Problem: I need to change router settings but can't find them.

Solution: Enter the magic number into your Web browser. Most routers have integrated software that is accessible using any Web browser. Launch the browser of your choice and type 192.168.0.1 in the Address bar. That is the default address for most routers and brings up a Web-based interface containing all of the routers settings.


Problem: The network doesn't work at all or doesn't work between certain connected PCs.

Solution: Check the hardware. Most network problems stem from improper software and hardware settings, but occasionally hardware failures are responsible. If a shared Internet connection seems to be down, try to watch a cable television channel if you have a cable modem or use the phone if you have DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) to see if the entire service is down. If it is, contact your ISP to see if there is a problem in your area. Check all cable connections and consider replacing Ethernet cables if the problem seems to be confined to a particular computer or device. We've experienced several Ethernet cable failures in the past few years that strike for seemingly no reason, which we easily fixed by installing a new cable.

Problem: Computers on my network can't "see" one another.

Solution: Change the workgroup names so they all match. When you set up a home network, it is best to assign the same workgroup name to all computers so they are all accessible from the same place in My Network Places or Network Neighborhood. To change the workgroup name in Windows XP, click Start, right-click My Computer, click Properties, select the Computer Name tab, click the Change button, and enter the workgroup name you want to use. In Windows 98/Me, right-click Network Neighborhood, click Properties, select the Identification tab, and enter the workgroup name. The computer must be rebooted before it can join the newly selected workgroup.


Problem: OK, my wireless network is up, but my neighbor keeps bragging about how he's leeching off of my bandwidth. Any suggestions?

Solution: Enable WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and/or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). Wireless routers create a cloud of network coverage that penetrates walls, and anyone within that cloud can access your network unless WEP and/or WPA are enabled. WEP encrypts data that is transmitted wirelessly so that only other products that know the proper decryption key can unscramble and use the data. Most routers have 64-bit or 128-bit WEP, and you should always use 128-bit assuming all of your wireless hardware supports that standard. You'll need to configure all of your other wireless devices so that they know WEP is enabled on the router. You'll need to consult the product manuals for that information because the procedure varies from product to product.

WPA is a newer, more powerful encryption standard that is only supported by the latest routers. Microsoft has a patch available for WinXP users so they can enable WPA on their computers, routers, and NICs, but users of older operating systems must rely on third-party products such as Meetinghouse Data Communications' AEGIS Client ($39.99; www.mtghouse.com). If you have WinXP, visit support.microsoft.com, search
for Knowledge Base Article 826942 ("Wireless Update Rollup Package For Windows XP Is Available"), and follow the instructions there to download and install the patch. Visit the manufacturer's Web site for your network hardware or consult the documentation to see how to enable and configure WPA on your particular combination of hardware once the patch is installed.


Problem: My Internet connection worked great until I connected a router to my broadband modem. Now Web pages are not appearing, and the network is not accessible.

Solution: Double-check the cable connections and run your router's configuration wizard if it has one. Routers have several Ethernet cable jacks on the back, and if you accidentally connect the broadband modem or a computer to the wrong one, the Internet connection and network become inaccessible. Connect the broadband modem directly to the port labeled WLAN and connect other devices to the ports labeled with numbers. If that still doesn't work, access the router's internal settings by typing 192.168.0.1 into your Web browser's Address bar and see if a setup wizard is available. Run the wizard, and it will automatically configure your Web browser, router, and other settings to make them work together. If no wizard is available, you'll need to contact your ISP and manually enter any router settings they provide.


Problem: I want to use a router, but my ISP requires that I use a specific MAC (Media Access Control) address or the MAC address of my NIC.

Solution: Manually enter the required MAC address or clone the NIC's MAC address.

ISPs record the MAC addresses of the modems registered for operation with their Internet service and also may identify users by the MAC addresses hard-coded into the NICs installed on the users' computers. If your ISP has these requirements, access your router's settings by typing 192.168.0.1 into your Web browser's Address bar, look for the WAN (wide-area network) settings, and manually enter the required MAC address. Most routers also have a Clone MAC Address button or link that copies the MAC address from an installed NIC to the router so that the ISP "sees" the MAC address associated with your account.


Problem: When I access the router's settings, it asks for a login name and password, but I haven't established those yet.

Solution: Enter the default login name and password for your device or no password.

Configuring routers is a bit scary for beginners because generally a password screen pops up and they assume they can't get into the advanced settings. Don't fret because usually it is possible to enter a default login and password and then change those settings once you're in. For Linksys or D-Link routers, try typing admin in the Login and Password fields. If you have a Netgear product, try typing admin in the Login field and password in the Password field. If those don't work, enter admin in the Login field and leave the Password field blank.


Problem: I want to test my network to see if it operates at its advertised speed.

Solution: Learn to convert between megabits per second and megabytes per second and time how long it takes to transfer files of a known size. If your network connections seem to run slowly, you can run a simple transfer rate test to help with further troubleshooting. Because files sizes are generally measured in megabytes and network speeds are generally listed in megabits, remember to divide megabits by eight to get the equivalent in megabytes. For example, a 10Mbps wireless network can transfer a maximum of 1.25MBps, while a 100Mbps network can transfer a maximum of 12.5MBps.

Copy a large file (right-click a file and click Properties to see its size in mega-bytes) between two computers on the network and measure the amount of time it takes in seconds to measure the network's speed; then, do the simple math required to convert the result into megabits per second. For example, if it takes 10 seconds to transfer a 100MB file across the network, that's a speed of 10MBps, which is multiplied by eight to determine that the average transfer rate is 80Mbps. Note that no network ever operates at its theoretical maximum speed.


Problem: My 10/100 Base-T Ethernet NIC isn't running as fast as it should when transferring files.

Solution: Force the card to use its highest rated speed. If you know all of the hardware in the data transfer chain operates at 100Mbps and the NIC still transfers data at an average rate of 10Mbps or less, the most likely cause of the slowdown is that Windows is telling the card to operate at 10Mbps speed instead of its maximum 100Mbps speed. To force it to use 100Mbps mode in WinXP, click Start, right-click My Computer, click Properties, select the Hardware tab, and click Device Manager. In WinMe or Win98, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and select the Device Manager tab. Find the Network Adapters entry in the hardware list and click the plus sign (+) to expand it. Then, right-click the icon for the problematic NIC, click Properties, and select the Advanced tab. Click Link Speed & Duplex in the Property dialog box and then expand the Value drop-down menu and select 100/Mbps Full Duplex. Click OK, reboot the computer, and retest the card to see if it transfers data at a speed closer to 100Mbps.


Problem: I use WinXP and WinMe (or Win98) on the same network, but the WinXP computer does not show up in Network Neighborhood on the WinMe or Win98 machines.

Solution: Establish a password on the WinXP machine. WinXP has many more security features than previous versions of Windows, and although it is possible to log on to a WinXP machine without using a password, it generally is not possible to browse a WinXP computer's drives or folders via the network unless you establish a password on the WinXP computer. To do this click Start, click Control Panel, double-click User Accounts, click the name of an account with Administrator privileges, and click Create A Password. Fill in the boxes according to the instructions and click Create Password, and WinXP should become visible in My Network Places on the other computers after a reboot.


Problem: I need to establish a static IP address for a computer but don't know where to access the setting.

Solution: Open Network Properties. All network devices, from computers and printers to routers and NICs, are assigned unique IP (Internet Protocol) addresses that identify them. While most cable modem and dial-up accounts assign IP addresses to customers dynamically, most DSL providers provide a static IP address that never changes as long as the user maintains their account. To manually enter an IP address in WinXP, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, right-click the icon of the Internet connection, and click Properties. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click Properties, and select the Use The Following IP Address radio button. Enter the IP address supplied by your ISP and click OK.

In Win98/Me, right-click My Network Places, click Properties, click the TCP/IP entry associated with your NIC, and click Properties. Select the IP Address tab, select the Specify An IP Address radio button, and manually enter the IP address assigned by your ISP.


Problem: I have WinXP and heard it has a built-in firewall, but I don't know how to enable or configure it.

Solution: Open Local Area Connection Properties. Firewalls are software or hardware designed to monitor an Internet connection to make sure all data going out and coming in is transferred at the request of the person using the computer. The firewall blocks all data that attempts to leave or enter without permission and alerts the user that something suspicious is happening. WinXP comes with an integrated firewall that is accessible by clicking Start, clicking Control Panel, double-clicking Network Connections, right-clicking Local Area Connection (or the icon that corresponds with your computer's network connection), and clicking Properties. Select the Advanced tab and click the Protect My Computer And Network By Limiting Or Preventing Access To This Computer From The Internet checkbox. Click OK, and basic firewall protection is enabled on the computer.

If you want a firewall that has better documentation, is more customizable, and that is arguably more secure than the one that comes with WinXP (or
if you use an operating system other than WinXP), we recommend downloading the free version of Zone Labs' ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com).

Problem: I've purchased a network-ready device that I want to connect wirelessly to my network, but it doesn't work with a wireless NIC.

Solution: Buy a bridge. NICs require driver software to work with operating systems, and not all devices have built-in NIC drivers or the capability to let users install NIC drivers (Microsoft's Xbox is one such device). In these cases a wireless bridge is required. These devices look like routers but don't require any drivers. Typically users configure the bridge using their computer and then attach it directly to a network-enabled device where the bridge basically operates like a wireless Ethernet cable.


Problem: My wireless network works properly, but one or more of the devices installed on it that are located relatively far away from the wireless router receive weak or no signals.

Solution: Relocate the router or consider buying a wireless repeater. Wireless signals are subject to all manner of signal blockage and interference and, therefore, rarely operate at anything approaching their maximum advertised range. If a device receives a weak signal, try moving the router closer to it or the device closer to the router. If you have a multistory house, put the router in the middle level and also try adjusting the router's antenna to see if that improves the signal strength. If none of that works, buy a wireless repeater and place it somewhere within the router's range. The repeater boosts the original signal to extend the signal's range.

Problem: I want to share resources on a computer throughout the entire network.

Solution: Enable file and printer sharing. To make files and printers on a WinMe or Win98 computer accessible across an entire network, click Start, expand Settings, click Control Panel, click Network, and click the File And Print Sharing button. Click the checkboxes next to I Want To Be Able To Give Others Access To My Files and I Want To Be Able To Give Others Access To My Printers. These options are enabled by default on a WinXP computer.

Once sharing is enabled, right-click the folder or drive's icon, click Properties, and select the Sharing tab. In Win98/Me, click Share As, enter a name, and select Read-Only if you don't want other network users to be able to modify files in the shared folder or drive or select Full if you want to give them complete access.

In WinXP click the Share This Folder On The Network checkbox and type a name in the Share Name box. If you want to let others on the network edit files that are stored in the shared folder or drive, click the Allow Network Users To Change My Files checkbox before clicking Apply.


Problem: I can download and transfer files among networked computers relatively quickly, but Web pages seem to load slowly regardless of the computer I use to browse the Internet.

Solution: Check for high latency. All network connections suffer from latency, a measure of the amount of time in milliseconds between a request being made and that request being carried out. But Internet connections have more latency issues than network connections because requests must bounce from server to server to reach their destination. If there is a slight delay between the time you click a Web link and the time the first portions of the requested Web page begin to render in your browser, that's latency. Long delays that happen randomly or only at particular Web sites generally are server problems that are not related to the latency inherent with your Internet connection.

To measure latency accurately, click Start, click Run, type cmd in the text box, and click OK. When the prompt appears, type ping www.yahoo.com and press ENTER. Repeat the command several times, replacing www.yahoo.com with the URLs for various Web sites, noting the average latency value each time. If the Average value is consistently in the triple or quadruple digit range for every site you ping, you have relatively high latency and should consider switching to a different ISP.


Don't Forget The Drivers

We've mentioned drivers (the software that lets hardware communicate with an operating system) in this article, and it is important that you check the manufacturer Web sites for your networking hardware to make sure you have the most up-to-date drivers for your devices. New drivers may add features or functionality to your network gear and can solve compatibility problems. Drivers are always available for free.

Also, check for new firmware for your router. Firmware serves as the router's operating system, and upgrading it can make the router work more efficiently, add new features, and resolve compatibility issues. Follow the firmware installation directions carefully because botching the upgrade or installing the wrong firmware version can make the router useless, and never upgrade firmware via a wireless connection. Keeping your hardware up-to-date is worth the risks, however, as doing so keeps your network running smoothly.

by Tracy Baker