Please help setting up a laptop on a wireless connection

Shazza1976

dounome wrote: »

It may help to know make and model of laptop as well

Make Dell
Model Number PPx

Thanks

espresso

You have a new wireless router 802.11g and an old 802.11a/b wireless card. It should still work but it will be limited to 802.11b speed and it looks like it only supports WEP encryption. see here for the spec and here for set-up guide.

Shazza1976

Thanks for all your help i will give this a try now

Shazza1976

I have the router & card all set up now :T Thanks :j

How do i make sure nobody else can log on to my connection??

Chippy_Minton

From a wired connection, click http://192.168.0.1
Username is admin. Leave Password blank.

Then click Wireless and enable wireless encryption. If the wireless card only supports WEP encryption then choose WEP on the router wireless config screen, otherwise choose WPA.

espresso

Shazza1976 wrote: »

I have the router & card all set up now :T Thanks :j

How do i make sure nobody else can log on to my connection??

You should change the SSID (network name) from the default to something unique but that does not identify you personally. If your card will only support WEP encryption, you will need to enter a random WEP key into your routers wireless setup screen, select 128 bit WEP. Copy and paste 10 random HEX characters available from here into a notepad file and save. The same saved key will then need to be entered into the laptop or any other PC that you wish to be able to connect to your router. Remember also to change the routers password from the default.

Shazza1976

IS it safe to use the network key provided from the laptop when i set up a wireless network settings???

espresso

Shazza1976 wrote: »

IS it safe to use the network key provided from the laptop when i set up a wireless network settings???

The random encryption key is entered into the router first while connected via Ethernet cable and then any other device that you wish to connect to your router over the wireless connection, will need the same key. e.g. if they don't know the key, no access to your network.