I posted over at Oasis looking for some tech help, and am seeking advice. Thx.

http://www.theoasisforums.com/yabbse...7.new.html#new

Okay, TL... first question: do you have a wireless access point? If not, the card won't do you any good. It's like a cordless phone without a base station.

If you do, then configuring it is pretty straightforward. If you don't then it is going to be extremely difficult (and some might say impossible ;) ).

What do you mean a wireless access point? I have a 2wire modem/router/firewall that I got from SBC. My computer is hooked to it through the ethernet port, and works fine.

Now I want to connect the Wife's computer wirelessly. The documentation tells me I can connect to it w/ other computers via ethernet cable, usb cable, or wireless ethernet card.

I bought a wireless ethernet card and installed it. It works, and identifies several wireless connections available in my neighborhood. I want to connect to my particular modem/router. But, now I'm having trouble working the WEC and SSID and all that info into it, because I don't know them.

I can't open the 2wire modem box and read this information, obviously, so I'm wondering what program I can open on my working/connected computer (which was connected pretty much automatically) that can tell me what info I need to enter into my wife's computer to make it work.

You'll need to log into the router to get the SSID, channel and WEP/WPA. You can usually do that with telnet or entering 192.168.0.1 into your browser address bar.

Digging around in your router, you'll find all these mysterious settings. Once you have them, enter the very same settings into the wireless card. It may take a few reboots here and there, but setting up a wireless is fairly straightforward in XP as compared to 98 or ME.

If you have the option, WPA is much better than WEP, use that. Also, most default login ID's for routers is username: admin, password: 1234. If you haven't changed the password do it, before someone else does and locks you out of your own network. ;)

[ 10-14-2005, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: Zebodog ]

I mean that critter. That modem/router/firewall may or may not support wireless connections. Your wife's computer can communicate wirelessly... that's great. What you need is something on the other end that can receive that. That critter may or may not be the thing that can do it.

Try this:

First, if you can, post the make and model of the critter. I (or someone else) can look it up and tell you if it supports wireless or not.

Second, and especially if you can't do the first: does it have a couple of antennas sticking out of the back? If it does, then it probably supports wireless, and all you have to do is to configure. If it doesn't, the odds have dropped faster than a football in a Detroit Lions receiver's hands. (I'd say Bears, just for you, but the Lions are worse...)

If it doesn't, you'll have to get a wireless access point (WAP). Based on your statement that it's a two port critter, you may need to get one that's a router as well. They're not expensive ($40-$70, depending), and they're pretty easy to set up.

Let's see where we get to after that.

It *IS* an access point, and tells me I can use it wirelessly. I just need to enter the right info, name, SSID, etc. If the WEC is not set, I'd also like to set it, which I presume would require changing the network settings on the WAP and my wife's computer.

I just need to know how to get at the router to see the info about it.

Well, as stated by others, you have to log into the router. To do this, boot up an internet page on the computer with the router, and in the address bar type 192.168.0.1, and if that doesn't work, 192.168.1.0. The manual for the router will tell you which is correct, and the username / password. Once you're in firstly look to see if it has an instillation process for new cards, some routers take you through it like that, nice and straightforward. If not get back to us.

Okay. To this point, nothing you've posted until now has confirmed that it acts like a WAP. Sorry for going back to the beginning.

To change its settings, you need to connect to it. That will be most easily done with a wired connection. Once you're connected via wire, open a browser window to the URL for the WAP. Depending on the brand, it might be something like 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or something else.

There's probably a password for accessing the WAP. If it's set at the default, make sure you change it to something else.

When you succesfully connect to the WAP, you should be faced with maintenance screens for the WAP itself. And for all the other stuff it does, too -- firewall, router, DHCP server, and so on.

And somewhere in that list of stuff will be the settings for your WAP. Somewhere will be your SSID. Change it from the default, if that's not already been done. Don't change it to something like "home"... make it unique and unlikely for someone to guess. Remember it for later.

You may want to disable broadcasting the SSID, but I had problems with my XP Home box when I did that. So I'm broadcasting. No problems yet. ;)

Somewhere else will be a setting that lets you enable security. It may talk about encryption, WEP, or WPA (I think; don't remember the next level of encryption beyond WEP). Enable it, and set the password to the longest length you can. Remember it for later, in both hex and plaintext.

You may want to restrict access to just your WLAN card. That's the one you picked up for your wife's computer. On it will be a MAC address, which is about 8 or 10 characters long. Somewhere in your setting will be something called something like MAC Address Filtering. Go there, and restrict access to just your MAC address.

Now, it's later. Go into your wife's computer and into the wireless configuration area. Enter the SSID that you remembered from above, enter the password and password type that you remembered from above, and you should be ready to go.

I apologize if this all seems generic, but you *still* haven't identified what make or model it is. With that info, configuration becomes much easier. [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

Good luck.

<font color=ggffcc>There is no real need to talk to the router, it will not give you the answer. Only M$ will.

On a Windows XP PC, this setting is typically found in the Network Control Panel. From inside the Network Connections control panel, double-click on your connection, then click on View Wireless Networks (XP SP2) or the Wireless Networks tab under Properties (XP pre-SP2).

Also,

If the SSID is not found in the Network Control Panel on a Windows system, look for a program group installed by the card driver. Also check your system tray in the taskbar near the clock and look for a running card setting/configuration tool. This is especially in the case of versions of windows before XP (95-2000).

Now keep in mind there are way more people that know the default codes, so please lock er down once you are established.

Also, you do know your WAN, MAC, IP, and Gateways?
If not, you will have to invoke WMinfo,~hardware~NetWorkAdapterCfg~Then scroll down until you have it.</font>


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I'm sorry Mr. Assassin, but Windows will not recognize an ethernet based connection as wireless no matter how much you want it to.

If I'm reading the initial post correctly, his functioning PC is hard wired to the router not wireless. Therefore, XP doesn't know there is a wireless network available, only the router does.

[ 10-14-2005, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Zebodog ]

Okay, guys, I got her CPU up and running, and am posting from it. WEP encryption, too.

Now, riddle me this. My CPU (also a laptop) has an integrated wireless ethernet. Currently, it is hard-wired to the modem/router. Which works for me so far. However, let's say I PREFER to be able to get up and move around with my CPU inside my house later.

Now, I don't know what software to open (with my wife's it was easy, b/c the card came w/ its own Netgear program), but I would like to configure my computer to be able to run PRIMARILY via ethernet cable, and SECONDARILY via wireless. What program do I open to manage these, how do I add other profiles, and how hard is it to switch back and forth?

Oh, and thanks for the help so far.

Easiest way... unplug the wire, turn on the wireless, and see what happens. Something should pop up that will direct you along the way.

Alternative approach: go into Control Panel, Networks, and start sniffing around the "Add a new network" icon critter. That should walk you through the process.

I have both a wired and wireless network set up on both my laptops. Interestingly, you can use both at the same time... :D

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I'm sorry Mr. Assassin, but Windows will not recognize an ethernet based connection as wireless no matter how much you want it to.

If I'm reading the initial post correctly, his functioning PC is hard wired to the router not wireless. Therefore, XP doesn't know there is a wireless network available, only the router does. </font>[/QUOTE]<font color=ggffcc>Well darn it Mr. Zebo, maybe, just maybe, you fell off the turnip truck (again). Since you want to be corrected, go back and re-read</font>

<font color=ggffcc>It appears he had the info (it does look like from the ethernet card at that), but did not know which ONE was his. This can be obtained one of many different ways, and two of which again involve M$. There are lots of people who have wireless, but are clueless about securing their network. It is not hard to drive through 'suburbia' America and Hi-Jack a wireless connection, anytime, anyday! Without having to communicate with a router.

Cheers! [img]graemlins/bonghit.gif[/img] </font>


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http://www.danasoft.com/sig/FelixonTheProwl.jpg

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I'm sorry Mr. Assassin, but Windows will not recognize an ethernet based connection as wireless no matter how much you want it to.

If I'm reading the initial post correctly, his functioning PC is hard wired to the router not wireless. Therefore, XP doesn't know there is a wireless network available, only the router does. </font>[/QUOTE]<font color=ggffcc>Well darn it Mr. Zebo, maybe, just maybe, you fell off the turnip truck (again). Since you want to be corrected, go back and re-read</font>

Quote:

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: I bought a wireless ethernet card and installed it. It works, and identifies several wireless connections available in my neighborhood. I want to connect to my particular modem/router. But, now I'm having trouble working the WEC and SSID and all that info into it, because I don't know them.

<font color=ggffcc>It appears he had the info (it does look like from the ethernet card at that), but did not know which ONE was his. This can be obtained one of many different ways, and two of which again involve M$. There are lots of people who have wireless, but are clueless about securing their network. It is not hard to drive through 'suburbia' America and Hi-Jack a wireless connection, anytime, anyday! Without having to communicate with a router.

Cheers! [img]graemlins/bonghit.gif[/img] </font>

</font>[/QUOTE]Okay, just this once, I'll be willing to admit that you can read better than I can. It doesn't mean that you need to enjoy it so damn much :D

Having said that, I still think that telneting into the router is the best way to get your WIFI settings. After all, the router sets them, not Windows. ;)

<font color=ggffcc>Great TL, glad it all worked out. Like B posted above, just run the Wireless wizard, and things 'should' line up. Some vendors have a hard/soft/combo built into their MB for fast access connect. Which means, if the RJ45 is plugged, the wirless goes off, and if the RJ45 is not plugged and the wirless is turned on, then the e-port is disabled. Which then does not allow a dual configuration, or if there were to be an OS hic-up would not corrupt both fast access installs.</font>

<font color=fffggg>Zebo, talking to the router is "a" way, but if done so,(as opposed to through the server) then how will all the clients know what the setting is?</font>


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Okay, I got it all worked out. I have disabled the wireless for when I'm plugged up, but Bungleu indicates you can have both on at the same time. Does this mean -- without causing any slowdown?

Also, have a bigger problem now -- please see other thread. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/cg...;f=34;t=001544

[ 10-17-2005, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Doesn't cause me any slowdown at all. YMMV.