Running "remote desktop connection" on a wireless network

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CJ

Hi, I've just started setting up a wireless network between my laptop and a
desktop computer. Basically the wireless acess point is connected to the
desktop via a network cable, which is in turn ,connnected to the broadband
router via usb. I have the network up and running, can share broadband
connections and can share files etc but I can't seem to get "remote desktop
connections" running. Their both windows xp computers so there's no
incompatability with the OS. Eventually I want to connect up a monster of a
computer which I'm building which will "hopefully" overclock to around 4Ghz
with 4Gb of ram. Of course, it'll need a huge and noisy cooling system and
will probablyt take up residence in some obscure part of the house where I
can keep the ambient temp really down too. Hence why I want to be able to
get desktop connection running on it so I can download from the net etc at a
faster speed than my poor little laptop will be able to handle.

Has anyone done anything similar to this and what kind of problems have you
had? Also, when I go to Remote in System Properties on both computers it
shows the button for remote assistance but nothing for remote desktop like
it shows on the microsoft website.

Any help or suggestions that anyone can give me would be most apreciated!

CJ
 
"CJ" said:
Hi, I've just started setting up a wireless network between my laptop and a
desktop computer. Basically the wireless acess point is connected to the
desktop via a network cable, which is in turn ,connnected to the broadband
router via usb. I have the network up and running, can share broadband
connections and can share files etc but I can't seem to get "remote desktop
connections" running. Their both windows xp computers so there's no
incompatability with the OS.
Click to expand...
Eventually I want to connect up a monster of a
computer which I'm building which will "hopefully" overclock to around 4Ghz
with 4Gb of ram. Of course, it'll need a huge and noisy cooling system and
will probablyt take up residence in some obscure part of the house where I
can keep the ambient temp really down too.
Click to expand...

If you're serious about overclocking use watercooling and the noise
needn't be excessive.
Hence why I want to be able to
get desktop connection running on it so I can download from the net etc at a
faster speed than my poor little laptop will be able to handle.
Click to expand...

Your laptop would have to be seriously lacking to have a negative
influence on download speeds.
Has anyone done anything similar to this and what kind of problems have you
had? Also, when I go to Remote in System Properties on both computers it
shows the button for remote assistance but nothing for remote desktop like
it shows on the microsoft website.
Click to expand...
I guess you're running Windows XP Home, which doesn't have Remote
Desktop. Try something like TightVNC instead - not quiet as slick but
it's free and runs on just about anything.
 
Hence why I want to be able to
get desktop connection running on it so I can download from the net etc at a
faster speed than my poor little laptop will be able to handle.
Click to expand...

If you're sharing your broadband to all machines, including your laptop,
there will be no speed difference, even if your new machine was 20GHz!
Has anyone done anything similar to this and what kind of problems have you
had? Also, when I go to Remote in System Properties on both computers it
shows the button for remote assistance but nothing for remote desktop like
it shows on the microsoft website.
Click to expand...

XP Home can connect to a remote desktop, but cannot serve one (except in the
case of Remote Assistance). Take a look at TightVNC (Google is your friend)


HTH
 
Thanks guys, it's really helped. I've got TightVNC up and running but there
are still a couple of problems. Not sure if it's the setting or the way the
program is. First, it seems that I can't transfer sounds to the remote
computer! So, if I play music on the remote the sound doesn't come through
onto my laptop. Also, when I go to full screen, the background expands but
the icons and taskbar stay the same size. I'm running the remote computer
with an 8 year old crt monitor which only has one size setting with xp so
could that be it?
I probably didn't explain properly why I was going to use the remote
computer for broadband. I transfer large files (200 mb +) on a regular
basis and I've found that a connection that's hard wired to my modem rather
than over the wireless connection seems to have a smaller latency rating and
is a much more reliable connection as I've found, on some days, the wireless
can disconnect for a second or two and then resume or needs to be repaired
periodically. Of course, of a large file download or upload that means the
transfer is broken and I have to start all over again.

Now if I could just get clear instructions about how to set up the security
it'd be great! Every time I try to set it up I can't connect and the
instructions that came with the Gigabyte acess point and lan card leave a
lot (way too much in my case) to the imagination LOL! I live in the middle
of nowhere in Ireland anyway so I'm not so worried about security. Unless
the local sheep have a copy of net stumbler....
But still, it's better to be safe etc.

Can anyone recomend a site where I can get decent instructions on this?
I've tried the local bookshops (about 6 of them) and none have a single book
on networking and security.

CJ
 
"CJ" said:
Thanks guys, it's really helped. I've got TightVNC up and running but there
are still a couple of problems. Not sure if it's the setting or the way the
program is. First, it seems that I can't transfer sounds to the remote
computer! So, if I play music on the remote the sound doesn't come through
onto my laptop.
Click to expand...

It won't do that.
Also, when I go to full screen, the background expands but
the icons and taskbar stay the same size. I'm running the remote computer
with an 8 year old crt monitor which only has one size setting with xp so
could that be it?
Click to expand...

The desktop objects will display "actual size". If you need to you can
change them in the desktop properties of the remote computer.
I probably didn't explain properly why I was going to use the remote
computer for broadband. I transfer large files (200 mb +) on a regular
basis and I've found that a connection that's hard wired to my modem rather
than over the wireless connection seems to have a smaller latency rating and
is a much more reliable connection as I've found, on some days, the wireless
can disconnect for a second or two and then resume or needs to be repaired
periodically. Of course, of a large file download or upload that means the
transfer is broken and I have to start all over again.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should use software that supports resuming downloads.
 
CJ said:
Every time I try to set it up I can't connect and the instructions
that came with the Gigabyte acess point and lan card leave a lot (way
too much in my case) to the imagination LOL! I live in the middle
Click to expand...
Can anyone recomend a site where I can get decent instructions on this?
I've tried the local bookshops (about 6 of them) and none have a single book
on networking and security.
Click to expand...

Ok... so i'm guessing that the Gigabyte AP acts as both a NAT router
and firewall.

Can you specify the model so folks might speak more specifically?

Can you get to the gigabit configuration? (usually by visiting the
"base unit's" ip address.

If it has a firewall, you need to open the port (5900 i think) up.
post the details of your setup with model numbers and such...

I think you've said you have the following:

Broadband modem (INTERNET) -> Computer -> wireless AP (WAP)
That means the computer is acting as a bridge between the INTERNET
and the WAP.

Are you plugging the computer into the WAN side of the WAP, or does
the WAP have "local" ports and provide DHCP for the computer as well
as the notebook?
 
Your connection does not sound right.

The incoming network connects to the "WAN" port of the router.

One "LAN" port of the router connects to the desktop computer.

Another (2nd) "LAN" port of the router connects to the Wireless Access
point. The wireless access point and the desktop do not connect to each
other at all.

In order to get remote desktop or remote assistance running, port 3389
has to be open on all devices. However, this normally isn't a problem
if you are working entirely within the lan and not coming in from the
Internet.
 
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