Wireless Networks and IP addresses

[MartinS]

Ok, whilst having major problems with my phoneline and very intermittent broadband for the last four days (TalkTalk) it's given me time to look at the set up and attempt to lock it all down some more. Due to problems with my son's PC 'stealing' my IP address if he logged on before me and causing problems, I have assigned specific addresses to each connected PC via the wireless adsl modem control panel, i.e. mine, then my son's then my nokia phone, and left a small pool (2) of additional IP addresses should I need them.
When configuring my son's machine (connected to the router wirelessly), can someone confirm the settings - I select the connection properties, then the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties - should this be set to the IP address defined, or left to get it automatically, and if so, what DNS servers should I use? Looking at the TalkTalk website, it tell me the servers, but I am reading them automatically through the modem setup.
Any help/advice gratefully received
Regards
Martin

[Adrian Kelland]

Martin,

Does the Modem have a DHCP server, then all PCs would pick up their IP from this using the 'get it automatically option'.

If not then define a unique IP in each PC.

DNS (translates Free Address search - Find addresses and phone numbers | Address.com to an IP) is not required to be set if the modem is doing all that.

Adrian

[DannyB]

Originally Posted by MartinS

Ok, whilst having major problems with my phoneline and very intermittent broadband for the last four days (TalkTalk) it's given me time to look at the set up and attempt to lock it all down some more. Due to problems with my son's PC 'stealing' my IP address if he logged on before me and causing problems, I have assigned specific addresses to each connected PC via the wireless adsl modem control panel, i.e. mine, then my son's then my nokia phone, and left a small pool (2) of additional IP addresses should I need them.
When configuring my son's machine (connected to the router wirelessly), can someone confirm the settings - I select the connection properties, then the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties - should this be set to the IP address defined, or left to get it automatically, and if so, what DNS servers should I use? Looking at the TalkTalk website, it tell me the servers, but I am reading them automatically through the modem setup.
Any help/advice gratefully received
Regards
Martin

If you want to set static IP's on your son's machine then you should set it as defined and put the IP address that you want to hard code. You should set the default gateway to be the IP address of the router. DNS Servers should be set as defined by your ISP, for talk talk these are 62.24.128.17 and 62.24.128.18.

HTH

Danny

[Adrian Kelland]

Martin,

Have a look at this article to see if it helps http://www.shobrooke.org/misc/wirelessguide.pdf

Adrian

[MartinS]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

Martin,
Does the Modem have a DHCP server, then all PCs would pick up their IP from this using the 'get it automatically option'.
Adrian

Yes, it's acting as a DHCP server. I was assuming I could just leave it to be picked up automatically, but until it all starts working properly again, i can't check what's going on.
[RANT]
I have to borrow a USB ADSL modem, install it on my PC (removing the wireless one), move the PC downstairs to the main phone point before TalkTalk want to help, me, I then have to spend three more days trying to actually not get cut off from the faults line because the wait exceeds 10 minutes - peeved? me? never!
[/RANT]
Thanks Adrian (and for the link), and thanks to Danny for confirming the DNS details - green incoming guys
Regards
Martin

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by MartinS

Ok, whilst having major problems with my phoneline and very intermittent broadband for the last four days (TalkTalk) it's given me time to look at the set up and attempt to lock it all down some more. Due to problems with my son's PC 'stealing' my IP address if he logged on before me and causing problems, I have assigned specific addresses to each connected PC via the wireless adsl modem control panel, i.e. mine, then my son's then my nokia phone, and left a small pool (2) of additional IP addresses should I need them.
When configuring my son's machine (connected to the router wirelessly), can someone confirm the settings - I select the connection properties, then the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties - should this be set to the IP address defined, or left to get it automatically, and if so, what DNS servers should I use? Looking at the TalkTalk website, it tell me the servers, but I am reading them automatically through the modem setup.
Any help/advice gratefully received
Regards
Martin

Hi Martin

What router are you using?

[MartinS]

Jezza
Netgear DG834G v2
Have had loads of problems this weekend and am now about to throw the whole PC out of the window!
If I have to listen to the TalkTalk theme tune one more time
Martin

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by MartinS

Ok, whilst having major problems with my phoneline and very intermittent broadband for the last four days (TalkTalk) it's given me time to look at the set up and attempt to lock it all down some more. Due to problems with my son's PC 'stealing' my IP address if he logged on before me and causing problems, I have assigned specific addresses to each connected PC via the wireless adsl modem control panel, i.e. mine, then my son's then my nokia phone, and left a small pool (2) of additional IP addresses should I need them.
When configuring my son's machine (connected to the router wirelessly), can someone confirm the settings - I select the connection properties, then the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties - should this be set to the IP address defined, or left to get it automatically, and if so, what DNS servers should I use? Looking at the TalkTalk website, it tell me the servers, but I am reading them automatically through the modem setup.
Any help/advice gratefully received
Regards
Martin

Ok then,

Normally I would expect you to be using DHCP if you were using this router, so you would therefore leave the TCP/IP settings on the workstations to automatic, the same goes for the DNS setting (the DNS server addresses should be entered into your router) this way when you connect to the router it will issue all the parameters you need.

If you have any requirement for using fixed IP addresses on any of the machines on your network should should then resrve these addresses on the router (see the manual for details http://kbserver.netgear.com/pdf/dg83...al_03Jun05.pdf page 98) You will need to know the MAC address from yout network card for this.

To do this Open the Command prompt (Start > Run > Type CMD)
Then enter ipconfig /all
The value you are looking for is the Permanent Address for either your network card or your wireless card.

If you are experiencing problems I would first start with everything set to automatic and then gradually lock down the workstations one at a time. The lockdown comes from the router so the workstations TCP/IP settings should be left to automatic.

Are you sure you want to lock it down it this way, whilst it will provide you with a greater level of security, it can be more hassel than it's worth, just make sure that you have enabled WEP encryption and it may be easier to turn off the SSID, which will prevent people from browsing and finding your network.

Personally I only bother with WEP security, if I browse for wireless networks at home I can see 5, 3 of which are secure. If someone wants to 'hack' into a connection they are going to pick one of those rather than mine.

I hope this helps

[MartinS]

Jezza
Thanks - I have already done this, but thanks for the info.
The problems I am having with braodband are becoming a joke - you would not find me recommending TalkTalk broadband to anyone, if only from a crap customer service point of view. The only time you can get through to tech support is between 2 and 5 weekdays (no good as am at work!) and every time I call and get to sepak to someone it works! Apparently, I'm not alone, and taht saying 'you get what you pay for' - it's free, so what did I expect!
Thanks anyway
Martin

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by MartinS

Jezza
Thanks - I have already done this, but thanks for the info.
The problems I am having with braodband are becoming a joke - you would not find me recommending TalkTalk broadband to anyone, if only from a crap customer service point of view. The only time you can get through to tech support is between 2 and 5 weekdays (no good as am at work!) and every time I call and get to sepak to someone it works! Apparently, I'm not alone, and taht saying 'you get what you pay for' - it's free, so what did I expect!
Thanks anyway
Martin

Martin are you on ADSL or ADSL Max?

ADSL Max is a rate adapative connection and it WILL be very unstable for the first 2 weeks whilst it works out its maximum reliable connection.

If your running ADSL it should be fairly reliable, I know a lot of people who are using Talk Talk without any problems, if you wan to PM me the telephone number that has been activated I will look up the details of it for you to see if there are any issues with your distance from the exchange.

If the line does keep dropping out get Talk Talk to register a fault with BT, you can try doing it yourself, but I don't think they'll talk to you

Another thought - have you set the time out period to 0 on the router, this prevents it disconnecting when it is not being used.