Setting up a wireless network...

[brook]

I am itching to get to the store to buy what I need to set this up but want to see if I got it straight. I have a Motorola Surfboard on this PC. I need an adapter that plugs into that, right? 802.11g? Is there a brand that is significantly better than all others? I live in a smallish place- all one floor so distance shouldn't present a problem. My new laptop has the wireless card in it.

Do I need to call my ISP to get a separate address? Or will the laptop use the one I have?

Any help truly appreciated.

[Hokie]

1. It is easy

Here is one of many links on setting up a wireless network:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1276145,00.asp

First, you need to buy a wireless router. I have used a D-link Di624 for a couple of years and it works fine. Linksys makes good ones. As far as I know Netgear, SMC and others are OK also. Linksys is probably the best seller. Get an 802.11g router since your laptop card will support that speed. 11g is rated 54 megabits/sec and that will be many times faster than your cable broadband connection. The Surfboard modem will plug into the WAN port on the router. You will not need another IP address from your ISP. The router handles all that. It "routes" traffic from the modem to the appropriate PC (hence the name). Most of the routers now come with CD's and set up wizards that make it easy to get your network up and running. If you have problems come back here and post a question. There are a lot smarter people than me in this group if I cannot answer your question.

[brook]

2. LOL....

It's so easy, I'm thinking of hitting the bottle! :banghead:

Seriously, thanks for your response. I went out and bought a Linksys Wireless Broadband Router,
Model WRT54G. (Maybe that's the prob - and I should get the one you have). Followed the instructions on the CD. It would get to step 7 and freeze. I stopped everything, powered down everything and tried again. 3 or 4x. Finally called my ISP and the %&^$#! told me they don't deal with customer owned equipment.

I think I'm giving up for today. My grandaughter will be back from her trip tomorrow & she's hip to this stuff. 28's usually smarter than 73!

Thanks again for responding.

[Hokie]

3. Questions

Sorry you are having problems. First, can you define what is not working. Do you have a computer hooked directly tot he router via an Ethernet cable? You always want to set up the router from a wired PC first. You can use your laptop if you do not have a desktop. You have to establish a connection to the router this way and then get the Internet working through the router first. The last thing to do is to get the wireless function working.

[brook]

4. I was connecting

the router to the (external) Surfboard modem which I use for my desktop. All the right lights were on, etc. but the Linksys
installation disc froze my computer at a certain point and would not let me complete it. In the middle of all this, I figured my Zone Alarm might be the culprit, so I disabled it. Didn't help. Finally removed the router, hooked up the modem and at least was able to get back on the net.

I'm thinking I want an all-in-one modem/router.

[Hokie]

5. Your router should work

Instead of running the installation cd you can try connecting to the router by connecting a PC to one of the 4 ports. Open your browser. It will give you and error message that it cannot connect to your home page. Type http:/192.168.1.1 in the address bar and hot enter. You should get a login screen for the router. The default login is "admin" and the password is blank (i think, check the manual). This should get you in the router setup screens. Go to the WAN setup. You will probably need to clone the MAC address of the PC that normally connects to the modem. There should be a button to do this. This function causes the router to fool the modem and think it is connected to the PC you used to set up the broadband connection. Once you do this and restart the router the Internet should work. (You should have connected the modem to the WAN port on the router.)

If you get the Internet working then you can work on getting the wireless running.

[brook]

6. Thanks. I'll try that...

when I get home from work later. The only MAC address I'm aware of though is the one for the router. Does my desktop also have one? (I'm begining to regret that the only computer course I took was learning to do HTML).

[LiberalUprising]

7. Hokie was one digit off, http://192.168.0.1/

Is the address to type in for your login in screen for the router, login in is admin and leave the password blank. Go to the Home tab and run the wizard, click the clone Mac address in the setup wizard (a couple steps in you will see the option to do this)

Don't forget to go to the router manufacturers web site to check for updates for your router.

[Hokie]

8. My address was correct for Linksys

The router address is http://192.168.1.1/

I was backawards on the user name and password:

Leave the User Name field blank
The Password is "admin"

[LiberalUprising]

9. Sorry, I've not used Linksys

Thanks for the correction

[Hokie]

10. Did you ever get your router and wireless LAN working?

I have found with Adelphia that I have to use the clone MAC address feature on the router to get the Internet to work.

[brook]

11. Just a few hours ago.

My desktop was dying & I didn't realize it. Anyway, it's history -a doorstop. I had to call in a techie to get me this far, but at least I'm back at DU. There are still some things I need, like a wireless mouse and maybe a Linksys modem to replace the Surfboard. It was strange to have to have my morning coffee & not be surfing here.

Thank you for your help - I really did appreciate it...
just got too tired & frustrated to respond.

Happy New Year. :party::toast::party:

[OKNancy]

12. Hi

If you still want the info, I have a Motorola and a Linksys..- Don't use the installation disc. Go to the linksys website. You can go through the steps there. It's like a tutorial, only better.
It takes about 5 minutes.