Adding Netgear MR814v2 to wireless network

Hi, I am currently running a network of two laptops (both under WinXP) via
two MA401 wireless PCMCIA cards. I have one laptop connected via USB to a
cable modem (Toshiba pcx2200) and by sharing the 'local area connection' in
XP networking both computers can access the internet.
I just purchased a wireless router MR814v2 hoping to be able to obviate the
need for my laptop to be wired to the cable modem by the USB connector. My
assumption was that I could connect the cable modem and the router and then
have the wireless equipped laptops access the internet via the wireless
router.
However, in the installation guide it says I have to connect the router to
the PC via ethernet cable. Neither of my PCs has an ethernet connector. Is
there an alternative method to install the router into an already existing
wireless-only network such as mine? I'd thought that the router would be
able to communicate with my PCs via the wireless cards without the need for
an ethernet cable.

The pcx2200 should connect to the MR814 fine, it has both USB and ethernet
sockets.

Any help would be extremely appreciated.

Cheers,

Bill Bradford
(E-Mail Removed)

In article <ds8Na.9915$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Tammie
Bradford" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Hi, I am currently running a network of two laptops (both under WinXP) via
>two MA401 wireless PCMCIA cards. I have one laptop connected via USB to a
>cable modem (Toshiba pcx2200) and by sharing the 'local area connection' in
>XP networking both computers can access the internet.
>I just purchased a wireless router MR814v2 hoping to be able to obviate the
>need for my laptop to be wired to the cable modem by the USB connector. My
>assumption was that I could connect the cable modem and the router and then
>have the wireless equipped laptops access the internet via the wireless
>router.
>However, in the installation guide it says I have to connect the router to
>the PC via ethernet cable. Neither of my PCs has an ethernet connector. Is
>there an alternative method to install the router into an already existing
>wireless-only network such as mine? I'd thought that the router would be
>able to communicate with my PCs via the wireless cards without the need for
>an ethernet cable.
>
>The pcx2200 should connect to the MR814 fine, it has both USB and ethernet
>sockets.
>
>Any help would be extremely appreciated.
>
>Cheers,
>
> Bill Bradford
> (E-Mail Removed)

I installed an MR814 router for one of my clients recently, and I
assure you that the computers can connect to it using either their
wireless PCMCIA cards or an Ethernet cable. What did you see that
seems to say otherwise?

It's the cable modem that can only connect to the router using an
Ethernet cable, and yours can do that.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve thanks for the reply,
....in the installation guide for step 1 it says I have to connect the MR814
router to the Cable Modem via ethernet cable, which as you rightly pointed
out I can do, and also connect an ethernet
cable between the local port on the router and the computer.
Neither of my PCs has an ethernet connector and I have been using wireless
cards in a peer-to-peer network for many months. I'm a bit lost as the guide
seems to assume I should have a wired network. I suppose I have to connect
my PC to the router somehow to set up the internet connection for the
router - the second step of the installation guide requires me to 'log into
the router' in order to access the setup wizard. (Note, my cable internet
access is fine when I go through the USB on my laptop direct to the
cablemodem)

Anyhow, I powered everything down then, plugged the router into the cable
modem via the ethernet cable, then brought it all back up - cablemodem,
computer then router.
I then tried to connect to the router via my browser by using
http://192.168.0.1 as instructed but as I expected, it couldn't find it.

Have I got the wrong product? Shouldn't I be able to connect to the router
with my MA401 cards? Maybe there's another step I'm missing - are my cards
somehow not recognising the wireless router? Should I not be using a
peer-to-peer configuration?

Any clues what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks, Bill

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message

> I installed an MR814 router for one of my clients recently, and I
> assure you that the computers can connect to it using either their
> wireless PCMCIA cards or an Ethernet cable. What did you see that
> seems to say otherwise?
>
> It's the cable modem that can only connect to the router using an
> Ethernet cable, and yours can do that.
> --

Steve, thanks so much.

The installation guide that came with my router made no mention of that.
Also the guide on the accompanying CD quotes:-
"For each computer that you want to connect to the router, you need:
o An available RJ-45 Ethernet port. The Ethernet port connector looks
similar to a modular telephone jack, but the Ethernet port is larger.
o A Category 5 Ethernet patch (straight-through) cable, which is included in
the box with the router.
o Microsoft Windows networking software installed. The TCP/IP protocol and
Client for Microsoft Networks can be verified by looking at the Network
Neighborhood (Windows 98/Me) or My Network Places (Windows 2000/XP)
properties. Gather connection information"

I have downloaded the guide that you were looking at and I think it's all
clear now.

Much appreciated!!

Bill

Thanks Steve, that did the trick - once I changed the network type and SSID
it was fine. Both computers are now connected via the router just fine.
I really appreciate your help.
Any suggestion as to the best settings for WEP?

Bill

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> Hi, Bill. I'm sorry that the router is giving you such a hard time.
> I assure you that you can set it up using a wireless connection, with
> no need for a wired Ethernet connection. I did exactly that recently
> with the MR814, MA401, and MA101.
>
> I think that you've found the problem: a peer-to-peer (Ad-Hoc)
> configuration is right for your old setup, but not for your new setup.
> A network with a wireless router uses an access point (Infrastructure)
> configuration, so you need to change that setting on the wireless
> network adapters. Here are some other things to check:
>

In article <rJpNa.9996$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Bill
Bradford" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Hi, Bill. I'm sorry that the router is giving you such a hard time.
>> I assure you that you can set it up using a wireless connection, with
>> no need for a wired Ethernet connection. I did exactly that recently
>> with the MR814, MA401, and MA101.
>>
>> I think that you've found the problem: a peer-to-peer (Ad-Hoc)
>> configuration is right for your old setup, but not for your new setup.
>> A network with a wireless router uses an access point (Infrastructure)
>> configuration, so you need to change that setting on the wireless
>> network adapters. Here are some other things to check:
>
>>1. Set the SSID to "Wireless" to match the router.
>>
>>2. Disable WEP encryption, and don't enable it until everything is
>>working.
>>
>>3. Configure the TCP/IP settings to obtain an IP address
>>automatically.
>
>Thanks Steve, that did the trick - once I changed the network type and SSID
>it was fine. Both computers are now connected via the router just fine.
>I really appreciate your help.
>Any suggestion as to the best settings for WEP?
>
>Bill

You're welcome, Bill!

I'd go for the highest level (128-bit) of encryption that the hardware
offers. It's easiest to set up using a passphrase, which is a short
string of ordinary characters that generates a full hexadecimal
encryption key. You can also create your own hex encryption key using
26 characters in the ranges 0-9 or A-F.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com