Need help configuring a SMC7004AWBR and Orinoco USB Gold Client in WinXP Pro

[Salvador]

Hello.

I'm trying to configure my SMC7004AWBR WAP/Router with my Orincoco USB Gold Client. The instructions for both products are next to worthless. They each say to check the others instructions for how to change settings, but neither tells me what settings that need to be made to configure the two. What really pisses me off is that they include instructions on how to insert a cd rom into a cd rom drive.

Just to let you know, the base computer that has the cable modem and the SMC WAP/router is running Win98SE and the computer I'm trying to configure with the Orinoco USB Gold Client is running WinXP Pro.

If anyone could pass on some instructions on what I need to set for this combo to work, it would be greatly appreciated!

TIA,

Sal

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: Salvador
I'm trying to configure my SMC7004AWBR WAP/Router with my Orincoco USB Gold Client.
Just to let you know, the base computer that has the cable modem and the SMC WAP/router is running Win98SE and the computer I'm trying to configure with the Orinoco USB Gold Client is running WinXP Pro.
If anyone could pass on some instructions on what I need to set for this combo to work, it would be greatly appreciated!

Yo Sal, what's shakin?

In a nutshell, you need to make sure that the SSID on each device matches and the WEP key (if you enable WEP) on each device matches.

I'm curious tho: How does the "base" W98 computer have both the cable modem and the SMC router? The modem should be plugged directly into the router's WAN port, then the router should be configured for your particular broadband provider. The W98 machine should then be plugged into one of the router's LAN ports.

 

[Salvador]

Hey Tallgeese. Long time, no hear. It's going all right. Wish I could get this wireless networking thing figured out though.

Ok.. You lost me. What is a SSID and where do I find it? How do I even know that WEP is enabled. I tell you.. The instructions are worthless.

To verify the router, modem deal. The router is plugged into the SMC7004AWBR. I guess what I meant to say is that the Win98 machine is closest to the router and modem and is my only wired connection right now. Come to think of it, this wouldn't have anything to do with my wireless set up, would it? I only thought it did because I had to configure the router on this machine when I first got it.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[Salvador]

Heh.. I don't even know how to get into the router settings. I've been all over "networking" and I don't see anything. Shouldn't the router have an icon in my system? I don't see anything that indicates that I even have a router on my system.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[JackMDS]

Hi Sal.

I don't have time, at the moment, for long answer.

Unfortunately the price goes down and so the printed instructions?

The CD-ROM of the SMC includes a very detailed pdf file that would explain the whole thingie. The Orinoco has a similar deal.

Spend a while to read these files it will be much clearer.

The Router is like a web site, you start the browser, and you type in the address place (on my old SMC it is) http://192.168.123.254

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: Salvador
I only thought it did because I had to configure the router on this machine when I first got it.

You'll want to use the Win98 machine to make the changes to the administrative interface of the SMC router.

As Jack mentioned, you'll want to open a browser window, and type the address of the SMC router.
By default, that address is http://192.168.2.1, unless you changed it.

Once you are in the management interface, you will want to go to the section called "Wireless"
As outlined on page 30 of the detailed user's manual (which is on the CD as Jack mentioned), you should see the following settings:

* Network ID (SSID)
* Channel
* WEP
* WEP Key 1-4

From the manual available at via the Web (for Part 750.5312...your part may be different)

4.10 Wireless Setting
Wireless settings allow you to set the wireless configuration items.

1. Network ID (SSID): Network ID is used for identifying the Wireless LAN (WLAN).
Client stations can roam freely over this product and other Access Points that have the
same Network ID. (The factory setting is ?default?)

2. Channel: The radio channel number. The permissible channels depends on the
Regulatory Domain: FCC/IC: 1-11, ETSI: 1-13, France: 10-13, Spain: 10-11,
MKK: 1-14 (The factory setting is channel 6)

3. WEP Security: Select the data privacy algorithm you want. Enabling the security can
protect your data while it is transferred from one station to another. The standardized
IEEE 802.11 WEP (128-bit or 64-bit) is used here.

4. WEP Key 1, 2, 3 & 4: When you enable the 128-bit or 64-bit WEP key security,
please select one WEP key to be used and input 26 or 10 hexidecimal (0, 1, 2?8, 9,
A, B?F) digits.

On your XP machine, you will want to follow the Orinoco instructions for physical installation of the USB NIC. After that:

* Open the Network Connections Control Panel Icon, and right-click the Wireless connection that appears there.
* Choose Properties.
* At the top, there will be a tab titled "Wireless"
* "Use Windows to manage the connection" should be checked

If no networks are showing, you can create a new definition, using the same values for SSID and WEP Key that you used on the SMC router.
Normally tho, the network will be autodetected. You can just set that as the default wireless network, and away you go!

g/l

 

[JackMDS]

TG. This is one of the "Must Cut" posts. Thanks.

Originally posted by: Tall Geese As Jack mentioned, you'll want to open a browser window, and type the address of the SMC router.
By default, that address is http://192.168.2.1, unless you changed it?ll

I did it so long ago, I can?t remember the number I posted above is the original or a changed one. For sure I am changing now. hehe

 

[Salvador]

Wow! This is great info!!! Thanks TallGeese!! I really appreciate the time you put into this!

I'm able to connect now for about 30 seconds at start up and surf the internet, but my status indicator (the step led on the taskbar) for the Orinoco goes from green to red after about 30 seconds and then when I click on it, the thing says that my card is not connected. What's weird is that if I look over at the network icon on the taskbar, it says that I'm connected at 11 Mbps. When this indicator is off though, I can't bring up a web page.

Do you think I have a problem with the Orinoco USB Client? It just doesn't seem right that I'd be able to connect on start up and then the connection dies.

I have my main SSID (they match on my wireless client and my WAP/router), but there is another SSID that keeps coming up when I reboot my machine. It's called Cableland. I wonder if that's a default something or other or if it's someone else's wireless setup in the neighborhood. Does this sound like a default setting?

Another thing that's bugging me is that there are two network icons on my taskbar. Why do I have two? I'm hoping that my machine isn't configured for one too many clients and that it's getting messed up.

Also.. Should I be using WEP? I had heard that the WEP kills the performance of the connection. I'll worry about that later though once I get the thing working reliably.

Thanks again!

Sal

 

[Tallgeese]

Do you have any 2.4 Ghz phones in your house/apartment?

 

[Salvador]

Do you have any 2.4 Ghz phones in your house/apartment?

Yep.. Why do you ask?

Sal

 

[Tallgeese]

This can be a source of interference, and cause exactly the symptoms you describe, since 802.11B uses frequencies in the 2.4 Ghz range.

In the management page of your AP, change your wireless channel number to one of the extreme values (either 1 or 11 usually, but check the help pages for permissible values). Then see if that helps clear up the problem. If not, try the opposite end.

Some folks have had to force their phones to one extreme end to make it work.

FYI: If the phone is a spectrum-hopper, you may have a TOUGH (if not impossible) time trying to get it to work.

 

[Salvador]

FYI: If the phone is a spectrum-hopper, you may have a TOUGH (if not impossible) time trying to get it to work.

That's exactly what was going through the back of my head as I was changing the channels on the router/wap and the client. I had an older phone that would scan through the channels and find the best one to use. I hope that this isn't my problem.

BTW... I tried channel 11 and 1 and no difference. It seems to be working for the first 30 seconds and then just dies. I have noticed a flicker from time to time, but nothing like the solid indicator when I first start my system. I wonder if something in Windows is loading that is killing the connection? Because it seems to die about the time that Windows stops loading.

I also noticed that the other icon is the built in LAN card on my motherboard. I don't have it connected right now. I wonder if that could be a problem?

One other thing.. The network connection always says that I have an excellent connection at 11 Mbps, but when the card indicator dies, it says that my card isn't functioning. If I click on the status report it says that the driver is not ok. I don't know if it is or not because when I go into device manager, it says that the card is functioning properly. I used the driver from the cd rom, but I don't know if it's the right driver for XP. I don't know.. I'm tired of dealing with this. I really wanted this wireless to work out and I'm frustrated that it doesn't.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[Tallgeese]

Completely fuzzed on the driver issue.

Good idea to load the most recent Orinoco driver from their website: Client Software - ORiNOCO Rel 7.4 for MS Windows - Winter 2002 release update..

FYI: I've had nothing but trouble from the latest Orinoco driver available in Windows Update (under Windows XP). It looks to be an older driver, and (big surprise) blows the connection every time it's been loaded.

 

[Salvador]

Ok.. I've been working a little bit to troubleshoot this thing. This is what I've done so far tonight...

I disabled my motherboard's onboard LAN in the Device Manager and no change in the performance of my wireless client.

I removed the original Orinoco driver and installed the one that TallGeese linked for me (ver. 7.4). That was an ordeal in itself because WinXP kept locking and giving me BSOD's when I tried first updating the driver and then tried uninstalling the driver. I finally got the new driver installed and it's still acting flakey if you ask me. No change at all in the functionality of the USB Gold Client though. It still connects in the beginning and then cuts out. It will come back temporarily after that, but not long enough to load a web page.

I still get locks in WinXP when I try to do something like change the channel on the wireless client and click ok. It just hangs on me and I have to reboot usually. I just don't think that these drivers are very good for XP.

I also found out that when I click on the menu to check the status of the card while I'm not getting a signal, it says that the card is not functioning and that the driver is not ok. When I get a green status meter, it says that the driver is ok and that the card is working fine. So.. That makes sense. When the card is working, it's working and when it's not, it's not. I was thinking that the driver was not ok because that's what it was telling me, but it only says that the driver is not ok when I lose the signal.

I tried unplugging the 2.4 ghz Sony phone system and no change. If I unplug the phone and I don't get a dial tone, the thing is not sending off radio waves, correct? I don't think so, but I just don't want to be missing anything here.

I made sure that my SSID was the same for my router and client. I double checked that a few times.

The WEP is disabled and the channel was set the same on both the client and router. I will add WEP later. BTW.. When I was checking status, it said that the firewall was disabled on the router. Is this the WEP? By having it disabled, am I disabling the firewall or is this something different?

I tried channel 11 and channel 1 and it's still not better. I tried both channels with the phone system unplugged and no change. Also, it was originally set to channel 6 by default and there is no change in function of the card when I change the channel on the router and client. I've got more channels to try, but I really don't think that this is my problem.

One other thing that bugs me. When I go to that web address to configure my SMC router, it asks for a password. If I put in a password, it won't allow me to log in, but when I don't put anything in for a password, it just takes me to the next menu page. What's with this?

I can't think of anything else. I will probably give Orinoco a call tomorrow. I don't think it's the SMC 7004AWBR that's giving me the problems. I wonder if I got a bad Orinoco USB Client or something?

Thanks again!!

Sal

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: Salvador
I disabled my motherboard's onboard LAN in the Device Manager and no change in the performance of my wireless client.

This won't necessarily affect the USB NIC directly, but can help prevent routing issues later.

I removed the original Orinoco driver and installed the (ver. 7.4)...WinXP kept locking and giving me BSOD's when I tried first updating the driver and then tried uninstalling the driver. I finally got the new driver installed and it's still acting flakey if you ask me. No change at all in the functionality of the USB Gold Client though.

I've got a USB gold working perfectly with XP, so this seems out of the ordinary to me.

I still get locks in WinXP when I try to do something like change the channel on the wireless client and click ok. It just hangs on me and I have to reboot usually. I just don't think that these drivers are very good for XP.

I've had good performance and stabilityt with the Orinoco drivers. Again, the behavior you are seeing seems strange.

I tried unplugging the 2.4 ghz Sony phone system and no change. If I unplug the phone and I don't get a dial tone, the thing is not sending off radio waves, correct? I don't think so, but I just don't want to be missing anything here.

As long as the phone and its base station have no power at all, then it's not a source of interference.

I made sure that my SSID was the same for my router and client.

The SSID (and any WEP keys) are case-sensitive, BTW.

When I was checking status, it said that the firewall was disabled on the router. Is this the WEP? By having it disabled, am I disabling the firewall or is this something different?

It's something else. There will be a choice called "Firewall" in the management pages. Make sure it is set to "Enabled."

I tried channel 11 and channel 1 and it's still not better. I tried both channels with the phone system unplugged and no change. Also, it was originally set to channel 6 by default and there is no change in function of the card when I change the channel on the router and client. I've got more channels to try, but I really don't think that this is my problem.

One other thing that bugs me. When I go to that web address to configure my SMC router, it asks for a password. If I put in a password, it won't allow me to log in, but when I don't put anything in for a password, it just takes me to the next menu page. What's with this?

There is no administrative password set by default. You can (and should) set a password in the management pages immediately. If not, your router could potentially be compromised (on the WAN side).

I will probably give Orinoco a call tomorrow. I don't think it's the SMC 7004AWBR that's giving me the problems.

I agree.

I wonder if I got a bad Orinoco USB Client or something?

Maybe...but I still think it is a driver issue. One thing: that USB client is a high-power draw USB device. It should be plugged in to either 1.) a root port, or 2.) a powered USB hub.

 

[JackMDS]

Taking the risk of being redundant.

Start with the two computers in the same room ( to be sure that distance, and interference are not the problem).

Disable Firewall and or any other TCP/IP interceptor is on WinXP.

Unbind the second NIC, and make sure that the Orinoco is bound (Card, and protocols).

Start with default settings on both Router, and Orinoco. (No WEP etc.).

I did few installation of this combo never had a problem.

 

[Salvador]

Start with the two computers in the same room ( to be sure that distance, and interference are not the problem).

Good idea. I'll try that.

Disable Firewall and or any other TCP/IP interceptor is on WinXP

I don't know what you mean. The only firewall I know of is the router itself. What is a TCP/IP interceptor?

Unbind the second NIC, and make sure that the Orinoco is bound (Card, and protocols).

What do you mean by this? Disable it in the Device Manager? I disabled everything in the Device Manager except for the Orinoco.

Start with default settings on both Router, and Orinoco. (No WEP etc.).

I think I have a problem here. There must be someone else in the area with a wireless network because whenever I start my system, it wants to connect to either my network that I set up or a network called "cableland" that I didn't set up. The techs at Orinoco told me that I'd have to enable WEP to get it to lock into my network, so I did. I set it to 64 bit encryption and used a 10 digit key composed of letters and numbers and entered the same at the client end.

I did few installation of this combo never had a problem.

I've got another problem now. I've called Orinoco tech help 4 times now and they now have it on my account that my SMC7004AWBR is not "WIFI" compatible, so they won't even go any further with the support. They said that they can't guarantee that it will work and they won't even try because my SMC router is not WIFI compatible. A bunch of sh*t if you ask me.

Here's another thing.. The status indicator for the Windows XP networking icon always said excellent with the Orinoco USB Gold Client when WEP was disabled, but as soon as I enabled the WEP, the range dropped between low to good, but I still can't connect to the internet.

I also have a Linksys WUSB11 that I bought to try. I just opened it and hooked it up with the same WEP encryption enabled and the range says excellent, but I can't connect to the internet.

I'm thinking about calling SMC at this point and see what they have to say.

Answer to TG's responses:

The SSID (and any WEP keys) are case-sensitive, BTW.

Yep.. I'm aware of that. My SSID key is all caps and is the same for the WAP/router and the client. When I enabled WEP, I used 10 digits consisting of a mix of capital letters and numbers from 0-9. Hope I did that correctly. It seems to be correct because it says connected to my network.

It's something else. There will be a choice called "Firewall" in the management pages. Make sure it is set to "Enabled."

I never did find where to enable the firewall, but the last time I checked the status, it said that it was enabled.

Maybe...but I still think it is a driver issue. One thing: that USB client is a high-power draw USB device. It should be plugged in to either 1.) a root port, or 2.) a powered USB hub.

It's hooked up to my main USB port on the back of the pc.

So.. Basically, right now I have WEP enabled and the wireless client says that it's connected to my network and showing excellent signal strength (Linksys WUSB11 and not the Orinoco USB Gold Client), yet I can't get on the internet.

I'm going to try connecting the WUSB11 to my computer upstairs that is in the same room as the router and cable modem and is currently hooked up via a "wired" NIC to the router and see if that makes any difference.

I'll probably also give SMC a call and ask them what they think, since Orinoco will not talk to me now that they know that my SMC router is not WiFi compliant.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[Salvador]

I wanted to add something else.

I originally had a Netgear RT314 router and recently bought the SMC7004AWBR along with the Orinoco USB Gold Client to use as a wired/wireless setup.

I also have access to a Linksys WAP11 wireless access point and a Linksys BEFW11S4 WAP/router (still sealed in their package). I'm thinking about ditching the SMC now because it's not WIFI certified and going with either the WAP11 with my Netgear RT314 router or just use the BEFW11S4. Now.. The WAP11 isn't WIFI certified either, but the BEFW11S4 is. Would you consider going with either of these over the SMC7004AWBR? The SMC seems to be getting a lot better reviews, so I don't know what to do.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[JackMDS]

At this point WIFI certification does not mean too much. I would not expect the Orinoco people to support Hardware that is not Orinoco. But their excuse is an outrage.

The units have to be 802.11b. The certification is mainly a pushing papers process that cost a lot, and many of the Entry Level is saving by not doing so.

What I would do?

Leave the SMC, and try the WAP11 in a Client Mode . WAP11 Is an Access Point it have to be configured in Client Mode to be capable to talk to a Wireless Gateway (All Wireless Router are Gateways). Doing so will let see whether it is the SMC or the Orinoco.

The WAP11 is one of my favorite Access Point. The Linksys Wireless Router is bellow the average.

Under most cases if you get a Good Signal it is not a Hardware problem, it means that some settings of your WIN XP are not correct.

I don't have a good link for WinXP Pro, try this link, it is WinXP Home, the network setting is very close to the Pro.

Windows XP Home Networking Guide

 

[Salvador]

Heh.. I waited on hold with SMC for a half hour or more and then when I was messing around with the settings on the WUSB11 and remembered that I knocked encryption off the router upstairs, then knocked it off on the Linksys WUSB11.

Anyway.. The wireless connection is working right now with the WUSB11. I'm typing this message on the machine with the wireless connection. I get very good - excellent signal strength and I can surf fine. I still have the computer down on the main floor too and the router is up on the second floor on the other side of the house. The true test will be putting it down in the basement and trying it. Also, trying to enable WEP again.

Now.. I either screwed up the encryption key with the WUSB11 or I can't get it to work with the WEP enabled. I'll have to try and set that up again and try it. BTW.. To set encrytion, am I doing it properly? I have 10 characters consisting of a mix of upper case letters (to keep it straight) and numbers from 0-9.

I'm thinking now that I have a problem with the Orinoco if I can't get it to connect and I can connect with the Linksys WUSB11. The Linksys shouldn't be better, should it? It's either a compatibility issue (which I don't think it is) or a bad Orinoco USB client. No way to tell with Orinoco's support because they won't help me because of the WIFI certification. The best thing to do then is exchange my USB Client for another one. I don't care if they get it back with the attitude that they've been giving me.

So. If I don't go with the SMC as a router/wap, you would use the SMC router and then hook up the WAP11 to it? I think it would make more sense to exchange the SMC7004AWBR for a wired router or use my RT314 along with the WAP11 than use the WAP11 and SMC7004AWBR together. I would've paid for the built in WAP and couldn't even use it.

Skip the Linksys WAP/router all together then? Well.. It's WIFI certified and won all sorts of obscure awards. Too bad the user reviews say differently on Practically Networked.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless Encryption Help

 

[Tallgeese]

Wow...been busy all day and look at all that has transpired.

Glad you've got it working (at least in 1 configuration anyway) Sal.
One thing about entering WEP keys on equipment from different manufactuers: make sure you are entering the key in the same "mode" or "type" (hex or alpha) on each component, otherwise it won't match. Sometimes there is a choice for key type.

I too am OUTRAGED at Orinoco's response. They should at least step you through configuring THEIR USB NIC (which your tests have proven is the central issue, NOT the SMC box) on Windows XP and verifying the settings for SSID and/or WEP, to help you make sure that the values are entered properly.

BTW: Orinoco's wireless unit was sold to Proxim very recently. Wondering if this stance isn't part of that "new" arrangement.
Regardless, I DON'T like it! :|

Since you have now proved with your testing that the issue is NOT the SMC box, I would call them BACK, and ask them to step you through settting up their USB NIC.

If they give you flack, tell them you have successfully verified that the router DOES work with another vendor's USB NIC, and if they hope to keep your business, then they should help you verify settings on their own USB product.

FYI: Orinoco's own AP units didn't fully meet Wi-Fi spec either for the LONGEST time. Funny, eh?

 

[Salvador]

Well.. What a difference a USB wireless client makes. I'm not only surfing the internet now, but I'm connected to someone else's wireless connection. That thing came up again asking me if I wanted to connect to "CableLand", so I clicked on connect and connected. Just to make sure that WinXP didn't name my same connection CableLand, I went and unplugged my cable modem and sure enough, I was still connected. The funny thing is that I think the signal is just as strong as my connection upstairs. I'd like to know what this guy is using. He can't know much about this if he doesn't have WEP enabled. I couldn't connect to him before because I couldn't connect to anything with my Orinoco card. I just thought of something. If I'm connected to his network, are we using the same channel?

BTW.. If I'm connected to his wireless connection, he can't access my computer can he?

I still haven't figured out the encryption thing. My router has the passphrase thing and my wireless client doesn't. How do I use the passphrase thing and get it to transfer to my wireless client if I don't know what the code is that it's creating? I'm confused.

I'm outraged at Orinoco myself. I will probably call back and tear them a new one after I get this thing all sorted out. I'll tell them that I got a competing wireless card to work just fine with my network, so it wasn't my router. To me, WIFI is like THX. It doens't mean sh*t, but that's what they were telling me and considering that I didn't have my wireless network working at all, I didn't know what to say to them in response at the time.

Many thanks again for all of your help. Now I have to work on the encryption thing.

Sal

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Salvador
BTW.. If I'm connected to his wireless connection, he can't access my computer can he?

Depending on the OS used, and the Sharing setting it is possible that he can connect to yours.

You can start by telling your SMC Router to connect to the MACs of your computers only. It called Fixed Mapping in the DHCP menu.

It is also a fall back for securing the system in times that you don't want to use WEP for max bandwidth.

 

[Salvador]

You guys are probably sick of me by now.

I have things running fine with the Linksys WUSB11 and the SMC7004AWBR router/WAP until I try and enable WEP. Even 64 bit cripples the thing. I still get a good -> very good reading (was very good -> excellent with WEP disabled), but the internet is slower than a 14.4 dial up connection and worthless.

What amazes me is that when I first started up my system for the first 5 minutes this morning and connected, everything seemed normal, but now it's just pathetic. It's not really like the Orinoco card because that would work in the beginning, but I'd never be able to get on the internet and then it would just die and show that the card was not working.

I don't know.. Maybe I'm just not meant to have a wireless setup.

What irritates me the most is that when I got tired of dealing with the encrypted signal from my router, I disabled it and connected right up to "Cableland" (the neighbors connection) and I was surfing the internet just fine. Of course, he doesn't have WEP enabled. How would he if I'm able to connect to his network.

Anyway. Thanks again.

Sal