Help Setting Up Wireless Network

[bamacre]

OK, here is what I got...

Netgear WGR614
Three D-Link AirPlus G (DWL-G510) for the three PC's.

None of the three PC's will be located more than 40-50 feet from the router, all are on the same floor.

Two PC's are running 2000pro and 1 running 2003 Server. I want to have all three PC's getting a static IP from the Netgear WGR614.

OK, first got the 2003 Server box working correctly, it took a while, but I got it. (Interesting story - sure enough when I got the card installed I had internet access, YET my cable modem/router wasn't even plugged in, LOL. Well I guess I'm not the only one in my apartment complex that has a wireless router).

Next I went to my first Windows 2000 box. The problem begins. Windows says the connection is "unplugged," well no shiznit, it's wireless. It cannot find MY wireless router, yet it can find the other wireless router from the story above. Well, this may be kinda cool and all, but it leaves me with a big problem if I can't get this PC on MY network.

Any ideas? Questions? Please help.

 

[bamacre]

Ok, I solved that problem.

But now I have another. This 2000pro box actually runs as a file server, and I never have a monitor, keyboard, nor mouse hooked up on this thing.

The problem I have is that when the computer boots up to the Windows logon screen, I cannot connect to it using PC Anywhere, NOR can I ping the computer, much less have access to it's shared files. However, the router shows this computer has attahced and it has an IP. If I logon, then and only then will my other computer be able to access it. This is a problem, because I don't want to have to logon to this computer. Any ideas?

 

[bamacre]

Ok, thanks for all the help guys

Seriously, I seem to be fixing all of my problems so far, which is actually good.

However, one final problem. My internet connection seems to be slower now, and this doesn't make sense. I can't see anyone stealing my bandwidth. I have allowed the router to give out only three ip addresses (range 192.168.0.21 to 192.168.0.23), and all three of my computers are using those three addresses.

Anyone?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

okay just ... one of my pet pieves here... If your PCs get an IP from the router, it's dynamic. Unless you're binding an IP to a MAC address in the router, it's considered "dynamic" IP addressing. If you have the ABILITY to do so, you're working with hardware that you shouldn't be able to afford. Static is when you set the IP address that you want each computer to have directly into the connection settings for each computer on each computer, respectively.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

You're going to see some odd effects with wireless routers and bandwidth. I'm not sure why, but another example is if you get one of those repeater things, it cuts the bandwidth of those connected to it in half. Dunno why. Good luck.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
You're going to see some odd effects with wireless routers and bandwidth. I'm not sure why, but another example is if you get one of those repeater things, it cuts the bandwidth of those connected to it in half. Dunno why. Good luck.

Arghhh, is there not anything I can do about this? My internet connection feels like it's stuttering, not just slower. I tried playing a game online last night, and I kept gettings spikes. No way I can fix this?

 

[tm37]

Welcome to the wonderful world of wireless networking.

There could be many thing that is causing you issues and while you nmay have Really good signal the problem my be in interferece.

The b/g protocals run on the 2.4 GHz band that is very crowded. I have set tyhese up cordless phones would cause simptoms similar to what you are decribinbg.

I went with A in my house and whiloe it is a little more money I have zerop problems.

If these are desktops Why not just run the cable?

 

[bamacre]

Well, I just moved into a new apartment, and if I had stayed with a wired network, I'd have cords running all over the place, including past my balcony doors and fireplace. I have one PC connected to my entertainment center (well, actually it has become my entertainment center).

I don't have any other wireless devices in my home, although I guess my neighbors may. This sucks, I hate when companies push technology that hasn't been refined yet. I spent over $200 on this router and three cards, and the network seems a little slow and the internet connection is just laggy as hell.

I've got to get this fixed somehow!!

 

[tm37]

If you live in an apartment I assure you people are using corless phones.

I was using my mother's b wireless when I was there and when I got on the phone it got laggy as well.

If you ost go wireless I would recommend going to a.

Not many people use it so there aren't a bunch of script kiddies out running around try to hack into your network. I love it when I go to someone's apartment. I can almost always find an access point

 

[bamacre]

Ok, I disabled my wireless network connection, and plugged into the wireless router via a cable and my integrated LAN. The result was still the same, a very laggy connection. Just to make sure it was not my ISP, I connected my main PC straight to the cable modem/router and the speeds were back to normal.

 

[tm37]

Disable the wireless portion of the router.

The router can only do so much and interference can cause it to act loopy./

 

[bamacre]

While I appreciate your help, even if I disable the wireless portion of the router and I get a good connection, it still doesn't solve my problem. I contacted Netgear, and if they can't fix it, I guess I'll be forced to sell the G stuff and then buy the A stuff. Then I'll be worried that the A stuff won't work right either. This is all annoying.

 

[tm37]

The other thing about wireless is that it uses different drivers and they can sometimes be flakey.

While I appreciate your help, even if I disable the wireless portion of the router and I get a good connection

I have no idea what you are saying here.

If you disable the wireless portion of the router you should get NO connectiuonj strenth. There is no connection strenth in 10/100 Ethernet that I am aware of.

Disable the wireless nic in the comp as well.

 

[bamacre]

I'm sorry, what I meant was if I disable the wireless portion of the router and just use a cat5 cable to connect my PC to the wireless router, and I get a good connection, I don't see how that would help me solve this problem.

I did disable the wireless NIC, enabled the wired NIC, and got a slow internet connection from the wireless router. Would this mean my problem is not interference, but something in the router itself?

 

[tm37]

I would think that either the router or your cabling is giving you the issues.

Often times the cabling is the last thing we look at and yet is the more common network issue

You said that if you connect direct to the modem then the connection is fine. Try this with both cables. Then if you have no issues you know the problem is cthe router.

Return it and get a new one if you bought it locally

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: tm37
You said that if you connect direct to the modem then the connection is fine. Try this with both cables. Then if you have no issues you know the problem is cthe router.

Return it and get a new one if you bought it locally

What do you mean, "both cables?" I'm only using one.

 

[tm37]

You said when you connect the computer direct to the modem it is fine.

If you use the router and it's cabled to the router there are two cables.

comp--cable1--router--cable2--modem.

If your test to insure it was not the comp or modem only used one fo the cables

comp--cable1--modem the only thing that can be causing your problem is either th router or the cable2

So inorder to test it effectively you will need two cables.

try ping the router with larger packets as well. I can't recall the command but from the console if you type ping /help it will give you a list of the options.

 

[bamacre]

I tried...

comp-->cable-->router-->cable-->modem

... and i get the same problem.


I tried...

comp-->cable-->modem

...works fine.


I REALLY hope the router is bad, that would be great, at least I could get it replaced and everything would be ok. I bought it from NewEgg, and retail, so I'm positive it is under warranty.

Is it possible that interference would cause the internet and network stuttering even if I am connected to the router with a cable?

 

[tm37]

If you have the Wireless prtion enabled it can. That wireless portion is trying to resolve something.

If anyone in your building has a b or g card that also can cause the entire network to lag as some barely in range NIC tries to connect.

When you did the second did you use both cables?

 

[bamacre]

Well, I am calling Netgear tonight as they have advised. I'll let you know what they come up with.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[bamacre]

<vent>

Well, I called Netgear. Three effin' times. And I was disconnected or hung up on (likely disconnected) all three damn times. None of them spoke English very well, and of course none of them could help me before we were disconnected. I'm not calling them back tonight, I've already gone through their automated service, three times, given them my serial number, three times, and explained my problem, again, three effin' times.

It's experiences like this that make me want to trade all of my time sitting on a computer chair for sitting on a bar stool. No alcoholic beverage has ever made me this unhappy.

I need a doob, too, a big one.

</vent>