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Confirmed: Compaq Wireless Router $49, Wireless USB or PC card $29.99 at Radio Shack B&M

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Got one today, last one in my state, great deal. Finally got it configured correctly with my SMC barricade as an Access Point... HINT HINT, make sure you do not use the WAN port, only LAN ports when configuring it as an access point 🙂

Also, I did not see where you can restrict access by MAC address, does anyone know if it can do that? My Orinocco does, but if not, I will restrict thru my SMC Barricade.

Jim
 
There are clear instructions on setting these routers up as access points. They are clearly designed to be used for that purpose if you choose.

Yes you can mix and match. You can use the Compaq wireless adaptors, and laptop cards with the SMC Barricade router.

Yes..... you can still connect all of your computers to the internet WITHOUT the network software.
You can also share files with each/between each computer as well WITHOUT the network software if you are using Windows XP.

The network software is there if you only want ONE computer to connect to the internet, and ALL of your other computers to connect to the internet THROUGH it. This also means you would have to have that ONE computer on whenever the other computers wanted to access the internet (as they would access the internet THROUGH that one computer).

 
Has anyone had trouble with the ver.2 update for the router. I had one router that would freeze up if anyone sent a tcp/udp packet to a odd port. Tried to reflash and even then flash it back to prior verion, didn't help. Returned it and got another today and it works great but unsure if I should flash it up to ver.2.

Blazer1155
 
Originally posted by: kevman
Originally posted by: stockjock
I am very network dumb as you'll see from my question I'm about to ask:

Will the Compaq Connection Point (CP-2W) Wireless Access Point connect up easily to my Linksys BEFSR41

router?
Click to expand...

YES! I did the same exact thing. You have to change it to work as an Access point in the configuration instead of a router. The IP that you give it will have be in the same subnet as the linksys. For example if your linksys is 192.168.1.1, you can make your CP-2w 192.168.1.2

Good luck.

Kevman
Click to expand...
OK, at the risk of looking just as dumb - does this mean you can have an ethernet network and also have a wireless network with a setup like this? TIA.

 
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: kevman
Originally posted by: stockjock
I am very network dumb as you'll see from my question I'm about to ask:

Will the Compaq Connection Point (CP-2W) Wireless Access Point connect up easily to my Linksys BEFSR41

router?
Click to expand...

YES! I did the same exact thing. You have to change it to work as an Access point in the configuration instead of a router. The IP that you give it will have be in the same subnet as the linksys. For example if your linksys is 192.168.1.1, you can make your CP-2w 192.168.1.2

Good luck.

Kevman
Click to expand...
OK, at the risk of looking just as dumb - does this mean you can have an ethernet network and also have a wireless network with a setup like this? TIA.
Click to expand...

Yes, in fact you don't even ned the linksys becuase the compaq has 4 hardwired ports just like the linksys, this of it as the same exact thing as your linksys with wireless capability.

Kevin
 
Originally posted by: kevman
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: kevman
Originally posted by: stockjock
I am very network dumb as you'll see from my question I'm about to ask:

Will the Compaq Connection Point (CP-2W) Wireless Access Point connect up easily to my Linksys BEFSR41

router?
Click to expand...

YES! I did the same exact thing. You have to change it to work as an Access point in the configuration instead of a router. The IP that you give it will have be in the same subnet as the linksys. For example if your linksys is 192.168.1.1, you can make your CP-2w 192.168.1.2

Good luck.

Kevman
Click to expand...
OK, at the risk of looking just as dumb - does this mean you can have an ethernet network and also have a wireless network with a setup like this? TIA.
Click to expand...

Yes, in fact you don't even ned the linksys becuase the compaq has 4 hardwired ports just like the linksys, this of it as the same exact thing as your linksys with wireless capability.

Kevin
Click to expand...
Wait a sec. Are you saying I can get this and use it as an ethernet router and go wireless whenever I want to??????
 
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: kevman
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: kevman
Originally posted by: stockjock
I am very network dumb as you'll see from my question I'm about to ask:

Will the Compaq Connection Point (CP-2W) Wireless Access Point connect up easily to my Linksys BEFSR41

router?
Click to expand...

YES! I did the same exact thing. You have to change it to work as an Access point in the configuration instead of a router. The IP that you give it will have be in the same subnet as the linksys. For example if your linksys is 192.168.1.1, you can make your CP-2w 192.168.1.2

Good luck.

Kevman
Click to expand...
OK, at the risk of looking just as dumb - does this mean you can have an ethernet network and also have a wireless network with a setup like this? TIA.
Click to expand...

Yes, in fact you don't even ned the linksys becuase the compaq has 4 hardwired ports just like the linksys, this of it as the same exact thing as your linksys with wireless capability.

Kevin
Click to expand...
Wait a sec. Are you saying I can get this and use it as an ethernet router and go wireless whenever I want to??????
Click to expand...


😀
 
I'm thinking about returning my router due to the following problems (I haven't flashed the firmware to v2 since the only change from v1 was to accomodate Win XP which I don't have):

1) Froze twice over last 6 days and had to power cycle it

2) Tried playing Counter-Strike and it freezes during searching for servers. Ok, there are 20,000+ servers but my old router used to work fine.

Anyone has any ideas before I return this?
 
Just picked up the card and router today. For $85 after tax this was a steal. The retail value of the two combined is about $200.

I'm really starting to like the router, it works great and the web interface is very nice. It's not going to replace my Linksys, but it's pretty close.
 
BTW don't give up on this deal people. It's pretty old, but there are still lots of Radio Shacks with these items in stock. In fact, neither of the 2 stores I went to (one had 2 cards, the other 2 routers) had the clearance prices marked. The router and card were both on the shelf with original price only.
 
Originally posted by: kevman
Ripped directly from f*t wallet forums
Firmware update for Router
Click to expand...

here's a new firmware update:
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp23001-23500/SP23282.txt
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp23001-23500/SP23282.exe

(sorry, too lazy to linkify)

incredibly, the time/date stamp on SP23282.exe is "01-17-03 11:13AM". this file is not listed within ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/allfiles.txt (which was generated 10-22-02, but oddly doesn't list SP21202.exe which has a date stamp of 07-23-02) nor http://www.compaq.com/support/files/allfiles.html (though SP21202.exe is listed here). i found this update by recursively downloading all the txt files in ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/ and grepping for "CP-2W". (for those familiar with linux/wget/grep, "wget -v -m -np -Atxt ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/; grep -ri cp-2w *" did the trick, but the bandwidth-impaired beware, the summary from wget is "Downloaded: 30,648,303 bytes in 7829 files". and though 30 MB isn't that much, it takes a while because 7829 files incur a lot of ftp-control traffic.)

so, this update is REALLY FRESH!

did a diff between this and the previous update's description files, and the (listed, but maybe not actual) differences are: (+ addition, - substraction)
- T-Chinese language support
+ win95 support
- winnt support
+ hidden ssid
+ mac spoofing
+ "3. Hold the reset button for 8 seconds to return controls to factory defaults."
- compaq
+ hp

some people (either here or at fat wallet; can't remember) complained of trying the previous (SP21202) update and it messing up their router, even after downgrading to a previous firmware version (SP18999, SP19335). maybe this firmware update fixes that, or maybe the additional step in the instructions is all that's needed.

can everybody post their results with the previous firmware update (SP21202)?

if somebody tries this update (SP23282), could they post their results? my unit won't arrive from a neighboring town's radio shack until beginning of next week, so i can't try it unil then.

and with the removal of compaq's name from the doc, does this mean the hp-compaq merger is complete (or in name only)? maybe tech support for this device will now be improved over what i read in the user review's for this product over at cnet.
 
I updated the firmware and everything is working great, now I can restrict MAC addresses and turn off broadcasting the CP's identity. It seems faster now too 🙂

Thanks for the link for the firmware!

Jim
 
Originally posted by: jkim98
I'm thinking about returning my router due to the following problems (I haven't flashed the firmware to v2 since the only change from v1 was to accomodate Win XP which I don't have):

1) Froze twice over last 6 days and had to power cycle it

2) Tried playing Counter-Strike and it freezes during searching for servers. Ok, there are 20,000+ servers but my old router used to work fine.

Anyone has any ideas before I return this?
Click to expand...
Make sure you plug the router in to a UPS. Bad power can play havoc with routers.


 
Can someone tell me if their Orinoco card was displayed on the front of the box as an Orinoco? I found a radioshack with a card in stock but when I showed up it was the Dlink inside and also on the graphic on hte outside of the box.

Ishmael
 
Originally posted by: taoofbean
Can someone tell me if their Orinoco card was displayed on the front of the box as an Orinoco? I found a radioshack with a card in stock but when I showed up it was the Dlink inside and also on the graphic on hte outside of the box.

Ishmael
Click to expand...

No, all boxes are going to have the same picture on the outside. Usually the display box will be empty and they can show you the card that's inside. Other than that, you have to just buy it and open it up and see. I got the Dlink card, but it's just as supported in my PocketPC as the Orinoco so I'm happy.
 
Found a RS about an hour away, in Lehighton, PA, that had 1 router and 1 PCMCIA card and 3 USB cards. Got the router and PCMCIA< left the USB.

Jamie
 
I picked it up today and it works great! I have Windows XP Pro on 2 machines and used the drivers on the CD no problem.

Thanks for the January Firmware! That was the first thing I did was update it and no problems here.
Version Info
Firmware Version: Version 2.08 Jan 10, 2003
Hardware Version: 1.01
Click to expand...

I bought 2 of the USB cards, they say HNW-200 on both of them.

I've never used wireless before and set it up using 128bit WEP. Pretty straight forward.
 
can't you tell by the picture on the box whether or not it is a orinoco or dlink. The square shaped antenna is the orinoco. The store I visited had 2 of the pcmcia cards but the box had pictures of the oval shaped ends which indicated a dlink to me. Are all the pictures oval shaped and will you just have to buy it and find out by opening the box?
 
I believe so the boxes for the orinoco and dlink are completely different. The orinoco has some guy sitting on the steps on a red box while the dlink has a big picture or the oval shaped pcmcia. This is from my research on current and past ebay auctions. I believe this is correct.
 
Originally posted by: holden j caufield
I believe so the boxes for the orinoco and dlink are completely different. The orinoco has some guy sitting on the steps on a red box while the dlink has a big picture or the oval shaped pcmcia. This is from my research on current and past ebay auctions. I believe this is correct.
Click to expand...


Most likely those are different versions of the card, not different rebranded cards.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the firmare, I'm still using SP21202 without any problems. I don't know if I'm goign to try the new one just yet, I'm afraid I'll screw it up.

K

q]Originally posted by: undefined
Originally posted by: kevman
Ripped directly from f*t wallet forums
Firmware update for Router
Click to expand...

here's a new firmware update:
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp23001-23500/SP23282.txt
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp23001-23500/SP23282.exe

(sorry, too lazy to linkify)
review's for this product over at cnet.[/quote]

 
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