Hi all :-)

I have a friend that I will be helping to set up their laptop for wireless
connection to a home network.  The main purpose is to share the printer of
the desktop in another room.

While I have set up a wireless connection and network for my own laptop, it
is with a different make of laptop (HP) and router NetGear).

The Router is a Westell 327W and the laptop is a Compaq v6000z with the
following:
OS: XP Home Basic
Processor: Mobil AMD Sempron 3400+ (1.80 GHz/256KB)
Memory: 512 MB DDR2 (2 Dimm)
Networking 802.11b/g WLAN

I would truly appreciate information for a step-by-step tutorial on how to
set up the wireless connection and network with the Westell router if one is
available.

Jan :)

Hi
Setting of a Wireless Network with a Wireless Router is generic in nature.
Computers with WinXP are configured similarly.
Router menus structure is not the same but follow similar principles, the
core information to connect to the Westell 327W should be in it manual. You
lost the manual? get it here http://www.westell.com/content/sales/327W.pdf
Depending on the circumstances it might be impossible to configure the
system with wireless only, it might be that you need a wire connection to
get it going ( http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#onewire ).
Jack (MVP-Networking).

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Hi Jack :-)

The router is not mine, but, one that I will be having to deal with in
setting up the network and laptop wireless for a friend. But, thank you very
much for providing the link for the router information. I really do
appreciate.  :-)

Am I understanding you that we will need to have a wire line from the laptop
to the router first in order to establish some connection before we can set
up the wireless connection?  Why would it be impossible to configure the
wireless without first having a wired connection?  I am sorry to appear so
dense, but, not sure I understand why this would be.  Why would there need
to be a wired connected first? If they have to buy a wire, then drill a hole
through the wall to get access to the other room where the router is,
then.....why should they even consider going wireless?  The whole idea of
the wireless is so they don't have to do that.

Thank you very much for your time and help, I truly do appreciate it.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE
Windows TechBeta Tester



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Jan Ilacqua [MVP] wrote:

(with snippage)

Jan - You need to have the ethernet connected to the router to set it up
because the wireless won't be configured until after you've initially
set up the router. Take a laptop with you and an extra ethernet cable.

Malke

In article <uRRPCwIJHHA.3***@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, "Jan Ilacqua
[MVP]" <abuse@localhost.invalid> wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteHi, Jan.  As Jack said, initial setup of a wireless router is best
done over a wired connection.  Temporarily put the laptop and the
router in the same room and connect them to each other using a short
Ethernet cable. 

I recommend starting with no wireless encryption.  Verify that the
laptop can connect to the router.  Then, enable the highest level of
encryption that the laptop and router support (hopefully WPA or WPA2)
and verify that they can connect.

Once that's done, you can put the router and laptop in different
locations.

Jan Ilacqua [MVP] wrote:

Do you know what software the router is running?  Is it just a rebadged
Linksys or...?

Networking is really not something that should be attempted if you can't
improvise along the way.  Everybody's setup is unique and step-by-step
guides are more or less not applicable in network design.

No....I have not had access to the router, they just called and gave me the
make and model info.
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Sorry...hit the send too soon..

Yes...I am sure this is true, as it is with any device, or software for that
matter.  I have a good deal of "how to" recommendations printed out, but,
often I find that hands-on experience is much better than across the board
instructions.  I have set up the network and wireless on my own home system,
but, that is dealing with my own router, and I know my machines and devices,
and such, but going into a situation where I don't know the hardware is a
bit different.  Plus, there will be training along the line as I work with
the person who has control of the router, and I don't know how much they
really know.  What I would like to know is the specs and workings of the
Westell 327W, so that I would have a good idea of what to expect when I get
there.  What it can and can't do, etc. But, I can't seem to find anything
that gives me any real function information. That is what I was hoping
someone could point me to.  All that I seem to be able to find is where to
buy, or forums that have not been productive.

Thank you very much for you time and help. I really appreciate it.

Jan :)


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