Posted: 8/21/2009 4:36:29 PM EDT
|
Just hooked one up to my MILs computer/cable internet modem, and I immediately was able to connect (using wireless) with my laptop. I didn't even have to load the disk that came with the router.
How do I set her computer so that people outside/neighbors can't hook up through her connection? Her computer has Vista. |
|
open a browser go to 192.168.1.1
type in admin for username and admin for password when the little login screen comes up. Click the wireless tab at the top of the screen. Select "manual" if you have that option on wireless main screen. In the spot that says "SSID" put in whatever name you want the network to be called, then click "apply" or "save" or whatever the option is that makes it take effect. Then go to "wireless security" it'll be under the tab that just says "wireless" In there select WPA. In the area that's called "Shared Key" type in a password of your choosing that is 8 characters or more. Again hit the button that says apply or save or w/e. your router is now secured from wireless invasion. You will need to to do a new scan for wireless networks on your laptop, click "connect" on w'e you named it and then enter the password when prompted. |
I had to do "admin" and "admin", then was able to change the name from LinkSys to something new and set a password, but that immediately kicked me offline because it no longer matched her PC. I had to wait until my son got done downloading some stuff on her PC, then rename the connection so the shared network deal would recognize it. It's all fixed now. I appreciate the help.
 
|
Well, turns out it wasn't/isn't all fixed. When we were about to leave I did a restart on the MIL computer just to be sure, and it wouldn't let me online. It showed the new connection I'd made as being online plus the little weather window deal on the desktop worked, but I couldn't get access through the browser. I spent a long time trying to get back in and couldn't, but I couldn't leave her computer that way, and finally went back into the admin thing and disabled the wireless. That got her back online, but I don't know how to fix or undo what I already did. 
|
|
Quoted:
Just hooked one up to my MILs computer/cable internet modem, and I immediately was able to connect (using wireless) with my laptop. I didn't even have to load the disk that came with the router. How do I set her computer so that people outside/neighbors can't hook up through her connection? Her computer has Vista. Uh, did you try reading the manual? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just hooked one up to my MILs computer/cable internet modem, and I immediately was able to connect (using wireless) with my laptop. I didn't even have to load the disk that came with the router. How do I set her computer so that people outside/neighbors can't hook up through her connection? Her computer has Vista. Uh, did you try reading the manual? Didn't see one. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just hooked one up to my MILs computer/cable internet modem, and I immediately was able to connect (using wireless) with my laptop. I didn't even have to load the disk that came with the router. How do I set her computer so that people outside/neighbors can't hook up through her connection? Her computer has Vista. Uh, did you try reading the manual? Didn't see one. Did you get a cd? 
|
|
There's a CD, but we hooked up the router, turned her computer on and it worked. It wasn't secure, but my laptop picked it up and connected immediately. It never opened a wizard or window asking for a disk, so I was afraid to install a disk that it didn't require.
As you can see, on this stuff I can get in over my head in the shallow end of the pool. 
|
|
The manual will be on the CD.
Also, you can go online to the manufacturer, look up support, download a manual (usually pdf format). While there check for any firmware updates. In my job I travel to many of my customers' locations, work with other engineers. They usually have an office, or several offices for outside vendors to use, and we often set up wireless routers for all of us. I don't have Linksys here at home but do have D-Link routers. However I have set up D-Link, Linksys, Belkin, and other routers. If you totally screw up you can push the reset button on the back. This takes a paperclip or other device to push the button. That sets everything back to factory defaults. Then start again. If your ISP has set up a modem/router for you, this may be a bad move. Anyway, find the manual, usually a pdf file, on the CD or online, go from there. You don't need drivers, etc, from the CD. For outboard wireless cards for your computers, and this is a separate issue, you may need drivers for those, but this is unrelated to your router issue. So, start again, usually there is a setup wizard, get it operating. Do all password changing, etc, via a CAT-5 cable. As you saw, as soon as you change things you may lose wireless access to the router. Duh. Of course. Go through one of the LAN ports via direct connection to your computer via CAT-5 for all router work. This is where you screwed up. Follow what the manual says, step by step. For you other guys, all D-Link wireless routers are set up for two user names... "admin" (not "administrator"... just "admin") and "user". No capitals. "admin" gives full access. "user" gives access to make some changes, less than allowed by "admin". For your first time into a NEW or freshly RESET D-Link you access the router by entering in the address bar, 192.168.0.1. Immediately you will be asked to enter user name and password. In the user name enter "admin" (no quotes, of course). Leave password blank. After you get in, use the setup wizard to set everything up. During this setup you will enter a password, then again to confirm. No "logging off", just close the browser. If you change the password you will be temporarily locked out. Reenter via 192.168.0.1 and now enter "admin" and the new password. If you screw up, reset button, start all over. Linksys, Belkin, and others work similarly, but as stated in previous posts, a different address (192.168.1.1) to access and different user name. But once in, I have been able to set up various brands without referring to manuals, they are that similar. Another thing you may want to do. If you are near a lot of other routers, such as my daughter's apartment near a college campus, there are a lot on the air. And every one of them comes set to transmit by default on channel 6. While in there, if you can find it, change to another channel. Anything but 6. I like 3 and 10. But pick one that is not ch 6. Your computers will automatically scan the 10 channels and find it. That is what the wireless card is doing while your computer boots up, scans through. Some wireless utlities will even show you the channels being scanned. This will keep your computers from being confused by so many signals on one frequency. Don't worry about why, just do it. You'll have a much more stable connection when in a distant room. |
| When I got to the page that shows available networks, it showed two secure networks from her neighbors and a Network (#) which was hers. When I got done, it had that plus Network (next number up) and the router one I'd created. I don't know how to connect through one those, delete the two extras or even which two I would delete if I could. If I put the CD in, it'll likely create another one. |
|
Quoted:
4. Disable SSID broadcast
5. Enable MAC address filtering
By default, most wireless networking devices are set to broadcast theSSID, so anyone can easily join the wireless network with just thisinformation. But hackers will also be able to connect, so unless you'rerunning a public hotspot, it's best to disable SSID broadcast. You maythink it is more convenient to broadcast your SSID so that you canclick on it to join your network, but you can configure the devices onyour network to automatically connect to a specific SSID withoutbroadcasting the SSID from your router. I have had problems at times with some systems, turning off SSID the computers can't find the networks. Linksys routers give you the ability to enable MAC (Media AccessControl) address filtering. The MAC address is a unique series ofnumbers and letters assigned to every networking device. With MACaddress filtering enabled, wireless network access is provided solelyfor wireless devices with specific MAC addresses. For example, you canspecify only the computers in your house to access your wirelessnetwork. It would be very difficult for a hacker to access your networkusing a random MAC address. This is good, and I set up MAC filtering, too. But if MAC filtering is set up, does this do away with the need for WEP or WPA encryption? |
|
GoGop, OK, MAC address.... how do you find them? Well, to find your MAC address is different in different operation systems. Easiest thing to do is, for example, if you have Vista, simply Google "find MAC address Vista". Or "find MAC address XP". etc.
When you do this, it wll bring up a window that will list all of your network devices, both LAN and wireless. So, make sure you get the right ones. You don't need the one for the dial up adapter, the phone line. Remember, do all this with a CAT-5 connection into one of the LAN ports. And enter both your wireless and LAN MAC addresses. When you enter all that, you will also enter the MAC address in association with a name. Mary and 00-26-e8- etc., and Bob and 00-57-82-c2- etc or even Computer1, whatever you want to call it. |
|
http://192.168.1.1 insert previously mentioned Username and Password.
If you don't need the wireless, turn it off. Otherwise, follow the WPA and MAC address suggestions above. |
|
Quoted: Regarding the SSID: That's the idea. Once broadcasting the SSID is turned off, you'll need to manually create a wireless network profile on your machine, and specify the SSID. It'll connect automatically in the future, if you desire. XP, Vista, 7, various flavors of Linux - all work. If not, you're doing it wrong. Quoted: 4. Disable SSID broadcast 5. Enable MAC address filteringBy default, most wireless networking devices are set to broadcast theSSID, so anyone can easily join the wireless network with just thisinformation. But hackers will also be able to connect, so unless you'rerunning a public hotspot, it's best to disable SSID broadcast. You maythink it is more convenient to broadcast your SSID so that you canclick on it to join your network, but you can configure the devices onyour network to automatically connect to a specific SSID withoutbroadcasting the SSID from your router. I have had problems at times with some systems, turning off SSID the computers can't find the networks. Linksys routers give you the ability to enable MAC (Media AccessControl) address filtering. The MAC address is a unique series ofnumbers and letters assigned to every networking device. With MACaddress filtering enabled, wireless network access is provided solelyfor wireless devices with specific MAC addresses. For example, you canspecify only the computers in your house to access your wirelessnetwork. It would be very difficult for a hacker to access your networkusing a random MAC address. This is good, and I set up MAC filtering, too. But if MAC filtering is set up, does this do away with the need for WEP or WPA encryption?  Setting up MAC address filtering is an extra measure of security, wherein only specified devices are allowed to attach to the AP. But it does NOT eliminate the need for encryption. Just because another machine isn't allowed to attach to the access point, doesn't mean someone else can't sniff any cleartext data *you're* sending to the AP over the air. |
|
Quoted: When I go there I'll activate wireless, open this thread on my laptop (so I can scroll these instructions), disable wireless again and see if I can fix it. I hate to ask, but do I also have to do something for encryption? :hiding-behind-the-wall-smilie: Yes. Setup WPA. It's stupid easy. |