wirless in my dorm room!!

dvrmstrng · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 06:28 PM

whats up...new guy here...im having a problem. I am trying to set up my linksys wireless router in my dorm room but cannot get it to work. I have contacted my IT department and they said it is allowed but they will not tell anyone how to properly set it up. It has to have a password on it ( i suppose) because anyone who connects to it and does something against computing policy i will be held liable.

Thanks guys!!

**Ash** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 06:37 PM

Hey dvrmstrng,
Firstly, welcome to CompuForums. I hope that you can visit our forum often in the future and post - rather than just receiving our help and advice, and then disappearing. We provide our help for free, and it's only fair that all we ask in return is that you participate in our forum and refer your friends, or consider a premium membership.

I've removed your AIM screenname as we'll be able to provide personal assistance through the forum system, as well as to protect you from anybody with an internet connection and a desire to stalk you.

Firstly - we'll need to know how the internet is piped into your dorm. Does your college/uni provide Ethernet [standard network ports] in each room, or are you served by DSL/cable?
Also, what's the model number of your Linksys router?

dvrmstrng · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 07:26 PM

Ash- thank you very much and i will keep this discussion here as well as refer my friends..

so...lets get started

i live in an apartment style dorm
each of the 2 bedrooms has 2 ethernet ports
and obviously wed like to be able to hang out in the living room while on the net
router is a Linksys Model BEFW11s4 also says on it (but i think its irrelavent) 2.4GHZ 802.11b...Wireless B Broadband
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at first we thought we would be able to just plug and go but we tried and could not get it to work. We then contacted our IT wondering if they were not allowed. They said as long as set up properly they are allowed but they will not tell us how to do it...thank you for any help

**Ash** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 07:36 PM

OK, let's just get things clear before I continue with advice...

-Do you have any wired Ethernet computers you want to connect to the computer [as opposed to using them wirelessly]?
-I'm assuming you are using a laptop - is it Wireless-B and G compatible?

dvrmstrng · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 07:38 PM

all four of us would like to have the option of connecting to the router wirelessly at all times so no no one will be wired.

yes all laptops here are wireless B and G compatible

**Ash** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:05 PM

Well, setup should be simple. Firstly, I need to ask you to ignore any instructions in the user guide for now, particularly if the router came with a CD-ROM to install.

Firstly, it's likely that some settings [which may be incorrect] have been configured on the wireless router. To clear them, remove all cables from the back, hold down the reset button and then plug in just the power cable. Keep it held for around 30 seconds - when most of the lights are not flashing rapidly, let go of the button and unplug the power.

Next, run an Ethernet patch cable from the terminal to the port on the back of the router labeled "WAN". Then plug in the power.

Give the router around 30 seconds, and your laptop should be able to pick up an unsecured network called "linksys". This should be your router. Connect to it.

Now, firstly try your internet access. If it's working - great - you're all set up and all you need to do is configure it for security - get back to us and we'll provide the instructions.
If not, type into your browser's address bar this:
http://192.168.1.1.
You should see a router configuration page - again, if this is your situation, let us know and we'll provide the information you need to get up and running.

dvrmstrng · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:13 PM

alright we can all connect to linksys but we cannot get on the internet, no web pages come up etc....we can get to the router settings page...but no internet

thanks again for your help

whats next?

**Ash** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:22 PM

Hmm - I may have made a mistake there.

Run the reset procedure as detailed above again, but this time, instead of connecting the patch cable to the WAN port, connect it to one of the other four ports on the back [not the Uplink port]. Plug the power in again, connect, and check if you have internet connectivity. You may need a crossover cable for this - your IT department should be able to provide one for you.

dvrmstrng · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:30 PM

doing the first thing you said we are able to get into only our schools website...as if new have not registered yet for the internet....we are now trying your revised idea
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if it helps the University here uses your MAC address to register your computer...you must register your MAC address to get on the internet

**Ash** · #10 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:34 PM

Hmm - if it came up with a registration page, you may need to re-register. I have no idea what system your school/college is using, but I'm assuming it's using MAC filtering. Did you have to register all of your laptops for the service?

dvrmstrng · #11 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:39 PM

yes we had to...we are going to try to register the router as one of our "laptops" and see if that works...brb

**Ash** · #12 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:53 PM

That'll work fine - or you could simply make your router use the MAC address of one of your laptops [whatever is the most convenient for you]

dvrmstrng · #13 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 08:57 PM

according to my roomate in the other room it is now working...what is the best way to set this up security wise now?

**Ash** · #14 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 09:02 PM

There is an excellent guide to securing your particular router located here:
http://www.whitehats.ca/main/members...cess_point.pdf
[note this links directly to a PDF file]

Be aware though that WEP is very easy for someone in range of your router to crack, however. Be sure to run some decent firewall software on all of your laptops, and you may also want to consider using MAC filtering on your router.

dvrmstrng · #15 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 11:50 PM

well my windows wireless thing can find the connection...its called "internet" it has 100% strength but it says there is limited or no connectivty...i am stuck again

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