop shows the card as running at 11.0 mbps, but having sent and received nothing.

The router is a BT Voyager 2000 Wireless.

Edit - Can we take this to IM ?

[glockjs]

isnt wireless fun???


might wanna get the current software for you wireless card for laptop from manufactures web site.

so is the home cpu hooked up wirelessly? or just wired in?

have you got anything to work wirelessly yet?

[tekkieman]

The linksys software should provide a configuration screen. Could you post a pic? Also, a pic of network settings from the laptop might also help.

Did you confirm that the SID is the same name on both the router and laptop?

[VCDHunter]

isnt wireless fun???


might wanna get the current software for you wireless card for laptop from manufactures web site.

so is the home cpu hooked up wirelessly? or just wired in?

have you got anything to work wirelessly yet?

home cpu is on rj45 cable. router and modem seem to be working fine (if a little slow for web browsing, this site anyway) laptop is the one with the wireless nic.

i only have one device that will operate wirelessly, the laptop, cause all I have is one pcmcia wireless nic for it.

I wan't my wireless laptop, goddammit

I've reinstalled the nic and adsl software twice and rebooted the thing about 20 times now as per the BT instructions.

[glockjs]

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews/2003/q3/bt-2000.asp

did you buy this new or used? if it was used i would do a hard reset and start from new

[VCDHunter]

The linksys software should provide a configuration screen. Could you post a pic? Also, a pic of network settings from the laptop might also help.

Did you confirm that the SID is the same name on both the router and laptop?

Just did the SID and changed the Network Type to Infrastructure and hey presto up popped google

Its working

Thanks flan, tekkie and glock - I'm off to wander as far down my garden as I can with my laptop 8)

[stiltman]

OK everyone, I brand new hotspot is open for free spaming

[tekkieman]

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews/2003/q3/bt-2000.asp

did you buy this new or used? if it was used i would do a hard reset and start from new

Two notes from reading the docs in the link provided by glockjs...

1. As stated earlier, make sure the sid on the router matched the sid on the laptop.

2. Make sure the association control in the router config screen is turned off, otherwise you would need to provide the mac address of the laptops nic.

[VCDHunter]

OK everyone, I brand new hotspot is open for free spaming

shit anyone know anything about encryption ?

[glockjs]

shit anyone know anything about encryption ?

yeah, we know you dont have it turned on

[tekkieman]

OK everyone, I brand new hotspot is open for free spaming

shit anyone know anything about encryption ?

64 bit (which is actually only 40 bit...long story) or 128 bit. Tends to slow down your connection, but it's worth it to keep stilt off your DSL line.

[stiltman]

but it's worth it to keep stilt off your DSL line.

And just what are you implying? You mean me accessing my neighbors LAN to post my warez to usenet is something we shouldn't do? j/k of course

[tekkieman]

but it's worth it to keep stilt off your DSL line.

And just what are you implying? You mean me accessing my neighbors LAN to post my warez to usenet is something we shouldn't do? j/k of course

Well sure! For posting warez you always use your neighbors DSL. That way when they track the IP it doesn't come back to you. I purposely don't use encryption and check the logs every day hoping to catch someone piggy-backing!

[VideoTechMan]

I have both a Linksys 2.4GHz wireless router and the matching wireless card for my laptop....I know that most DSL services make you use their software to connect to the service...however I was able to get around that by programming my user name and password into the router itself, so that way each time I turn on my laptop or desktop, the router would already be logged in so that cay my systems will be online instantly once it boots up.

Setting the encryption on your wireless laptop or desktop can be a good idea, especially if ur in an area where others can try to invade to your network. You will have to set encryption in your router and enable the WEP-Encryption. I believe you can make up any password you want and router will generate a WEP network key (its a pretty long key of letters and numbers) so you will have to write it down, then make the appropriate changes on your laptop wireless card. Oh, and be sure to use 128-bit encryption as it offers better protection. I know with my router, I can access the setting by typing its IP address in my browser to access it, im not sure if your router can do the same. Hope this helps.

VTM

[flaninacupboard]

Thanks flan, tekkie and glock - I'm off to wander as far down my garden as I can with my laptop 8)

So how far did you get?
My favourite is accessing the web while i'm on the street in the car - once i have my carputer installed i'll be able to do remote administration/MP3 upload over the wireless.