[gdab]

Hi,

I'm trying to set up a wireless network for a friend.

Current set up
At the moment he has a desktop pc running windows xp connected by Ethernet cable to a Linksys Wireless - G ADSL Gateway WAG54GS (see http://www.amazon.co.../dp/B000BZU9SC).

There is a telephone cable coming of the the gateway to the telephone socket and also another cable coming out but I'm not sure where it goes!!

Wireless Network
Anyway, he has just bought a laptop with windows vista. He wants to connect it to a wireless network. At the moment, as stated above, the desktop PC is connected (wired) to the internet via the gateway. I presume I can also set up a separate wireless network through the same linksys gateway and connect the laptop to this??

Is this the best way to proceed? What would you advise?

I’m a novice so please reply in plan non-tech English!

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Gord

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Hey Gord -- welcome to G2G

I presume I can also set up a separate wireless network through the same linksys gateway and connect the laptop to this??

Yes, you are correct.

To do so, on the desktop that is wired to the router, open your preferred Internet browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc) and in the address bar type: 192.168.1.1 and then press the ENTER key on your keyboard. You should be prompted for a username/password -- leave the username blank and type admin for the password (*Note: if you changed the username/password from the default, you will need to enter the correct username/password). You should now be logged into your routers web interface. Press the Wireless link, and then select Basic Wireless Settings. In this window, set the following values:

• Wireless Network mode: Mixed.
• Wireless Network Name (SSID): <enter a name here> -- it can be whatever you like; however make sure you write it down.
• Wireless SSID Broadcast: Ensure it is Enabled.

Now press the Save Settings button. Once it's saved, press the Wireless Security link. Set the following values:

• Security mode: WPA2-Personal.
• Passphrase: <enter a passphrase> -- think of this as a password; it needs to be between 8 and 32 characters. Write this down.

Press Save Settings.

Now, on the laptop please follow the instructions How to setup a wireless connection. This should allow you to connect to your network; if you run into any issues, please post here and we'll attempt to walk you through them.

Thanks,
- Dan

[Dan]

Hey Gord -- welcome to G2G

I presume I can also set up a separate wireless network through the same linksys gateway and connect the laptop to this??

Yes, you are correct.

To do so, on the desktop that is wired to the router, open your preferred Internet browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc) and in the address bar type: 192.168.1.1 and then press the ENTER key on your keyboard. You should be prompted for a username/password -- leave the username blank and type admin for the password (*Note: if you changed the username/password from the default, you will need to enter the correct username/password). You should now be logged into your routers web interface. Press the Wireless link, and then select Basic Wireless Settings. In this window, set the following values:

• Wireless Network mode: Mixed.
• Wireless Network Name (SSID): <enter a name here> -- it can be whatever you like; however make sure you write it down.
• Wireless SSID Broadcast: Ensure it is Enabled.

Now press the Save Settings button. Once it's saved, press the Wireless Security link. Set the following values:

• Security mode: WPA2-Personal.
• Passphrase: <enter a passphrase> -- think of this as a password; it needs to be between 8 and 32 characters. Write this down.

Press Save Settings.

Now, on the laptop please follow the instructions How to setup a wireless connection. This should allow you to connect to your network; if you run into any issues, please post here and we'll attempt to walk you through them.

Thanks,
- Dan

[gdab]

Hey Dan,

Thanks for this - very helpful. I will follow your instructions and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again.

Gord

[Dan]

You're welcome; please let us know how it goes and if you run into any issues, don't hesitate to post.

- Dan

[gdab]

Hi guys,

Ok, hit a problem. I followed your instructions exactly and have set up the wireless network. However, when I try to connect my laptop to the wireless network and enter the correct passphrase windows cists says it cannot connect ok. I've checked the passphrase lots of times - it is definately correct.

Do you know what the problem might be? I've restarted the router gateway several times but with no success.

Thanks again for your help.

Gord

[Dan]

Hey Gord,

Make sure that when you try to connect to the network from the laptop, you select AES for the Encryption type, since that is the default that's set when you configure WPA2 in your router settings.

The next option would be to change your encryption type from WPA2 to WPA and see if you can connect that way. The steps are almost identical, so simply reconfigure your router, then attempt to connect from the laptop, specifying the new details.