changing router howto

Hi

I have a working home wlan for 3 PCs all using XP SP3 and I connect to the
internet through a router. My present router and PC adapters are G type and
I use WPA encryption.

Because the signal is very weak in some parts of my house (I've tried
moving the router and antenna with little success) I decided to buy a N
router: Linksys N Ultra (WRT160N).

Before switching the routers I would like some advice.

1. Obviously I would like to transfer the present settings to the new
router. Is there an easy way to do that?

2. What info would I need from the present wlan to manually set the new
router so it will function on my present wlan (same passwords, etc.) and
firewall (ZoneAlarm).

3. Although the N router box says it is "compatible with wireless G devices"
should I expect trouble? I recall I had a heck of a time getting the
present system working when I set it up years ago.

Thanks.

Jeff

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have a working home wlan for 3 PCs all using XP SP3 and I connect to the
> internet through a router. My present router and PC adapters are G type and
> I use WPA encryption.
>
> Because the signal is very weak in some parts of my house (I've tried
> moving the router and antenna with little success) I decided to buy a N
> router: Linksys N Ultra (WRT160N).
>
> Before switching the routers I would like some advice.
>
> 1. Obviously I would like to transfer the present settings to the new
> router. Is there an easy way to do that?
>
> 2. What info would I need from the present wlan to manually set the new
> router so it will function on my present wlan (same passwords, etc.) and
> firewall (ZoneAlarm).
>
> 3. Although the N router box says it is "compatible with wireless G devices"
> should I expect trouble? I recall I had a heck of a time getting the
> present system working when I set it up years ago.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jeff
>
>

To start at the end, you won't get much, if any, benefit from a draft-N
router unless you get draft-N adapters. That is, if you are concerned
about compatibility with wireless G devices, that tells me that you are
planning to keep the wireless G adapters. To quote the Linksys writeup
about the WRT160N:

<quote>
It works great with standard Wireless-G and -B equipment, but when both
ends of the wireless link are Wireless-N, the router can increase the
throughput even more by using twice as much radio band, yielding speeds
far faster than standard Wireless-G. But unlike other speed-enhanced
technologies, Wireless-N can dynamically enable this double-speed mode
for Wireless-N devices, while still connecting to other wireless devices
at their respective fastest speeds.
</quote>

The information you need when you change routers is:
- the SSID of your wireless network
- the WPA encryption key

The SSID is easy: Unless you have disabled SSID broadcast in a
misguided attempt to increase security by obscurity, the SSID is
viewable from any of your current wireless computers by selecting "View
available wireless networks."

Even if you have disabled SSID broadcast, both your SSID and the
passphrase used to generate the WPA key should be available from the
web-based configuration screens of your current router. If you have a
Linksys WRTG54xx router, simply log in to the router using your favorite
web browser. The SSID is shown at the Wireless>Basic Wireless Settings
screen, and the passphrase is shown (in clear) at Wireless>Wireless
Security. The information from other routers will be the same.

The easiest way to set up any new router is just to log in to its
configuration utility and set the SSID and encryption key. Depending on
how you connect to the Internet, you may also need to know the username
and password assigned by your ISP. Unfortunately, although the username
probably is shown in clear on your current router's Setup>Basic Setup
screen (again, Linksys example), your ISP password is not shown. You'll
have to know what it is or call up your ISP.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

Thank you very much for the help.

The only thing I need the new router for is to get wider coverage. Am I
correct in understanding that what you are saying is that if my PC adapters
remain G, that will NOT happen just by changing the router?

Thanks.

Jeff

Lem wrote:
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a working home wlan for 3 PCs all using XP SP3 and I connect
>> to the internet through a router. My present router and PC adapters
>> are G type and I use WPA encryption.
>>
>> Because the signal is very weak in some parts of my house (I've
>> tried moving the router and antenna with little success) I decided
>> to buy a N router: Linksys N Ultra (WRT160N).
>>
>> Before switching the routers I would like some advice.
>>
>> 1. Obviously I would like to transfer the present settings to the new
>> router. Is there an easy way to do that?
>>
>> 2. What info would I need from the present wlan to manually set the
>> new router so it will function on my present wlan (same passwords,
>> etc.) and firewall (ZoneAlarm).
>>
>> 3. Although the N router box says it is "compatible with wireless G
>> devices" should I expect trouble? I recall I had a heck of a time
>> getting the present system working when I set it up years ago.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>
> To start at the end, you won't get much, if any, benefit from a
> draft-N router unless you get draft-N adapters. That is, if you are
> concerned about compatibility with wireless G devices, that tells me
> that you are planning to keep the wireless G adapters. To quote the
> Linksys writeup about the WRT160N:
>
> <quote>
> It works great with standard Wireless-G and -B equipment, but when
> both ends of the wireless link are Wireless-N, the router can
> increase the throughput even more by using twice as much radio band,
> yielding speeds far faster than standard Wireless-G. But unlike other
> speed-enhanced technologies, Wireless-N can dynamically enable this
> double-speed mode for Wireless-N devices, while still connecting to
> other wireless devices at their respective fastest speeds.
> </quote>
>
> The information you need when you change routers is:
> - the SSID of your wireless network
> - the WPA encryption key
>
> The SSID is easy: Unless you have disabled SSID broadcast in a
> misguided attempt to increase security by obscurity, the SSID is
> viewable from any of your current wireless computers by selecting
> "View available wireless networks."
>
> Even if you have disabled SSID broadcast, both your SSID and the
> passphrase used to generate the WPA key should be available from the
> web-based configuration screens of your current router. If you have a
> Linksys WRTG54xx router, simply log in to the router using your
> favorite web browser. The SSID is shown at the Wireless>Basic
> Wireless Settings screen, and the passphrase is shown (in clear) at
> Wireless>Wireless Security. The information from other routers will
> be the same.
> The easiest way to set up any new router is just to log in to its
> configuration utility and set the SSID and encryption key. Depending
> on how you connect to the Internet, you may also need to know the
> username and password assigned by your ISP. Unfortunately, although
> the username probably is shown in clear on your current router's
> Setup>Basic Setup screen (again, Linksys example), your ISP password
> is not shown. You'll have to know what it is or call up your ISP.

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thank you very much for the help.
>
> The only thing I need the new router for is to get wider coverage. Am I
> correct in understanding that what you are saying is that if my PC
> adapters remain G, that will NOT happen just by changing the router?

More or less,...correct. Remember that the Nic in the PCs still has to
"reach out" to the router as well,..replacing the router won't help that.

Instead of buying an "N" router when the N Standard has not even been
ratified and completed yet,..just keep the one you have and place it towards
one end of the building. Then buy a Wireless Access Point (WAP) which is
*not* a router and place it towards the other end of the building. Connect
the WAP and the "router" with a physical cable. I realize running a cable
can be a hassle,..you'll have to decide if it is worth the trouble to do
that,...or replace every one of your "G" componenets with "N" components.

If you replace the N devices stay with the same brand. Because the N
standard is not finalized, different brands may have their own way of
implementing it and will only communicate dependably if the brands are the
same.

Adding the WAP:
The WAP needs an IP# compatible with your LAN.
The WAP is configured via a Web Interface just like the Router
Configure the WAP's wireless features identical to the Router except make
the SSID different.

The PCs just simply connect to the device with the strongest signal. If the
PC has been set to be able to connect to either one then it will usually
automatically connect to the device with the strongest signal.

This is the way business with larger building get their signal out. They
don't keep replacing devices with more "reach" becuase there is just no such
thing, they don't exist. The FCC regulates the signal strenth. "N" devices
only reach farther because it is a different technology that, theoretically,
makes more effieicnt use of the resources available.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

Phillip Windell wrote:
> "(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thank you very much for the help.
>>
>> The only thing I need the new router for is to get wider coverage. Am I
>> correct in understanding that what you are saying is that if my
>> PC adapters remain G, that will NOT happen just by changing the
>> router?
>
> More or less,...correct. Remember that the Nic in the PCs still has
> to "reach out" to the router as well,..replacing the router won't
> help that.
> Instead of buying an "N" router when the N Standard has not even been
> ratified and completed yet,..just keep the one you have and place it
> towards one end of the building. Then buy a Wireless Access Point
> (WAP) which is *not* a router and place it towards the other end of
> the building. Connect the WAP and the "router" with a physical cable.
> I realize running a cable can be a hassle,..you'll have to decide if
> it is worth the trouble to do that,...or replace every one of your
> "G" componenets with "N" components.
> If you replace the N devices stay with the same brand. Because the N
> standard is not finalized, different brands may have their own way of
> implementing it and will only communicate dependably if the brands
> are the same.
>
> Adding the WAP:
> The WAP needs an IP# compatible with your LAN.
> The WAP is configured via a Web Interface just like the Router
> Configure the WAP's wireless features identical to the Router except
> make the SSID different.
>
> The PCs just simply connect to the device with the strongest signal.
> If the PC has been set to be able to connect to either one then it
> will usually automatically connect to the device with the strongest
> signal.
> This is the way business with larger building get their signal out. They
> don't keep replacing devices with more "reach" becuase there is
> just no such thing, they don't exist. The FCC regulates the signal
> strenth. "N" devices only reach farther because it is a different
> technology that, theoretically, makes more effieicnt use of the
> resources available.

Thank you very much. Very helpful.

Jeff