Set up a wireless network using NetGear 802.11b Access Point

Hi

I have a Telewest broadband internet connection which provides
internet connection to my laptop using cable. I'd like to make it a
wireless connection so that I'm not restricted by the wires. Hence,
I've purchased a NetGear ME102 802.11b Wireless Access Point hoping
that I can connect my cable from the telewest cable router to Netgear
access point, and then use it to connect my laptop to it to use the
internet connection.

But unfortunately, I'm not sure how to set up the NetGear access point
to facilitate this. Has anybody done anything like this? I tried
connecting the ethernet cable from Telewest box to Netgear access
point device, and then tried connecting to it using my laptop. But my
laptop was complaining saying it's unable to acquire network address.

Can somebody help me configure this setup?

Thanks in advance,
--
Sam.

> I have a Telewest broadband internet connection which provides
> internet connection to my laptop using cable.

Hmm, never used one, but I wonder what the Telewest modem port speed
it - the ME102 FAQ says...

"The ME102 Access Point must be connected to either a 10 Mbps Port, or
a 10/100 Mbps port. The ME102 cannot function on a 100 Mbps port
because the ethernet jack on the ME102 operates on 10 Mbps only."

I believe some Telewest kit may be able to push out more than 10Mbps,
so their newer cable modems might have a faster port than it can
handle...

This is one for Alex Brown to answer i'm afraid :-}

On Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:24:34 +0100, Colin Wilson
<(E-Mail Removed) o.uk> wrote:

>> I have a Telewest broadband internet connection which provides
>> internet connection to my laptop using cable.
>
>Hmm, never used one, but I wonder what the Telewest modem port speed
>it - the ME102 FAQ says...
>
>"The ME102 Access Point must be connected to either a 10 Mbps Port, or
>a 10/100 Mbps port. The ME102 cannot function on a 100 Mbps port
>because the ethernet jack on the ME102 operates on 10 Mbps only."

My word this brings back memories. I had a ME102 back around 2001 or
so. It is a 10Mbps port and the wireless connection will handle maybe
5Mbps or so in the real world. It only has 64bit WEP too so it will
take under 60 seconds of traffic/cpu time to crack the encryption. It
did have excellent range right enough but I'd strongly suggest that
its day has come and gone - especially if you have an internet
connection capable of more than 5Mbps.

The original poster should try it without encryption and see if it
works (if he/she insists on using it). It should also be noted that
the "passphrase generator" (converts easily remembered passphrase to
WEP key) only works on ancient Netgear kit and is/was a major "gotcha"
in its day. Best to ignore it really as you'll have to write the WEP
key down anyway. There is still a manual/etc available for download on
the netgear site so that would be the place to start.

Apart from the WEP issues I never had a problem with my ME102 - which
is more than I can say about some of the current access points on the
market.

Hope this helps.
--
John Naismith

Thanks Colin.

I'm not exactly sure what speed my telewest modem is. The modem
version is EPC2100. I hope I can use the NetGear access point to
facilitate my wireless network, else my money will go waste!!

--
Sam.

On Apr 13, 3:24 am, Colin Wilson
<REMOVEEVERYTHINGBUTnewsgr...@phoenixbbsZEROSPAM.c o.uk> wrote:
> > I have a Telewest broadband internet connection which provides
> > internet connection to my laptop using cable.
>
> Hmm, never used one, but I wonder what the Telewest modem port speed
> it - the ME102 FAQ says...
>
> "The ME102 Access Point must be connected to either a 10 Mbps Port, or
> a 10/100 Mbps port. The ME102 cannot function on a 100 Mbps port
> because the ethernet jack on the ME102 operates on 10 Mbps only."
>
> I believe some Telewest kit may be able to push out more than 10Mbps,
> so their newer cable modems might have a faster port than it can
> handle...
>
> This is one for Alex Brown to answer i'm afraid :-}

"Sam" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Hi
>
> I have a Telewest broadband internet connection which provides
> internet connection to my laptop using cable. I'd like to make it a
> wireless connection so that I'm not restricted by the wires. Hence,
> I've purchased a NetGear ME102 802.11b Wireless Access Point hoping
> that I can connect my cable from the telewest cable router to Netgear
> access point, and then use it to connect my laptop to it to use the
> internet connection.
>
> But unfortunately, I'm not sure how to set up the NetGear access point
> to facilitate this. Has anybody done anything like this? I tried
> connecting the ethernet cable from Telewest box to Netgear access
> point device, and then tried connecting to it using my laptop. But my
> laptop was complaining saying it's unable to acquire network address.
>
> Can somebody help me configure this setup?

It will work provided you only have the laptop to connect.

Go into the me102 and turn off the dhcp client as the me102 swipes the one
ip address that telewest supply if you don't.
You can set a static 192.168.0.x address or use the usb for configuring the
AP.
You will need to power cycle the cable modem too.

I assume it was very cheap as a router would be far better and allow more
than one device to connect.

> I'm not exactly sure what speed my telewest modem is. The modem
> version is EPC2100.

A quick google on the model seems to suggest it supports 10/100 so it
should be ok on that score :-}