Phil ... Help! Network woe!

[James]

Hi Phil,

Yesterday I bought this Belkin desktop wirless card (http://www.dixons.co.uk/images/886359_01_huge.jpg). It appeared to install with no problems reported with the software or hardware. The built in wireless card in the laptop appears fine too.

Alas, I spent hours trying to get the laptop and desktop to communicate properly. Some weird things were happening and I am wondering if one of my neighbours has wifi and I am confusing their network with mine...

A few things that have been happening:

-- Network names appearing that I don't think I set up - particularly the default "MyHome" name (although I might have set it up).

-- When trying to locate shared computers I don't find mine but find one called "Michael" - I have a suspicion that the lad next door is called Michael! It was password protected so couldn't open it.

-- Network card often reporting connection of 11MBS when it should be 54MBS.

-- Network card reporting low signal even though computers are near each other.

-- Strangely, I have managed to connect the laptop to the internet using the network, with full broadband speed, but when I switch the desktop off (and therefore the modem), the laptop internet connection is still strong! Am I tapping into a neighbour's internet connection?! Surely the desktop would have to be on to maintain an internet connection?

I am almost certain that I'm getting the internet connection and network feedback from my next door neighbour! It explains why the signal is only 11MBS, why the signal strength is low, and the unknown network places. Is this possible and if so, how on earth do I set my computers to talk to each other and to ignore next door's signal. I imagine I have selected next door's network thinking it was mine.

Is there a decent beginner's step by step guide to set up?

Help :(

Cheers Phil!

[Phil]

yep. sounds like you're connecting to your neigbout all right. don't forget that if you can see him, the he can see you too.

what i would do is start simple and start building up. all you need for connecting to the internet is TCP/IP. so you can uninstall all other network services and protocols (for now) and just concentrate on getting the intetnet connection going.

Go to your network connection, properties. take everything but TCP out. (on both machines). Is there a wireless network wizard or something that came with your wireless card? you need to set up a new peer to peer connection and give it a name, then get the other machine to connect to that wireless network. Once that's going then get the internet shared using ICS. after that i would encrypt the wifi (so you're neighbour's son can't piggyback off you). Next it to set up windows file sharing so you can access hard drives.

this site is ok
http://www.homepcnetwork.com/

-phil

[James]

Thanks Phil

OK, I've now managed to ignore next door's network (!) and have managed to get my computers on my own network. They are connected at 54Mbs.

I have managed to get the internet connection shared and I'm very impressed with the speed and range.

I still cannot work out how to share files and printer, I'll have a look at the weekend.

I am baffled by how the network should look in Windows Explorer, but assume that once I have figured it out I'll be able to see the shared items?!

Progressing slowly .....

[James]

Finally, all sorted - successful share of internet connection, printer and files.

My firewall was stopping the file sharing. I changed the settings to permit the network and everything is fine.

I enabled WEP so my neighbours can't interfere!

It's brilliant, thanks for your help Phil.

:)

[Phil]

well done james.
now what you need now is one of these (http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php)

[francis]

Just looking through Windows XP updates (available through Windows update facility) and noticed this:

Update for Microsoft Windows XP (KB826942)
Download size: 275 KB, < 1 minute
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) support is now available for Microsoft Windows XP. This update provides additional wireless security capabilities for the latest generation of wireless networking equipment supporting WPA.

Thought you might be interested

[James]

Thanks, I'll have a look.