Nightmare with setting up a wireless network - suggestions?

spook · 15-02-2007, 17:01

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mrmist · 15-02-2007, 17:23

Right. So remove the supplied router and plug in your belkin thing. That's a good start.

Generally in order to configure wireless, you need to do it initialy with a wired connection. Go into start menu - network connections on your PC and find the connection in there that relates to your PC's network card. Right click on it to get the properties and make sure it is set to get an ip address automatically.

Then grab your network cable from your pc and stick that into one of the ports on your Belkin.

Then there should be some kind of admin interface you can connect to with a web browser. Your manual for the Belkin should tell you how to get to it, or you might need an install cd to launch a program, depends on the router.

In the control panel, you should be able to find the wireless bit and set a SSID, which you will then use to access your network wirelessly. Set it to something obscure and make a note of it. Don't set up wireless security just yet.

Now go on the laptop and see if you can find the wireless connection in the network thing, go in there, view networks, change the ssid to match the one you set, disable any security, click ok lots, then disable and renable the connection.

If that works, set up security and stuff!

Edited to add -you also need to set up the router with your internet username and password.

bkcin · 15-02-2007, 22:57

I think the IP address for belkin is 191.168.2.1.

There is a guide to setting up a belkin wireless router on tiscali's website.

Ruff · 16-02-2007, 10:26

You can find some general wireless internet information at http://www.networksforhome.com/.

mrmist · 16-02-2007, 11:46

Also make sure you change the password for your router.

Ant · 17-02-2007, 03:04

Windows XP SP2 has major problems with some wireless cards - the error message you're getting is one I was confronted with after I'd downloaded SP2. It may be an idea to go to MicroSoft's website and do a search for "limited or no connectivity". There's a patch on there to download - it sorted my laptop connection immediately.

spook · 19-02-2007, 20:23

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spook · 19-02-2007, 20:59

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mrmist · 20-02-2007, 06:26

it still looks as though your machine is set up with a Tiscali PPP adapter for your old modem. This could be confusing the issue somewhat when it comes to the "connected to the internet" lark.

When you remove the cable to your router, does any of your connections complain about the cable being disconnected?

fnkysknky · 20-02-2007, 07:05

Looking at that screenshot - your patch cable either isn't plugged in to the network interface, there's a fault with either the cable or one of the interfaces at either end of the link (PC or router - check the obvious like power to the router) or your TCP/IP stack is corrupt. You've also got a network bridge setup which is bridging the firewire port and your Ethernet port - as I presume you aren't using the firewire port for networking you should really delete the 'Network Bridge - MAC Bridge Miniport'. Once you've deleted the network bridge try right clicking on the Local Area Connection 3 and selecting repair. Also disconnect the WAN port (phone line) and disable your firewall just until you get the router up and running.

Once you've got that far let me know the outcome and what Local Area Connection 3's status is and I'll tell you what to do next.

spook · 20-02-2007, 07:30

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mrmist · 20-02-2007, 08:10

Okay. You need to leave your modem unplugged or that particular connection disabled whilst you are testing your router. Otherwise the computer will just get confused.

Then you need to open IE preferences (Control panel - Internet properties - Connections) and make sure that it is set to "never dial a connection".

Then you need to make sure that the network card / socket that you are plugging the cable into is both installed, appears in your network connections, is enabled, and is set to use DHCP (or that you have set it to an address on the same subnet as your router with a default gateway of your router and DNS setting set to your router's address - so that would be something like IP 192.168.2.50 netmask 255.255.255.0 gateway 192.168.2.1 but DHCP would probably be easier for now if it works)

sallonoroff · 20-02-2007, 10:19

fnkysknky was probably right about getting rid of the Bridge. No need for it that i can see.

As for what to do, mrmist seems to have it covered in his original post.

Otherwise there's a very good guide here.

As for calling out PCWorld's Tech Guys... please don't. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here that could help for a lot less than they charge...

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fnkysknky · 20-02-2007, 12:31

If LAC3 is still showing network cable unplugged as it does in the screenshot then there's no physical connection detected - so it's either the cable, one of the ports you're plugging in to or the TCP/IP stack is knackered. You need to verify the port on the computer works first by connecting it to a known working device (hub, switch, router etc) - until then no amount of configuring DHCP etc. will achieve anything

Take another screenshot of your network connections making sure the patch cable is plugged in at both ends

spook · 20-02-2007, 19:47

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ANGELUS · 20-02-2007, 19:55

The security is the easy part of it I think

Connect to your routers homepage by logging into it.. set the routers wireless security to WPA-PSK as its decent security and enter a password for the encryption part.

When it comes to using your wireless connection, it should ask you for the password when you try and connect wirelessly, enter the password- and it will connect.. simple as that

fnkysknky · 20-02-2007, 20:21

If you're using WPA-PSK/TKIP then you may as well do it properly and use a pseudo-random passphrase of 63 characters such as the ones generated on this page http://www.kurtm.net/wpa-pskgen/

Using English words of 8-20 characters (as many people do) isn't actually that secure

ANGELUS · 20-02-2007, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by fnkysknky

If you're using WPA-PSK/TKIP then you may as well do it properly and use a pseudo-random passphrase of 63 characters such as the ones generated on this page http://www.kurtm.net/wpa-pskgen/

Using English words of 8-20 characters (as many people do) isn't actually that secure

It is more secure that way definitely, but then you have to punch in the 63 letter passphrase again twice to confirm it, and if the connection loses the password - your screwed if you cant find it again

fnkysknky · 20-02-2007, 21:02

That's what copy and paste is for. As long as you can get to one of the devices still then you can recover the passphrase - it won't be obscured like a password is. If you're using a weak passphrase with WPA-PSK it can be cracked after sniffing the correct 4 'handshake' packets. Now many people woulnd't have a clue where to start but the thing is if you are implementing security you may as well do it properly