Installing a Wireless Router

[RobW]

I got an Edimax wireless router today and have got it all plugged in. For your information the lights WLAM and ADSL are both flashing. It's all plugged in fine so I can get on the internet, but the manual requires me to type in an IP address, which with both IE and firefox persistently says "the connection has timed out" so the sever's off on it or something, but to get anywhere with this I'll need that address working for me.

What do I do?

[faragher]

OK, I am going to treat you like an idiot

The easiest way to set up a wireless router is on a wired connection. They usually supply a handy bit of RJ45 to plug from your PC to the router.

You may struggle to connect wirelessly to the router before it is configured....

If you are using a wire, I apologise for patronising you, and leave you to the uber-geeks.

[Lewiji]

That IP address will be the router's IP, which will allow you to log into it and change the settings.

It's possible the IP stated in the manual and the IP assigned to your network is different.

If you go to start, run, and type cmd, you will get a command prompt. Type ipconfig (this is in windows xp, for earlier versions i think it is winipconf or something)

The "default gateway" is the IP you need to use.

[RobW]

Thanks! I've finished the wizard on the IP provided now.

Now I've put the USB plug thing in my laptop upstairs which will supposedly pick up the connection down here and use that connection, and it's found a SAGEM F@ST on installing (my modem), but it can't find something else of it, a WLAM 801.11 bg or something, and I have no idea how to connect from there. Where do I go from here?


Edit: it also says no wireless network has been detected?!

[Al]

Wait, you plugged a USB wireless dongle into your laptop and it installed a modem?

That's not right.

Sure there's no CD with the stuff? That should install your dongle for you. Alternatively, you might consider a bit more expenditure on some more kit, such as a PCMCIA card or just a different dongle, in order to not be using that one. Often, this last one is the best answer :/

[RobW]

It said it was installing something else, WLAM 801.11 bg or something, and told me an option was to search in the file of the modem. I installed the CD's stuff first and then the hardware, but it says the WLAM 801.11 bg thing can't be installed, and doesn't show up my router connection thing on the user tray.

Ok, I installed the hardware thing yet again, with success this time, and something did pop up in the system tray. What do I do with this, and how can I connect to the internet now on the laptop? No modem icon is showing in the bottom left, I'm unsure what to do next. Thanks for further help in advance.

The computer claims to have no wireless networks on it. Everything's installed properly. Damn I need help.

[Al]

Modem will not show up, reason being the router is the modem now. Some indication of the new item in the system tray may help. What happens if you double-click or right-click it? Can't really advise unless we know what's going on.

Use the wired connection to set up the router. You should be able to set up the network itself just by consulting the manual. Make sure you have at least some level of encryption on it. Then you should be able to use the utility that installed itself on your laptop to connect to that network.

[RobW]

The item when double clicked, attempts to connect but is disconnected. It's meant to open up the configuration utility according to the manual, which is as far as it goes in telling me anything. After that it ends in all flowers and sausages, in inane English. You can just picture the starved Taiwanese slave that made the manual.

Suggestions?