Help with setting up a wireless router

TraceyB_2

Have looked in the wireless sticky but cant find an answer - apologies if this should have been posted in there rather than here.

Looking for some help in setting up our new laptop and router - not quite sure what goes where and the instructions are nigh on non existent!

Am a total non techie so please ignore non techie speak!

Have just invested in a Dell Inspiron 6000 and have bought a Belkin ADSL modem with wireless G router to go with it.

Our ISP is BT and we have a BT Voyager 100 modem.

Could someone please explain what goes where and what is connected to what! We have wires everywhere at the minute - it isn't looking too much wireless connection to me!

Does the BT modem still need to be used or does the Belkin modem now take its place?

We have a yellow 'ethernet'(?) lead - do we need this too for a laptop?

We are only intending setting up a laptop at the minute but if we have a printer as well - does this get hooked up to the router too - I'd have plugged it in to the laptop whenever we needed it!

Any help greatfully appreciated.

:beer:

Chippy_Minton

First, make a note of all your BT connection settings because you'll need to set them in the new router.

The Belkin device replaces the BT modem.

You don't need the yellow Ethernet cable, but I would use it initially to get your internet connection working and set up the wireless security. This cable goes between your laptop and Belkin router.

The connections are therefore:

Microfilter <

---

(phone cable)

---

> Belkin ADSL Port
Belkin Ethernet port <

---

(Ethernet cable)

---

> Dell Inspiron Ethernet socket

There are 3 options for the printer:
1. If it has an Ethernet socket then you'll be able to connect it to the router with Ethernet cable. Or for a wireless connection to the router, connect the Ethernet socket to a wireless access point.
2. Buy a USB or parallel port print server with wired or wireless connection to the router.
3. Connect it directly to the laptop.

With 1 and 2 any computer on the network would be able to use the printer independently, whereas with option 3 the laptop must be switched on to allow other computers to use it.

mike_paterson

You should no longer need your adsl modem.

You will need to connect the Belkin Modem router to the laptop with the ethernet cable to configure it for your isp.

The Belkin should have an ip address - 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1 or something similar - check the manual.

Once the Belkin is attached to the laptop open up a web browser and type the appropriate ip address into the address bar.

This should allow you to login to your belkin router - it will most likely ask for a user id and password which should be in the manual (possibly set to admin with a blank password)

You then need to do 2 separate things on your router

1) Wireless settings- you should read what documentation you have. Ideally you should set a name for your Belkin device and then set it to NOT broadcast the device name (That will stop most others from seeing that you have a wireless connection). You should then turn on wireless encryption - usually called WEP. This will create a key for your laptop - you need to save this key.

2) Set up the appropriate settings given to you by your ISP - this will normally be username and password plus maybe some settings regarding connection type (PPPoA/PPPoE etc), VPI and VCI.

You then need to set up the wireless on your laptop - Go to Start Bar - Connect to - then select Show all connections. You should find your wireless connection icon there. Right click the mouse over the wireless icon and select properties.This will open a window called Wireless Connection properties. Select the wireless network tab at the top. This will then allow you to add a preferred network - click the add button. Put in the name you set for your belkin router, select the appropriate data encryption (WEP) and key in the key geberated in 1 above.

You should then be able to connect to the belkin wirelessly and so you can then disconnect the ethernet cable.

You do not have to do the encryption part - but it is advisable. If you like you can leavce that bit to last !

Good Luck
Mike

TraceyB_2

Thanks Chippy_Minton,

Even I can understand all that except...

Where would I find my BT connection settings?

mike_paterson

BT settings will be on your existing PC - Start - Connect to - Show all connections - it should be somewhere in there - right mouse click on it and select properties. Alternatively there may be a Voyager 100 setup program installed that will let you see the settings.

mike_paterson

Also - check any emails sent to you when you first were switched on to ADSL - the settings will probably be listed there.

Chippy_Minton

TraceyB wrote:

Where would I find my BT connection settings?

Open a web browser and click here --> http://192.168.1.1. That should display the configuration pages for the router/modem.

What model Voyager is it?

By connection settings I mean the ADSL settings given to you by your ISP. E.g. encapsulation, multiplexing, VCI, VPI, username and password. These won't be shown on Network Connections.

scheming_gypsy

Belkin IP address are 192.168.2.1 and i think the voyager is 192.168.1.1

When you try to find out the details on the Voyager the default username and password is admin and admin

for the VCI & VPI you need 0 & 38

If your BT connection details are something like [email="AH45642G&#64;hg**.btclick.com"]AH45642G@hg**.btclick.com[/email] let me know if you get it working as my Dad has a Voyager and bought the Belkin G Router as well but can't connect to BT. Spoke to BT and they gave 2 test accounts to try. One one worked but the test @hg**.btclick.com one wouldn't and they're saying there must be a problem on the modem.

TraceyB_2

Thanks everyone for your input - this will keep me quiet tonight!

Chippy - its a Voyager 100

TraceyB_2

Really sorry about this but I still cant seem to get anywhere!

I have:-

Wired up the router to the laptop as described but once that's done, I cannot connect to the internet once all the wires are in. I get a balloon come up to say that the wireless connectrion is strong.

I cant get any further than that - any more help anyone?

On a positive note, I have managed to find out that my NIC is ON and where to find all the stuff on the modem - I guess that's a start! :cool:

Chippy_Minton

I know you eventually want to connect wirelessly, but I suggest you disable the wireless adapter in your laptop (the reason for the balloon message) and concentrate on getting the wired connection working first. To do so, click Start - Connect To - Show all connections - right-click Wireless Network Connection - Disable.

Next, open a command prompt window (Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt) and type:

ipconfig/all

Copy and paste the results into this thread, disguising the Physical Address and any IP addresses not starting 192 or 255.