New setup with Linksys WRT54GS, problems, please help!

[tonysab]

Hi there, I have a PC running XP via cable modem, no probs.
Just bought a laptop so would like to set up a network to share both internet and files.
Bought the wireless router Linksys WRT54GS - hard wired the PC into this via Ethernet. After a bit of fiddling about setting up a wireless network I seemed to have got it to work - the laptop from another room could wirelessly get onto the internet. However the laptop cannot see the PC and vice-versa.
I am wondering if this is because the PC is not connected to the wireless network - is that correct, due to it being directly connected to the router does this mean it is not on the wireless network I have set up? It can see the network but if I try to connect it gives me an vague error message along the lines of can't connect, network maybe out of range etc. I suspect I need to tweak a setting or 2 but just wanted to confirm my theory was correct?

After set up though internet was ok, but then in the first hour afterwards I experienced about 5-6 drops in the connection, each for a couple of minutes, for no apparant reason - this was from the PC which as stated is connected directly. I thought this was odd. Is this normal?

Then this morning I noticed no net connection at all - and the sync and ready lights on the cable modem were flashing - not sure whether this was a loss of service from NTL (I live in Oxford), or something I had done, it was down for maybe an hour before I left for work. I did also try bypassing the router and running the ethernet cable from cable modem direct to PC as it was before, but still no luck. Grrrrrr, I'd be grateful for any advice at all, thanks very much in advance.

[Valerie]

it's fine to have your pc hard wired to the router and use the wireless part for the laptop and you seem to have set that part up right if both can access the internet. Seeing eachother depends on how you have configured your firewall and if you have set any folders to be shared.

not sure about the rest, tho if the pc couldn't connect to the internet when bypassing the router then that looks like the virginmedia connection was down.

[Action Jackson]

I think you have to put the PC and the Laptop onto the same network workgroup before they can see each other.

[Delta Whiskey]

They both need to belong to the same network, normally Windows uses WORKGROUP. Do you have a personal firewall installed on either/both computers, you'll need to tell it to allow the inbound connection from the other computer.
Unless you've changed it in the router your LAN addresses will start with 192.168.1.100, one computer will use this address the other probably 192.168.1.101. I added a range to Zonealarm to allow for up to five computers (see pic), you can choose your own number. The only other thing I can think of is make sure you've got shared folders on each machine, right click on a folder and goto Properties > Shared.


DW

[Wod]

Yeh just run the wizard, go to control panel and run network setup wizard. When it asks just finish it, then go to the next machine and do the same. Make sure the workgroup name you choose is the same on both!. You will have to restart both machines. When there back on just right click what folders you wish to share and go on sharing and security. If the screen doesnt show then click the option in front "If you understand..."... Then tick the "share this folder on the network" box. And tick the box underneath if you wish. Do this on both machine on any folders you wish to share. Know go to "My network places" on the start bar (deafult.) From there on its very simple. If you do all this and it does not work you may need to check your firewall settings. If your running windows firewall it should set itself for you.
If you need any help just w.b

---------- Post added at 19:56 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Did the laptop disconnect aswell? i have the same router, and always had different problems with the linksys firmware, so i use 'DD-WRT' know. Not disconnected once since then. My TV and Internet went down yesterday for about an hour, 1st time its ever happened aswell.

[tonysab]

Many thanks to all for the advice, I will try these suggestions.

Fibre-wire - where do you specify 'DD-WRT' ?

The BB connection has been up and down all day, seems coincidental since I started using the router but lets hope thats all it is!

[Delta Whiskey]

Originally Posted by tonysab

Many thanks to all for the advice, I will try these suggestions.

Fibre-wire - where do you specify 'DD-WRT' ?

It's a firmware upgrade for the router, DD-WRT Wiki might be the best place to start.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page


DW