Re: wireless homenetwork connection error

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:08:15 -0700 (PDT), leonliev@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Since my wireless router doesn't connect to the internet (a
completely different problem altogether, but if anybody knows why my
router does not connect to a DNS, but my computer does... Please help
me with this too :) ),

Sure. That's easy. Your unspecified model router is set to supply
the IP address, gateway, and DNS server IP's via DHCP. You have your
unspecified operating system set to accept a DHCP supplied IP address,
but have setup the DNS for a static IP. If your unspecified operating
system happens to be W2K, XP, or Vista, check the TCP/IP settings
under the network properties for your unspecified wireless device in
your unspecified computer. (In case you missed my point, numbers are
a good thing).

I got the idea to plug my internet connection
directly into my (vista ultimate based) computer, and then use WLAN to
share the connecttion wireless into the rest of my house.

Does your unspecified internet service provider supply you with
dialup, satellite, DSL, cable modem, or two tin cans and a string? If
one of these, could you also disclose through what device you get your
internet connection?

This should
be possible as there is a sharing option that allows other users to
connect to the internet through your computer under Vista.

Yes. That's called ICS or Internet Connection Sharing. This feature
closesly approached computer hell, barely works, screws up
considerably, and constitutes a major percentage of my support
headaches. I've never actually tried it under Vista, but if it's
anything like XP, methinks you're about to have a problem.

This way, I
avoid DNS problems with my router and instead use it as an access
point for my wireless devices.

The reason you have an unspecified model router is to share the
connection. Vista can barely support one user. Why would you want to
have the entire network funneled through your Vista box? Just fix the
DNS problem and you'll be fine.

So far, so good (I'd think), but here is where the trouble starts.

"Indecision is the key to flexibility". (I forgot who said that)

Now
I have a notebook and a PDA that have innate WLAN functionality.

"innate" Huh? Does it work or doesn't it? If yes, then you have
just successfully nailed down your Vista box as an integral part of
your home network substituting for a $50 router.

After
setting up my wireless router (most basic settings: everything
automatic, simple (64-bit HEX) WEP key),

Don't use WEP. There are problem converting from the ASCII key to the
Hex equivalent. WEP is also easily cracked. If your unspecified
wireless router supports WPA or WPA2, please use it.

I could connect to it with my
notebook and PDA. For my desktop PC, I'm using a USB adapter, which is
recognized by Vista immediately.

Having Vista recognize something (i.e. install the driver) and
actually work are two different things. I found that today what Vista
decided I needed an updated HP dot4 USB driver, but couldn't find one.
Rather than use the old driver, which worked perfectly well, it simply
disabled the device. It was recognized, but it didn't work.

Now for some reason, I cannot find my
wireless network (or any other wireless network for that matter) with
my desktop... And I have _no_ idea why my desktop cannot find any
wireless networks, while my PDA and notebook can.

Neither do I, but I have some suspicions. Shut down and *UNPLUG* your
Vista computer. Start over. Sometimes hardware gets hung and USB
ports are a prime culprit.

Your recent addition of ICS to your ever growing more complex network
pretzel might also be a problem. Try removing ICS.

* How can it be that my notebook can find wireless networks that my
desktop cannot find with a wireless USB adapter?

Your USB adapter isn't working. Period. When the driver successfully
initializes your unspecified USB wireless device, it will magice start
working again. Incidentally, I've seen this behavior if I move a
wireless USB device to a different USB port on a computah or laptop.
In particular if it's on a different USB chip. That usually required
a power cycle to recover. No clue why.

* Is my set-up (WAN --> desktop --> wireless --> homenetwork) for
sharing internet possible, or should I just use this wireless network
to share files between computers and forget about internet-sharing
altogether?

Setup the router as the manufacturer originally intended.
Disarm ICS on your Vista device and things might go more smoothly.

* Does anybody know how it is possible that my computer does not
connect to the internet through my router (cannot connect to a DNS),
but CAN connect to the internet directly? I find this to be such a
weird problem...

Yes. Mixing DHCP and static IP's. Routing issues. Duplicate IP's.
Broken DHCP clients. Incidentally, Windoze Vista if full of broken
DHCP issues. See my rant on the subject at:
<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.internet.wireless/msg/cd8d480583867ee3>
I've been told that DHCP has been "fixed" in Vista SP1. I'll believe
it when I see it.

A lot of questions, I'm sorry. Thanks in advance for your time!

Next time you ask a question, please supply:
1. What are you trying to accomplish or what problem are you trying
to solve?
2. What do you have to work with? (Hardware, software, versions).
It's very difficult to answer questions like yours that are devoid of
numbers.
--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 jeffl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
# http://802.11junk.com jeffl@xxxxxxxxxx
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
.