- If you’ve got through the previous section and still can’t connect to the router, then skip ahead to the end and look at updating drivers.. - Look back at the network diagram. - Because you can connect to the router, you know that your computer is all right and the wireless network works. - While you’re at it, make sure that all the cables are plugged in properly.. - By now, you’ve checked all the common problems with the router and you’re getting close to the point where you’re going to have to call someone for help.. - If you’re able to connect to the Internet with your computer directly plugged in to your cable or ADSL modem, then your ISP is off the hook. - If you still can’t browse the Web with your computer plugged in to the Internet connection, then your provider’s probably at fault. - If you’ve successfully connected to the Internet with the router before, and it just stopped working, then it’s probably a problem with your provider. - Make sure that you’ve rebooted everything, and then jump down to the “Before Calling for Support” section.. - First, check to see if you’re getting an IP address from your provider. - If you have an Internet address of 0.0.0.0, then it means that you’re not con- nected to your provider, or your provider is having a problem.. - One of my favorite quotes about software development is, “If debugging is the process of removing bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in.”. - For wireless adapters, this means that you can upgrade the drivers.. - To find the latest software upgrades, go to the home page of the device’s manufacturer, and look for a link called either “Support” or “Drivers and Downloads.” You’ll need to know the model number of the device you have.. - Click Yes if you want to continue.. - While you’re upgrading your drivers, you may as well upgrade the wireless utilities. - If you got this far, then you’re calling either your ISP or your router manufac- turer for support. - No matter who you’re calling, make sure to have the following things handy:. - A list of what you’ve done so far. - If you are calling your service provider, make sure that you know the following:. - If you are calling your router manufacturer, have the following handy:. - A summary of what you’ve tried. - Does the router work if you are wired in but not wireless?. - Working with the Network and Sharing Center. - Viewing an Available Network’s Signal Strength. - If all goes well, you can install a wireless network adapter in your PC, and you’re almost ready to connect with your chosen wireless network. - 140 Working with the Network and Sharing Center. - If you have newer hardware, this should be the case most of the time. - If you’re trying to use an older or obscure network adapter (stay away from the bargain bins!) or own a computer that you bought more than, say, eight or nine years ago, this might not be the case.. - If you’re running an older operating system, all bets are off. - If you’re one of those home computer users that just isn’t comfort- able using Windows Vista for whatever reason, then you’ll want to make sure you’re using Windows XP Service Pack 2 at the very minimum or plan on upgrading to Windows 7 upon availability. - My Network Places is replaced in Windows Vista with the Network and Sharing Center, as shown in Figure 1-1.. - For example, Windows draws a basic schema of your network connection that shows your computer, the name and type of network location, and finally to what you’re connected (the Internet!).. - From the main panel in the Network and Sharing Center, you can find out more information about your network, such as the name and access you have. - Should you see only Local only, you know you’ve got problems on your hands and you should consider rebooting either your computer or your wireless router.. - The left side of the Network and Sharing Center displays a series of tasks and related topics. - 142 Working with the Network and Sharing Center. - Here’s how you access the Network and Sharing Center from the taskbar:. - Right-click the network icon (two screens joined with a planet Earth) in the right-side of the taskbar, as shown in Figure 1-2.. - The Network and Sharing Center appears in a separate window.. - Accessing the Network and Sharing Center from the taskbar.. - If you grew up using Microsoft Windows as your primary (if not only) operating system over the years, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the legendary Windows folders: My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, and so on.. - First, you’ve likely noticed that Vista has dumped My. - Most likely, when you think of a wireless network, you’re thinking about an infrastructure network. - However, anytime you communicate between a wireless access point (such as a wireless router) and a wireless network adapter, you’re moving infor- mation over an infrastructure network. - When you’re on the road and using a coffee shop’s wireless access, you’re connecting to an infrastructure net- work. - You can use a computer-to-computer network in your home or on the road, but a wireless network usually has specific applications, including the following:. - Anytime you’re mobile, the network moves with you because you don’t have to lug routers or other hardware (aside from your laptop).. - Anywhere an infrastructure network’s wireless access point is unreach- able. - If you don’t want to rely on the hardware in an infrastructure network, a computer-to-computer network provides redundancy. - After you have a computer-to-computer network set up, you can configure one computer to share an Internet connection with the other computers. - Working with the Network and Sharing Center 140 Mingling with Different Networks 143. - Hopefully, you’ve made it past the rough spots and are ready to actually transfer data around your home.. - I also discuss some ways to monitor your network’s signal strength and capacity. - If you’re still interested in finding what’s out there, read on, because you’re in the right place.. - If you don’t see your networks, be concerned.. - That doesn’t mean that you can connect to those networks, though. - If the selected network requires a network key, now’s the time to type it in this screen of the dialog box, as shown in Figure 2-2.. - What if an available network requires a network key, but you don’t have one? If you’re sure it’s your network or one you’ve been invited to use, you should ask its administrator for The Magic Key. - That’s it! You’re done.. - If you are going to use an unsecured network as a wireless connection, Windows makes sure that you realize what you’re getting yourself into.. - If one goes down, you can easily switch to the other Internet connection. - If you followed the previous set of instructions, you’ve made it past the initial gatekeeper. - You can view all available networks now. - Ignore them, as it’s the right thing to do. - If you’re in a neighborhood with lots of wireless networks, you’ll probably see this list constantly change as some networks go live and others shut down.. - You can configure an available network from the Manage Wireless Networks page, which is available from the Tasks list in the Network and Sharing Center. - Configuration options include changing the network name (which is also called the SSID) and the wireless network key. - In the Network and Sharing Center, click Manage wireless networks under the Tasks list.. - Click the name of the network you wish to configure.. - Right-click the name of the network and click Properties. - If you select WEP, you can enter a network key and make other related changes.. - When you find yourself in an area covered by a particular wireless network you used in the past, you’ll be all set to connect.. - Here’s what you can do from this page:. - View a network’s properties. - Reorder a preferred network’s position. - Chances are, this is how you’ll set up your wireless network.. - For example, let’s say that you’ve been using a new wireless connection that is available to you, but your computer insists on always looking for, and connecting to, an older wireless connection. - You can add this network while it’s in range, and it adds it to the list of preferred wireless connections. - Enter the network’s name and other details.. - You’re done. - Select the network you want to remove.. - 156 Viewing an Available Network’s Signal Strength. - Viewing a network’s properties. - You can view a preferred network’s properties by following these steps:. - Windows (XP, Vista, and 7) starts with the first network and moves down, so you’ll want your most-used networks toward the top of the list. - Now you’ve reordered your life — or at least your list of preferred networks.. - You’ll be happy to know there’s a simple way to view the strength of your wireless network’s signal. - A good time to check your network’s signal strength is when you first set it up and anytime you move your PCs or other network hardware. - Then, with thinking cap firmly applied, you can reconsider where you’ll move your equipment.. - There are other software and hardware tools for viewing your network’s signal strength. - To view a simple but helpful visual graphic showing your network’s signal strength, just follow these steps:. - the strength is displayed next to your network’s name.. - A small bar graph provides a quick look at the strength of your wireless network’s signal, as shown in Figure 2-8. - If four or five bars are high- lighted, you’re enjoying strong, robust signal reception.. - When you’re in an airport, for example, you hopefully see one or more wireless networks available for your use — although some or all may require payment.. - When you’re in an airport or other public area (or even in one of your company’s offices) where you expect to return on a future trip, you can add the network to the list of preferred networks. - If you need to make any special con- figurations for accessing a particular network, you can save them for the next time you con- nect to the same network.. - If you’re in a strange office, you may not know that the steel walls are blocking a nearby network. - Viewing an Available Network’s Signal Strength 156
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