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    I'm a networking dummy...please help

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by EC99SS, Sep 2, 2004.

  1. EC99SS

    EC99SS Newbie

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    Hi all -
    Please bare with me as I'm a networking newbie. I bought a Linksys Wireless G router. I have a new ACER Ferarri laptop with wireless card. I setup the router to my desktop and receive internet connection etc. I disabled SSID sharing and enabled WPA.

    My problem is I can't get my laptop to connect. Any help would be appreciated. Remember I'm a newbie so please be patient. My laptop runs WinXP and my desktop runs Win 2000. What do I need to do on the laptop side of things? Thanks in advance.
     
    EC99SS, Sep 2, 2004
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  2. bootleg2go

    bootleg2go Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    To begin with turn on SSID and turn off WPA and get everything working without any encryption, after it works that way then read more on the internet about wireless encryption. Then after learning about wireless protection, go ahead and start turning on the protection.

    Jack

    "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
    http://pbase.com/joneill
     
    bootleg2go, Sep 2, 2004
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  3. EC99SS

    EC99SS Newbie

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    Thanks. I turned back on SSID Broadcast and turned off WPA and it worked. I've been experimenting now and tried it with SSID broadcast on and WEP enabled. I punched in the long long network key and I was able to log on.

    One question...

    1)Should I just stay with WEP or use WPA? (I haven't figured out how to log on wirelessly with the WPA enabled

     
    EC99SS, Sep 2, 2004
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  4. bootleg2go

    bootleg2go Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    WPA is stronger, but if WEP is working I would just go with that. The reason is because about 2/3 of people with a wireless access point have no encryption turned on. I base this on my going around town with my notebook and seeing what is out there and about 2/3, for sure a good more than half are wide open, so if someone whats to get on the internet they are going to go where the door is unlocked rather than spend many hours trying to use yours. Of course I'm a share with your neighbors kind of guy, I turned all my encrpytion off to share with whoever can get my signal. I have plenty of bandwidth and have disabled filesharing so no one can access my PC which is behind another firewall altogether. I keep an eye on my usage logs and as long as no one abuses it, it will be free to anyone within range[ :D] and for the last 18 months that has been the case, I get alot of people who access and use my network(4 on a daily basis[ :)])and it is just simple web surfing; with 1.5Mbits up & down I can afford to share the net. Maybe it will catch on and become as free as the air we breath[ ;)] + commercials of course.

    Jack

    "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
    http://pbase.com/joneill
     
    bootleg2go, Sep 2, 2004
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  5. EC99SS

    EC99SS Newbie

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    This might be a stupid question (in all my newbiness)...but how can you tell how many people are on your network?
     
    EC99SS, Sep 2, 2004
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  6. bootleg2go

    bootleg2go Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    You can look in the log and see the different mac addresses of the people logging on, you can in most cases get into the router setup and look at the number of connections.

    Jack

    "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
    http://pbase.com/joneill
     
    bootleg2go, Sep 2, 2004
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  7. EC99SS

    EC99SS Newbie

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    Ahh...got it. Thanks for the info
     
    EC99SS, Sep 3, 2004
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