Wireless cable connection

crazyhorse333 · #1 02-15-2003, 10:14 AM

I have been using a wireless cable connection to access the intenet for about 3 weeks now. I share it with 4 other computers in the building. My lanlord had the cable modem and base for the wireless and everthing comes into him and out to us. I am the only one that uses the wireless usb adapter and it always connects excellent or very good. I am a novice to this stuff, but what i want to know is what is the best way to set everything else up. In the wireless connection properties and then Net bui over tcp, the dhcp ip address.
The cable is charter communications and my adapter is the microsoft MN-510. I have windows xp pro. It seems that some times when on line its as slow as a dialup connection but for the most part its pretty fast. I am right below the base station so there is never any connection or reception problems.There is no file sharing or networking going on with any of the computer. It is just for sharing the cable connection. So when I try to read up on this stuff, I get confused by the way the word "networking" is always used. Could someone give me the best way to adjust my properties and also a place to read up on this. If you need more info let me know. I guess i kind of repeated myself alot and I apoligize for this. Thanks Michael

crazyhorse333 · #2 02-15-2003, 04:37 PM

nobody can comment?

beeboy · #3 02-15-2003, 05:04 PM

I'm a little confused. You are sharing a cable connection with 4 others but you are the only one wireless, right? Plus, you could be sharing the wireless signal with any freeloaders in the vicinity. 5 machines on one cable signal would drag down performance I would think. I'm sure others can comment on the networking issue.

njovin · #4 02-17-2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

what is the best way to set everything else up. In the wireless connection properties and then Net bui over tcp, the dhcp ip address.

What do you mean everything else? What else are you trying to set up? You sais the connection works fine.

As far as speeds, cable connections are shared bandwidth with others who use cable in your area. So if you live on a street where lots of people have cable, you will slow down at peak hours. Having 5 people on one cable line would NOT slow it down that much, as cable connections (as long as it is not peak hours in a busy area) are comparable to T1 speeds (really fast).

Also, the last guy was right. Wireless is easy to freeload, landlord should check the wireless router to see how many people are ACTUALLY jacking his connection.

But explain better about what ELSE you are trying to setup.

ziggie · #5 02-17-2003, 03:31 PM

Quote:

landlord should check the wireless router to see how many people are ACTUALLY jacking his connection.

I have a puter on wireless access and would like to check same...what exactly would one use to check that out..????

Getting to be a interesting thread....

njovin · #6 02-17-2003, 03:37 PM

You need to log in to your router (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your web browser). Somewhere in the config of your router (it depends on the brand), there will be a place to view open connections.

beeboy · #7 02-17-2003, 03:54 PM

There was an interesting piece on this on the telly a while back. A hacker drove around an american city intercepting wireless internet. It was amazing how many businesses and agencies were transmitting aimlessly. Wireless can have a pretty decent range.

njovin · #8 02-17-2003, 05:35 PM

Wha you're talking about was a special on hacking. He drove around Washington DC intercepting wireless signals off of Goc't buildings. It's amazing how many admins put Wireless Access Points BEHIND their firewalls.

crazyhorse333 · #9 02-17-2003, 06:54 PM

yes I saw those programs also, but what i mean is im not sharing files of printers or anything like that . I just use the cable connection with a wireless adapter and all the other comps are hardwired. So its my desktop thats wireless and the landlords laptop and 3 desktops that are hardwired to the cable connection. I just noticed that at certain times it can be rather slow. For the most part it flys. I was wondering aboutt the settings in properties of the tcp over netbui vs netbui over tsp. The other thing is does it matter if my firwall is on as long as the cable connection has on that is on. I have windows xp pro.
There is also a different IP address when I check the speed on the speed guide website . I guess one is external and mine is like you said above very similar to all the others on the so called non-filesharing network. I have the microsoft wireless adapter and the lanlord uses the Microsoft base station. There are options for many different channels from 1 -11 and mine is set for 6. Could I change that? Would it matter. I downloaded a 350 megabite game from the internet the other night, the one from the US Army. It only tookabout 45 minutes. Other times its slower and I wondere about all the settings that I mentioned that Ishould tweak ? What should the fragmentation threshold be set at ? 2432 is what its at now. I have all file and printing sharing off. is there more that I can do. Ill tell you I am right below the base station and I cant get over how fast it can be. But the typical male addict , " I want MORE " Thats what im talking about , Thank s for all the replys. Its very cool technology. Mike

njovin · #10 02-17-2003, 07:24 PM

You can't speed up the connection by changing your settings. Chances are, when it's slow, the traffic in your area is just high. Nothing will get faster if you start screwing around with your network settings, and you're likely to break it altogether.

When a website shows you your address, and it is different from the one you see on your machine, it is because the router assigns you an INTERNAL address, and then broadcasts an EXTERNAL address - its normal.

I would leave the firewall on your machine on, because the firewalls bilt into those routers are not very good at all.

beeboy · #11 02-17-2003, 07:36 PM

I agree totally with Njovin. Your speeds are dependant upon what others are doing around you. Even neighborhood useage will bring down your speeds. What are you getting for download speed? I have gotten as high as 300kbs but normally it varies anywhere from 30 to 200 with cable. Then again it depends on usage and the websites I am downloading from. There are various programs that say they will tweak the registry to get more out of your dsl - beware - I have tried this and had to reinstall the OS.

njovin · #12 02-17-2003, 07:38 PM

Yes, I would strongly recommend avoiding any software that claims to speed up your internet connection. Cable is good enough, be happy when its fast and deal with it or complain to the ISP when it's not.

The risks involved in installing software that claims to speed up youyr connection is NOT worth the extra 2 or 3 kb/s you'll get out of ir.