I have been asked to repair another local PC problem.

Description:

3-way wireless AOL connection. All 3 should be able to connect at the same time (using different user names)

Setup -

Main PC in home office connected to AOL via Belkin wireless modem/router.

Laptop 1 connected to AOL via wireless adapter through main PC

Laptop 2 connected to AOL via wireless adapter through main PC


Problem -

Laptop 1 is not getting a connection at all - anytime, even when nothing else in the network is online.

Laptop 2 will not connect when Main PC is online.

Laptop 1 is not recieving any signal returned from modem.

All 3 have up to date and working drivers.


Question:

Being a complete newbie at wireless technology, how would you suggest I tackle this problem?

Thanks

Alex

Make sure they all have unique ip addresses. I am assuming this is aol dsl or cable? You have the aol modem plugged into your router. Then your three wireless computers will connect to that router?

Make sure they are all getting different ip addresses.

Thanks Grinler

I'll elaborate a wee bit here then. The Router is a combo modem/Router (Belkin). It has 2 aeriels out the back of it. and it is based in the home office area, near the main PC.

How should I check for seperate IP addresses?

Alex

You could go to each pc and run the command prompt and type ipconfig. Or you could log in to the router by typing the ip address of it, and looking for something like attached devices. It will show all attached devices and their ip address.

You also want to make sure that they all have the right ssid. You can enter the ssid in the wireless network properties. You can find the ssid by logging in to the router.

Keith

Thanks for all your help folks, but I really am a novice.

How would I log into the router?

I typed in ipconfig into Start>Run. and nothing happened. there was a brief window showing some dos commands, but not enough time to read it. it literally flashed.

What is the ssid?

Cheers

Alex

Alexcraw - I'm a wireless novice also, but since I was passing through I thought I'd throw in my 10c worth to help you along until an expert arrives:



Type in "cmd" at Start>Run to open a command prompt window then type "ipconfig /all" at the c:\windows\whatever prompt to get your IP address.



Ideally you need to find the user manual that came with the router. You also need to know the IP address or name of the router and the SSID and the router password. Check for labels on the router which may have this information.



The "Service Set IDentifier" is the unique name given to this network when it was set up. If no unique name was given the SSID is probably something like "Belkin". The laptops have to be told the SSID to which they will connect otherwise their wireless communications will be rejected by the router.

Go to the PC which is able to connect to the internet. Open a browser window and in the address bar (or nav bar) type the IP address of the router or the name of the router. The browser should now open a Belkin Router homepage. It will probably ask you to log in before you can view or change configuration details, hence the need for a password.

That's all the light I can shed at the moment, I hope its of some use.

The address to the router is usually the default gateway. So go to the working pc, click start->run->type cmd. then use the ipconfig command to find the defualt gateway. Enter that into your internet explorer. It will ask for a username and password, it's usually something easy like admin, password or something like that, check the manual. If you dont have the manual, you can use google to find the default password.

Keith

I have never been able to get an AOL hook up to share its connection. Either hardwired or wireless. I have read where it is possible but I personally have never had any luck trying to accomplish it.