Linksys question...

Upstairs, on my PC I use a WAG354G router and a short RJ45 LAN lead to to my
PC.
Downstairs, Dads PC has a WMP54G pci wireless adapter card in it.

Earlier, (with my PC switched off), I turned on the router so that my niece
could use Dads' PC down stairs, and then a little later, (whilst she's still
using Dads' PC), I switched on my PC upstairs and she lost internet access /
and/or wireless connection downstairs, and I had to go down there and fiddle
with it to make it "reconnect," anyone know if this is normal, or if I've
got something incorrectly set up.

Whilst fiddling around getting Dads' PC set up, I ended up with two profiles
in it, one "infrastructure" based and the other "ad-hoc" based. DHCP is on
in the router and it seems to do everything it should. I even fought with
MAC addresses and am restricting access to the hex. looking ID no. for the
downstairs PC. That was a nightmare because the MAC address appears to have
to be received and generated in the router firmware, using a poorly labelled
procedure in those firmware menus ! i.e. if one types it in it won't work !
....anyway, anyone know why the downstairs PC loses the internet when I
switch mine on upstairs ?

regards, Richard

If you haven't done so, try the following:

1) Update the firmware for the router. (This might reset your configuration,
so write that down beforehand).
2) Update the driver on the PCI wireless card.

Both can be found by going to the support section for each product on
Linksys' Web site.

"RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Upstairs, on my PC I use a WAG354G router and a short RJ45 LAN lead to to my
PC.
Downstairs, Dads PC has a WMP54G pci wireless adapter card in it.

Earlier, (with my PC switched off), I turned on the router so that my niece
could use Dads' PC down stairs, and then a little later, (whilst she's still
using Dads' PC), I switched on my PC upstairs and she lost internet access /
and/or wireless connection downstairs, and I had to go down there and fiddle
with it to make it "reconnect," anyone know if this is normal, or if I've
got something incorrectly set up.

Whilst fiddling around getting Dads' PC set up, I ended up with two profiles
in it, one "infrastructure" based and the other "ad-hoc" based. DHCP is on
in the router and it seems to do everything it should. I even fought with
MAC addresses and am restricting access to the hex. looking ID no. for the
downstairs PC. That was a nightmare because the MAC address appears to have
to be received and generated in the router firmware, using a poorly labelled
procedure in those firmware menus ! i.e. if one types it in it won't work !
....anyway, anyone know why the downstairs PC loses the internet when I
switch mine on upstairs ?

regards, Richard

Thanx MartinX, I have alreadu updated the firmware in router, didn't think
about the pci card though !
....I've been wading through the Linksys discussion forums and have
registered and asked similar questions in there :-)

regards, Richard



"MartinX" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> If you haven't done so, try the following:
>
> 1) Update the firmware for the router. (This might reset your
> configuration,
> so write that down beforehand).
> 2) Update the driver on the PCI wireless card.
>
> Both can be found by going to the support section for each product on
> Linksys' Web site.
>
> "RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Upstairs, on my PC I use a WAG354G router and a short RJ45 LAN lead to to
> my
> PC.
> Downstairs, Dads PC has a WMP54G pci wireless adapter card in it.
>
> Earlier, (with my PC switched off), I turned on the router so that my
> niece
> could use Dads' PC down stairs, and then a little later, (whilst she's
> still
> using Dads' PC), I switched on my PC upstairs and she lost internet access
> /
> and/or wireless connection downstairs, and I had to go down there and
> fiddle
> with it to make it "reconnect," anyone know if this is normal, or if I've
> got something incorrectly set up.
>
> Whilst fiddling around getting Dads' PC set up, I ended up with two
> profiles
> in it, one "infrastructure" based and the other "ad-hoc" based. DHCP is
> on
> in the router and it seems to do everything it should. I even fought with
> MAC addresses and am restricting access to the hex. looking ID no. for the
> downstairs PC. That was a nightmare because the MAC address appears to
> have
> to be received and generated in the router firmware, using a poorly
> labelled
> procedure in those firmware menus ! i.e. if one types it in it won't work
> !
> ...anyway, anyone know why the downstairs PC loses the internet when I
> switch mine on upstairs ?
>
> regards, Richard
>
>
>

You should be using the Infrastructure mode. Ad-hoc would be for connecting
computer to computer without a wireless router between them. You might want
to check how both the Downstairs computer and upstairs computer are
configured to use DHCP. It's possible, but unlikely that your computer is
set to a static address, and the downstairs computer is set to use DHCP. If
the wireless router handed out the address your computer is configured to
use, and you switched your computer on after the downstairs computer was
given this address you could see what you experienced.

--
David Hettel
Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
"RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:u%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanx MartinX, I have alreadu updated the firmware in router, didn't think
> about the pci card though !
> ...I've been wading through the Linksys discussion forums and have
> registered and asked similar questions in there :-)
>
> regards, Richard
>
>
>
> "MartinX" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> If you haven't done so, try the following:
>>
>> 1) Update the firmware for the router. (This might reset your
>> configuration,
>> so write that down beforehand).
>> 2) Update the driver on the PCI wireless card.
>>
>> Both can be found by going to the support section for each product on
>> Linksys' Web site.
>>
>> "RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Upstairs, on my PC I use a WAG354G router and a short RJ45 LAN lead to to
>> my
>> PC.
>> Downstairs, Dads PC has a WMP54G pci wireless adapter card in it.
>>
>> Earlier, (with my PC switched off), I turned on the router so that my
>> niece
>> could use Dads' PC down stairs, and then a little later, (whilst she's
>> still
>> using Dads' PC), I switched on my PC upstairs and she lost internet
>> access /
>> and/or wireless connection downstairs, and I had to go down there and
>> fiddle
>> with it to make it "reconnect," anyone know if this is normal, or if I've
>> got something incorrectly set up.
>>
>> Whilst fiddling around getting Dads' PC set up, I ended up with two
>> profiles
>> in it, one "infrastructure" based and the other "ad-hoc" based. DHCP is
>> on
>> in the router and it seems to do everything it should. I even fought
>> with
>> MAC addresses and am restricting access to the hex. looking ID no. for
>> the
>> downstairs PC. That was a nightmare because the MAC address appears to
>> have
>> to be received and generated in the router firmware, using a poorly
>> labelled
>> procedure in those firmware menus ! i.e. if one types it in it won't
>> work !
>> ...anyway, anyone know why the downstairs PC loses the internet when I
>> switch mine on upstairs ?
>>
>> regards, Richard
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Thanks David for your response. I haven't set any static addresses
anywhere - not adept enough with that sort of thing i.e. I don't know much
about networking. My approach was to have it all as automatic as possible,
and rummage through to change default name and passwords. ...was going to
change the WEP to WPA but daren't go near that atm.
UPNP is on in the router but, not installed in, "Windows components," in my
XP Home ed.(upstairs). I'm sure I read somewhere that UPNP is a biggish
security issue -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u..._02july22.mspx
Since it seems to be working without problems now should I refrain from
adding UPNP to my XP ?
....I think the default Profile on the downstairs (WMP54G) PC is now the
"Infrastructure" based one - thanks for the explanation on that.

regards, Richard


"David Hettel MVP MobileDevices" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> You should be using the Infrastructure mode. Ad-hoc would be for
> connecting computer to computer without a wireless router between them.
> You might want to check how both the Downstairs computer and upstairs
> computer are configured to use DHCP. It's possible, but unlikely that your
> computer is set to a static address, and the downstairs computer is set to
> use DHCP. If the wireless router handed out the address your computer is
> configured to use, and you switched your computer on after the downstairs
> computer was given this address you could see what you experienced.
>
> --
> David Hettel
> Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices
>
> Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
> for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
> addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
>
> Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> "RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:u%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thanx MartinX, I have alreadu updated the firmware in router, didn't
>> think about the pci card though !
>> ...I've been wading through the Linksys discussion forums and have
>> registered and asked similar questions in there :-)
>>
>> regards, Richard
>>
>>
>>
>> "MartinX" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> If you haven't done so, try the following:
>>>
>>> 1) Update the firmware for the router. (This might reset your
>>> configuration,
>>> so write that down beforehand).
>>> 2) Update the driver on the PCI wireless card.
>>>
>>> Both can be found by going to the support section for each product on
>>> Linksys' Web site.
>>>
>>> "RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Upstairs, on my PC I use a WAG354G router and a short RJ45 LAN lead to
>>> to my
>>> PC.
>>> Downstairs, Dads PC has a WMP54G pci wireless adapter card in it.
>>>
>>> Earlier, (with my PC switched off), I turned on the router so that my
>>> niece
>>> could use Dads' PC down stairs, and then a little later, (whilst she's
>>> still
>>> using Dads' PC), I switched on my PC upstairs and she lost internet
>>> access /
>>> and/or wireless connection downstairs, and I had to go down there and
>>> fiddle
>>> with it to make it "reconnect," anyone know if this is normal, or if
>>> I've
>>> got something incorrectly set up.
>>>
>>> Whilst fiddling around getting Dads' PC set up, I ended up with two
>>> profiles
>>> in it, one "infrastructure" based and the other "ad-hoc" based. DHCP is
>>> on
>>> in the router and it seems to do everything it should. I even fought
>>> with
>>> MAC addresses and am restricting access to the hex. looking ID no. for
>>> the
>>> downstairs PC. That was a nightmare because the MAC address appears to
>>> have
>>> to be received and generated in the router firmware, using a poorly
>>> labelled
>>> procedure in those firmware menus ! i.e. if one types it in it won't
>>> work !
>>> ...anyway, anyone know why the downstairs PC loses the internet when I
>>> switch mine on upstairs ?
>>>
>>> regards, Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Yes IMHO for a router/gateway the benifits from UPNP generally don't outway
the security risk. So I'd say leave it uninstalled.

--
David Hettel
Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
"RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks David for your response. I haven't set any static addresses
> anywhere - not adept enough with that sort of thing i.e. I don't know much
> about networking. My approach was to have it all as automatic as
> possible, and rummage through to change default name and passwords.
> ...was going to change the WEP to WPA but daren't go near that atm.
> UPNP is on in the router but, not installed in, "Windows components," in
> my XP Home ed.(upstairs). I'm sure I read somewhere that UPNP is a
> biggish security issue -
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u..._02july22.mspx
> Since it seems to be working without problems now should I refrain from
> adding UPNP to my XP ?
> ...I think the default Profile on the downstairs (WMP54G) PC is now the
> "Infrastructure" based one - thanks for the explanation on that.
>
> regards, Richard
>
>
> "David Hettel MVP MobileDevices" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> You should be using the Infrastructure mode. Ad-hoc would be for
>> connecting computer to computer without a wireless router between them.
>> You might want to check how both the Downstairs computer and upstairs
>> computer are configured to use DHCP. It's possible, but unlikely that
>> your computer is set to a static address, and the downstairs computer is
>> set to use DHCP. If the wireless router handed out the address your
>> computer is configured to use, and you switched your computer on after
>> the downstairs computer was given this address you could see what you
>> experienced.
>>
>> --
>> David Hettel
>> Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices
>>
>> Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
>> for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
>> addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
>>
>> Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>> "RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:u%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Thanx MartinX, I have alreadu updated the firmware in router, didn't
>>> think about the pci card though !
>>> ...I've been wading through the Linksys discussion forums and have
>>> registered and asked similar questions in there :-)
>>>
>>> regards, Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "MartinX" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> If you haven't done so, try the following:
>>>>
>>>> 1) Update the firmware for the router. (This might reset your
>>>> configuration,
>>>> so write that down beforehand).
>>>> 2) Update the driver on the PCI wireless card.
>>>>
>>>> Both can be found by going to the support section for each product on
>>>> Linksys' Web site.
>>>>
>>>> "RJK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Upstairs, on my PC I use a WAG354G router and a short RJ45 LAN lead to
>>>> to my
>>>> PC.
>>>> Downstairs, Dads PC has a WMP54G pci wireless adapter card in it.
>>>>
>>>> Earlier, (with my PC switched off), I turned on the router so that my
>>>> niece
>>>> could use Dads' PC down stairs, and then a little later, (whilst she's
>>>> still
>>>> using Dads' PC), I switched on my PC upstairs and she lost internet
>>>> access /
>>>> and/or wireless connection downstairs, and I had to go down there and
>>>> fiddle
>>>> with it to make it "reconnect," anyone know if this is normal, or if
>>>> I've
>>>> got something incorrectly set up.
>>>>
>>>> Whilst fiddling around getting Dads' PC set up, I ended up with two
>>>> profiles
>>>> in it, one "infrastructure" based and the other "ad-hoc" based. DHCP
>>>> is on
>>>> in the router and it seems to do everything it should. I even fought
>>>> with
>>>> MAC addresses and am restricting access to the hex. looking ID no. for
>>>> the
>>>> downstairs PC. That was a nightmare because the MAC address appears to
>>>> have
>>>> to be received and generated in the router firmware, using a poorly
>>>> labelled
>>>> procedure in those firmware menus ! i.e. if one types it in it won't
>>>> work !
>>>> ...anyway, anyone know why the downstairs PC loses the internet when I
>>>> switch mine on upstairs ?
>>>>
>>>> regards, Richard
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>