Networking blues

peaksoft · 16-09-2005, 13:46

A couple of weeks ago, I switched from dial-up to 1Mb broadband. We have two computers in the house, and we used to get along OK with just plugging/unplugging each one's modem from a trailing phone lead. However, come the day of actualling hoping to be on line at the same time...

I fitted a PCI ethernet card in my XP PC and connected this by cable to a Belkin wireless router, which is connected by cable to my 250 cable modem.

The other computer (in the next room) is running Win 98 and I fitted it with a PCI Belkin wireless card.

The XP PC works fine.

The Win 98 PC never connects immediately it is switched on, although the card's network monitor shows a strong signal. It takes 5 or 6 minutes of cursing before it will connect to the modem. After that it's fine. If the computer is left alone for a few minutes, it will drop the connection. Sleep mode is not turned on.

I have tried to set up WPA or WEP security, but the Win 98 computer simply won't operate with either functioning. However, someone called Jayne and someone else called Robert, who I take to be near neighbours, seem to be connected to my router. Even when the Win 98 computer is connected, this doesn't show up on the LAN> DHCP client list (although Jayne and Robert do).

Any and all suggestions gratefully received.

zovat · 16-09-2005, 15:50

Sounds like you have a similar router to your neighbours, and also are using the same frequesncy.

Try forcing the router to a different channel, then MAC lock the router to only your MAC, this shouls resolve the interferance, and the unknown users..

Aragorn · 16-09-2005, 15:53

Is upgrading the W98 system an option? W98 was out years before anyone started using WiFi, so you're stuck with a driver from the card manufacturer.

The last time I had connection problems with one of my WiFi cards, I solved it by trying different channels until I found a reliable one (Ch 11, I think).

It would not surprise me if WEP/WPA doesn't work on W98. If you want to 'secure' the network as it stands, use MAC filtering is probably the only option - ie only let your W98 card connect to the network. MAC filtering is not ideal as you are still sending in clear text, but at least Jayne and Robert can't freeload on your bandwidth.

HTH

zovat · 16-09-2005, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Is upgrading the W98 system an option? W98 was out years before anyone started using WiFi, so you're stuck with a driver from the card manufacturer.

The last time I had connection problems with one of my WiFi cards, I solved it by trying different channels until I found a reliable one (Ch 11, I think).

It would not surprise me if WEP/WPA doesn't work on W98. If you want to 'secure' the network as it stands, use MAC filtering is probably the only option - ie only let your W98 card connect to the network. MAC filtering is not ideal as you are still sending in clear text, but at least Jayne and Robert can't freeload on your bandwidth.

HTH

Thing is, they may net even realise they are - if they have the same router, and have not changed the SSID, or even if they are both unsecured, then windows will just connect to the strongest signal

Aragorn · 16-09-2005, 16:26

It is certainly possible, but then I would expect the OP to see their wireless networks as well!

SMHarman · 16-09-2005, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by zovat

Thing is, they may net even realise they are - if they have the same router, and have not changed the SSID, or even if they are both unsecured, then windows will just connect to the strongest signal

It's not even that complicated Windows will just connect to the strongest unsecured network signal unless you give a preference. Windows does not care what the hardware driving that network is.

peaksoft · 18-09-2005, 22:15

Many thanks - could anyone explain why, even when the W98 machine is connecting to the internet through the router, it doesn't show up in the DHCP client list?

Could you also tell me where to find the MAC address of the W98 card? As I said, this doesn't show up in the client list, and I can't find it in the card's Properties on the W98 machine.

As for upgrading from W98...it was actually a W95 machine that I upgraded to W98.

cnewton2k · 18-09-2005, 23:06

i think you have to type winipcfg in a cmd window