Help: setting up a D-Link DWL-2100AP

Hi all,

I've just purchased a d-link dwl-2100ap and am a bit confused about setting
it up. I would appreciate guidance from you.

I've followed the quick setup guide by setting a static IP on my pc
192.168.0.51 (the ap's IP being 192.168.0.50) and could access the setup
wizard through internet explorer. There, I changed the mode from AP to AP
client and switched off the authentification before closing the wizard. I
didn't change the default IP.

I then booted the pc with the hope that windows xp sp2 will identify a
nearby hotspot but nothing. Even netstumbler says that "no wireless adapter
was found".

Can please anybody tell me what I am doing wrong?

When my friend's laptop boots, windows will always tell him what networks it
has detected, so why is it different with my system ?

Regards,

Wiseman

On 21-Jun-2005, "Wiseman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I've just purchased a d-link dwl-2100ap and am a bit confused about
> setting
> it up. I would appreciate guidance from you.
>
> I've followed the quick setup guide by setting a static IP on my pc
> 192.168.0.51 (the ap's IP being 192.168.0.50) and could access the setup
> wizard through internet explorer. There, I changed the mode from AP to AP
> client and switched off the authentification before closing the wizard. I
> didn't change the default IP.
>
> I then booted the pc with the hope that windows xp sp2 will identify a
> nearby hotspot but nothing. Even netstumbler says that "no wireless
> adapter
> was found".
>
> Can please anybody tell me what I am doing wrong?
>
> When my friend's laptop boots, windows will always tell him what networks
> it
> has detected, so why is it different with my system ?
>
> Regards,
>
> Wiseman

I'm assuming you're trying to get your AP to act as a site surveyor and then
connect to nearby detected open hotspots or open wireless networks using
your desktop pc. You would probably get better results by adding a wireless
adapter card to your desktop and using the site surveying tool that comes
with the adapter and/or windows XP WZC. Anyway, you must have the MAC
address of the detected AP entered in the alloted space in your DWL2100AP's
menu before communication can take place. If I'm not mistaken, you can't
just locate an open network and connect to it like you could if you had a
wireless notebook or a wireless adapter like your friend can. With those
items, the MAC address is irrelevant. As for using the Windows XP WZC
utility to site survey via the DWL2100AP, I'm not sure if that is possible.
If I'm wrong, I apologize and will wait to be educated by other people who
post to this newsgoup.

--
Just Me, D

Thanks for your reply.

I understand that I made a wrong choice but I intended to use an adapter
with ethernet connection because ultimately it was going to be placed on the
roof and connected to the PC through a cat5 cable in order to reduce loss
due to antenna cable.

Anyway, what I am finding more confusing is that even the D-link AP manager
software tells me that it doesn't find the AP!

I even cannot put the Mac address of the target AP in the configuration page
because the box is greyed out!

Regards

"Doug Jamal" <(E-Mail Removed)> a écrit dans le message de news:
SQ%te.167350$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> On 21-Jun-2005, "Wiseman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've just purchased a d-link dwl-2100ap and am a bit confused about
>> setting
>> it up. I would appreciate guidance from you.
>>
>> I've followed the quick setup guide by setting a static IP on my pc
>> 192.168.0.51 (the ap's IP being 192.168.0.50) and could access the setup
>> wizard through internet explorer. There, I changed the mode from AP to AP
>> client and switched off the authentification before closing the wizard. I
>> didn't change the default IP.
>>
>> I then booted the pc with the hope that windows xp sp2 will identify a
>> nearby hotspot but nothing. Even netstumbler says that "no wireless
>> adapter
>> was found".
>>
>> Can please anybody tell me what I am doing wrong?
>>
>> When my friend's laptop boots, windows will always tell him what networks
>> it
>> has detected, so why is it different with my system ?
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Wiseman
>
> I'm assuming you're trying to get your AP to act as a site surveyor and
> then
> connect to nearby detected open hotspots or open wireless networks using
> your desktop pc. You would probably get better results by adding a
> wireless
> adapter card to your desktop and using the site surveying tool that comes
> with the adapter and/or windows XP WZC. Anyway, you must have the MAC
> address of the detected AP entered in the alloted space in your
> DWL2100AP's
> menu before communication can take place. If I'm not mistaken, you can't
> just locate an open network and connect to it like you could if you had a
> wireless notebook or a wireless adapter like your friend can. With those
> items, the MAC address is irrelevant. As for using the Windows XP WZC
> utility to site survey via the DWL2100AP, I'm not sure if that is
> possible.
> If I'm wrong, I apologize and will wait to be educated by other people who
> post to this newsgoup.
>
> --
> Just Me, D

On 22-Jun-2005, "Wiseman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Thanks for your reply.

You're welcome.

> I understand that I made a wrong choice

not necessarily

but I intended to use an adapter
> with ethernet connection because ultimately it was going to be placed on
> the
> roof and connected to the PC through a cat5 cable in order to reduce loss
> due to antenna cable.

Does this mean that you are not *currently* using your adapter?


> Anyway, what I am finding more confusing is that even the D-link AP
> manager
> software tells me that it doesn't find the AP!

Did you properly configure the AP manager program? It comes with a wizard
that will walk you through setting it up with the DWL2100AP. Lightning
destroyed my DWL2100AP last weekend and I've yet to replace it. Right now,
I'm using the DI-624 rev c wireless router until I replace my DWL2100AP.

>
> I even cannot put the Mac address of the target AP in the configuration
> page
> because the box is greyed out!

Did you logon the AP's menu with a user password or an administrative
password. If I'm not mistaken, the DWL2100AP allows for both. logging in as
only a user has limitations.


>
> Regards



--
Just Me, D

Hi,

> Does this mean that you are not *currently* using your adapter?

As I said earlier, I just got the DWL-2100AP early this week and was trying
to check which network I can connect to before signing up because my current
isp doesn't offer wifi.

> Did you properly configure the AP manager program? It comes with a wizard
> that will walk you through setting it up with the DWL2100AP.

Using the wizard is not a problem. There is another program named AP manager
that comes on the cd. It's this I was refering to. Even this program cannot
"see" the DWL-2100AP while it is connected through the ethernet port.
Strange in fact because via internet explorer I can run the setup wizard!

> I'm using the DI-624 rev c wireless router until I replace my DWL2100AP.

How would you rate the DI-624 ? I guess you use it with adsl or cable, but
is it possible to feed it through a wireless adapter? I mean, here we don't
have adsl or cable so for broadband I have to connect via wifi. I wanted to
know if it is possible to connect to the isp using the DWL-2100AP and then
connect the DI-624 to it.

> Did you logon the AP's menu with a user password or an administrative
> password. If I'm not mistaken, the DWL2100AP allows for both. logging in
> as only a user has limitations.

I use the default Admin password, I guess it's OK.

Could you please tell me how you get your pc to "see" the DWL-2100AP ?
Because my system doesn't tell me if it is there or not.

Also, do you have different IPs on the pc and the AP as I do ? For example,
to connect to the AP for "the configuration" I have to set my nic's IP as
192.168.0.51 (the ap's IP being 192.168.0.50). May this be the reason why
the AP, currently configured as an AP client, is not recognised as a wifi
adapter ?

Kind regards.

On 23-Jun-2005, "Wiseman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Hi,

> As I said earlier, I just got the DWL-2100AP early this week and was
> trying
> to check which network I can connect to before signing up because my
> current
> isp doesn't offer wifi.

Who is your current ISP and what type of internet service are you
*currently* receiving? You're obviously trying to use the AP as a wifi
finder. In my opinion, you'd be better off spending about 20 bucks on a
portable handheld wifi finder. In regards to the AP connecting to a nearby
wifi network, unless I'm misreading your post, wouldn't the purchase of a
wireless adapter card do what you are attempting to do. I mean, Wireless NIC
are arguable best suited for this.


> Using the wizard is not a problem. There is another program named AP
> manager
> that comes on the cd. It's this I was refering to. Even this program
> cannot
> "see" the DWL-2100AP while it is connected through the ethernet port.

If you are connected to the AP from your NIC via an ethernet cable, the AP
manager application should work.


> Strange in fact because via internet explorer I can run the setup wizard!

Not strange at all.


> How would you rate the DI-624 ? I guess you use it with adsl or cable, but

The DI-624 rev. C is a very good wireless router. It's fast, easy to
configure and use and it does what it is designed to do.


> is it possible to feed it through a wireless adapter?

What do you mean when you say, "feed it through a wireless adapter". If
you're asking whether or not a wireless adapter is compatible with the
DI-624 then my answer is yes. Pretty much any properly configured wireless
client (wireless adapter card, wireless notebook card, wireless USB
connector, etc.) can connect to the DI-624 or any other wireless router or
AP.

> I mean, here we
> don't
> have adsl or cable so for broadband I have to connect via wifi.

I am assuming you have wifi ISPs in your neck of the woods and if so, do
they not provide you with some sort of wifi equipment to connect your
desktop pc to in order to connect to the internet? I mean, just like in
mobile phones, the ISP has to provide a way for only it's customers can
access its service. Am I making sense?

>I wanted
> to
> know if it is possible to connect to the isp using the DWL-2100AP and then
>
> connect the DI-624 to it.

Traditionally speaking, you would not need the both DI-624 and the
DWL2100AP. The DI-624 is sort of an all in one device (Wireless AP, router
and switch) whereas the DWL2100AP is only as AP that can be configured 5
different ways. Usually the DWL2100AP is connected to a router.
Again, traditionally speaking, a person would connect a minimum of 4 pc's to
the DI-624 via ethernet cable as well as have wireless devices connect to it
wirelessly. The DWL2100AP is a wireless device ONLY! If you did use them
together, the DWL2100AP would be connected to the DI-624 via an ethernet
cable.


--
Just Me, D

> In regards to the AP connecting to a nearby wifi network, unless I'm
> misreading your post, wouldn't the purchase >of a wireless adapter card do
> what you are attempting to do. I mean, Wireless NIC are arguable best
> suited for this.

This was my first consideration but because I read on the dwl-2100ap's
brochure that it could act as a client I thought that it was a better choice
because I intended to place it on the roof in order to shorten the coax
cable. For a wireless nic I have to use a lengthy cable up to the high gain
antenna !

> If you are connected to the AP from your NIC via an ethernet cable, the AP
> manager application should work.

I also think that it should work but it doesn't!

>> Strange in fact because via internet explorer I can run the setup wizard!
> Not strange at all.

I said strange because IE can connect to the AP while the D-link's AP
manager cannot!

> What do you mean when you say, "feed it through a wireless adapter". If
> you're asking whether or not a wireless >adapter is compatible with the
> DI-624 then my answer is yes.
> Traditionally speaking, you would not need the both DI-624 and the
> DWL2100AP.

I think your DI-624 is fed via a cable or dsl modem right? But I don't have
that choice here. I can either connect through wifi or a 56 kbps modem. The
question was to know if the wan port of the DI-624 is restricted to the
signal from a cable/dsl modem or if it can also accept signal coming from an
ethernet port. Example: I set the AP in client mode to connect to the isp
and then connect the ethernet port of the AP to the wan port of the DI-624,
this is what I want to know because I guess that the DI-624 cannot connect
wirelessly connect to the isp (client mode)and wirelessly connect to my pcs
(AP mode) at the same time.

Because I don't have the possibility of sending the DWL-2100AP to the seller
(he is located a few thousand miles from where I am) isn't there any
solution to get it to work as a wireless nic and to be recognized by win xp?

Kind regards.