Is there a free wireless configuration client?

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: BBCMember
When I said "go into a business," I meant a business that offers WiFi to consumers (cafes, restaurants, etc.). A lot of them are not the most computer knowledgeable people out there. I can assure you on that. So it is quite conceivable that she could come across a wifi spot that had it set up for G only.

Or a business that is knowledgable on wireless and doesn't want B clients on a high performance G network slowing everybody down.

-edit- I'm still a little stumped why your client utility isn't working. Normally they are MUCH better than anything built into windows.

 

[Madwand1]

Too many hardware and software revisions I think -- there is some combination that does work. Too bad I can't remember the magic / sequence.

 

[BBCMember]

Yeah, I'm stumped too. About to give Linksys a call.

Btw, I also have another laptop that's running XP SP2, and it does not support WPA in its wireless zero configuration client. Any ideas on that?

And a third laptop running Win2k SP 4 that I have only has a 56k modem jack, no ethernet. It has a PCMCIA card, but I can't install any of the clients because it needs at least IE 5.5 to do so. I tried looking for a link to download IE 5.5, but the only links that I found were to a program that was less than 1 MB that was a setup file for it that would connect you to MS to download it. Anyone have a link to the full version?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: spidey07-edit- I'm still a little stumped why your client utility isn't working. Normally they are MUCH better than anything built into windows.

Right But.:roll:

I do not know about the specific card mentioned by the OP but few manufactures had a Stroke of genius.:light:

Since Windows XP has now the Nice Wireless Manger (WZC) they can save time and effort on programming Utilities.:thumbsup:

But (in the spirit of Entry Level Wireless) they did not work hard to make sure that their chipset/driver implementation 100% compatible with WZC either.:thumbsdown:

Combined with an other smart moves that entails changing chipset, and or core firmware of Wireless devices but leaving the devices marketing models the same, you have batches of Wireless devices displaying a whole gamut of Bizarre behaviors.:shocked:

So you end up with score of Wireless devices (especialy cards) that are in limbo. I.e. by the time that the trouble is detected the device is Not manufactured any more, and the troubled devices never get fixed in an overt way.

The only saving grace in this conundrum is the devices are so inexpensive that many users simply buy the newest device and forget about the ?Dud?.:disgust:

Those who can let Go end up in forums like this.:|

:sun:

 

[BBCMember]

Bingo with Boingo! Called Linksys and after telling them my story, they referred me to boingo.com where there is a free wireless client for download. Downloaded it. Configured it, and I was good to go!

Originally posted by: JackMDS


Those who can let Go end up in forums like this.:|

Another way to interpret it is I care about my friend and don't want her to spend extra cash that she doesn't need to since I knew the card worked.

You can also look at it from the perspective of my not giving up at the slightest bump in the road.

And yet another perspective is that you learned about a free wireless client because of my persistence. It was my pleasure. 😉

 

[Madwand1]

Grats! And shame on Linksys for screwing up with their own drivers and being outperformed by two separate third-party drivers. Blame the HW vendors, not the users here.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: BBCMember
Another way to interpret it is I care about my friend and don't want her to spend extra cash that she doesn't need to since I knew the card worked.

You deserve a lot of credit for it. I am taking back this remark as credit to you.

:sun:

Interesting about Boingo, the last time I looked at it was not a general solution. I would take another look.

As far as Windows 2000 goes it is very important when looking for a client wireless card to buy one that offers good Utility.

As an Example this is a screen shot of the utility that comes with Trend NET USB2 Wireless Card. http://www.ezlan.net/network/TrendNet.jpg

With the actual Utility if you click on the Site Survey Button you get a very nice list with the condition of all available Wireless Networks. :thumbsup:

 

[JackMDS]

BBCMember

Ok, I installed and tryed boingo with Win2000.

I see that by using Boingo it adds the capacity to see available Wirless Networks that Win200 Wireless configuration does not provide.

I do not see any other configuration menus concerning G only, or encryption.

Do I miss something?

:sun:

Edit: Further investigation, found the Add Profiles and some addtional settings.