WIFI help needed - Networking

Ok, I'm soon to get a Universal (O2 XDA Exec to be precise) and want to take advantage of the inbuilt WIFI capabilities to surf the net from the comfort of my bedroom using my PC's broadband connection.
I currently have a desktop PC, with a broadband connection (provided by NTL). What additional kit do I need to enable WIFI on my desktop PC and allow my Universal to share the broadband internet connection.
Is it just one of those little boxes with the flip up aerial? I'm presuming so but want to check before I waist money on one.
Also, the reason I mentioned I'm on NTL is that PC World have signs everyhere telling me that NTL users require a different type of wireless router to BT users (one is DSL/Cable and the other is ADSL). Anyone know if this is true?

hi ive never had ntl before but im under the assumption that they use coax or something similar to connect to the internet but yes the easiest way ive found is by connecting through a wireless router, yet dont be so hasty to buy yourself the wifi kit and caboodle, when ou get your xda exec when connecting the wifi on it see if you can leech a neighbours unsecure WEP DISABLED connection
i dont know if a usb wifi antenna would work for connecting the exec to pc

I'm thinking that a "usb wifi antenna" is used for enabling wifi on a device in order for said device to connect to an existing wifi network (router).
I was looking at them because they were cheaper, lol. But I don't think they'd work for this purpose.
Also, my neighbours either side are both old, so I doubt they even have a computer. And even if they do they probably tippex out mistakes on the screen :lol:
What kind of range does WIFI have anyway?

Anyone?

Please?

Hi GaZ,
The signs in PcWorld are correct, if you connect over a BT line, you will be using an ADSL modem. As you are with NTL, you will be using DSL/cable modem.
NTL will have supplied you with a modem already (that allows you to surf on your desktop PC). I'm assuming this modem has a Coax cable that joins it to the NTL socket in your wall, and an Ethernet socket, with a LAN cable running to your desktop PC's network card? (Not sure if you can get USB varieties as with ADSL, but I haven't seen them).
So, if you do currently connect your desktop PC to your modem with a standard Cat5 LAN cable, your best bet is to get a wireless router (as you correctly state, the little box with flip up aerial).
There are a few different wireless routers available (PcWorld and Argos do several - Belkin, Linksys, Netgear are all good), the main thing being some have a built in ADSL modem - which you don't want! As you already have the modem, you just need a simple wireless router.
I think most have a 4 port hub built in and many have a built in firewall. You will need to take the LAN cable from your modem (that currently goes to the PC) and plug it in the hub on the wireless router instead. Now, your internet signal can be transmitted through your wireless router - and therefore your XDA will be able to connect and surf the net (even if your desktop PC is switched off!).
To connect your desktop PC back to the net, you can either
a) Buy a Wireless USB dongle, around £15-£20. This plugs into a USB socket on your desktop PC and allows it to connect using your wireless router as well, the same as the XDA.
b) If your PC is located near the wireless router, you could use a second LAN cable to connect your PC's network card to one of the spare sockets on the wireless routers hub. This will provide a slightly faster connection compared to wireless, but you wouldn't notice much difference either way for normal web surfing.
Sorry for going on, but I suggest (providing your cable modem currently outputs it's signal via standard ethernet LAN) you get a wireless router, with built in hub (4 or 5 LAN sockets on the back)... but avoid ones with ADSL modems built in as they cost more and you don't need it.
The only other thing is 54g or more? The standard wireless 'G' products are rated at 54mbps (which should be fine)... but you can pay more for high-speed versions listed as 108g or 125g - you'd have to read reviews to see if you think one of these will give you any added benefit.
As an example, PcWorld do this Belkin one for only £43.97:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=886496&category_oid=
And here's the matching USB adapter for £20, should you wish to connect your desktop wirelessly as well:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=369188&category_oid=
It has "DSL Connection for Cable Customers" - just the type you need.
It has "With 4-Port 10/100 Switch" - meaning you can hard wire PC's as well.
And it "Protects your Network with Firewall" - another level of security.
But there are loads more out there! Happy surfing.

Related

solved how to wirelessly connect to a wired network:)

ok here's the problem
you want to connect to a wired network or even simply a single pc connecting to the net on a broadband or dialup connection.
if there was a wireless router then it wouldnt be a problem. your pda would connect to the wireless network and the wireless router would give your pda an address and everything would work.
without the wireless router you don't get allocated an ip address.
well problem solved www.nat32.com has a program called nat32e which you can get a demo version of (works for an hour before needing to be restarted)
essentially this is a nat router which runs on any pc running windows
you need a wireless card in addition to its ethernet connection to the net.
I did this with 2 wireless cards so in theory it could be used to extend the effective range of an existing wireless network too
installation is simple but basically you give the wireless card i used a belkin usb 54g dongle type on channel 6 a fixed address and tell it to connect to an adhoc network called "whatever"
you add a network packet driver, nat32 holds your hand installing this,
then the pc needs a reboot.
first time you run nat32 it runs through the configuration you tell it what card connects to the internet and which card connects to your private net
(that is your adhoc wireless network) it sets things up
scan for a network on your pda tell it to look for adhoc networks connect to "whatever" and tell it when it asks, it connects to work.
you should then have wireless access to the net.
if your doing this with two wireless cards make sure you have seperate channels set up for your infrastructure network and your adhoc network.
the belkin 54g usb wireless dongle costs about 25 from staples or 30 from pc world (both are local for me)
the host pc will run fine without any problems with nat32 running or not
no proxys need configuring a registered verion of nat32 costs from
$25 but this gets you registered for just one pc and really you want it so you can roam with a usb wireless card in your pocket and your pda.
I think adhoc wireless networking works for up to 30 wireless points.
i did it with a pda, mdaIII and a laptop.
basically like ics but with less problems
I think you can do this with bluetooth as well but that really isn't fun
hope this is useful sorry its so rough but i have to get to work
Think you may be on the trail of a problem that I am stuck on at the moment . I have the XDA11i and want to connect it via blue tooth to a blue tooth modem connected in turn to to a BT wall socket ( in that way I can surf for 1p per min !!!) no matter what I seem to do whilst the PDA will recognise the Modem as a serial modem ( and form a secure link ) it wont talk to it and get it to dial up . Zoom ( Hayes ) are wondering if 02 have disabled the element in blue tooth that lets this work ? Any thoughts . with the above I dont need to lug my lap top round with me .
Regards
Astro1
London England

Connecting to Wifi at home with Comcast

Let me start by saying I'm new to wifi, so forgive if this question seems to noob.
I'm currently using Comcast cable to connect to the internet at home. Have been thinking of switching to their wireless service mainly because I want to connect with my 8525 at home (husband also has a wifi capable phone, the 8125). Spoke to a Comcast rep today who said that I could connect with up to 5 pcs but would not be able to connect with my phone and I would have to sign up for this service via my cell company; Cingular/Att.
Did I get wrong info? I've read that so many of you have connected at home and not sure if you're useing your pc's existing wireless service or have a sevice via your cell co.
And a little OT, but anyone personally compared having wireless svc vs. cable modem? Are there constant disconnect probs? Loss in speed? etc...?
Thanks for any input,
Mari
This may be the blind leading the blind, but here it goes:
- To get WiFi going in your home - you need to have your Comcast cable internet service and cable modem like normal. In addition you would need to buy a WiFi router that connects to the cable modem to send the signal out to your phones/other computers. Comcast doesn't offer a wireless service, it would be you making your network wireless. Here is a link to a router with a good explaination. If you decide to go that route you might want to ask people what routers they recommend: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=136493
- Your other "wireless" choice is a Data Plan through Cingular (ie PDA Connect, et al). This can be pricey and it is much slower than any WiFi connection I have had. WiFi is faster, and no extra costs to use at your home. The Cingular/Att Data plans are great if you need data when not at home.
Thanks scharnet for the info. I'm still not quite sure how this works, but I'll look into it further. Those of you who actually have wifi at home please chime in. I'm trying to get as much info and knowledge as I can b4 I go wireless and I'm trying to do so asap.
Thanks again,
Mari
scharnet is correct in his wifi statements.
What you need is to hook your cable modem into a wireless router. Then from your wireless router you will hook your home PC via a cat5 network cable. Then you can also connect to your wireless router from your 8525 and your 8125 (all at the same time).
Does your cable model currently hook into your home PC via a cat5 network cable or via a USB cable? If it hooks in via a USB cable is there also a cat5 network jack on the back of the cable modem or only a USB connection?
I suspect that when Comcast is trying to sell you a wireless service, what they are actually going to sell you is a cable modem that has a wireless router built into it. If it has wireless capabilities then it would work with your phone.
I also suspect that the representative that you spoke with at Comcast didnt fully understand that your 8125 and 8525 can connect via 802.11b/g wifi.
I have Comcast and my cable modem is hooked into a WRT54G 802.11g router. I have 2 regular PCs both connected to it via wifi. My 8525 also connects to it via wifi.
Hope this helps!
thanx so much pcm2a! just the info I needed

Make a router of my Wizard

Hi,
I was wondering if it is possible to make a wireless router of your phone using your computer internet connection.
This is because I am using a notebook at school, but there no is wireless router in the class room. There are a few PC's, wich have an internet connection, but I am not able to plug the lan cable into my notebook, so I can't use my notebook ath the moment, wich means I bought it for nonsense
So if anyone cares to help me out, you would make me happy
read all about it
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/inde...-up, Wi-Fi, using as modems, peer-to-peer etc.

Tether to Router?

So I can use my standard USB cable and tether to the laptop and have net connection on lappy. Same with desktop. USB tether works just the same as wifi tether. What about getting a micro USB to RJ45 (ethernet) cable and tethering to the internet in jack on my router. Would that put the net signal on the router like a modem would?
Chopstix9 said:
So I can use my standard USB cable and tether to the laptop and have net connection on lappy. Same with desktop. USB tether works just the same as wifi tether. What about getting a micro USB to RJ45 (ethernet) cable and tethering to the internet in jack on my router. Would that put the net signal on the router like a modem would?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or you could get a wireless adapter for your Desktop. That's what I did. Now I can stream Amazon Prime on my Xbox 360, and PC game at the same time.This is what I have and works like a charm.
Good luck.
Oh my desktop is already wireless enabled, that's not an issue... Been running the house off the phones for a couple years... Just gave up a little bit when I got rid of cable interet. Whole house networking to other computers in the house, had to plug the wireless printer back into the desktop, it's no longer a network printer, etc.... was just toying with the idea and wondering if it would work is all.
Actually, in looking at the micro usb - rj45 adapters, I don't think it will work. Those are actually ethernet adapters, like adding a network card to a slot on a pc. Made for taking a net signal FROM a network, not sending one TO it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you just get a compatible wireless dongle (Something you would use for sniffing/injecting packets) and use it as an access point so you can broadcast the signal throughout the house?
Another thing you can do is pick up a router that you can install Tomato or DD-WRT on and use it as a wireless client bridge. It would connect to your phone, and again, broadcast that signal through the house.
Chopstix9 said:
So I can use my standard USB cable and tether to the laptop and have net connection on lappy. Same with desktop. USB tether works just the same as wifi tether. What about getting a micro USB to RJ45 (ethernet) cable and tethering to the internet in jack on my router. Would that put the net signal on the router like a modem would?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DJNads said:
Another thing you can do is pick up a router that you can install Tomato or DD-WRT on and use it as a wireless client bridge. It would connect to your phone, and again, broadcast that signal through the house.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Assuming the phone would even operate in this manner (I've never tried but sounds like a great idea!), you'd need a router that is capable of operating in bridged mode/wireless bridge/access point mode (may be labeled as either of them). You'd then have to configure the router to said bridged mode. An easier route (and possibly more expensive) would be to purchase just an access point.
MrHyde03 said:
Correct. Assuming the phone would even operate in this manner (I've never tried but sounds like a great idea!), you'd need a router that is capable of operating in bridged mode/wireless bridge/access point mode (may be labeled as either of them). You'd then have to configure the router to said bridged mode. An easier route (and possibly more expensive) would be to purchase just an access point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may have an old WAP in my junk closet. A router that can bridge may work but first thing I think I would need is a router or WAP that has a USB connection on it.... I'm looking to plug the phone into the router to provide the internet signal instead of a cable/dsl modem, creating a typical LAN ... I can still use the LAN in-house sans the net connection. Just a pain to disconnect from one network (phone hotspot) and connect to another (netless LAN) for file transfers network printing etc ...
Chopstix9 said:
I may have an old WAP in my junk closet. A router that can bridge may work but first thing I think I would need is a router or WAP that has a USB connection on it.... I'm looking to plug the phone into the router to provide the internet signal instead of a cable/dsl modem, creating a typical LAN ... I can still use the LAN in-house sans the net connection. Just a pain to disconnect from one network (phone hotspot) and connect to another (netless LAN) for file transfers network printing etc ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't need to physically connect your phone to the router at all. Depending on what router you get, it should be able to pick up the wireless signal from your phone's hotspot and rebroadcast it as its own network.
Edit: And honestly, I'm not sure connecting the phone via usb to the router would even share the connection. That router doesn't have the drivers needed for that to work.
To the OP, off topic question but what did you have to do to activate wi fi tether? your sig, tells me that your on stock and can still do it, yes? thanks!
Side note, it's been awhile but when I moved into my apartment I had no internet for a few days.
I did the USB wired tether to a laptop, then the laptop I think I enabled ICS/internet connection sharing and then connected with rj45 to a router, and it shared that as the WAN connection.
motrinHD said:
To the OP, off topic question but what did you have to do to activate wi fi tether? your sig, tells me that your on stock and can still do it, yes? thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What part of my sig tells you I am on stock?
I've done both these things. I've taken my cell and flashed a router with dd-wrt and set it up as a repeater bridge but that means that only the computers near that router gets internet, unless your house is wired for ethernet (or using wireless). My current setup is having the phone tethered to a computer running Zentyal linux. This is a cool distro that can replace a 2008 Small business server in a work environment but it does the trick for my router at home. I had it running on an old P4 and recently graduated to a Zotac Zbox Mini ID41 which is tucked away behind my TV. I set up the computer to hand out dhcp and be the router and gateway. When i plug in my cell in tethering mode, zentyal recognizes it and i set that USB device as external WAN. It usually takes some getting used to and about a minute to normalize after the phone is unplugged and taken on the road. This has worked for me so far but when i'm at work, no internet at home. I'm currently attempting to talk my workplace into letting me subsidize a Verizon Jetpack i can leave home which will do the same job.
As a side note, i live in rural WI and we only have Satellite internet as a choice, which really stinks as both carriers have a bandwidth cap which we were constantly hitting two weeks into the billing cycle. They then throttle you down to less than a meg until your billing cycle renews.
We RV all summer most years and I use WiFiRanger gear to network our 5th wheel. That way we can grab a WiFi AP if one is available and the credentials are known or I HotSpot my phone and the Router grabs the phone's WiFi AP and we are good to go.
If you are stationary and only intend to use the phone's HotSpot as a WiFi AP then WiFiRanger's GO2 should do the trick. They are currently working on a firmware upgrade that will allow some great bandwidth monitoring and device usage controls. Their price is comparable to most full featured routers being offered but not cheap.
I am a satisfied user and Beta tester of their equipment, not an employee or representative. We use several of their offerings to maximize our capabilities on the road.

LTE->USB OTG-> USB Ethernet Adapter->Router WAN ???

I've seen articles/posts about reverse tethering (getting internet from PC to phone) and obviously regular Bluetooth and Wi-Fi tethering...
Say my home ISP service is down for some reason and I want to use some of my mobile data in the house temporarily.
Is there a way to get tethering setup so internet from mobile phone LTE gets sent out the USB, through a micro-USB OTG adapter, to a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, and then run an Ethernet cable from the adapter to my WAN port on my wireless router? Then all my wired and wireless devices can get internet access through the router so it handles DHCP and all that and the phone just tethers to the WEB interface of the router.
I know I can do the reverse of this, hard-wire Ethernet into my phone if for some reason I didn't have Wi-Fi or cellular connections. How about the opposite?
My phone is unlocked, rooted, and I'm pretty decent at editing config files if necessary!
More research shows maybe I'm better off using usb tethering to a usb port on the router and running dd-wrt. Or setting up router add a client bridge and using Wi-Fi tether instead of cable connection.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2136816
Hmm...

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