RE: (Hopefully!) simple question no1

From: nkjg (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 04/09/04 

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 11:56:26 -0700

Hi there,

Make sure that any time you are configuring your network
settings, you do so through a LAN (i.e. hardwired in via
ethernet). Changing these settings can cause problems
with the settings not saving properly. When you have
connected the cable to your laptop and the router, go to
your network settings and make sure that the Local Area
Network is connected properly. I ususally set it so that
it will show the icon in my system tray when it's
connected.

Next, go into Internet Explorer and under Tools->Internet
Options->Connections, make sure that you 'Never dial a
connection". After this, IE should just try to connect to
the router without complaining to you.

Once you've got that working, you MUST enable WEP on the
router if you're going to be working wirelessly. I have a
friend who at one time, didn't enable WEP on his router,
and someone outside his family was leeching his internet.
Not only this, the outsider was able to access his
computer... scary stuff. His internet contract gave him
10 GB of bandwidth per month (which is plenty for most
people), and he got his internet bill afterwards, and the
bandwidth usage was upwards of 80 GB...

Another good habit, especially if you're living in a city
where other wifi networks may be, change the channel of
your router to something other than the default channel
6. I set mine to either 8 or 11. You'll also have to play
around with the channel to see which one gives you the
best reception within your house (or wherever you want to
use it).

Hope this helps,

Nick
nkjg/at\interchange/dot\ubc/dot\ca

P.S. Wifi's great, you'll love it!

>-----Original Message-----
>I'm just starting to get into ADSL/wireless networking.
I have two
>laptops - one running XP Home and one running XP Pro and
with wireless
>networking capabilities. I'm currently waiting for my
ADSL service to
>be enabled and I've been trying to set up my
modem/router (3com
>OfficeConnect). To configure the router I need to open
Internet
>Explorer and enter the router IP address (192.168.1.1).
When I do
>this, IE complains that I can only access this address
if I go online.
>If I connect to my dialup service I am able to connect
to the IP
>address and talk to the router. I'm sure I shouldn't
have to connect
>to the internet to access the router. Is there some
simple setting
>that lets me talk to the router without having to
connect to the
>internet? There must be some way otherwise how would
anyone set up
>their modem/router if that was their only interface to
the internet.
>
>TIA
>.
>

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