When I say wireless, I mean wireless...

[Billilu]

I hope one or two of you experts out there might be able to help. I used the search engine and ended up rubbing my eyes and scratching my head. I need things explained VERY slowly and simply, I'm afraid.

I've just bought a Linksys Wireless Access Point Router for Cable/DSL, with the intention of linking the cable broadband connection on my new main computer upstairs with my old computer downstairs. I appear to have set up the wireless router successfully for the new computer, but when it came to setting up an additional computer, it said I have to connect an Ethernet cable from my 2nd computer to a free LAN port in the back of the router. This is impractical, as I can't have a cable running from one end of the house to the other and on different floors.

In my naivety, I thought wireless meant wireless. Now the instructions do say that PCs can interact with the PCs wirelessly. What isn't clear is how. What do I have to do to my old computer (running Windows 98SE) to help it connect to my broadband cable internet? Will I need a new network card (I have a Netgear FA311 Fast Ethernet PCI Adapter)? Do I change the IP number on the old computer? Will I need to buy something so it can respond to the waves given out by the wireless router? Basically, what am I missing here (in all senses)?

Thanks in advance for all help.

[Kramer]

Originally posted by Billilu
Will I need to buy something so it can respond to the waves given out by the wireless router? Basically, what am I missing here (in all senses)?

You need something like this (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=43353).

:smoke:

[tonyb]

As Kramer has said, you're going to need a wireless network card. Put that into your pc and set it up to use DHCP, tis makes setting things up much simpler.

You should find that the card comes with software to help you configure the card. It will basically show you the list of wireless networks available that it can connect to. Select your network and things should be fine....

If things get too much, I'd reset the router back to the factory settings and start again. Configure the router to act as a DHCP server, and don't use any of the security features on the wireless side. Once everything is working, you can then apply security to the network.

Let us know how you get on, and shout on here for help if you need to.....

Tony

[Billilu]

Thanks, guys. That wireless network card is now on order from ebuyers. Let's hope I'm not such an idiot that I can't work out how to put it in my PC!

[buns]

the next thing we need...... wireless power cables.... scary thought! :grin:

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[shoehorn]

Hi,

I hope this is not "intruding" too much... but it seems as though I might be able to get a bit of help from this thread....

I've just bought the Linksys wireless b/b router and network box thing (WRT54G-UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008DOYO/202-3837958-9531806))
- and a card for my PC (WMP54G-UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008DOYL/202-3837958-9531806)).

My original idea was to effectively plug the Linksys box to my NTL set-top-box cable broadband - stick the card in my PC and then I'd be able to put my PC anywhere in the house - saving drilling & cabling and then re-drilling & re-cabling when it's not in the right place :grin: .

Having read lots of info out there it seems that you have to plug one PC into the Linksys box and then you can wirelessly connect to other PC's - as I only have one PC this is not quite what I had in mind :rolleyes: .

I'm sure you can do what I want to do - but I'm not sure how :suicide: .

I think I ought to connect the Linsys box to my STB, power it up, install the PCI card and relevant drivers (I run XP home), switch on my PC and see if it can find the wireless Linksys box.

Does this sound right...?? :confused:

And what do I do about IP addresses (this does confuse me somewhat), security, firewalls and virus scanning :zonked: .

Lots of questions, I know :blush: - but help is appreciated.

Any "easy-to-follow" advice would be of great help....:)

[tonyb]

Hi Shoehorn,

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to do what you are planning with this kit.

I'm going to do some reading on this and then I'll post back with some help for you.

Back in a bit....
Tony



EDIT: Got a copy of the manual, gotta pop out for an hour or so but will post late afternoon/early evening.....

[shoehorn]

Thanks very much Tony :smashin: .

[tonyb]

Hi Shoehorn,

Despite what some people will tell you, setting things up is not that difficult. The Linksys kit is, I think, some of the easiest to configure and most reliable. I'm using a Linksys router that I bought 3 years ago and have never had any problems.

Right. Having got a copy of the manual from the web, you need to follow these steps to get things running. Everything listed here has been extracted directly from the manual for the router, from page 12 onwards. Where you see STB I mean set-top box. Here we go.....


1) Install the wireless network card into the pc, and install drivers.

2) Configure the card so that WEP encryrption is disabled, and that the SSID of the network is linksys.
Windows should be configured to obtain an ip address automatically. This is the default, so you shouldn't need to change it.

3) Connect router to back of the set-top box or cable modem with an ethernet cable.

4) Connect power to the linksys router.

5) Power up your pc (if you're already running shutdown and switch on again).

6) Open your web browser. In the address (URL) box type 192.168.1.1
You will be prompted to enter an id and password (see the manual for these)

7) You should now see the web-based adminstration screen. The easiest way to configure the router is to use the Automatic - DHCP option as discussed on page 22 of the manual (this should be the default). Moving onto page 24, we need to configure the wireless part of the network. Assuming that you have only the 54G wireless cards, set this option to G Only.

At this stage, the manual recommends that you modify the ssid and wep encryption settings to increase security. Personally, I'd recommend you do this after you're ha[[y that everything is working correctly. Simply click Apply to save settings and then close the browser.

8) Reboot your PC.

9) Now open your web browser and attempt to browse the web. As you're on NTL, you'll almost certainly get a plain screen with the NTL logo and a button labelled start.
Click start and you will be prompted to enter a name for the device you've just connected. Use something logical such as Linksys or Router.
Hopefully, the system should register this and wil let you through to the web. If not, you may find that you have to power off the stb or cable modem and power it up again - don't ask me why, I've just had to do this in the past to get things going. If you can't get this to work, we can use MAC spoofing (also known as MAC cloning). To avoid confusing you I'll say no more, but post back here if you want info on this.


10) If everything is working fine, your work is done though I'd recommend you apply some security to the system. It might be an idea to wait a day or so before you delve into this, once you're happy that everything is working. Post back here when you want some pointers on this and I'll help you through it.

If you want more help, but don't to post publicly on this forum send me a private message and we'll take things from there.

Good luck,
Tony

[shoehorn]

Wow... thanks Tony... I'll be giving it a go at the weekend... I didn't expect such a great reply so quickly...
I'll post again at the weekend... hopefully "wirelessly"... :)

[tonyb]

Shoehorn,

No problem. Have a read up on things before the weekend and you'll find that everything will make sense - well, more sense!

Out of interest, if you're in the garden of england, what part of kent are you in? I'm in Bromley.

Happy reading,
Tony

[shoehorn]

Tony,
Could you let me know where you got the'manual' from....
Or do you have a link that you could post?
(truth is I'm not - yet - but I was born in Staplehurst....)
Thanks.

[tonyb]

Shoehorn,

I found the manual here (http://images.amazon.com/media/i3d/01/MANUAL000000300.pdf)

You can also go to the Linksys (http://www.linksys.com) website and download it from the support area. Your router model is towards the bottom of the list.

Happy reading,
Tony

[MikeTV]

the next thing we need...... wireless power cables.... scary thought!

My electric toothbrush is powered wireless-ly. Amazing, huh?

"It's so cunning, you could brush your teeth with it" - Blackadder II.

[shoehorn]

:clap: :clap: :clap:

I'm "wireless" and it was all so much easier than I thought
:smashin:

The Mrs thinks it's great too...

Thanks for your help (tonyb).... having first read your response I was a bit "jargoned-out" but having set everything up, I understand what you're talking about (I think).

[hornydragon]

Originally posted by shoehorn

The Mrs thinks it's great too...

Lucky guy mine has moaned ever since i set ours up!!!!!