DLink 614+ Wireless ROuter

hi everyone,

i have a dlink wireless router and a (name = PC1) XP pc (3ft. away)
with a usb wireless network adapter catching the routers signal. i
have another (name = PC2) XP pc down the hall with a dlink pci
wireless network adapter(it has an antenna coming out the back of the
card).

i want to re-congfigure the dlink's channel(which is ch. 6 by default
to something else for my cordless phones use 2.4GHZ and 900MHZ--any
suggestions as a better channel??? and i would also like to enable
WEP. the wep has 64,128, and 256 bit encyption for the router. now
does this WEP encyption cability need to be also on all my NIC cards
for it to communicate to my router and thus receice internet access???
and is this WEP key for my router the same key i use for my wireless
connection network setting in XP or ONLY the nic config.???

PC2(down the hall) i notice has a config setting for the pci dlink nic
to use a passphrase. but my router didnt ask me to use a pass phase
only a hex number for whatever encryp. length i chose(whats a common
one to choose BTW which can keep security up and also make it possible
for ALL my nic PCS to connect?). all i did use was a hex generator for
my WEP key. i did use a pass phrase. so what to do here???

and one more thing, for the wireless config setting on xp, do i keep
it OPEN or SHARED system and what kind of network type to i choose
---> INFrastructure mode, AD HOC mode, or AP mode?????

thank you for any insight!!!!!!!

markus

(E-Mail Removed) (mark) wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed) om:

> i want to re-congfigure the dlink's channel(which is ch. 6 by
> default to something else for my cordless phones use 2.4GHZ and
> 900MHZ--any suggestions as a better channel??? and i would also
> like to enable WEP...

900 MHz - no problem
2.4 GHz - possible interference. Some phones interfere, others don't.
Just experiment with the channels. The only non-overlapping channels
are 1, 6, 11 in the US.

> ... the wep has 64,128, and 256 bit encyption for
> the router. now does this WEP encyption cability need to be also
> on all my NIC cards for it to communicate to my router and thus
> receice internet access??? and is this WEP key for my router the
> same key i use for my wireless connection network setting in XP or
> ONLY the nic config.???

You should set the same WEP keys in the same order on the router and on
each wireless card (and/or USB device). Most routers and utilities
allow you to set 4 alternate keys.
>
> PC2(down the hall) i notice has a config setting for the pci dlink
> nic to use a passphrase. but my router didnt ask me to use a pass
> phase only a hex number for whatever encryp. length i chose(whats
> a common one to choose BTW which can keep security up and also
> make it possible for ALL my nic PCS to connect?). all i did use
> was a hex generator for my WEP key. i did use a pass phrase. so
> what to do here???

Suggest you stick to hex digits to ensure comptabilibilty across all
devices. Ensure you use the correct length. The D-Link DI-614+ is
capable of 256-but encryption (it uses a TI wireless chipset whcih
supports this) but few other devices can.

The encryption key is formed from a 24-bit 'initialisation vector' + a
user-supplied part. So:
64 bit key : user supplies 40 bits = 10 hex digits = 5 characters
128 bit key : user supplies 104 bits = 26 hex digits = 13 characters

The longer they key, the more secure. There is a lot of scaremongering
about WEP being insecure: it's not effort free, and if your network is
encrypted, chances are no-one will take the time and effort to crack
it...

> and one more thing, for the wireless config setting on xp, do i
> keep it OPEN or SHARED system and what kind of network type to i
> choose ---> INFrastructure mode, AD HOC mode, or AP mode?????

These are two different questions.

Infrastructure Mode is where your wireless network includes a router.
You should use this.

Ad Hoc mode is used when each PC communicates directly with each other
and there is no router.

The other question is about how WEP encryption keys are used. Counter-
intuitively, Open mode is more secure than Shared. Use Open.

You should change the WEP key regularly: once a week is probably
adequate. Just select a different one of the 4 keys you have configured
on the router. That's it.

Hope this helps

--

Richard Perkin
To email me, change the AT in the address below
richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com

It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
-- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

yes Robert it does help.

but how would i boost the wireless signal?? what kind of device could
i buy at bestbuy fast to relay the signal(at least Dlink
compatible)???

also, having trouble sharing the printer on each of the XP PCs. are
there any defaults on XP networking which may prohibit each PC from
seeing each other on the network like each user must login with a
passwd or else the network shares cannot be accessed??? please advise
on this robert or any1???

both have the same workgroup name (home) and each pc has the unique
names. the guest accountS are disabled on both PCs. are there any
quick fixes to this network shares problem???

thank you.

markus.



Richard Perkin <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<Xns956AB5D7BEBD5fnurdle@130.133.1.4>...
> (E-Mail Removed) (mark) wrote in
> news:(E-Mail Removed) om:
>
> > i want to re-congfigure the dlink's channel(which is ch. 6 by
> > default to something else for my cordless phones use 2.4GHZ and
> > 900MHZ--any suggestions as a better channel??? and i would also
> > like to enable WEP...
>
> 900 MHz - no problem
> 2.4 GHz - possible interference. Some phones interfere, others don't.
> Just experiment with the channels. The only non-overlapping channels
> are 1, 6, 11 in the US.
>
> > ... the wep has 64,128, and 256 bit encyption for
> > the router. now does this WEP encyption cability need to be also
> > on all my NIC cards for it to communicate to my router and thus
> > receice internet access??? and is this WEP key for my router the
> > same key i use for my wireless connection network setting in XP or
> > ONLY the nic config.???
>
> You should set the same WEP keys in the same order on the router and on
> each wireless card (and/or USB device). Most routers and utilities
> allow you to set 4 alternate keys.
> >
> > PC2(down the hall) i notice has a config setting for the pci dlink
> > nic to use a passphrase. but my router didnt ask me to use a pass
> > phase only a hex number for whatever encryp. length i chose(whats
> > a common one to choose BTW which can keep security up and also
> > make it possible for ALL my nic PCS to connect?). all i did use
> > was a hex generator for my WEP key. i did use a pass phrase. so
> > what to do here???
>
> Suggest you stick to hex digits to ensure comptabilibilty across all
> devices. Ensure you use the correct length. The D-Link DI-614+ is
> capable of 256-but encryption (it uses a TI wireless chipset whcih
> supports this) but few other devices can.
>
> The encryption key is formed from a 24-bit 'initialisation vector' + a
> user-supplied part. So:
> 64 bit key : user supplies 40 bits = 10 hex digits = 5 characters
> 128 bit key : user supplies 104 bits = 26 hex digits = 13 characters
>
> The longer they key, the more secure. There is a lot of scaremongering
> about WEP being insecure: it's not effort free, and if your network is
> encrypted, chances are no-one will take the time and effort to crack
> it...
>
> > and one more thing, for the wireless config setting on xp, do i
> > keep it OPEN or SHARED system and what kind of network type to i
> > choose ---> INFrastructure mode, AD HOC mode, or AP mode?????
>
> These are two different questions.
>
> Infrastructure Mode is where your wireless network includes a router.
> You should use this.
>
> Ad Hoc mode is used when each PC communicates directly with each other
> and there is no router.
>
> The other question is about how WEP encryption keys are used. Counter-
> intuitively, Open mode is more secure than Shared. Use Open.
>
> You should change the WEP key regularly: once a week is probably
> adequate. Just select a different one of the 4 keys you have configured
> on the router. That's it.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> --
>
> Richard Perkin
> To email me, change the AT in the address below
> richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com
>
> It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
> is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
> It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
> -- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

(E-Mail Removed) (mark) wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed) om:

> but how would i boost the wireless signal?? what kind of device
> could i buy at bestbuy fast to relay the signal(at least Dlink
> compatible)???

If you need to boost the signal, the simplest way is to replace the
stock antenna on the wireless router with a higher gain device. Look
for a 5dBi or 6dBi gain antenna with a Reverse SMA connector. This
will provide a modest but very useful increase in output over the
stock 2dBi gain antenna. They're also quite cheap...

If this isn't sufficient, also replace the antenna on the PC's
wirless card.

You could try a repeater or range extender but this will cost more
and some people have problems getting it to work. I'd try a new
antenna first...

> also, having trouble sharing the printer on each of the XP PCs.
> are there any defaults on XP networking which may prohibit each PC
> from seeing each other on the network like each user must login
> with a passwd or else the network shares cannot be accessed???
> please advise on this robert or any1???
>
> both have the same workgroup name (home) and each pc has the
> unique names. the guest accountS are disabled on both PCs. are
> there any quick fixes to this network shares problem???

1. Run the Network Setup Wizard on each PC to ensure that sharing is
set up. Follow the route whcih refers to a 'residential gateway'.
Don't let the wizard make any automatic decisions - complete all the
deatils by hand. Beware that by default it will/may change your
Workgroup name to MSHOME or something similar

2. The most common problem with resource sharing on Windows networks
is that something (most likley a software firewall, including WinXP's
ICF or Windows Firewall) is blocking communication on ports 137, 138,
139. To check this, disable any software firewall and check if things
now work. You may need to set up a rule or a 'trusted zone' (the
jargon differs between products) to allow this communication. Unles
your felling paranoid, it should be OK to allow all traffic on all
ports between all local addresses behind the router.

Hope this helps

--

Richard Perkin
To email me, change the AT in the address below
richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com

It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
-- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

<<communication on ports 137, 138,
> 139. To check this, disable any software firewall and check if things
> now work. >>>

do you mean port 137,138,139 in TCP or UDP or both???

also when i go to the 'HOME' workgroup, i cannot access it b/c it says
that i do not have permission and i need to see the admin. do u know
the default login w/ XP? i know the user has admin rights but why
would the workgroup "HOME" not be accessible by the pc, when i was the
one who created the WG from that same pc? does the user need to login
into the "home" WorkGroup network place or something else?

its doesnt make sense to me.









Richard Perkin <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<Xns956B6D892750Afnurdle@130.133.1.4>...
> (E-Mail Removed) (mark) wrote in
> news:(E-Mail Removed) om:
>
> > but how would i boost the wireless signal?? what kind of device
> > could i buy at bestbuy fast to relay the signal(at least Dlink
> > compatible)???
>
> If you need to boost the signal, the simplest way is to replace the
> stock antenna on the wireless router with a higher gain device. Look
> for a 5dBi or 6dBi gain antenna with a Reverse SMA connector. This
> will provide a modest but very useful increase in output over the
> stock 2dBi gain antenna. They're also quite cheap...
>
> If this isn't sufficient, also replace the antenna on the PC's
> wirless card.
>
> You could try a repeater or range extender but this will cost more
> and some people have problems getting it to work. I'd try a new
> antenna first...
>
> > also, having trouble sharing the printer on each of the XP PCs.
> > are there any defaults on XP networking which may prohibit each PC
> > from seeing each other on the network like each user must login
> > with a passwd or else the network shares cannot be accessed???
> > please advise on this robert or any1???
> >
> > both have the same workgroup name (home) and each pc has the
> > unique names. the guest accountS are disabled on both PCs. are
> > there any quick fixes to this network shares problem???
>
> 1. Run the Network Setup Wizard on each PC to ensure that sharing is
> set up. Follow the route whcih refers to a 'residential gateway'.
> Don't let the wizard make any automatic decisions - complete all the
> deatils by hand. Beware that by default it will/may change your
> Workgroup name to MSHOME or something similar
>
> 2. The most common problem with resource sharing on Windows networks
> is that something (most likley a software firewall, including WinXP's
> ICF or Windows Firewall) is blocking communication on ports 137, 138,
> 139. To check this, disable any software firewall and check if things
> now work. You may need to set up a rule or a 'trusted zone' (the
> jargon differs between products) to allow this communication. Unles
> your felling paranoid, it should be OK to allow all traffic on all
> ports between all local addresses behind the router.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> --
>
> Richard Perkin
> To email me, change the AT in the address below
> richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com
>
> It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
> is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
> It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
> -- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

(E-Mail Removed) (mark) wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed) om:

> do you mean port 137,138,139 in TCP or UDP or both???
>
> also when i go to the 'HOME' workgroup, i cannot access it b/c it
> says that i do not have permission and i need to see the admin. do
> u know the default login w/ XP? i know the user has admin rights
> but why would the workgroup "HOME" not be accessible by the pc,

The error message about permissions is caused by the same problem.
Fix it and you should be fine.

Port 137, 138 are UDP
Port 139 is TCP

You may also open port 445 for both TCP and UDP - this is a more
recent version of using 137, 138, 139. Also, for an Internet Gateway
icon to be displayed you will need to allow traffic on UDP port 1900.

As I said, check by disabling your software firewall completely. I
also said that unless you are unduly paranoid you can allow all local
traffic on all ports and protocols between all addresses in the
router's subnet. That will avoid having to remember which ports are
needed by Windows.

Windows services communicate on a range of ports; this communication
needs to be allowed for correct functioning.

Software firewalls are useful behind a router for two purposes:
- stopping unwanted outgoing communication
- providing detailed traffic logs

But sometimes they get in the way...

Hope this helps

--

Richard Perkin
To email me, change the AT in the address below
richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com

It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it
is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.
It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.
-- Oxford University Press, Edpress News