Home wireless networking & Control?

[Mike12421]

Hello all, just a quick question.

I want to give the family computer downstairs access to the Internet. I have the main PC upstairs, which has Virgin/Blueyonder 10mb broadband (UK) going in to it.

Now I wanted to setup a wireless connection to downstairs, however I am not very clued up with the technology. Also, from what I have read, the broadband needs to go in to a router, then both my PC and the Family PC each run from that. *I don't want to set it up like that!!!* I want to keep the broadband coming straight in to the PC upstairs, and feed a proportion downstairs if that is possible.

I have bought Netgear WGT624 router, and have a network wire connecting that to the main PC upstairs. I have also bought a wireless adapter (usb) and have plugged that in to the family PC downstairs.

Both PC's have Vista Ultimate installed, and both can see the other in the Network Manager (Computer name, that's all, cannot double click and share files). However the family PC can *NOT* access the internet. Also the main PC makes no reference to the Wireless network, whilst the Family PC shows the wireless network signal strength. No wireless network passwords have been requested from either PC.

I have tried everything but I am not having much luck.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated., as the kids are on my back to have the internet setup.

Thanks.

[Mike12421]

Any one?

[Groovicus]

Have you logged into your router ro make sure that the wireless is enabled? While you are checking that, make sure to change the default password also. There should be an instruction book that tells you how to log into your router.

[Mike12421]

Thanks for the reply.

After a lot of messing about, both computers can see the other listed in the "view computers and devices", however the PC downstairs can not connect to the internet, nor can I transfer files between the two computers.

When I search for wireless networks from the family PC, it shows "Virgin Broadband Network" as I listed it. It connects to it, but I am never asked for a password, from either computer, and so it shows as a "public network".

The main PC does not recognise any wireless equipment, even though the wireless router is connected to the main PC via a nertwork lead.

What am I doing wrong?

[Groovicus]

[Mike12421]

Currently I have (or would like);

Internet (Broadband)----->Main PC----->Wireless Router---->Second PC


I wanted it this way simply because I wanted to set up bandwidth restrictions, parental control etc. Have I done things completely the wrong way?

[Groovicus]

No, it's not the wrong way, it is just a bit harder. I have to assume then that your main pc is able to connect to the Internet the modem.

Doing it the way might be a bit hard to configure. Or it might just work.

First, I am assuming then that your main PC has two network cards? It must, otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far. You need to identify which card is connected to the router. When you do, you need to configure Internet connection sharing on that one. That might just be enough to get it going. The set-up procedures should help:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314066

To share files between the computers, you will have to enable file sharing, but let's stick to one problem at a time.

[Mike12421]

Done, but still nothing.

I don't know if it matters, but when I look under my "Network Connections", (which I have two, one is "Internet" and the second is "Family Network") the Family Network says "Unidentified network".

P.S. Thanks for taking the time.

[Groovicus]

Have you tried the network connection wizard on the downstairs pc yet? I don't know what sort of a connection you had before, so I don't know what sort of previous configurations might be mucking things up.

Just for testing purposes, is there any way you can plug the second computer directly into the router (temporarily). It makes it easier to diagnose where the problems may lie. Then run the setup wizard on the router. That should properly set up a connection between the two computers and the router.

[Mike12421]

I have tried the network connection wizard on the downstairs pc. It searches for wireless networks, and finds mine. However when I click on connect, it says that it is unable to.

I have just brought the downstairs PC up here, and plugged it direct in to the internet, and it works (it has a clean install of vista).

Under network connections, inside Family network, I have changed the IPv4 settings to automatic. This has now got rid of the "Unidentified network" that it was stating before.

But still nothing. My computer can not even find the PC downstairs now, even though the PC downstairs can find my computer??

[Groovicus]

Running out to relatives right now....

The back of your main pc has two network cards; one for the incoming signal, and one for the signal going out to the router. Plug the second computer directly into the second network card (completely remove the router from the equation). If you have internet connection sharing set up, the second computer will be able to access the internet. If it is not set up correctly, it isn't. Once we know that part works, then we can move on.

If I am not explaining things clearly enough, let me know. But basically, set up your system to be like this:
--->Broadband---->Main PC------>Second PC

You might want to refrain from tweaking any settings for the moment. The Ipv4 settings may break something down the road.

[Mike12421]

I think I might be getting closer. The network card that connects to the second PC shows "Unidentified Network access: Local only". Where as the network card that connects to the internet says "local and internet".

How can I change the "Local only" to include internet?

[Groovicus]

The second card should say local only since it is not connected directly to the Internet.

Were you able to get the second computer working by plugging it directly into the second card?

[Mike12421]

No. I have a direct wire now connecting the two computers.

[Groovicus]

Ok. So Internet connection sharing is not enabled. I'm a little fuzzy on troubleshooting that, but I seem to remember microsoft or someone had a good document that walked a person through it...

What version of Vista do you have? I seem to recall that there was one version that did not allow for home networking.

[stimpy99]

This is a pretty good guide to settings up ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1429

Also one here as well with Vista specific bits http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/