Wireless Connectivity Issues

I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.

After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
the thing to connect via wire.

Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
Unsuccessfully.

Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
a suggestion.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Mark

"Mark E. Bye" <fxdyna@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:akfu14teus552k3qcmr1q21hoc8jl5ne8p@4ax.com...
>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
> (802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
> router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>
> After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
> the thing to connect via wire.
>
> Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
> person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
> Unsuccessfully.
>
> Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
> session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
> a suggestion.
>
> Any help would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mark

windows firewall by chance?

On Mon, 05 May 2008 17:21:50 GMT, "Fixer" <ram.systems@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

>
>"Mark E. Bye" <fxdyna@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:akfu14teus552k3qcmr1q21hoc8jl5ne8p@4ax.com.. .
>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>> (802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>> router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>
>> After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>> the thing to connect via wire.
>>
>> Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>> person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>> Unsuccessfully.
>>
>> Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>> session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>> a suggestion.
>>
>> Any help would be most appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Mark
>
>windows firewall by chance?


LOL..... Fixer you read my mind... that was the first thing I
thought of too but you beat me to this reply ! Hopefully we are both
right and an easy fix for the OP.

On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>
>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>the thing to connect via wire.
>
>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>Unsuccessfully.
>
>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>a suggestion.
>
>Any help would be most appreciated.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Mark


Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
a router setup problem too.

I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
get you connected wirelessly !!!

ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.

On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:17 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>
>>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>>the thing to connect via wire.
>>
>>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>>Unsuccessfully.
>>
>>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>>a suggestion.
>>
>>Any help would be most appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>Mark
>
>
>Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
>I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
>returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
>of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
>problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
>a router setup problem too.
>
>I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
>many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
>using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
>windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
>to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
>setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
>(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
>connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
>it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
>You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
>the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
>and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
>Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
>get you connected wirelessly !!!
>
>ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
>router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
>to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
>it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
>method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.


Oops.... Ok I see you already said XP for the OS (my bad).
BTW, if anyone suggests a new card, well all I can say is I have the
same wireless card (using XP too) and it works flawlessly for me in a
large 2 story home. I know some don't like this card.

On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:58:10 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:17 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>>>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>>>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>>
>>>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>>>the thing to connect via wire.
>>>
>>>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>>>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>>>Unsuccessfully.
>>>
>>>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>>>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>>>a suggestion.
>>>
>>>Any help would be most appreciated.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Mark
>>
>>
>>Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
>>I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
>>returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
>>of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
>>problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
>>a router setup problem too.
>>
>>I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
>>many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
>>using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
>>windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
>>to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
>>setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
>>(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
>>connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
>>it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
>>You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
>>the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
>>and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
>>Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
>>get you connected wirelessly !!!
>>
>>ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
>>router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
>>to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
>>it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
>>method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.
>
>
>Oops.... Ok I see you already said XP for the OS (my bad).
>BTW, if anyone suggests a new card, well all I can say is I have the
>same wireless card (using XP too) and it works flawlessly for me in a
>large 2 story home. I know some don't like this card.

Ok, gang! I have uninstalled the wireless router (i couldn't even get
a wired connection with any of the three computers i have hooked up to
it last night) and reinstalled my BEFSR41.

I will reinstall the WRT54G, get it going with all computers on my
network via wire, then check out the firewall issues as you mention
and try to get the thing going via wireless. I will let you know one
way or the other how things work out.

Thanks for your suggestions... I'll be getting back!

Mark

"Mark E. Bye" <fxdyna@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:iqpu141qehu0oomt5vddicd2ffud4p5elo@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:58:10 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:17 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>>>>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>>>>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>>>
>>>>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>>>>the thing to connect via wire.
>>>>
>>>>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>>>>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>>>>Unsuccessfully.
>>>>
>>>>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>>>>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>>>>a suggestion.
>>>>
>>>>Any help would be most appreciated.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>
>>>>Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
>>>I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
>>>returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
>>>of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
>>>problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
>>>a router setup problem too.
>>>
>>>I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
>>>many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
>>>using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
>>>windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
>>>to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
>>>setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
>>>(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
>>>connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
>>>it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
>>>You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
>>>the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
>>>and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
>>>Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
>>>get you connected wirelessly !!!
>>>
>>>ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
>>>router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
>>>to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
>>>it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
>>>method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.
>>
>>
>>Oops.... Ok I see you already said XP for the OS (my bad).
>>BTW, if anyone suggests a new card, well all I can say is I have the
>>same wireless card (using XP too) and it works flawlessly for me in a
>>large 2 story home. I know some don't like this card.
>
> Ok, gang! I have uninstalled the wireless router (i couldn't even get
> a wired connection with any of the three computers i have hooked up to
> it last night) and reinstalled my BEFSR41.
>
> I will reinstall the WRT54G, get it going with all computers on my
> network via wire, then check out the firewall issues as you mention
> and try to get the thing going via wireless. I will let you know one
> way or the other how things work out.
>
> Thanks for your suggestions... I'll be getting back!
>
> Mark

you do not need to install any software on your pc or laptop for the router.
simply plug a computer into one of the routers 4 lan ports and then open
internet explorer on the pc and direct it to 192.168.1.1. if you connected
it right you should be chalanged for a username and password (admin/admin by
default). if you are not chalanged for a password then your pc can not even
talk to the router (so it certainly can not talk to the internet). if this
is the case then check your connections and disable any firewall software
that you are running (symantec firewall in particular is known not to get
along with linksys routers once it has configured itself as such. once you
are able to log on to the router then you are on your way... next connect a
cable between the routers wan port and the high speed modem that you have.
if you have a dsl connection then you have to configure the linksys with a
username and password for your dsl service. if you have a cable connection
then no configuration is necessary however you must turn off the cable modem
and turn it back on before the cable modem will talk to the new router (it
binds to the first device it sees, and if it previously 'saw' your old
linksys then that is the only device it will talk to until it is power
cycled. hope this helps.

On Mon, 5 May 2008 21:13:23 -0400, "Christopher Muto"
<muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

>"Mark E. Bye" <fxdyna@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:iqpu141qehu0oomt5vddicd2ffud4p5elo@4ax.com.. .
>> On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:58:10 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:17 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>>>>>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>>>>>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>>>>
>>>>>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>>>>>the thing to connect via wire.
>>>>>
>>>>>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>>>>>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>>>>>Unsuccessfully.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>>>>>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>>>>>a suggestion.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any help would be most appreciated.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>Mark
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
>>>>I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
>>>>returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
>>>>of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
>>>>problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
>>>>a router setup problem too.
>>>>
>>>>I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
>>>>many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
>>>>using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
>>>>windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
>>>>to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
>>>>setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
>>>>(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
>>>>connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
>>>>it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
>>>>You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
>>>>the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
>>>>and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
>>>>Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
>>>>get you connected wirelessly !!!
>>>>
>>>>ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
>>>>router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
>>>>to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
>>>>it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
>>>>method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.
>>>
>>>
>>>Oops.... Ok I see you already said XP for the OS (my bad).
>>>BTW, if anyone suggests a new card, well all I can say is I have the
>>>same wireless card (using XP too) and it works flawlessly for me in a
>>>large 2 story home. I know some don't like this card.
>>
>> Ok, gang! I have uninstalled the wireless router (i couldn't even get
>> a wired connection with any of the three computers i have hooked up to
>> it last night) and reinstalled my BEFSR41.
>>
>> I will reinstall the WRT54G, get it going with all computers on my
>> network via wire, then check out the firewall issues as you mention
>> and try to get the thing going via wireless. I will let you know one
>> way or the other how things work out.
>>
>> Thanks for your suggestions... I'll be getting back!
>>
>> Mark
>
>you do not need to install any software on your pc or laptop for the router.
>simply plug a computer into one of the routers 4 lan ports and then open
>internet explorer on the pc and direct it to 192.168.1.1. if you connected
>it right you should be chalanged for a username and password (admin/admin by
>default). if you are not chalanged for a password then your pc can not even
>talk to the router (so it certainly can not talk to the internet). if this
>is the case then check your connections and disable any firewall software
>that you are running (symantec firewall in particular is known not to get
>along with linksys routers once it has configured itself as such. once you
>are able to log on to the router then you are on your way... next connect a
>cable between the routers wan port and the high speed modem that you have.
>if you have a dsl connection then you have to configure the linksys with a
>username and password for your dsl service. if you have a cable connection
>then no configuration is necessary however you must turn off the cable modem
>and turn it back on before the cable modem will talk to the new router (it
>binds to the first device it sees, and if it previously 'saw' your old
>linksys then that is the only device it will talk to until it is power
>cycled. hope this helps.
>


Thanks! I will give this a shot!

-Mark

On Mon, 05 May 2008 15:04:18 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:58:10 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:17 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>>>>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>>>>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>>>
>>>>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>>>>the thing to connect via wire.
>>>>
>>>>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>>>>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>>>>Unsuccessfully.
>>>>
>>>>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>>>>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>>>>a suggestion.
>>>>
>>>>Any help would be most appreciated.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>
>>>>Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
>>>I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
>>>returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
>>>of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
>>>problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
>>>a router setup problem too.
>>>
>>>I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
>>>many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
>>>using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
>>>windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
>>>to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
>>>setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
>>>(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
>>>connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
>>>it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
>>>You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
>>>the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
>>>and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
>>>Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
>>>get you connected wirelessly !!!
>>>
>>>ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
>>>router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
>>>to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
>>>it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
>>>method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.
>>
>>
>>Oops.... Ok I see you already said XP for the OS (my bad).
>>BTW, if anyone suggests a new card, well all I can say is I have the
>>same wireless card (using XP too) and it works flawlessly for me in a
>>large 2 story home. I know some don't like this card.
>
>Ok, gang! I have uninstalled the wireless router (i couldn't even get
>a wired connection with any of the three computers i have hooked up to
>it last night) and reinstalled my BEFSR41.
>
>I will reinstall the WRT54G, get it going with all computers on my
>network via wire, then check out the firewall issues as you mention
>and try to get the thing going via wireless. I will let you know one
>way or the other how things work out.
>
>Thanks for your suggestions... I'll be getting back!
>
>Mark

Well, I tried to reinstall the WRT54G, and my computer wouldn't even
recognize it. Packed it up and sent it back to Newegg.com.
As an alternative, I ordered a US Robotics 5451 Wireless MAXg Access
Point. Hopefully, I can just plug that in to my existing Linksys
BEFSR41 router and get connected wirelessly to the laptop and the
I-touch's while maintaining wired connectivity to the other desktops
on my home network.

Thanks again,

Mark

"Mark E. Bye" <fxdyna@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:n49624h7ukaepjtd73qohvagerorcu8ol5@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 05 May 2008 15:04:18 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:58:10 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:17 -0500, RnR <rnrtexas@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 05 May 2008 12:13:28 -0500, Mark E. Bye <fxdyna@hotmail.com>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 laptop running XP and a Dell Wireless 1350
>>>>>(802.11 b/g) card. I recently purchased a Linksys WRT54G wireless
>>>>>router to replace my Linksys BEFSR41 router.
>>>>>
>>>>>After about an hour online with Linksys tech support, I finally got
>>>>>the thing to connect via wire.
>>>>>
>>>>>Another good hour was spent with a second Linksys online tech support
>>>>>person in our attempt to get it to connect wirelessly.
>>>>>Unsuccessfully.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any suggestions? I do have a transcript of what we did in that
>>>>>session if anyone would be interested in taking a look at it and make
>>>>>a suggestion.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any help would be most appreciated.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>Mark
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Having gone down this road myself with different routers several times
>>>>I can understand the frustration. Once I had the same router but I
>>>>returned it and went with a different option. That said, I can think
>>>>of several possibilities that are software related that can cause a
>>>>problem but it would help if someone has the same router in case it's
>>>>a router setup problem too.
>>>>
>>>>I think the transcript would be helpful so we don't have to ask too
>>>>many questions like which OS are you using to begin with? Are you
>>>>using any firewall? Are you using the card's wireless utility or
>>>>windows builtin stuff (ie- Wireless Zero Confirguration)? Do you need
>>>>to use any mac address in the router's setup? Usually when first
>>>>setting up any wireless connection, it's best to use NO security
>>>>(firewalls, wep, etc...) initially to know you can make a wireless
>>>>connection, then you can begin to use the security features so that if
>>>>it drops the connection, you can pin point the problem right away.
>>>>You can also ping the router to see if that works. These are just
>>>>the first things I can think of but I'm sure Ben, Chris, Journey, Tom
>>>>and several others can also make some good suggestions to help you.
>>>>Hang in there and be patient. I'm pretty confident as a group, we can
>>>>get you connected wirelessly !!!
>>>>
>>>>ps-- sometimes I've seen suggestions about using the same brand
>>>>router and card to make setup easier but I wouldn't spend more money
>>>>to do this but if this option is available to you, you might consider
>>>>it as a last resort. Personally I never needed to resort to this
>>>>method but I've had to chew my nails more than once <g>.
>>>
>>>
>>>Oops.... Ok I see you already said XP for the OS (my bad).
>>>BTW, if anyone suggests a new card, well all I can say is I have the
>>>same wireless card (using XP too) and it works flawlessly for me in a
>>>large 2 story home. I know some don't like this card.
>>
>>Ok, gang! I have uninstalled the wireless router (i couldn't even get
>>a wired connection with any of the three computers i have hooked up to
>>it last night) and reinstalled my BEFSR41.
>>
>>I will reinstall the WRT54G, get it going with all computers on my
>>network via wire, then check out the firewall issues as you mention
>>and try to get the thing going via wireless. I will let you know one
>>way or the other how things work out.
>>
>>Thanks for your suggestions... I'll be getting back!
>>
>>Mark
>
> Well, I tried to reinstall the WRT54G, and my computer wouldn't even
> recognize it. Packed it up and sent it back to Newegg.com.
> As an alternative, I ordered a US Robotics 5451 Wireless MAXg Access
> Point. Hopefully, I can just plug that in to my existing Linksys
> BEFSR41 router and get connected wirelessly to the laptop and the
> I-touch's while maintaining wired connectivity to the other desktops
> on my home network.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Mark

what do you mean by you tried to 'reinstall' it? did you try the approach I
sugested? how far did you get? i think having an access point actually
adds complication to what should be a very simple setup.