noob question

Please forgive the ignorance, but I know next to nothing about Wifi,
though I am knowledgable about most other aspects of PCs.

I bought a D-Link DWL-G510 wireless card that worked, i.e. connected
to the internet via wireless networks (we have free wifi here), but
because of the location of the computer the signal wasn't strong
enough. So I bought a Netgear WPN824 RangeMax wireless router, that I
connected to my MB (Gigabyte GA-K8NS) via a network cable. But when I
tried to enable the router in the control panel all I got was LAN. So
I checked the MB specs and found the network connector is only for
LANs (10/100 Mbps).

What should I do now? Thx.



shegeek72

shegeek72 wrote:
> Please forgive the ignorance, but I know next to nothing about Wifi,
> though I am knowledgable about most other aspects of PCs.
>
> I bought a D-Link DWL-G510 wireless card that worked, i.e. connected
> to the internet via wireless networks (we have free wifi here), but
> because of the location of the computer the signal wasn't strong
> enough. So I bought a Netgear WPN824 RangeMax wireless router, that I
> connected to my MB (Gigabyte GA-K8NS) via a network cable. But when I
> tried to enable the router in the control panel all I got was LAN. So
> I checked the MB specs and found the network connector is only for
> LANs (10/100 Mbps).
>
> What should I do now? Thx.
>
Read the setup guide that came with your router. You set up routers
directly not through the control panel. If you've lost it then get a new
one here;
http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira/...striction=docs

"shegeek72" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Please forgive the ignorance, but I know next to nothing about Wifi,
>though I am knowledgable about most other aspects of PCs.

Kool. Maybe you can explain to me the difference between an MB
(motherboard) and an MB (megabyte)? Thou shalt not abrev or trunc.

>I bought a D-Link DWL-G510 wireless card that worked, i.e. connected
>to the internet via wireless networks (we have free wifi here), but
>because of the location of the computer the signal wasn't strong
>enough.

To improve your signal, an external antenna would have been a better
choice for your DWL-G510:
<http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=308>
The antenna unscrews exposing an RP-SMA connector. You would need a
pigtail (short piece of flexible coax with an RP-SMA plug on one end
and probably an N-connector on the other), and some kind of 2.4GHz
antenna. The total cost would be far less than the WPN824.

>So I bought a Netgear WPN824 RangeMax wireless router, that I
>connected to my MB (Gigabyte GA-K8NS) via a network cable. But when I
>tried to enable the router in the control panel all I got was LAN. So
>I checked the MB specs and found the network connector is only for
>LANs (10/100 Mbps).

Wrong type of wireless device. The WPN824 is a router, not a wireless
client. It cannot be used in the manner in which you're attempting to
configure it. It's designed to have wireless clients connect to it,
and not to act as a client. There are routers that have firmware that
has a client mode but the WPN824 is not one of those:
<http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways/RangeMaxWirelessRoutersandGateways/WPN824.aspx>
Basically, you bought the wrong device for your purpose.

List of different types of wireless "bridges":
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Wireless_Bridge_Types>
It's not perfect, but might explain a few marketing buzzwords.

>What should I do now? Thx.

Pack it back up and either exchange it for a wireless client or try an
external antenna. See:
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Wireless_Ethernet_Bridges>
for a list of possible "wireless client ethernet bridge" candidates.
However, be careful. The list also includes wireless point to point
type of bridges, that will only talk to each other (for extending
remote networks) and are not suitable. Personally, methinks you'll
have better luck with a high gain directional antenna as even the best
wireless ethernet bridge client comes with a cheap junk antenna that
usually needs to be replaced by something with more gain.

If the computer cannot be located near a window to obtain proper line
of sight, and the coax cable run is either too long or too messy, then
the external ethernet wireless bridge is probably the best bet.
Another possibility is a USB radio if your cable run is less than 5
meters.
--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Mar 3, 10:02 am, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
wrote:

> Pack it back up and either exchange it for a wireless client or try an
> external antenna.

Thanks for the extensive info!

I found some antennas, which would you recommend?
http://www.dlink.com/products/catego...1&sec=0#cid_59

"shegeek72" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I found some antennas, which would you recommend?
>http://www.dlink.com/products/catego...1&sec=0#cid_59

No recommendation. I have no clue how you plan to use the antenna.

- Is the access point close or far? How far?
- Any obstructions? How bad?
- Any interference? If so, is it along the line of sight or to
the side.
- How much coax cable between your wireless card and the nearest
window?
- How bad is the existing signal? (signal strength and SNR).
- How big an antenna can you tolerate? 1 meter long yagi? 3 meter
long yagi? 1 meter diameter dish? 0.8 meter diameter panel?
- Got a budget?

Most of the Dlink antennas are not bargains. Your IP address resolves
to Seattle so US vendors would probably be best. See:
<http://www.fab-corp.com>
<http://www.pacwireless.com>

Since you're in Seattle, you might want to connect with these people:
<http://www.seattlewireless.net>

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Mar 3, 4:39 am, Pen <pen34usnos...@hotmailnospam.com> wrote:

> Read the setup guide that came with your router. You set up routers
> directly not through the control panel. If you've lost it then get a new
> one here;http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira/...n_box=wpn824&c...

Thanks. I d/l the manual and am reading it.

On Mar 3, 10:35 pm, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
wrote:

I said I was a newbie, so I'll try to answer your questions as best as
I can:

> - Is the access point close or far? How far?

I'm not sure. When I was able to connect to the internet while the
computer was in a location (kitchen table) where the signal was
relatively strong the speed was, IIRC, 54 mbs.

> - Any obstructions? How bad?

I live in an apartment in a city, so there are a lot of buildings, but
they are adding new transmitters on a regular basis.

> - How much coax cable between your wireless card and the nearest
> window?

About 10'.

> - How bad is the existing signal? (signal strength and SNR).

I have no idea, but I was able to easily connect to the internet.

> - How big an antenna can you tolerate? 1 meter long yagi? 3 meter
> long yagi? 1 meter diameter dish? 0.8 meter diameter panel?

I'm in an apartment, so it has to be a reasonable size.

> - Got a budget?

As inexpensive as possible, while still picking up a reliable signal.

> Most of the Dlink antennas are not bargains. Your IP address resolves
> to Seattle so US vendors would probably be best. See:
> <http://www.fab-corp.com>
> <http://www.pacwireless.com>
>
> Since you're in Seattle, you might want to connect with these people:
> <http://www.seattlewireless.net>

Actually, I'm a stones throw away in Portland.

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:02:27 -0800, Jeff Liebermann
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed)>:

>If the computer cannot be located near a window to obtain proper line
>of sight, and the coax cable run is either too long or too messy, then
>the external ethernet wireless bridge is probably the best bet.
>Another possibility is a USB radio if your cable run is less than 5
>meters.

Active USB extension cables can extend that distance in multiples of 5
meters.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On 6 Mar 2007 17:38:40 -0800, "shegeek72" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
in <(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>On Mar 3, 10:35 pm, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
>wrote:

>> - Is the access point close or far? How far?
>
>I'm not sure. When I was able to connect to the internet while the
>computer was in a location (kitchen table) where the signal was
>relatively strong the speed was, IIRC, 54 mbs.

That's almost certainly not true -- max 54 Mbps speed is only possible
over a relatively short distance, no more than about 90 feet even with
zero obstructions. Unfortunately, wireless adapters have a nasty habit
of reporting wildly optimistic speed when idle -- you need to check or
measure speed under load.

>> - Any obstructions? How bad?
>
>I live in an apartment in a city, so there are a lot of buildings, but
>they are adding new transmitters on a regular basis.

What matters are the obstructions between you and the access point you
are connecting to. Do you know where it is? How far away? Clear line
of sight? Or what's between you?

>> - How much coax cable between your wireless card and the nearest
>> window?
>
>About 10'.

That's far enough that I'd recommend a USB wireless adapter like the
Hawking HWU8DD Hi-Gain USB Wireless-G Dish Adapter
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_on_a_Boat#USB>.

>> - How bad is the existing signal? (signal strength and SNR).
>
>I have no idea, but I was able to easily connect to the internet.

You said the signal wasn't strong enough.

>> - How big an antenna can you tolerate? 1 meter long yagi? 3 meter
>> long yagi? 1 meter diameter dish? 0.8 meter diameter panel?
>
>I'm in an apartment, so it has to be a reasonable size.

The Hawking antenna is pretty small.

>> - Got a budget?
>
>As inexpensive as possible, while still picking up a reliable signal.

$60 at <http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833164012>

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On 6 Mar 2007 17:38:40 -0800, "shegeek72" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>> - Is the access point close or far? How far?
>
>I'm not sure. When I was able to connect to the internet while the
>computer was in a location (kitchen table) where the signal was
>relatively strong the speed was, IIRC, 54 mbs.

No way. Most municipal networks don't run much faster than 802.11b
speeds, such as 11Mbits/sec. If you were getting 54Mbits/sec
connection speed, my astute wild guess(tm) is that you were connecting
to a neighbors wireless network and not the local municipal wireless
network. You can usually tell by the SSID. If you drag the mouse
over or click on the wireless connection icon in the system tray
(lower right of screen) it should give you the SSID (system name).

>> - Any obstructions? How bad?
>
>I live in an apartment in a city, so there are a lot of buildings, but
>they are adding new transmitters on a regular basis.

Chuckle. If you complain about anything in the wireless business, the
standard answer is that "we are adding new infrastructure" as fast as
possible. That is probably true, but no clue when your location is
due for an upgrade or a fix. Meanwhile, try to locate where your
nearest access point is hidden. It's usually hanging on the street
light poles.

>> - How much coax cable between your wireless card and the nearest
>> window?
>
>About 10'.

That's fine, but any longer might be excessively lossy. If you have
to add an external antenna, the MINIMUM would be LMR240 coax. The
much heavier LMR400 is better but not really necessary for only 10ft.
Most aftermarket antenna come with RG316 or LMR100 coax, which will
suffice, but just barely.

>> - How bad is the existing signal? (signal strength and SNR).
>
>I have no idea, but I was able to easily connect to the internet.

Your DWL-G510 driver and client manager should give this information.
You should have a big ugly icon on your desktop inscribed with
"DLINK". Run it and there should be a page somewhere with statistics.
What of interest are:
SSID
First 3 octets of the connected MAC address
Signal Strength in -dBm
Noise in -dBm
Signal to Noise Radio in dB
Link Quality in Percent
You may not have all of these, but please supply what you find.

>> - How big an antenna can you tolerate? 1 meter long yagi? 3 meter
>> long yagi? 1 meter diameter dish? 0.8 meter diameter panel?
>
>I'm in an apartment, so it has to be a reasonable size.

It's not going to fill the apartment but might fill up the window. How
big an obstruction can you place in the window? Also, is there
anything made of metal in or on the window that might obstruct RF?

>> - Got a budget?
>
>As inexpensive as possible, while still picking up a reliable signal.

What's that in dollars? It might be cheaper to buy an integrated
radio and antenna, rather then trying to extend the coax cable from
your existing DWL-G510 PCI card.

>> Since you're in Seattle, you might want to connect with these people:
>> <http://www.seattlewireless.net>
>
>Actually, I'm a stones throw away in Portland.

Sorry, my error. See:
<http://www.geobytes.com/IpLocator.htm>
and plug in your current IP address of 4.242.210.239
Ok, it's Portland, Oregon.

Since you've finally delivered some useful information, let's see
what's on the internet about Portland's wireless system. Is it this
one:
<http://www.personaltelco.net/static/index.html>
They have a nifty Google map showing their access point locations:
<http://map.personaltelco.net>
Find thyself.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS