Wireless Home Networking - Index of

Chapter 6: Installing Wireless Access Points in Windows
troubleshooting such a problem is to unplug everything from the power
supply (router/AP, broadband modem, and PC), and then turn it back on
starting with the modem and slowly working your way back to the PC(s).
If you’re still not getting online, call your ISP’s technical support line. If
MAC tracking is the issue, you can get around it by cloning your
PC’s MAC address in your router as discussed in the preceding paragraph.
Installing the AP
If you’re connecting your first computer with your ISP, the ISP should have
supplied you with all the information we list in the preceding section except
for the physical address of the network card (which isn’t needed if you aren’t
already connected).
Before you install your wireless gear, buy a 100-foot Ethernet cable. If you’re
installing your AP at a distance farther than that from your router or Internetsharing
PC, get a longer cable. Trust us: This advice comes with having done
this a lot. You need a wired backup to your system to test devices and debug
problems. To do that (unless you want to keep moving your gear around,
which we don’t recommend), you need a long cable. Or two. Anyone with a
home network should have extra cables, just like you have electrical extension
cords around the house. You can get good-quality 100-foot CAT-5e/6
patch cables online at places like Deep Surplus (www.deepsurplus.com) or
a host of other online retailers for around $15.
When you’re ready to do the AP installation, follow these steps:
1. Gather the necessary information for installing the AP (see the preceding
bulleted list) by following these steps:
In Windows XP:
a. Choose Start➪Programs➪Accessories➪Command Prompt.
This step brings up the command prompt window, which is a DOS
screen.
b. Type IPCONFIG /ALL and then press Enter.
The information scrolls down the screen. Use the scroll bar to slide
up to the top and write down the networking information we list
earlier in this chapter (physical address, IP address, default gateway,
subnet mask, DNS servers) and whether DHCP is enabled. You
use this information to configure the AP in Step 4.
In Windows Vista:
a. Choose Start➪Network➪Network and Sharing Center.
The Network and Sharing Center appears, which gives you access
to all network adapters and their properties.
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