Setting up a wireless network

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe
  • Start date Start date
J

Joe

I'm looking to set-up a wireless network on 2 machines,
both running up win xp. I have the 2 wireless cards
already, but I'm clueless where to go from here. Do I
need a wireless router, hub, and how do I put it all
together? I'm clueless here, and searches on the site
only seem to tell me how to jump into an already created
network. Basicaly I'm looking to have the machines be
able to share files, and share a dial-up net connection
for the time being.
 
Joe

Looking to see if anyone responded to my post and found yours - and I think I can help you on this one. I have a small network setup here at home - two machines running XP pro and NICs in both. They connect to my LinkSys Internet router. Into that router I also have a Wireless Access Point that I purchased at Radio Shack (it's a Motorola model WA840G). My laptop has an internal wireless card and picks up an IP from the router through this wireless access point thus enabling to connect to the internet and share any resources on my other two machines. It was real easy to setup - didn't need any software installation - just plug it into the router and it starts providing wireless access. It cost around $100. Hope this helps - and hopefully someone will answer my request soon also

Denni

----- Joe wrote: ----

I'm looking to set-up a wireless network on 2 machines,
both running up win xp. I have the 2 wireless cards
already, but I'm clueless where to go from here. Do I
need a wireless router, hub, and how do I put it all
together? I'm clueless here, and searches on the site
only seem to tell me how to jump into an already created
network. Basicaly I'm looking to have the machines be
able to share files, and share a dial-up net connection
for the time being
 
This is not the first time I've heard of WAP, what exactly
does a wireless access point look line? I was under the
impression that the router or hub was going to be the
WAP. But in your post it seems you have a WAP and a
wireless router.
-----Original Message-----
Joe:

Looking to see if anyone responded to my post and found
Click to expand...
yours - and I think I can help you on this one. I have a
small network setup here at home - two machines running XP
pro and NICs in both. They connect to my LinkSys Internet
router. Into that router I also have a Wireless Access
Point that I purchased at Radio Shack (it's a Motorola
model WA840G). My laptop has an internal wireless card and
picks up an IP from the router through this wireless
access point thus enabling to connect to the internet and
share any resources on my other two machines. It was real
easy to setup - didn't need any software installation -
just plug it into the router and it starts providing
wireless access. It cost around $100. Hope this helps -
and hopefully someone will answer my request soon also.
 
I replied but it doesn't appear to be appearing. Could
you please explain what a WAP is? I was under the
impression that a wireless access point was going to be
the router or the hub based on the information that I've
been gathering from various sources. In your post though
a WAP is something completely different, but it would
explain why my router itself is not allowing the two
machines to see each other.
-----Original Message-----
Joe:

Looking to see if anyone responded to my post and found
Click to expand...
yours - and I think I can help you on this one. I have a
small network setup here at home - two machines running XP
pro and NICs in both. They connect to my LinkSys Internet
router. Into that router I also have a Wireless Access
Point that I purchased at Radio Shack (it's a Motorola
model WA840G). My laptop has an internal wireless card and
picks up an IP from the router through this wireless
access point thus enabling to connect to the internet and
share any resources on my other two machines. It was real
easy to setup - didn't need any software installation -
just plug it into the router and it starts providing
wireless access. It cost around $100. Hope this helps -
and hopefully someone will answer my request soon also.
 
Yes, I have an internet Linksys router (into which plugs my cable modem - or could be a DSL modem as well) and includes four other ports for other devices. I have two other PCs plugged into there and yes, also a WAP so I can access the internet or any other devices (printers) on my laptop from anywhere in the house (and outside within reasonable range)
What does it look like? Well, it's smaller than the router and has about a 3" antennae...it's about the size of a small hub

----- (e-mail address removed) wrote: ----

This is not the first time I've heard of WAP, what exactly
does a wireless access point look line? I was under the
impression that the router or hub was going to be the
WAP. But in your post it seems you have a WAP and a
wireless router
-----Original Message----
Joe
Click to expand...
yours - and I think I can help you on this one. I have a
small network setup here at home - two machines running XP
pro and NICs in both. They connect to my LinkSys Internet
router. Into that router I also have a Wireless Access
Point that I purchased at Radio Shack (it's a Motorola
model WA840G). My laptop has an internal wireless card and
picks up an IP from the router through this wireless
access point thus enabling to connect to the internet and
share any resources on my other two machines. It was real
easy to setup - didn't need any software installation -
just plug it into the router and it starts providing
wireless access. It cost around $100. Hope this helps -
and hopefully someone will answer my request soon also
 
Joe

Maybe you're not giving enough time for the replies to post. I see 4 replies now to your original post (total of 5). I've also sent you an e-mail - so check that if you cannot see all these posts/replies

Denni

----- Joe wrote: ----

I replied but it doesn't appear to be appearing. Could
you please explain what a WAP is? I was under the
impression that a wireless access point was going to be
the router or the hub based on the information that I've
been gathering from various sources. In your post though
a WAP is something completely different, but it would
explain why my router itself is not allowing the two
machines to see each other
-----Original Message----
Joe
Click to expand...
yours - and I think I can help you on this one. I have a
small network setup here at home - two machines running XP
pro and NICs in both. They connect to my LinkSys Internet
router. Into that router I also have a Wireless Access
Point that I purchased at Radio Shack (it's a Motorola
model WA840G). My laptop has an internal wireless card and
picks up an IP from the router through this wireless
access point thus enabling to connect to the internet and
share any resources on my other two machines. It was real
easy to setup - didn't need any software installation -
just plug it into the router and it starts providing
wireless access. It cost around $100. Hope this helps -
and hopefully someone will answer my request soon also
 
One last thing, I believe I'm straightened out now and
want to thankyou so much for your assistance. Once I get
the WAP I assume I'll just plug it in and the two machines
will start to see each other? Or should I run the network
config wizard again on these dial-up machines?

I'm also considering setting up a wireless network for a
friend of mine that has a DSL modem. I assume it should
be as simple as you made it sound for yours?
-----Original Message-----
Yes, I have an internet Linksys router (into which plugs
Click to expand...
my cable modem - or could be a DSL modem as well) and
includes four other ports for other devices. I have two
other PCs plugged into there and yes, also a WAP so I can
access the internet or any other devices (printers) on my
laptop from anywhere in the house (and outside within
reasonable range).
What does it look like? Well, it's smaller than the
Click to expand...
router and has about a 3" antennae...it's about the size
of a small hub.
 
That's exactly what it is. Ignore this thread and we'll
move back up to the main one. I'm just excited to know
that my wireless network is only a shopping trip away ;)
-----Original Message-----
Joe:

Maybe you're not giving enough time for the replies to
Click to expand...
post. I see 4 replies now to your original post (total of
5). I've also sent you an e-mail - so check that if you
cannot see all these posts/replies.
 
You should also configure the router/access point to use something other than the default
ESSID/SSID/Network Name and enable WEP encryption at the very least. Also, make sure you change the
administration password. If possible also add MAC Address Authentication. Check the manufacturers
User Guide or web based support pages for help with that.

Here is a wireless troubleshooting page and online WEP key generator...

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/wireless_encrypt.htm
http://www.warewolflabs.com/portfolio/programming/wepskg/wepskg.html

Here is my small home network using a Buffalo Technology WBR-G54 802.11b/g Broadband Router/Wireless
Access Point that I just bought at CompUSA for $65+tax after the mail-in rebate.

http://members.cox.net/ajarvi/LAN/LAN.jpg

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...
 
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