response 1 of 122:

Dec 15 01:02 UTC 2006

Why is this in a systems conference if it is not about programming or
operating systems?  Is this now the linux conference too?

response 3 of 122:

Dec 15 01:15 UTC 2006

Re #1: I thought about putting it in Micros, but not every
  wireless network client is a computer.  This conference
  seems to have three or four different names, but one of
  them (as shown by Backtalk) is Jellyware, which was a unix
  conference in its previous incarnation.  Linux is close
  enough to be on-topic.

Re #2: I think I've seen a wireless bridge from D-Link. I'll
  see what I can find.  Thanks for the tip.

response 5 of 122:

Dec 15 02:40 UTC 2006

Regarding #31; Read item #1 for an introduction to what this conference
is.

response 7 of 122:

Dec 15 03:21 UTC 2006

Haha.  I guess I lifted my pinky off the shift key before taking my middle
finger off the 3 key but not before the OS decided I wanted to repeat the
3....  :-)

response 9 of 122:

Dec 15 03:34 UTC 2006

What kind is it? I can't find an 802.11g bridge from D-link,
to work with my DI-524 wireless router.

response 11 of 122:

Dec 15 03:47 UTC 2006

Thanks!

response 13 of 122:

Dec 15 05:16 UTC 2006

I was thinking they had a public system, but it's been a while since I 
was there.

response 15 of 122:

Dec 15 15:00 UTC 2006

The previous poster meant the first-hop router, I believe. Presuming
that the router is also the access point, you could watch for beacon
packets (I may have the name incorrect) that advertise the SSID and IP
number of the device. I presume that this means that there is not a DHCP
server available. 

response 17 of 122:

Dec 15 21:23 UTC 2006

The public library has a public wireless system.  They give you a key. 
Windows computers can figure out their IP address, I can't do that in linux.
I was unable to compile a sniffer program that was said to work in Redhat 6.1
by typing 'make' as instructed, with all the required libraries.  The driver
for my card does not do what it is supposed to do but there is an improved
version which I do not know how to compiler that gives you the NIC addresses
(not IP) of all available networks in range,  I figured out the default
address of a Cisco 340 router by looking it up online, and was also able to
sort of communicate with it over a 9-pin serial cable, but it wanted a
username and password.  It gave me an fec0 IP address.  The default IP address
for it is 10.0.0.1, and I will try plugging it in and pinging it from my linux
laptop.  Cisco has downloadable software but only if you have a contract or
are registered, and only for Win9X-XP.

What I could do is find someone using their Windows laptop at the library and
try to get the IP address that way if the people at the desk do not know it,
or email for help ahead of time.  Then use iwconfig to set the key and route
add default gw IP-address of library public network.  

The Cisco router has a serial port for communicating via the computer comport,
and also RJ-45 to hook up to a wired network to run Windows software to change
settings, and probably also to share signals between wired and wireless
network but that would require another IP address, I think.

We have a print server with no antennas, but a pcmcia slot and card, and three
ethernet ports labelled internet, PC, and HUB.   And a Wireless-B thing with
two antennas and four places to plug into wired computers plus it connects
with wireless cards (and comes with one).  Can't find the default IP address
for it online, probably insists on using Windows (and this program breaks
Windows when uninstalled and leaves itself behind in My Documents).  

I will try to ping Cisco from the linux laptop via wireless.

response 19 of 122:

Dec 16 01:06 UTC 2006

Re resp:17: Actually, Linux *can* get the IP automatically.  You need 
to run a DHCP client.

response 21 of 122:

Dec 16 05:43 UTC 2006

I meant find the IP address of the three routers, I think.
I was able to access the Maxgate via lynx browser, and the Cisco via kermit
and a serial (modem) cable, and they both told me their IP addresses.  Cisco
was changed to 199.174.189.14, and I was not able to access it via browser
or to ping it after doing ifconfig eth0 199.174.189.15 to put my own computer
in the same network. I WAS able to access the Maxgate (192.168.0.1) and both
ping it and go to a setup menu with lynx, which would let me change the
default IP number.  The Linksys had the same IP number but no webpage, you
need to use the Windows software to change anything.

I then, after much rebooting (10 times?) and putting CDs in and out, and
copying the Win98 CD to an external USB hard drive, and installing a generic
USB driver in Win98 (nusb23e.exe) but using the DOS usb drivers instead
(usbaspi5.sys and di1000dd.sys in config.sys), and copying the Windows CAB
files to the USB drive and then to the hard disk (since the laptop CD-ROM
drive would not read the disk), I somehow got the drivers for the Linksys
WPC11 ver 4 cardbus card installed (from CD, it read that one) and then
downloaded the Win95 drivers for the Cisco 340 card (1.3MB vs 13MB for XP)
and kept trying until everything got installed and worked.  Both cards pick
up the signals from all three routers.  The Cisco detected the IP number of
its own router.  I had to enter the IP number for the other two, but it
detected the strong signals.  100%.  If I put the router in another room it
dropped to 60%, or 70% near the door.  I could not manage to ping the routers
with Windows via wireless after setting the Windows IP number one number
higher.  I need to try another time with linux, which I find easier to set
up.  ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.2 and I could ping over a network cable.  

The first ISA pcmcia controller worked once with Win98 then crashed it
whenever I installed the controller. I could detect a weak signal with the
Linksys card.  Today we tried the other controller and slot and Windows made
no complaints but then recognized none of the cards.  Cardbus does not fit
in these older slots.  So we put Windows on another laptop (it would not work
with wireless in the first one) and it works with cardbus.  My linux is not
set up for it - what would I need to change, the kernel?

My goals are:  1) to use a linux laptop at the library once in a while so as
to avoid IE,  2) to pick up a county-wide wireless signal using the pcmcia
cards (or the routers if possible instead), and then browse on a desktop
because I don't like laptop keyboards or screens, or having to sit on an
unheated porch to pick up a signal.  Put wireless and wired ethernet card in
the same laptop and use it as a gateway.  I have a long way to go.

The Maxgate router with no antenna requires its pcmcia card in its pcmcia slot
to send or receive signals.  

response 23 of 122:

Dec 17 17:53 UTC 2006

I tried the Cisco (airo) and Linksys (orinoco) cards in both Toshiba laptops
- the 100MHz and the 266MHz which Windows worked on (with the airo and another
linksys).  In the 100Mhz the airo works perfectly, the orinoco works only with
kernel 2.4.31, not 2.2.26 (it segfaults).  In the 266Mhz the airo works only
with kernel 2.2.2.6, the orinoco crashes with 2.2.26, and they both refuse
to insert modules with 2.4.31 - unresolved symbols.  So the newer computer
works with the older kernel and vice versa.  Windows 98 works with both cards,
but in two desktops with ISA pcmcia controllers, it crashes with one
controller loading drivers, and can't find cards with the other.  Anyone have
any aironet cards, non-cardbus, that they don't want?  

I got 30K/sec download of a large file (Opera) at the library.  At best I get
5K/sec at home.  30K = 384bps?  The 84Kbps free connection should be about
8K/sec at best, but let me listen to internet radio and also use the phone.