Help Setting Up a Wireless Network

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by mattbrent, Apr 15, 2009.

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  1. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Hello all,

    I hope someone more tech savvy than me can help me out. I am trying to re-establish the wireless network in my house. Because I live in the middle of nowhere, the only high-speed internet option for us is Verizon Wireless Broadband. We have a USB moden that plugs into the computer and dials up like a cell phone to give us an internet connection. Previously I would plug this modem into my XP desktop, dial up, and share the connection by using an ethernet cord to connect the desktop to my wireless router. That way I could get online with my laptops through the wireless router.

    The desktop has since gone caput and is no longer with us. I am trying to do something similar with our laptops. I plug the modem into one laptop, and try to share the connection. Then I plug the ethernet cord into the router and laptop. This worked before, but no matter how much I try, I cannot get the router to recognize the internet connection. It's as if the laptop just isn't sharing the connection, and I'm not sure why. I've followed all the steps I usually do, and I've tried looking this up online only to find the same directions provided by Microsoft.

    Can anyone here offer a solution as to how to get my vista laptop to share its connection?

    -Matt
     
  2. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Matt,

    Sharing with Vista

    Can you post the type of Verizon modem? Have you checked to ensure your firewall and other security settings are configured to allow sharing?
     
  3. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the response. I'm using a Verizon UM150 USB modem. I actually turned my firewall off and it still will not share. The ethernet connection says "limited connectivity" and I cannot get it to do anything.

    -Matt
     
  4. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Matt,

    You might want to explore purchasing a router that allows you to directly connect the usb modem to it and then share the resource.

    for example Cradlepoint EVDO routers

    The fact that you have "limited connectivity" showing up (I'm assuming wireless) means that your signal, reception, power, etc... may be lacking. Check your computer and ensure that you are using the correct band (A, B, G) for the transmission. Explore your antenna options, and channel options.

    What type of router (make/model)?

    Lots of variables here but If I followed your first post are you set up USB modem-to-laptop- to-laptop ethernet-to-Router ethernet?

    You can also go peer to peer with one other computer either via an ethernet cable or wirelessly. In some instances you must use a crossover cable to ensure your data is not colliding. Try connecting the laptop ethernet to the WAN port or different port than currently using. If you can configure the router as an access point only try that also.

    Holler back. I'll talk to my resident Vista guru when she gets home. I still live in an XP world. (and in fact reformatted my computers to get rid of Vista)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2009
  5. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Thanks Kevin. I hate Vista. Things were so much easier with XP.

    I just want to reiterate what I'm trying to do. I have Laptop A which uses a Verizon Wireless Broadband USB modem to connect to the internet. I am attempting to connect Laptop A to my wireless router using an ethernet cord. That way I can turn on internet connection sharing and have the internet single shared through the wireless route to allow Laptop B, Nintendo Wii, etc. to use the connection.

    This worked perfectly well on my XP desktop. I just can't figure out why Laptop A will not share the connection. It just says the ethernet connection is limited. The wireless signal is excellent.

    Thanks for the suggestion about the new router. I'm not sure that would work because the USB modem requires the computer to tell it to dial.

    -Matt
     
  6. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Matt,

    did you assign static IPs or are you using DHCP from the router? Look for any IP conflicts. Look for any computer name or login conflicts.

    Have you checked all your passwords, encryption, and MAC address or other filters on the router? In other words was the desktop perhaps configured differently than the laptop you are currently trying to use in its place?
     
  7. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure. When I connected the desktop for this, I never had to deal with IP conflicts or DHCP (I have no idea what that is) or MAC addresses.

    -Matt
     
  8. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

  9. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    I did look though that. I noticed the ad hoc wireless thing. Is that what you're referring to?

    -Matt
     
  10. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    yes. When in doubt turn everything off and start with the laptop and Verizon card and then add each computer one at a time. You might also need to reset your router and reconfigure for your new network configuration.

    I think the Microsoft instructions are pretty good but if you had some unique settings you need to take them into consideration.
     
  11. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    I've tried to set up the ad hoc connection now, which works somewhat. My other laptop can connect to it, but the main laptop still will not share its internet connection. That's the problem I can't seem to overcome.

    I think my computers must have some vista curse or something. I miss XP.

    -Matt
     
  12. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    can you change which laptop is the internet connection? Maybe use one of the others?
     
  13. Henry White

    Henry White New Member

    haven't used Microsoft for 14 years, so I'm probably off the mark - I think each configuration on the various machines has to be identical for things to work properly. Also check the firewalls on the other machines; that could be the problem.

    Going through customer service is a real challenge with dial-up, but I've generally found the techs at Verizon and other ISPs very patient, courteous, and able to talk me through most problems over the telephone. (The only exception was due to a very severe thunderstorm that fried the modem but did no damage to my router or desktops.)

    Do you have any friends or neighbors with a cellphone you could use for maybe 10-15 minutes?
     
  14. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    You could buy an el cheapo desktop computer with a downgrade to MSWinXP, only the system unit, and use the same configuration that worked with your previous desktop computer. Then the desktop is merely the Internet gateway while all your work is done on the laptops. The issue with the laptops could be as simple as too little power driving the connection between Laptop A and the Wireless Router.
     

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