hello and help

[markb]

Hi,

I am having a few problems with an a-link wireless moden I bought from Elisa last month.

I set up a wireless connection and the computer would not connect to it (I could however connect to the internet if the wire was plugged in ) and so I took it to a computer service shop who logged on straight away with the wireless link, and so I took it home again and tweaked the modem settings and now am unable to log on to the internet at all

And so if there are any computer people out there in the vantaa / martinlaakso area who would like to earn a bottle of wine or some beer then please let me know.

Thanks

Mark

[Hank W.]

So theres nothing wrong with your modem, Its either your computer or its firewall. Or if it has wireless capability to start with. Might be though theres some switch on the modem that says cable and the other position is off.. Alink has a pretty good manual that comes with that says how to make a totally open network - after you get it totally open you then start imagining encryptions. If its borked; there is a "reset" hole in the back/front/bottom?

[markb]

Hi Hank,

Yes, the manual seemed quite good and up to yesterday the computer was fine (apart from not being able to use the wireless network) until I tried tweaking things which is perhaps not advisable for a chef to do.

There is a reset button which i could try but now the computer is going on about IP addresses and internet proxy and LAN settings and saying there is no conectivity. I tried rolling back the computer 24 hours which usually fixes what I do wrong but this time its not working.

So thats the reason I am trying to see if there is anyone local to me who can help out.

M

[mita]

try turning off your internet security firewall and then go through the setup again.

if that works you can set it back to normal security after its connected

[neil]

I am having a few problems with an a-link wireless moden

that says it all. buy a linksys.

PS your problem is not firewall related. in order for it to be a fw problem you need to be connected (which you say you are not).

[markb]

Hi,

As Hank suggested, I reset the modem and the computer repaired the connection. (Thank you very many Hank)

But I am not touching that A-link manual again because if it goes offline we are stuck again.

So my offer still stands. I happen to have a bottle of 12 yr famous grouse going spare.

Failing that, are there any service companies who I can call to arrange a house visit to get this sorted. I am sure that there are travelling computer technicians out there somewhere and I don't doubt its expensive but we need to get this done.

Thanks for everyones help so far by the way

Mark

[Hank W.]

Well, I *do* live almost "next" to you. Not that I'd touch an A-link with a long totem pole either, but the whiskey incentive on these long nights... pm me once your desperation level rises over the "rude twa coming to my house and calling me an eejit" threshold

[markb]

Hi hank,

Since reseting the modem, I thought I would put this buffalo stick thing in and see what happens ...........and it now works.

It says the line is not secure but at least it works.

If I have any more problems I will attach your name to the bottle and contact you.

Mark

[Hank W.]

OK, congratulations Now as it is an USB-stick you got in there, it may then give its own "fun" into the equation. This "not secure" means basically anyone who "sees" your router (probably your neighbor) might leech off your line. Or in the worst case scenario the neighbors script kiddy goatses you. You might try now and read the manual (in a very leisurely manner) and look maybe into putting a password/encryption there... it still ought to be automatically looking for your network settings. But as long as you have it working and need it now working, remember the "keepen fingers off die blinkenlights".

[network_engineer]

Hi Mark,

Sorry, a bit tied up so could not respond earlier. I could help you out, but what exactly is the problem, I've helped somebody with the A-Link and was easy. So, what are you trying to do and what exactly is the problem? Try to avoid the use of the word "it" to describe the laptop and the modem/router/AP since it tends to be confusing.

Here are a few specifics you could post.

1. What is the OS you are using?
2. What is the connection type that you are trying to set up? I.e. open wireless? Secure wireless using WEP? WPA?
3. Are you employing other security mechanisms?

Added later:

4. Which WLAN card are you using (make and type) and what software are you using for WLAN connection management?



I am tied up this week, but you are on my way to the office, so if you are still stuck, I'll work it out with you next week.

Kind regards.

PS: Opinion added later: Briefly, while an open connection means that your data over the Internet may be sniffed, you are still secure while using e.g. bank services, or other services employing SSL (https in the address bar). The packets may still be intercepted, but they are all encrypted.

[Hank W.]

My "probability meter" says he's giving an open-access "WLAN hotspot" like 2 of my 4 neighbours that show on my home computer as "available networks"

[markb]

Hello Network engineer,

I will try and be as technical as I can.

The OS we are using is Windows XP professional on an IBM Thinkpad that is about 7 years old.

We are trying to set up a secure (LAN ?) wireless network, and did succeed although the computer with the Buffalo wireless-G 125 USB 2.0 would not connect to this network

Network Name (SSID): mark
Network Key (WEP/WPA Key):
Key Provided Automatically (802.1x): 0
Network Authentication Type: WPAPSK
Data Encryption Type: TKIP
Connection Type: ESS
Key Index:

(I took the network key off this post)

I took the laptop into Computer serve on Mannerheimintie to ask them to have a look at the settings and he connected straight away to the internet and said the A-link modem was the problem.

After I reset the A link modem, XP repaired the connection and set up a 'default' wirless connection which we are now able to access.

We have a firwall in operation but that is all I am aware of.


I have done a search for your WLAN card question and the top part of the result is below (perhaps it is not significant)
Signature = $Windows NT$
Class = net
ClassGUID = {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
Provider = %MSFT%
Layoutfile = Layout.inf
DriverVer=07/01/2001,3.1.4.26

[Manufacturer]
%Symbol% = SYMBOL
%Intel% = INTEL
%Ericsson% = ERICSSON
%Nortel% = NORTEL
%3Com% = 3COM
%802.11b% = 802_11b


I hope these can answer your questions.

We are in no panic as we have the internet connection and as you say it is encrypted but I am a bit dubious about playing around with it again as my wife to be is trying to design a kitchen and needs the internet connection.

Mark

[network_engineer]

Hi Mark,

I took the laptop into Computer serve on Mannerheimintie to ask them to have a look at the settings and he connected straight away to the internet and said the A-link modem was the problem.

I understand that you took the laptop the service centre and he connected to the Internet. The question: How? Unsecured wireless network? Or did he set up a secure wireless network and check the connection?

1. If he used the unsecured wireless connection, that is just to prove that the wireless adapter works.

2. If he created a secure network using an WLAN AP and then configured your laptop to connect to that and it worked, then it is merely a question of configuration of the AP. If he did not do this, then it could be your configuration, or the software installation.

Now, what software are you using to configure the wireless connection? Are you using Windows to manage the connection or then are you using some vendor provided application (such as Intel PROSet)?

What is the access point that you are using? A-Link has modems, routers and routers/modems with inbuilt WLAN APs. What is the model number? I can check it out and send you step by step instructions on how to do it. Send me the model for both you WLAN adapter and the WLAN AP. If it still doesn't work, I'll pop in for 15 minutes early next week.

Added much later:
You also need to configure the WLAN access point in you device (what you referred to as the modem). Configure these parameters to the modem:

Set the SSID to: mark
They key cannot be automatically provided if you are using WPA-PSK. So, employ the key also on the modem. Have you tried this?

If you are hiding the SSID, then you should create a WLAN profile on the laptop. While the native Windows WLAN management (AFAIR) does not ask if the SSID is hidden, in some applications you need to indicate that the network is hidden while creating the profile.

Cheers,
Ben

PS: Opinion: When you use secure services, such as banking over the Internet, almost all the banks employ the use of SSL (https in your address bar) and you can see the lock symbol on the lower right-hand corner of your browser.

PS: Added later: You can find the model from here: http://www.a-link.com/

[markb]

Hi Ben,

The guy at computer serve just opened the wireless networks available and then put in his 5 digit code and connected.

The software i am using is the windows program. it may be the PRO system as you said.
We started off using the software manager that came with the buffalo wireless USB stick but Windows kept trying to overide it so I uninstalled it


Access point is a tricky one. When we set up a new wireless network it suggests putting a memory stick in the USB port of the computer and then putting it in the access point wherever that is. There is no where in the A-link to put a USB memory stick or am I being incredibly stupid. Below is the the A-link spec that mentions access point

The A link model is below
24AP (RR24AP (i)) is an external 4-port ADSL2+-router with 54Mb WLAN Access point

As for the SSID, I am completely lost as to if this is hidden or even where to find it

Hope some of this helps,

Mark

[karel]

From your information I doubt if you even set the security of your WLAN.

In order to configure the security settings for your WLAN, you need to open your browser window, insert in the URL bar an IP address given in the manual of your Wireless, which probably looks something like 192.168.x.x. This will take you to the control panel of the Wireless and only there can you set the WEP/WPA security and make your connection secure and or invisible.

In this control panel you can give your connection a name, select the kind of security you wish (WEP/WPA or something else), and you can provide your own password. There's a whole lot more information, but usually the menus are userfriendly and they have a help button at hand to tell you what exactly it does.
Save your settings when you're done.

After that you can search in Windows networks settings for the network with the name you've given (provided you didn't set the network to "invisible"). If Windows finds your network you can open its properties and insert the password. There's a box somewhere which you can check, saying something in the lines of "Windows should automatically connect to this network", which will prevent you from having to give your password every single time you connect or restart your computer.
Then it *should* work.
Although in the end you never know with Windows...


If you haven't done any of this, your neighbors are probably happily surfing along on your connection.


Edit to add:
Ben, with all due respect, I'm sure you know a lot about this stuff, you didn't become a network engineer for nothing, but if you want to explain something to someone who doesn't have a clue what s/he's doing, you will HAVE to speak English...