mn 520 can't find mn 500 router

i have a dell dimension with mn510 working properly and
the internet works fine(thanx mom). i tried to add my
brothers dell inspiron laptop to the network and i
always get the same results....install msbbn and set up
notebook adapter, enter network settings manually, but
when i get to the connecting part is where i have the
problem. setup recognized the wireless network, but when i
clicked 'next' after a moment a screen shows up saying
couldn't connect to base station. i have followed all of
the steps it gives and i know that everything there is
fine.


Another time i installed it, i changed the alternate
private ip address manually to the proper settings, but
when i open network utility, my desktop sees the laptop,
and the laptop sees 'other networking device' which
happens to be the router(it has the same ip address).
i've had both computers working before, but not for
months. basically, my problems only lie with ip addresses.
dhcp is enabled, but the laptop gets a public ip address
all the time.

the inspiron is running xp and im trying to connect to
mn500

i've set those up already. the first tab has obtain an ip
address automatically and obtain dns server address
automatically. the 'alternate configuration' tab is set
for automatic private ip address.

now, when i look at the connection status, on
the 'support' tab it says automatic private ip address
with ip 169.254.**.***, different at different times. on
my 8250 desktop it says 'assigned by dhcp' and is
192.168.2.18, which is correct.

i did read somewhere that connecting a laptop to a
workplace network might mess it up in some way, so you'd
have to use 'alternate config'. my brother did take his
computer to school and hooked it up there, but that was
months ago and it worked fine back then. all of a sudden,
it would not connect to my network. a little help?

The "private ip address with ip 169.254.**.***" means
that the laptop was unable to obtain an IP (through DHCP)
from the MN500.

Check the laptop network connection is using the same
SSID and channel as those set on the MN500.

While on the router, disable WEP (you can set it later,
once everything is working fine), and make sure that SSID
broadcast is checked. Finally, go to the Local Area
Network page and change the DHCP starting address to
192.168.2.3.

Back to the laptop, change the TCP/IP settings. Set the
IP to 192.168.2.2, mask 255.255.255.0, and both gateway
and DNS to 192.168.2.1. This will force an IP to the
laptop (you can later, once everything works try again to
set to dynamic, but try the easier solution first). Make
sure 802.1x is unchecked, and verify that the SSID and
the channel match those of the MN500. As you go, also
verify the workgroup name matches the one on the other
computer.

Verify you can connect now. Set a WEP key on the MN500
and the 510. You might also add MAC filtering on the
MN500 for added security.

>-----Original Message-----
>i have a dell dimension with mn510 working properly and
>the internet works fine(thanx mom). i tried to add my
>brothers dell inspiron laptop to the network and i
>always get the same results....install msbbn and set up
>notebook adapter, enter network settings manually, but
>when i get to the connecting part is where i have the
>problem. setup recognized the wireless network, but when
i
>clicked 'next' after a moment a screen shows up saying
>couldn't connect to base station. i have followed all of
>the steps it gives and i know that everything there is
>fine.
>
>
>Another time i installed it, i changed the alternate
>private ip address manually to the proper settings, but
>when i open network utility, my desktop sees the laptop,
>and the laptop sees 'other networking device' which
>happens to be the router(it has the same ip address).
>i've had both computers working before, but not for
>months. basically, my problems only lie with ip
addresses.
>dhcp is enabled, but the laptop gets a public ip address
>all the time.
>
>the inspiron is running xp and im trying to connect to
>mn500
>
>i've set those up already. the first tab has obtain an
ip
>address automatically and obtain dns server address
>automatically. the 'alternate configuration' tab is set
>for automatic private ip address.
>
>now, when i look at the connection status, on
>the 'support' tab it says automatic private ip address
>with ip 169.254.**.***, different at different times. on
>my 8250 desktop it says 'assigned by dhcp' and is
>192.168.2.18, which is correct.
>
>i did read somewhere that connecting a laptop to a
>workplace network might mess it up in some way, so you'd
>have to use 'alternate config'. my brother did take his
>computer to school and hooked it up there, but that was
>months ago and it worked fine back then. all of a
sudden,
>it would not connect to my network. a little help?
>.
>