Re: Problem setting up broadband from Tiscali

"someone" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"exalted wombat" <ew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:58:55 +0100,
"someone" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Thanks to all your help and advice last February I and spouse
are now the proud owners of two shiny new XP computers.
We (I) have decided to go for Ethernet rather than WiFi.

Don't you find that the cost of those "Ethernet over mains Cable"
Plug things that you mentioned is as much as (if not more than)
the cost of a WiFi Router & (possibly, if needed a WiFi USB Dongle
(or WiFi PCI Card)?

Since I have the modem/router on my desk, I'll have the USB
connection,

You don't need to use the USB connection at all,

& if you *have* (yet) tried using *both* the USB & Ethernet Connections
on the Thomson/Alcatel/SpeedTouch Modem/Router you have, (at the same
time) does it work OK?

I'd be interested to hear about that, cos I have found that most Modem/
Router things that have both Ethernet & USB Connections (for Connecting
a PC to, as opposed to Connecting a Printer or USB Hard Disk to) only
work with *either* the Ethernet *or* the USB & not with both at the
same time.

and you don't have to use the installation CD. And I strongly
suggest you use neither!

Agreed!

But I know many people seem to "shy away" from using Ethernet
Connections, for some reason?

Any mention of words such as "Network" (which are usually associated
with things like Ethernet Connections) seems to scare people off, but
every body has (or most people have) heard of USB

But, like you say, Ethernet *is* actually *much* easier to use
& doesn't need any Drivers or anything, so it's far *less*
problematical than USB.

With hindsight, choose a router with sufficient network ports
for all your computers. If you didn't, get a network hub.

Well, an (Ethernet) "Hub" would do, but an (Ethernet) *Switch*
is much better.
They are very similar to look at, (& they both (in effect) act as
a sort of "Splitter" for an Ethernet Connection, having one "Input"
& several "Outputs"), but a *Switch* is really the thing to use.

Once the network cabling is set up, log on to the router directly.
Typically the address is 192.168.1.1,

Yep, but not for a SpeedTouch, like Linda ("someone") has.

They actually have an IP Address of 192.168.1.254

& you can also use the HostName - "speedtouch.lan"

http://192.168.1.254/
http://speedtouch.lan/

username and password are both "admin". But this will be
documented.

Yep - Looking through the Manual (usually a .PDF File on the CD,
or available from the Manufacturer's Web Site) for any Modem/Router
thingy is always *very* useful!!!

BTW - the SpeedTouch that Linda ("someone") has comes with the
(Admin/Setup Pages) Password Set to *Blank* (i.e. nothing), so you
just Access the Page directly in a Browser & don't actually need
to "Log in" to it.

You can also Access the Setup stuff using Telnet, but then you do need
a UserName & the Default UserName is (for those SpeedTouch things)
"Administrator", but still with a *Blank* PassWord.

It's a good idea to Set a PassWord, so that other people who have
(Physical) Access to the Computers &/or Modem/Router can't change the
PassWord & lock you out of it.

Probably the only settings you will need to make will be your ADSL
username and password.

Yep & remember that that UserName & PassWord *isn't* the same as
(or anything to do with) the PassWord for Accessing the Admin/Setup
Pages.
:-)

Leave the router powered up, internet will be permanently available
for any computer on the network without any need for a specified
"host" machine to be running.

I appreciate your advice, but the $nag i$ your phra$e "with
hind$ight". I have a modem/router with only one USB and one
Ethernet port. I know I could purchase an Ethernet hub so we will
each be able to connect to that, and cost is a consideration here,

They (Ethernet Hubs (or better, Switches) are very cheap.

... so I don't really want to buy a new modem/router.

No need!

You already have a *Router*!
& that's the important thing!
:-)

What you don't have (at the mo) is enough Ethernet Sockets for the
various things to Plug into it, so the Router can "Route" the
Information to each one.

& that's what a "Hub" (or better, a "Switch") does! - It gives you
more Sockets, acting like a sort of "Splitter"

If I bought an Ethernet hub would that mean that somehow me
and spouse would be able to network?

Yep!!!

(not that we particularly want to, he doesn't even know what it
means)

It can mean lots of things.
The most immediately useful thing is it means you (& he) will be able
to access ("Share") things such as Files, Folders & printers.

So you (he) can access any (or whichever you/he specify) of those
things on one Computer, from the other(s)!
:-)

Can we not do this if I'm using USB and he's using Ethernet?

I wouldn't have thought so, though it may well be possible.

Can you Post up what IP Address each Computer has, when it's connected
up (to the Router) via the relevant (Ethernet or USB) Connection?

If you aren't sure how to find out the IP Address (or don't know how
to find out how to find it out<g>) Post back for more Info [*1]...

When you (we) know the IP Address(es) of the Machines, then we can
soon suss out whether or not they (& how easy it will be to) get them
"talking" to each other.

I have only had this XP system for a month and I'm still trying
to get to grips with it all.

[*1]
Hint...
Make sure that the "Network Connection" Icon is showing in the
SysTray (the bit at the far right of the TaskBar) - Go to the
"Network Connections" Folder thingy, in Control Panel (or the Start
Menu - there's an Option to have it showing on the Start Menu, in the
Start Menu Properties).

& then Open up the Network Connection Properties.
On the "General" Tab, make sure there are Ticks in *both* of...

[/] Show Icon in Notification Area when Connected
(by Default that isn't Ticked, for some weird, non-sensical reason)
&
[/] Notify me when this connection has limited or no connectivity

Then, when you have the Icon showing in the SysTray (what WinXP calls
the "Notification Area"), you can Click it (to Open up the "Status"
Dialog Box of it) & get all the Info you need, such as the IP Address
etc.

HTH

--
pmj


.

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