Back to basics on Sharing an Internet Connection via Wireless

Hi

I'm after some real basic help with the wireless network scene. Please
keep it simple for me!

I have two desktop PC's both running XP Home Edition SP2. The "main"
PC is downstairs and the second PC upstairs in the bedroom. My "main"
PC is connected to the internet via an ADSL (broadband) connection via
a ZyXEL Prestige 630-C USB modem.

I want to share that Internet connection with the PC upstairs, plus a
printer connected to the "main" PC and perhaps some file xfers between
the machines … that's all!

I had hoped a peer to peer network would suffice; as I am prepared to
turn the "main" PC on to allow the use of this connection/printer.

I purchased two Zonet Wireless LAN USB Adapters IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz
and plugged one into each PC. Whilst setting this up, I moved the PC
which is normally upstairs downstairs to save me running up and down
the stairs, and got the whole lot up and running brilliantly using the
XP Wireless Network Wizards within minutes.

However, when I returned the second PC to the upstairs bedroom the
problems started, and now neither PC can see each other.

I suspect this is down to the range of the adapters, the walls/floors
in my house etc. etc.

What do I need to do to get these two machines talking again? Do I
need a Wireless Router, a Wireless Access Point or something else, or
should I start from scratch ?

Are there any pros or cons with your suggested solution ?

Many thanks, any help gratefully received.

Adam

What does your signal strength look like from the secondary PC? What
happens if you put the secondary PC next to the main PC? Does everything
still work? If that works and the signal strength is low when it is moved,
it is a good chance it is a signal issue. Do you have 2.4GHz cordless
phones in the house? If so, try unplugging them completely and see if that
helps. Also, what about changing the channel number? Try different
channels and see if the signal strength improves.

Jeff


"Adam A Raine" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Hi
>
> I'm after some real basic help with the wireless network scene. Please
> keep it simple for me!
>
> I have two desktop PC's both running XP Home Edition SP2. The "main"
> PC is downstairs and the second PC upstairs in the bedroom. My "main"
> PC is connected to the internet via an ADSL (broadband) connection via
> a ZyXEL Prestige 630-C USB modem.
>
> I want to share that Internet connection with the PC upstairs, plus a
> printer connected to the "main" PC and perhaps some file xfers between
> the machines . that's all!
>
> I had hoped a peer to peer network would suffice; as I am prepared to
> turn the "main" PC on to allow the use of this connection/printer.
>
> I purchased two Zonet Wireless LAN USB Adapters IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz
> and plugged one into each PC. Whilst setting this up, I moved the PC
> which is normally upstairs downstairs to save me running up and down
> the stairs, and got the whole lot up and running brilliantly using the
> XP Wireless Network Wizards within minutes.
>
> However, when I returned the second PC to the upstairs bedroom the
> problems started, and now neither PC can see each other.
>
> I suspect this is down to the range of the adapters, the walls/floors
> in my house etc. etc.
>
> What do I need to do to get these two machines talking again? Do I
> need a Wireless Router, a Wireless Access Point or something else, or
> should I start from scratch ?
>
> Are there any pros or cons with your suggested solution ?
>
> Many thanks, any help gratefully received.
>
> Adam

I assume you have the wireless set up as Ad Hoc. You need to see if there's
a signal strenght applet that came with your cards. Since they are USB, you
can move the antennas around and see if you can improve the reception. See
what metal/walls could be interfering with the signal. Be sure the computers
aren't in the line-of-sight of the antennas. Otherwise you may need an
access point upstairs connected to your main computer with cable.


"Adam A Raine" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Hi
>
> I'm after some real basic help with the wireless network scene. Please
> keep it simple for me!
>
> I have two desktop PC's both running XP Home Edition SP2. The "main"
> PC is downstairs and the second PC upstairs in the bedroom. My "main"
> PC is connected to the internet via an ADSL (broadband) connection via
> a ZyXEL Prestige 630-C USB modem.
>
> I want to share that Internet connection with the PC upstairs, plus a
> printer connected to the "main" PC and perhaps some file xfers between
> the machines . that's all!
>
> I had hoped a peer to peer network would suffice; as I am prepared to
> turn the "main" PC on to allow the use of this connection/printer.
>
> I purchased two Zonet Wireless LAN USB Adapters IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz
> and plugged one into each PC. Whilst setting this up, I moved the PC
> which is normally upstairs downstairs to save me running up and down
> the stairs, and got the whole lot up and running brilliantly using the
> XP Wireless Network Wizards within minutes.
>
> However, when I returned the second PC to the upstairs bedroom the
> problems started, and now neither PC can see each other.
>
> I suspect this is down to the range of the adapters, the walls/floors
> in my house etc. etc.
>
> What do I need to do to get these two machines talking again? Do I
> need a Wireless Router, a Wireless Access Point or something else, or
> should I start from scratch ?
>
> Are there any pros or cons with your suggested solution ?
>
> Many thanks, any help gratefully received.
>
> Adam

Adam A Raine <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I purchased two Zonet Wireless LAN USB Adapters IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz
> and plugged one into each PC. Whilst setting this up, I moved the PC
> which is normally upstairs downstairs to save me running up and down
> the stairs, and got the whole lot up and running brilliantly using the
> XP Wireless Network Wizards within minutes.

> However, when I returned the second PC to the upstairs bedroom the
> problems started, and now neither PC can see each other.

Since they worked nearby, and not apart...
First thought is the orientation of the antennas. The radiation is like a
doughnut, so you might need to orient the antennas so the they are pointed
broadside at each other, not end on.

Another possibility is reflectors added to each one of the units, pointing
toward each other.
http://www.freeantennas.com The EZ10 is the easiest to make.

Your adapter may have come with a signal monitoring tool that you can use
to see if you are getting any signal, or to make adjustments.
http://www.zonet.com.tw/Data/Downloa...load_main.html ?

NetStumbler also offers a signal monitor, but it might not work with your
adapter. http://www.netstumbler.com

The Windows XP "status" shows a four bar graph, but that's not granular
enough for antenna aiming or evaluation.


The indoor range of wireless is not great. With stock antennas, I would
guess 50-70 feet, one or two walls, is at the limit.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

You can save yourself some trouble by getting a wireless/etherfast router
AP/switch and let it be that gateway device for the LAN and WAN. The router
is better protection from the Internet and also provides better protection
on the wireless too.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp

You can get a print server and plug it into the printer and router's LAN
port and either machine wired or wireless can connect and print to the
printer without the printer being connected to a host machine.

http://tinyurl.com/548ah

You should get a UPS/AVR and plug everything into it as it will make things
last longer. TigerDirect has UPS/AVR(s) too.

Duane

Duane Arnold <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> You can save yourself some trouble by getting a wireless/etherfast router
> AP/switch and let it be that gateway device for the LAN and WAN. The router
> is better protection from the Internet and also provides better protection
> on the wireless too.

I would agree that a wireless router is a thing of beauty except for one
and a half things.

one thing: He has a USB modem.
half thing: Windows XPSP2 does have a built in firewall. I presume he has it
turned on.

I have a network-capable printer that I can't use when I am connected to
the office VPN, so I also have it cabled to the desktop PC.
If it weren't already network capable, I wouldn't bother getting a print
server. For the few times that I print from my laptop, the desktop can be
turned on to act as my print server.

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

(E-Mail Removed) wrote in news:cjct0u$pi8$(E-Mail Removed):

> Duane Arnold <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> You can save yourself some trouble by getting a wireless/etherfast
>> router AP/switch and let it be that gateway device for the LAN and
>> WAN. The router is better protection from the Internet and also
>> provides better protection on the wireless too.
>
> I would agree that a wireless router is a thing of beauty except for
> one and a half things.
>

> one thing: He has a USB modem.

One can always change modems.

> half thing: Windows XPSP2 does have a built in firewall. I presume he
> has it turned on.

I myself like the router as it is a plug it up and go device. It's hard
to take down a router. I read where the XP's SP 2 FW can be taken down by
malware. I think that holds true for any host based FW solution. Also,
the XP O/S and FW would have to use machine resources to stop the scans
and attacks slowing the machine down in doing more productive things.
This wouldn't happen if the machine was behind a router.

>
> I have a network-capable printer that I can't use when I am connected
> to the office VPN, so I also have it cabled to the desktop PC.
> If it weren't already network capable, I wouldn't bother getting a
> print server. For the few times that I print from my laptop, the
> desktop can be turned on to act as my print server.

I ran that way for many years. I learned a few more things in hooking the
print server it up to the network.

Duane