Free Computer Consultant ………. Daily Insights

Last week a friend of mine called to say that their ISP had changed their IP address and now, even though they could now get on the internet, they could not access their network printers.

Here is what I think happened (because no one really knows for sure):

• LinkSys router had non-standard IP scheme and static PUBLIC (WAN) IP address programmed in
• The ISP changed something that required a change in the WAN setting
• When the user called in to tech support, she knew nothing about routers, just needed help getting online
• ISP Tech Support directed her to RESET the LinkSys router to FACTORY DEFAULTS, knowing that this would set the WAN port to DHCP (or automatic addressing) which the technician knew would connect the LinkSys router to their network
• What the technician didn’t know or CARE was that she was WIPING OUT other important network settings

I was able to determine (since nothing was labeled) by looking at the PORT under PROPERTIES in the workstation printer configuration what the STATIC IP address of each printer was.

I changed the workstation from DHCP network addressing to a STATIC address that was on the same subnet as the printer - in this case: 192.168.254.0/255.255.255.0.

I was then able to access each printer by putting the IP address of the printer into the address bar of a web browser and configuring the network settings to use the new subnet of 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0.

I put a label on each device with a static IP address, indicating the address.

Since there is no server at this office, the printers were configured on each workstation so I had to go to each one and change the PORT address for each of the networked printers.

Get a label maker and use it. It will save you (or someone else) some time and trouble down the road. And ALWAYS be wary of what a tech support technician tells you!

Over the summer I created a number of videos, primarily on the topic of routers, wireless routers and configuring security on wireless routers.

Setting up a router or configuring encryption on a wireless router is really not that hard to do. I uploaded the videos to make it easier for those not ordinarily comfortable doing something like that to have the confidence to give it a try.

You can see these videos on Associated Content. Use my own custom linkFreeComputerConsultant.

If you want to make a couple bucks submitting content to the internet on a topic you have knowledge, consider signing up on Associated Content.

It’s shortrange, around 10 yards; known as ultra-wideband or UWB for short.

New wireless technology offers around 480 megabits per second using the 10.3 Ghz spectrum, but new technology promises much faster rates at the 60 Ghz range. Both are unlicensed spectrum ranges, and the very short distance increases security.

What it’s good for is entertainment, what else. HD Video streaming from your broadband device to your display screen is one usage.

Read the full article here.

Quick note about trying to obtain gigabit ethernet speeds.

First, make sure your switch and your nic’s are gigabit. Then make sure your cabling, ends, everything, are at least Category 5e, Category 6 is better.

Finally, if you have a network surge protector, or an APC Net8N surge protector or something similar, be advised that you may not get gigabit speed through it unless it is specifically rated for it. The APC PNET1GB is rated for it, but no other network surge protector that I am aware of.

And instead of getting just 100mbps, you may get a very slow (many retries) gigabit or an intermittent failed connection.

I use the APC PNet1GB, but with the addition of a ground wire extension and a plug in to make sure I get a good ground.

The other day I wrote about a problem connecting a new Gateway laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium (the sticker on the laptop said “Vista Basic”) to wireless networks - WiFi and Vista Problems.

With or without WiFi security, the Vista laptop would connect, but not obtain a DHCP address. Interestingly, setting an address manually would not work either. Yesterday, after getting the same results on a new Netgear router and an hour googling and trying anything I can think of, I got it to work.

I have no idea if it is coincidence or not, but after I set an address in the “alternative” tab on the IPv4 properties and disabled IPv6 (which alone did not work), the laptop picked up an address and started working!

I rebooted; it still worked. I removed the alternative address, rebooted, and it still worked. Rebooted again - just for good measure - and the WiFi again connected and picked up a DHCP address.

Vista is definitely not quite as straightforward in connecting to WiFi networks as XP is; however, at least it does not automatically connect to unprotected networks. Vista treats unsecured WiFi as it should - suspiciously.

I had a question submitted to me from a website visitor that brought this problem to mind. Sometimes Power management on your computer will, whether a laptop or not, try after a period of inactivity to shut off your wireless or your wired network adapter to save power.

The problem I have seen is that many times only a reboot will bring your network adapter back online. This is worse yet if you don’t know that this is what’s happening.
Therefore, I prefer to go into device manager, right click the network adapters and on the power management tab, uncheck “allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.

Might save a headache or two.

Don’t assume things, with your network or anything else. Hopefully you have seen the word “assume” diagrammed before so you know what I mean. I run a gigabit network at my place, and with a 3 month old PC that’s a Core 2 Duo, I expect performance.

But network file transfers seemed sluggish. I would have checked it out sooner, but you know, the cobbler’s kids wear no shoes.

Today, though, enough was enough. Right click the network icon on the desktop (go to network in Control Panel if it’s not on the desktop; or right click on the network icon on the Start Menu), choose properties, then double click the Local Area Network icon for a status. Instead of reading Speed 1.0 Gbps, it read 100Mbps. What? No wonder.

First, I yelled at myself for forgetting to reset the switch port from when my laptop’s older port replicator was plugged in there. For some reason it didn’t want to negotiate 100Mbps with the switch and I had to manually set it. But when I opened the web interface for the switch and checked, it was set to “Auto” like it should be.

Hmm. Let’s unplug the patch cable and try another. I said, “Let’s unplug the patch cable and try another!”. But it was stuck. All of the patch cables around it came out easily, but not this one. Finally I got a better grip and pulled harder. When it finally came loose, I could see that the prongs on the cable were no longer aligned properly.

What had happened was not all that uncommon, which is why I’m telling you this story. Sometimes with low voltage connections and a bit of humidity, green stuff (a technical term) starts to “grow” on the connectors. This has funny way of increasing the physical bond between the surfaces while simultaneously decreasing the electrical properties of the connection. Hence, a lower speed sync up between components.

The patch cable will get tossed, and the switch port cleaned with some electrical cleaner. In the meantime, I plugged the new cable into a different switch port.

All is well, and 1.0Gbps again. For a while, anyway. I’ll try to make a habit of checking periodically; I suggest you do the same.