BEGINNING WIRELESS

Hello,

Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate question(s).
I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall computer
knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.

So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed to
access it. So far, so good...

Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto my
"network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
unless they supply a password. How do I do that?

Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!

Goob
--
ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister

My "new" DELL Latitude D620:

Intel Core 2 duo
WinXP w/SP2
2 GB RAM
nVIDIA 256 TurboCache
Intel 3945 ProWireless Card (a)(b)(g)

--
ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister
--
ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister


"goobmeister" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate question(s).
> I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall computer
> knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.
>
> So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
> IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
> consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
> when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed to
> access it. So far, so good...
>
> Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto my
> "network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
> unless they supply a password. How do I do that?
>
> Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!
>
> Goob
> --
> ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister

"goobmeister" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate question(s).
> I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall computer
> knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.
>
> So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
> IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
> consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
> when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed to
> access it. So far, so good...
>
> Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto my
> "network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
> unless they supply a password. How do I do that?
>
> Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!
>
> Goob
> --
> ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister

Yes your Laptop send A Request to the Network server ( whichever one) and
the server Send acknowledgement then the Authentication start.
If the Authentication failed the connection cease to exist or have any
connection or exchange traffic with either party. If the Authentication been
successful then their is a connection and converse will will start between
the two party.
In your case you mentioned the Network been locked and need a Password, I
will take this as your Network SSID Name you set up earlier and the wireless
encryptions working and asking for Authentication, am I right? or is it the
Neighbour Network Available ?.
If you set up an Encryption method/Hex on your Wireless then you don't need
to be worry about seeing other network Broadcasted and available in your
Wireless Connection window.
You can't log into this connection unless you know the pass.
HTH.
nass
-------
www.nasstec.co.uk

goobmeister wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate question(s).
> I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall computer
> knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.
>
> So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
> IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
> consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
> when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed to
> access it. So far, so good...
>
> Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto my
> "network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
> unless they supply a password. How do I do that?
>
> Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!
>
> Goob

No. At this point, unless there is something that you have left unsaid,
you haven't set up any network. You may be thinking of "ad hoc" mode,
in which wireless client devices may communicate among themselves
without using a router. But you haven't set your NIC as an ad hoc node
yet either.

See these overviews:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../wifisoho.mspx

Wireless - Basic Configuration -
http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html

Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

MVP Barb Bowman on wireless security - http://tinyurl.com/56fc5

--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

THANK YOU Nass and Lam:

No, I meant the other network which continues to show up in the alert box,
informing me that one is available, though password-protected. I have set
nothing up yet, though I want to as quickly as "safely" possible! In other
words, I don't know how to set up an "ad hoc" network and don't really know
yet if I want to, even if I could! I don't know how to set up any network at
this point -- I've been relying on a wired connection achieved through my
wired cable modem and the RJ 11 ethernet jack in the back of the notebook.
But I bought this DELL for wireless purposes, so the sooner the better!

I once was fairly proficient with set up when I had 2 desktops in my home
wirelessly connected to a D-Link router which I still have, though I wasn't
thrilled with having to often "reset" the connection. Concepts such as WAP,
MAC address and DNS were only partially grasped by me...AND a lot has
happened in the wireless area since I experimented with the D-Link well over
3 years ago!

THANKS again,

Goob
--
ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister


"goobmeister" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate question(s).
> I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall computer
> knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.
>
> So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
> IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
> consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
> when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed to
> access it. So far, so good...
>
> Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto my
> "network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
> unless they supply a password. How do I do that?
>
> Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!
>
> Goob
> --
> ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister

Hi Goob,
Set up a wireless network
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u.../wireless.mspx

Wireless by Barb Bowman
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ssecurity.mspx
Charlie Russel,Using a Wireless Laptop at Work and at Hom
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...letlaptop.mspx

Since you have a router I don't think you this:Making the Wireless Home
Network Connection in Windows XP Without a Route
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx
Configuring Windows XP IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks for the Home and Small
Business
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../wifisoho.mspx
HTH.
nass
------
www.nasstec.co.uk

"goobmeister" wrote:

> THANK YOU Nass and Lam:
>
> No, I meant the other network which continues to show up in the alert box,
> informing me that one is available, though password-protected. I have set
> nothing up yet, though I want to as quickly as "safely" possible! In other
> words, I don't know how to set up an "ad hoc" network and don't really know
> yet if I want to, even if I could! I don't know how to set up any network at
> this point -- I've been relying on a wired connection achieved through my
> wired cable modem and the RJ 11 ethernet jack in the back of the notebook.
> But I bought this DELL for wireless purposes, so the sooner the better!
>
> I once was fairly proficient with set up when I had 2 desktops in my home
> wirelessly connected to a D-Link router which I still have, though I wasn't
> thrilled with having to often "reset" the connection. Concepts such as WAP,
> MAC address and DNS were only partially grasped by me...AND a lot has
> happened in the wireless area since I experimented with the D-Link well over
> 3 years ago!
>
> THANKS again,
>
> Goob
> --
> ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister
>
>
> "goobmeister" wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate question(s).
> > I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall computer
> > knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.
> >
> > So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
> > IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
> > consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
> > when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed to
> > access it. So far, so good...
> >
> > Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto my
> > "network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
> > unless they supply a password. How do I do that?
> >
> > Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!
> >
> > Goob
> > --
> > ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister

Good, if you don't have a wireless router or another computer with
wireless and are only connecting with the wired Ethernet connection
you can disable the wireless NIC.

Start, Run,

ncpa.cpl [enter]

right click the wireless connection and then click disable

If you travel with the notebook or later setup a wireless router,
you can enable it again using the same steps (except the menu will
show enable and not disable).

You probably should consider buying a new wireless router is you
want to use wireless at home.

On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:05:07 -0800, goobmeister
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>THANK YOU Nass and Lam:
>
>No, I meant the other network which continues to show up in the alert box,
>informing me that one is available, though password-protected. I have set
>nothing up yet, though I want to as quickly as "safely" possible! In other
>words, I don't know how to set up an "ad hoc" network and don't really know
>yet if I want to, even if I could! I don't know how to set up any network at
>this point -- I've been relying on a wired connection achieved through my
>wired cable modem and the RJ 11 ethernet jack in the back of the notebook.
>But I bought this DELL for wireless purposes, so the sooner the better!
>
>I once was fairly proficient with set up when I had 2 desktops in my home
>wirelessly connected to a D-Link router which I still have, though I wasn't
>thrilled with having to often "reset" the connection. Concepts such as WAP,
>MAC address and DNS were only partially grasped by me...AND a lot has
>happened in the wireless area since I experimented with the D-Link well over
>3 years ago!
>
>THANKS again,
>
>Goob
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
Expert Zone & Vista Community Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Hi
This can add some clarification too.
http://www.ezlan.net/faq#signal
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"goobmeister" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2EBFBFC8-1696-479C-A890-(E-Mail Removed)...
> THANK YOU Nass and Lam:
>
> No, I meant the other network which continues to show up in the alert box,
> informing me that one is available, though password-protected. I have set
> nothing up yet, though I want to as quickly as "safely" possible! In
> other
> words, I don't know how to set up an "ad hoc" network and don't really
> know
> yet if I want to, even if I could! I don't know how to set up any network
> at
> this point -- I've been relying on a wired connection achieved through my
> wired cable modem and the RJ 11 ethernet jack in the back of the notebook.
> But I bought this DELL for wireless purposes, so the sooner the better!
>
> I once was fairly proficient with set up when I had 2 desktops in my home
> wirelessly connected to a D-Link router which I still have, though I
> wasn't
> thrilled with having to often "reset" the connection. Concepts such as
> WAP,
> MAC address and DNS were only partially grasped by me...AND a lot has
> happened in the wireless area since I experimented with the D-Link well
> over
> 3 years ago!
>
> THANKS again,
>
> Goob
> --
> ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister
>
>
> "goobmeister" wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Getting the right answer(s) depends on asking the appropriate
>> question(s).
>> I think of myself as waaaay past intermediate in terms of overall
>> computer
>> knowledge/skills, but this is virgin ground, so please bear with me.
>>
>> So I've gotten my first wireless notebook -- DELL Latitude D620 with the
>> IntelProWireless 3945 abg embedded card. At first blush I notice that I
>> consistently get a message that a wireless network has been found, which,
>> when I investigate, shows that it's locked and that a password is needed
>> to
>> access it. So far, so good...
>>
>> Is my notebook also sending out signals that "invite" others to get onto
>> my
>> "network?" If so, I'd also like to block anyone from accessing my system
>> unless they supply a password. How do I do that?
>>
>> Thanks in advance...not too many questions at once!
>>
>> Goob
>> --
>> ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister

THANK YOU Barb...

Actually, I don't want to disable the wireless capability of my new
notebook. I travel a lot and want it available for all my layovers and
visits to airports with time on my hands. So I was envisioning an ad hoc
network including my (currently) wired desktop relying on the wireless
capability of my new notebook. Do I have that backwards? It could save me
money for what now is a monthly charge for the wired cable modem access...IF
I understand this correctly? I also want password protection for both
systems, especially during the many times while traveling when a lot of
snoopers out there could be dropping in on me and my data!

Goob
--
ALL ABOUT ME/goobmeister


"Barb Bowman" wrote:

> Good, if you don't have a wireless router or another computer with
> wireless and are only connecting with the wired Ethernet connection
> you can disable the wireless NIC.
>
> Start, Run,
>
> ncpa.cpl [enter]
>
> right click the wireless connection and then click disable
>
> If you travel with the notebook or later setup a wireless router,
> you can enable it again using the same steps (except the menu will
> show enable and not disable).
>
> You probably should consider buying a new wireless router is you
> want to use wireless at home.
>
> On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 12:05:07 -0800, goobmeister
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >THANK YOU Nass and Lam:
> >
> >No, I meant the other network which continues to show up in the alert box,
> >informing me that one is available, though password-protected. I have set
> >nothing up yet, though I want to as quickly as "safely" possible! In other
> >words, I don't know how to set up an "ad hoc" network and don't really know
> >yet if I want to, even if I could! I don't know how to set up any network at
> >this point -- I've been relying on a wired connection achieved through my
> >wired cable modem and the RJ 11 ethernet jack in the back of the notebook.
> >But I bought this DELL for wireless purposes, so the sooner the better!
> >
> >I once was fairly proficient with set up when I had 2 desktops in my home
> >wirelessly connected to a D-Link router which I still have, though I wasn't
> >thrilled with having to often "reset" the connection. Concepts such as WAP,
> >MAC address and DNS were only partially grasped by me...AND a lot has
> >happened in the wireless area since I experimented with the D-Link well over
> >3 years ago!
> >
> >THANKS again,
> >
> >Goob
> --
>
> Barb Bowman
> MS Windows-MVP
> Expert Zone & Vista Community Columnist
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
> http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
>

I'd strongly recommend buying a wireless router and using
infrastructure (NOT ad hoc). You plug the router into you cable
modem.

You definitely want passwords on these computers and to protect file
sharing.

You definitely want strong WPA2 or WPA wireless security.

Who is your cable provider? Most won't care whether or not you have
a computer or a router connected to the cable modem.

A router will help protect you as well.

On Sun, 4 Mar 2007 16:07:03 -0800, goobmeister
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>THANK YOU Barb...
>
>Actually, I don't want to disable the wireless capability of my new
>notebook. I travel a lot and want it available for all my layovers and
>visits to airports with time on my hands. So I was envisioning an ad hoc
>network including my (currently) wired desktop relying on the wireless
>capability of my new notebook. Do I have that backwards? It could save me
>money for what now is a monthly charge for the wired cable modem access...IF
>I understand this correctly? I also want password protection for both
>systems, especially during the many times while traveling when a lot of
>snoopers out there could be dropping in on me and my data!
>
>Goob
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
Expert Zone & Vista Community Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/