wireless question?

Question

crap deleted my question by accident...i purchased a wireless router, which is connected to my dsl modem/router, and i cant get internet access. my main computer (this one) is connected thru the modem, but if i connect it to the wireless router, i cant get access either. and on the computer that i cant access, it doesnt list a dns server under networking properties-status. i know my wireless pci card is working, the green light is on and it says that it is connected. any help would be appreciated.

router is AOpen AOI 906

Answer 1

make sure to install the software that came with the router/cards. then unplug the router, modem and shut down the computer. then in this order: plug in modem and wait for startup routine to stop (lights will stop blinking), plug in router (same deal), then turn on the computer(s).

Answer 2

I agree with Jason, you will need to install the drivers, which for the one I have, it says to install the drivers BEFORE you install the network card, but I have installed the drivers before AFTER I had the card in and it still works. If you do that and it doesn't work, then you'll have to uninstall the drivers and then take the wireless card out, (after you shut the computer down) and then restart the computer and install the drivers and then shut the computer down again and reinstall the card. It should work then. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you know the address of your router try going to the wireless station and pinging the router to see if you have continuity. Your wireless router may be setup with some type of WEP or WPA security, which you need to set up prperly.

Answer 4

Did you run the setup program for the router before connecting your computer to it? There should have been a setup CD enclosed with the router and an instruction manual. BTW, what brand is your router? That would help in giving you adivice. OTOH, most routers are vastly simular in setup procedures. WTS, I strongly suggest you rummage around in the box your router came in and find the setup CD and the instructions.

First off you are suppose to setup, hookup and confugure your router before you install the wireless adaptor. Just having a NIC card for networking is not enough to get your computer hooked up wirelessly via a router or WAP (Wireless Access Point) A router can be a WAP and a wired router for sharing of a DSL connection without using that darn Inernet Connection Sharing feature in Windows XP. I do not like that feature as the commuter set up as the connections server for the other computers has to be on in order for the other computers to get online. Plus in my opinion it is a security risk as the Guest Account has to be turned on in order for it to work. I do not like turning on unused accounts just to get a feature to work. Now, if this is the only way an individual can afford to have other computers share an internet connection then it is a neccassary evil.

Once you run the setup CD and hook up the router to the DSL modem and then your computer to the router as instructed and in the order instructed (there is a certain order you must follow) you can astablish if the router is connected to the internet. This is shown via lights on the router box. Once you know the router is getting a viable connection, you then run the setup CD for the adapter which will establish a link between your computers and the router. It is important to follow the instructions completely, and to NOT connect the computer to the router until you are instructed to. You will need to configure each computers adapter seperately and to make absolutely sure each adapter is configured with the exact same security as the router. It is important for you to not leave your connection unsecured. Use the encryption features of your router, with WPA the most secure by far than WEP. If you have to use WEP please use it, don't think just because it is less secure than WPA that it is not important to activate. It is, otherwise you have one of the 75% of the nations unsecured connections which leaves you wide open to drive by "War Drivers" who go around seeking out unsecured wireless access points to connect their laptops for free internet access. Yes, this is legal. It is on the thin line of legal but it is legal. Our laptops are always seeking out the most viable connection to connect to, so it roams for connections continually. Also, your neigbors wireless networks also seek out the most viable connections and may accidently or even intentionally hook up to your network in order to access the net for free. Many do this on accident, but some do this on purpose. The think that if someone is so silly as to leave their connection unsecured then they are giving "permission" for others to use it. Which legally speaking is actually true for those who have laptops. So, make sure you activate your security, create a strong shared key, and secure your network. FYI, some a.s.s.es actually go much further than getting free internet access, they invade your computers, look around your network folders, and your system in general and can execute code and events you may not like, they can take full control of your networked computers if you do not secure your network. I won't go into my personal story of neighbors trying intentionally and accidently to invade my network and the only thing which kept them out was my software security system as I had not only failled to secure my connection I did not acitivate my hardware firewall which comes with most routers.

So, after you have established your routers connection to the net you will neet to go in and activate your hardware firewall and configure your security, either WEP of WPA or WPA-2. Some internet security suites software firewalls are not compatable with certain routers and will interfer with being able to establish a connection between your computer witih the software firewall and the router. This occurred with me. What you do is either remove it completely, or remove it then re-install without the software firewall. Most software firewalls are campatable with WEP but not WPA. More are getting their acts together and catching up with the newest encryptions in routers, but some are still a bit behind the times. I don't mind not using my software firewall as my hardware one is much stronger anyway and it protects incoming and outgoing connections. Some firewalls only protect against incoming packets.

So, after you have configured your connection between the DSL modem and the router and then went into the routers setup page and activated the firewall and configured your security, you are ready to install and configure each computers adapter.

Run the software CD first and follow the on screen instructions. Put the adapter in when told, then choose whether you want the adapters software to manage your connections or if you want windows to do so. I always use windows to configure these items. But you can choose whichever you are most comfortable with. Put in the pre-shared key when prompted and you will then activate the adapter and the router will automatically provide a private IP address for each networked computer in the order they are added to the network. Your computers are "hidden" behind the shared IP address of the router or access point. This is a safety feature and I like it. Essentially all the networked computers share one public IP Adress, which is the routers. Which is why a hardware firewall is stronger than a software firewall. The hardware firewall in at the access point and/or router, a software firewall is on each individual system. It doesn't hurt to have both activated but it is not really needed. If your hardware firewall only blocks incoming traffic and not outgoing, then activing a software firewall which does block outgoing traffic would be a good idea. The "free" windows firewall does not block outgoing traffic or packets, only incoming. Which is why I do not use it.

After you have set up your router by running its software, connecting it to the DSL Modem, then activated the firewall, and configured the security, you then run the setup CD for each computers router, plug the adapter in (it could be a USB, Fireware, or a PCI card) put in the pre-shared key, each computer should now have a internet connection in which each can independently access the net without having to run the connection through the "Internet Connection Sharing" feature in which the server computer has to be on in order for the client computers to get online.

Just follow the instructions which came with your router and your adapters. You have to setup and configure the router to the DSL modem and establish its connection first. Then go in to the routers setup or configuration page which is usually accessed via a browser window using an IP Adress like: 192.168.1.1 which is the Linksys setup page. One last item, make sure you put in a password for your routers configuration page. Do NOT forget it or you will not be able to access it later. But create one which is not easily figured out or cracked. If you do not set a password anyone could access all your routers settings. NOT a good thing you want to happen.

Good luck. This is a lot easier than it sounds. Just find your software setup CD and the instructions for your router and the adapers. If you do not have the proper adapters go and get them. Listen, most say that you can utilize different brands of adapters with routers without having much difficulty in compatability. I have found that things run much more smoothly with no dropped connections or need for resetting the router by using the same brand of adaper as the router brand. I did use the Linksys router with Netgears USB adapters but I had a lot of trouble with my connection. Lots of dropped connections, and resetting the routers reset button. A real hassle. I then discovered the installaton guys who first configured my wireless network failed to set up ANY security or activate my firewall. So, I went and got a different brand router and matching adapters, set it up myself and have not had any problems since.

Once you have your router, adapters and computers all connected to the internet don't forget to run the Network Setup Wizard to finish your network properly. It is relatively simple, just follow the instructions of the Wizard. Also, the Workgroup Name much be exactly the same on each computer. The computers "names" can all be different and actually should be different, but the workgroup needs the same name for each computer in the network. Also, there is a page which says "cables disconnected" This could either be actual cables needing a firmer push into the connections, or a Firewire card which will show up as a network connection with "cables not connected" click the check box "ignore the disconnected cables" if it is a Fireware PCI card, and continue with the Wizard. The router will have the DHCP activated automatically when you have configured the router correctly. Also, the DNS will be activated for you too. So, no need to worry about those.

Your router many need the MAC address of the adapter for the main computer, the first one you connected to the router. You can abtain this MAC address by: Clicking START-RUN then in the RUN Box type in ipconfig and click OK or press ENTER. A command prompt window will open which has a black back ground. At the command prompt (where the curser is blinking) type in: ipconfig/all, and press ENTER. A lot of information will appear. Locate the MAC address of your adapter, on the main computer. This is what you will need for the routers setup page.

There is a great book out that I used to learn all I needed about wired and wireless networks. I highly reccomend this book to any beginner. It is called "Absolute Beginners Guide to Home Networking" and it is written by Mark Edward Soper. I bought this book last year and have found it easy to read, understand and with easy to follow instructions. It also provides lots of information about other items you can include in your network like game consoles, liveTV, like TiVo, Replay TV DVRs, Using the Windows Media Edition 2005 with your TV, VCR, and many other features. It also discusses Photos, playing DVDs, compares different internet options and speeds, etc. It also provides information to access further information on subjects on the internet for further more indeapth learning.

Good luck in setting up you router and computer network. I really had a blast learning all this stuff. It is not very difficult really, once you set one up it is easy to set up others, and to manage it as needed.