Basic question, hope you can help

This is most likely a very basic question for most of you, but still a
mystery for me. Hope you have enough patience to help me with this.



I just bought a 54 Mbps wireless PC card (NETGEAR WG511 v2) to use with my
laptop for wireless Internet connection when I am traveling. What do I do
to connect to wireless networks in hotels that provide wireless Internet to
their guests ("wireless Internet in each room")? Just insert the card into
the PC card slot on my laptop once I am in my room and - then what?..



With my PC card came a resource CD and installation instructions. The
instructions tell me to first install the WG511 v2 software and then insert
my wireless PC card. Then I am supposed to select the wireless network from
the drop down list. How do I know what wireless networks are used in the
hotels I am going to stay at?.. What do I do when moving to another hotel
or trying to access the wireless Internet at the airport or elsewhere? -
Should I carry the resource CD with me to go through the setup procedures
each time I change the places?



In other words: I have a laptop and a wireless PC card. What do I actually
do to get wireless Internet access where it is available?



Thanks!

John Cluster

John Cluster wrote:


> I just bought a 54 Mbps wireless PC card (NETGEAR WG511 v2) to use with my
> laptop for wireless Internet connection when I am traveling. What do I do
> to connect to wireless networks in hotels that provide wireless Internet
> to
> their guests ("wireless Internet in each room")? Just insert the card
> into the PC card slot on my laptop once I am in my room and - then what?..
>
> With my PC card came a resource CD and installation instructions. The
> instructions tell me to first install the WG511 v2 software and then
> insert
> my wireless PC card. Then I am supposed to select the wireless network
> from
> the drop down list. How do I know what wireless networks are used in the
> hotels I am going to stay at?.. What do I do when moving to another hotel
> or trying to access the wireless Internet at the airport or elsewhere? -
> Should I carry the resource CD with me to go through the setup procedures
> each time I change the places?

Install the pc card by using the cd that came with it. You will only do this
once. You do not need to carry the setup cd with you. When you are in a
hotel or Internet cafe with wireless, normally you pay for access to their
network. The exact structure of this depends on the hotel. I've been in
some hotels where you get a plastic card where you need to scratch off an
area to reveal the key. The hotel or Internet cafe will naturally give you
instructions for their method. Basically, you're going to give them some
money and they're going to give you a key.

So, you've paid for your hotel access and received the key. Put the pc card
in the laptop's slot and turn on your laptop. Either use the wireless
manager software that came with the card (if any) or if you have XP SP2,
use Windows' wireless manager. The wireless manager will report that there
are available wireless networks. Click on the one to which you want to
connect (the hotel's!) and you'll get a box where you will enter the
encryption key. Enter the encryption key, the laptop will take a moment to
get an IP address, and you'll be online.

Do not just pull the wireless card out of the laptop while it is running.
Shut the laptop down and then remove the pc card. You can decide if you
would rather just leave the pc card in the slot; just be carefull not to
break it.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Perfect instructions! Thank you, Malke!
John Cluster

"Malke" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> John Cluster wrote:
>
>
>> I just bought a 54 Mbps wireless PC card (NETGEAR WG511 v2) to use with
>> my
>> laptop for wireless Internet connection when I am traveling. What do I
>> do
>> to connect to wireless networks in hotels that provide wireless Internet
>> to
>> their guests ("wireless Internet in each room")? Just insert the card
>> into the PC card slot on my laptop once I am in my room and - then
>> what?..
>>
>> With my PC card came a resource CD and installation instructions. The
>> instructions tell me to first install the WG511 v2 software and then
>> insert
>> my wireless PC card. Then I am supposed to select the wireless network
>> from
>> the drop down list. How do I know what wireless networks are used in the
>> hotels I am going to stay at?.. What do I do when moving to another
>> hotel
>> or trying to access the wireless Internet at the airport or elsewhere? -
>> Should I carry the resource CD with me to go through the setup procedures
>> each time I change the places?
>
> Install the pc card by using the cd that came with it. You will only do
> this
> once. You do not need to carry the setup cd with you. When you are in a
> hotel or Internet cafe with wireless, normally you pay for access to their
> network. The exact structure of this depends on the hotel. I've been in
> some hotels where you get a plastic card where you need to scratch off an
> area to reveal the key. The hotel or Internet cafe will naturally give you
> instructions for their method. Basically, you're going to give them some
> money and they're going to give you a key.
>
> So, you've paid for your hotel access and received the key. Put the pc
> card
> in the laptop's slot and turn on your laptop. Either use the wireless
> manager software that came with the card (if any) or if you have XP SP2,
> use Windows' wireless manager. The wireless manager will report that there
> are available wireless networks. Click on the one to which you want to
> connect (the hotel's!) and you'll get a box where you will enter the
> encryption key. Enter the encryption key, the laptop will take a moment to
> get an IP address, and you'll be online.
>
> Do not just pull the wireless card out of the laptop while it is running.
> Shut the laptop down and then remove the pc card. You can decide if you
> would rather just leave the pc card in the slot; just be carefull not to
> break it.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"

John Cluster wrote:

> Perfect instructions! Thank you, Malke!
> John Cluster

You're most welcome.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

I read your very helpful post and I have a sinilar question.
My situation is identical to John's, however, the wireless card is
installed, I can hit the network, get an IP address and everything indicates
that I am connected. However when I try to go to a web site or web email I
get "Page cannot be found" errors like I'm not connceted. Even trying to get
to Google. If I replce the card with my standar ethernet card, and connect
witha cable, everything is back to normal and works fine. What am I missing?
"Malke" wrote:

> John Cluster wrote:
>
> > Perfect instructions! Thank you, Malke!
> > John Cluster
>
> You're most welcome.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"
>

Rick wrote:

> I read your very helpful post and I have a sinilar question.
> My situation is identical to John's, however, the wireless card is
> installed, I can hit the network, get an IP address and everything
> indicates that I am connected. However when I try to go to a web site or
> web email I get "Page cannot be found" errors like I'm not connceted. Even
> trying to get to Google. If I replce the card with my standar ethernet
> card, and connect witha cable, everything is back to normal and works
> fine. What am I missing? "Malke" wrote:

Is the IP address one on your normal network; i.e., 192.168.1.xx or the
like? Did you set up encryption? I no longer have John's original post so
you should start from the premise that I know nothing about your computers
and hardware. Here's a very brief step-by-step:

1. Set your wireless SSID to something other than the default on the router.
2. Set your wireless encryption on the router. All devices on the wireless
network must support the level of encryption you use. IOW, if your laptop's
wireless adapter only supports WEP, then you can't use the better
WPA2-Personal.
3. On the laptop, either use the adapter's wireless management software or
use Windows' if you have XP SP2.
4. You should get a message on the laptop showing the wireless networks
available. Click on yours, enter the encryption key, and you'll be
connected.

If you need more help than that, provide all relevant information as
suggested above.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Thanks for responding so quickly.
I am attempting to access a WiFi connection to which I don't have any router
access. I used the CD that came with the LinkSys Wireless-G 2.4 GHz card to
install it. I select a non-authemticted network connection when I conect, so
it does not prompt me for encryption. and No, I did not set it up. The Ip
address looks normal, but I don't know what specific network it's on.
all messages both in the adapter's wireless management software or
and Windows' wireless management XP SP2, indicate that I am connected. But
nothing will connect in a a browser (IE).
I don't understand your comments re;
>1. Set your wireless SSID to something other than the default on the router.
> 2. Set your wireless encryption on the router. All devices on the wireless
> network must support the level of encryption you use. IOW, if your laptop's
> wireless adapter only supports WEP, then you can't use the better
> WPA2-Personal.


"Malke" wrote:

> Rick wrote:
>
> > I read your very helpful post and I have a sinilar question.
> > My situation is identical to John's, however, the wireless card is
> > installed, I can hit the network, get an IP address and everything
> > indicates that I am connected. However when I try to go to a web site or
> > web email I get "Page cannot be found" errors like I'm not connceted. Even
> > trying to get to Google. If I replce the card with my standar ethernet
> > card, and connect witha cable, everything is back to normal and works
> > fine. What am I missing? "Malke" wrote:
>
> Is the IP address one on your normal network; i.e., 192.168.1.xx or the
> like? Did you set up encryption? I no longer have John's original post so
> you should start from the premise that I know nothing about your computers
> and hardware. Here's a very brief step-by-step:
>
> 1. Set your wireless SSID to something other than the default on the router.
> 2. Set your wireless encryption on the router. All devices on the wireless
> network must support the level of encryption you use. IOW, if your laptop's
> wireless adapter only supports WEP, then you can't use the better
> WPA2-Personal.
> 3. On the laptop, either use the adapter's wireless management software or
> use Windows' if you have XP SP2.
> 4. You should get a message on the laptop showing the wireless networks
> available. Click on yours, enter the encryption key, and you'll be
> connected.
>
> If you need more help than that, provide all relevant information as
> suggested above.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"
>

Rick wrote:

> Thanks for responding so quickly.
> I am attempting to access a WiFi connection to which I don't have any
> router access. I used the CD that came with the LinkSys Wireless-G 2.4 GHz
> card to install it. I select a non-authemticted network connection when I
> conect, so it does not prompt me for encryption. and No, I did not set it
> up. The Ip address looks normal, but I don't know what specific network
> it's on.
> all messages both in the adapter's wireless management software or
> and Windows' wireless management XP SP2, indicate that I am connected. But
> nothing will connect in a a browser (IE).
> I don't understand your comments re;
>>1. Set your wireless SSID to something other than the default on the
>>router.
>> 2. Set your wireless encryption on the router. All devices on the
>> wireless network must support the level of encryption you use. IOW, if
>> your laptop's wireless adapter only supports WEP, then you can't use the
>> better WPA2-Personal.

If you don't have access to the router, then the comments you don't
understand are irrelevant anyway because they refer to router settings and
you say you aren't connecting to an encrypted network. The SSID is the name
of the wireless network. If you are trying to connect to someone else's
network and you don't have their permission and the information about
connecting, then you won't be able to connect. They may have their router
set to only allow certain computers to use the connection (MAC address
filtering). There isn't any way to know without asking the owners.

It sounds like you aren't getting any DNS and if you are getting an IP
address of 169.x.x.x it means you aren't getting an IP address on that
network - your computer isn't finding a DHCP server. The fact that your
wireless card says you have a strong connection doesn't mean you are really
getting online (you aren't).

If you do have permission to connect to this wireless network, you'll need
to contact the people managing it and ask for help. I'm not making any
moral judgments here; I'm just telling you what has to be done to get
online.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Thank you for taking the time to respond in such detail. I really appreciate
it.
I understand exactly what you're saying. When I got home to my apartment in
Center City Philadelphia. I was able to get a wireless connection that works
fine. In fact I'm replying to you through that connection.
I will have to ask the IT folks where I was today about using their network.
Thank you again.
Cheers.

"Malke" wrote:

> Rick wrote:
>
> > Thanks for responding so quickly.
> > I am attempting to access a WiFi connection to which I don't have any
> > router access. I used the CD that came with the LinkSys Wireless-G 2.4 GHz
> > card to install it. I select a non-authemticted network connection when I
> > conect, so it does not prompt me for encryption. and No, I did not set it
> > up. The Ip address looks normal, but I don't know what specific network
> > it's on.
> > all messages both in the adapter's wireless management software or
> > and Windows' wireless management XP SP2, indicate that I am connected. But
> > nothing will connect in a a browser (IE).
> > I don't understand your comments re;
> >>1. Set your wireless SSID to something other than the default on the
> >>router.
> >> 2. Set your wireless encryption on the router. All devices on the
> >> wireless network must support the level of encryption you use. IOW, if
> >> your laptop's wireless adapter only supports WEP, then you can't use the
> >> better WPA2-Personal.
>
> If you don't have access to the router, then the comments you don't
> understand are irrelevant anyway because they refer to router settings and
> you say you aren't connecting to an encrypted network. The SSID is the name
> of the wireless network. If you are trying to connect to someone else's
> network and you don't have their permission and the information about
> connecting, then you won't be able to connect. They may have their router
> set to only allow certain computers to use the connection (MAC address
> filtering). There isn't any way to know without asking the owners.
>
> It sounds like you aren't getting any DNS and if you are getting an IP
> address of 169.x.x.x it means you aren't getting an IP address on that
> network - your computer isn't finding a DHCP server. The fact that your
> wireless card says you have a strong connection doesn't mean you are really
> getting online (you aren't).
>
> If you do have permission to connect to this wireless network, you'll need
> to contact the people managing it and ask for help. I'm not making any
> moral judgments here; I'm just telling you what has to be done to get
> online.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"
>