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Community Newsletter: Q&A: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work?
- 3/30/06 5:52 PM
acquiring network address...
by ivan.jp - 12/22/06 4:34 AM In reply to: Can not access shares by waytronHi! Lee, I have 2 desktop pc's, one is connected wirelessly and the other is wired on a wireless router. The wired one takes only 2-3 seconds to connect to internet after startup but the other takes 2-3 minutes after startup before I can connect to the internet. It always acquires a network address that takes to much time. What can I do to fasten up these. Thanks for the help.
Very Inexpensive Business-Grade wireless security and Mgt.
by N Krupa - 3/31/06 7:17 AM In reply to: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Check out secureMyWiFi service from www.witopia.net
you can throw away most of your instructions too if you follow their setup guide. good tech support too. If you don't have a wlan yet, you can order one you just plug in that they setup for you.
Some more info
by djeve - 3/31/06 7:19 AM In reply to: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Let me start that there is pretty much everything covered. I work with Dell for their installation team on the west coast. One thing I'd like to mention that the SSID is also a clue for hackers as how to log into your router (I use the term 'Hacker' lightly here, this could be someone next door or someone on the street corner in a car). So change that SSID! Also, each router has a username and password to go into the advanced settings. Changing this password will prevent anyone from being able to mess up your settings (like making your internet turn off at 5 pm and turn on at 8 am).
Seeing that you have children, through your advanced settings you can also set up filters to prevent them from going to web pages with inappropriate content (mind you that will block all sites for everyone all the time). You can also set up the router to turn off the connection at a certain time at night and turn on in the morning. Check your documentation to the router to see how to login to fix this. Usually you login through your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Ect) using an IP address like this... 192.168.1.1 then it prompts for a user name and password (in your router documentation as well).
As for routers themselves, there are some brands that are easier than others (same goes for wireless cards) For ease of setup try to get the same brand card as your router. I recommend for ease of setup the Linksys or the D-link. The 7 antenna is easier as well. For some reason the cheaper Netgear is problematic (many of my coworkers as well as myself have trouble with this for some reason)
If you have any questions regarding what I've told you just ask! 
How much power does a wireless connection transmit?
by dddiam - 3/31/06 8:02 AM In reply to: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
As one who is cautious even about over-use of cellphones, because of EMF radiation, I am interested in knowing the transmitter power output of wireless routers, laptops, and network adaptor cards.
I continue to wire my house with Cat5, but wireless is tempting.
- David
Interferance
by ronsherman - 3/31/06 8:07 AM In reply to: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Great article. I was especially interested in the section on interferance. My Linksys G router has been installed for a while and usually my Signal Quality is "Excellant" and my "Signal Strength is over 90%. But periodically - maybe one or twice day I get "blips" when my VPN loses its connection. I can immediately dial back into it. About twice a week, the whole connection from computer to Rouer vanishes and I can get it back only by rebooting both modem and router. What gives? The blips are not related to my telephone, though might be related to a neighbours, though know for sure. My house has concrete walls and floor, but the router and wireless computer are in adjoining rooms. How can I proceed to track this very annoying problem?
Router periodically doesn't work
by henry_apple - 3/31/06 8:32 AM In reply to: Interferance by ronshermanHave the same problem, but about once evey two weeks. I have a desktop, and two laptops. Sometimes the desktop won't work, but the laptops work. I can't even get through to the router with their IP. So, I either reboot or pull out power at router. Usually works. Linksys, via email from me, said to download new firmware. I haven't had time to do it yet, but maybe this would work. And, I forgot about using 2.4 Ghz. My telephone is right next to router and desktop! But, doesn't seem to be a major problem.
Intermitent loss of connection
by waytron - 4/1/06 3:15 AM In reply to: Router periodically doesn't work by henry_appleYou say that your cordless phone is right next to your computer. How do you know that it is not a problem? I would remove or replace it completely. I have had times when everything seems to be working fine until the phone rings, or only when it is off the charger or only when it is on the charger. You never know when or how it will interact with your wireless connection. And in many cases it is not consistent due to the fact that both the wireless router and the phone system can often change transmitting channels on there own to try to get a better signal.
There can be many other factors that will cause an intermittent loss of connection.
1. I have seen many wireless routers and modems just simply start failing after a year or two and require constant rebooting. Routers are fairly cheap now and easy to replace.
2. Each Wireless adapter has two options for controlling the wireless connection, try switching between having Windows control the wireless or letting the program that came with the wireless adapter control it. Very often one way will work better then the other.
3. Try going into the router setup and manually change the channel to 11 or 1. See if that helps.
Regards,
Dana H.
sharing between a pc laptop and an apple laptop
by wuyunkai - 3/31/06 8:12 AM In reply to: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
how to set up the file and printer sharing between them?
pc and apple on network
by jcooch - 4/6/06 10:37 AM In reply to: sharing between a pc laptop and an apple laptop by wuyunkaiNot sure about laptops, but I did this with a desktop pc and a g5, where the pc was the main server. I am no pro at this, but I did figure it out, so I hope it helps.
Once your router is setup, assuming the printer already works from the pc side, you will need to set which folders on your pc will be ''shared'', aside from the default ''shared documents'' folder. If you don't want to share other folders, then anything you want to access from the mac, will have to be moved/copied into your ''shared documents'' folder. (Sorry if this is redundant info. I'm new to homenetworking, but willing to help.)
Now on the mac: You will need to have administration rights as part of your logon, or the admin/pw for changes, depending on how your mac was setup. It's possible to have more than one logon account just like the pc, and different levels of admin control assigned to each ''account''.
Go into your System Preferences, find/click on ''printers/faxes''. From there you need to access the homenetwork you are on, and set the printer to be shared. Click on ''printer setup'' and it should list the available printers on the network, if it doesn't, look for either ''add printer'' or a PLUS sign, and click on that. There is a help button, if more detail is needed. Your available networks should show up, and from there you can choose and set the printer on the network to be the default. It's fairly intuitive, and the Help section is good, so I hope this was helpful.
Wireless printer setup, help.
by Scheide - 4/6/06 4:57 PM In reply to: pc and apple on network by jcoochThis is good information my friend but I am not using a mac. Somebody else sent me info similar. I am using Win 98 SE and when you tell me to click Start/Printers and Faxes, I can't find this location. I do find area about printers. So far I am unable to set up my printer so we can use it via our wireless system. Otherwise router seems ok but I do have to reboot it fairly often. I want to be able to print from laptop from another room. Any additional help would be apprectiated. Thanks, Dave
share printer
by YahooMarcus - 4/6/06 9:19 PM In reply to: Wireless printer setup, help. by ScheideFirst, the printer must be properly installed on one computer. Lets say that this computer is named "computer-1".
Next, you have the computer from where you would like to send a print job to computer-1. Lets call this computer the "remote-one".
At "computer-1", goto the printer folder. Do this by either selecting "start" menu and selecting "printers" (or "printers and faxes") or open your control panel and select "printers" folder (or "printers and faxes" folder). Right click on the printer you want to share.
Select "share" and select Share This Printer.
If you don't see the "share" option when you right click on the printer, you need to goto your network properties and enable sharing of printers and files.
On "remote-one", goto the printer folder. Do this by either selecting "start" menu and selecting "printers" (or "printers and faxes") or open your control panel and select "printers" folder (or "printers and faxes" folder).
You then need to start (double click) the AddPrinter icon. In the following, I'm using WindowsXP example, but all flavors of Windows should behave about the same. (I'm also sitting in front of a foreign language version windows, so my translation might not be exact words, but it should be trivial to follow.)
Click Next at the intro page of the printer add wizard. Select "Network printer..." choice and click next. Select find printer option and click next. In the main window of the next screen, you should see "Microsoft Windows Network". Under that (you might have to double click to show sub-folder/node), you should see your domain or workgroup name (e.g., MSHome). Under that you should see list of machines on your network, including the "computer-1" that hosts the printer. Under that you should see the printer name. In some cases, the printer name might be listed one level above with the computer name (e.g., \\computer-1\printer-name). Select the printer name line and click Next. Select Yes (or No) to "use as default printer?" and click Next.
Depending on the exact OS on the two computers, and the printer type you have, you might have situation where the printer installs without any additional headaches, asks you if its okay to download printer driver from "computer-1" to "remote-one", or it will ask you to install driver (or select printer driver to use).
There, you should be done.
Possible trouble shooting.
If you have configured your firewall too strongly, you may need to loosen it up a bit so that "remote-one" can see the printer on "computer-1".
A bit longer than I initially thought...
New Question.
by Scheide - 4/7/06 9:41 AM In reply to: share printer by YahooMarcusYahoo Marcus: Very good detailed message and I thank you. New problem. You say, If you don't see the "Share" option when I right click the printer folder, then go to network properties to enable sharing of printers. Where is the "network properties"? I hate to show my stupidity but I'm still have troubles. Thanks again. Dave
print sharing
by YahooMarcus - 4/7/06 5:26 PM In reply to: Wireless printer setup, help. by ScheideOn Win98, 98SE, ME,
goto control panel, then networking.
on the first tab, about middle of the window, there is a button with text "share files and printers" or something to that affect - click it.
There should be two checkboxes - one to share files, and one to share printers. Check both (or at least check off to share your printer).
I also tried to see how I did this on WinXP... but I can't see where I enabled it. Sharing might be on permanently on XP (I'm not sure). But this isn't a problem for you if you have the printer hooked up to 98SE machine.
Thanks Marcus!
by Scheide - 4/8/06 7:43 AM In reply to: print sharing by YahooMarcusOk Marcus: Followed your directions and found the printer sharing area. I checked both squares and have rebooted. This should allow me to that my Win Me laptop or wife's XP into another room and print anything I want. I understand my main desktop computer must remain on. So now to try it out. Thank you very much, I'll get back with update from my end later. Sunshine and bright but cold in Michigan. Dave
Gigabit wireless is coming
by dddiam - 3/31/06 8:14 AM In reply to: 3/31/06 How does the wireless network thingy work? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Is 54 mbs and 108 mbs too slow for your? Gigabit wireless is coming.
My son sent me the following tidbit:
"Next year AMD will be launching a quad-core CPU with on chip L3 cache, integrated FBM-memory controller (for larger memory expansion) and a nice feature - integrated WiMax - the standard from Motorola that may get close to a gigabyte/second wireless communication."
It sounds like we might need to wait until 2008 until the technology finds its way into our computers. But it will be worth the wait.
- David
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