[gui-talk] need wireless settings controlled by Windows

[Sherri]

Steve, Thanks for the thorough explanation. The kids changed some setting 
and apparently my desktop likes it now, so we are back online. I will tell 
them about not using the phone number as a password for security. I'm not 
sure if they did that, but you raise a valid point. Thanks again.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "Discussion of the Graphical User Interface,GUI Talk Mailing List" 
<gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] need wireless settings controlled by Windows


Sherri,

It is really hard to diagnose this kind of thing from a distance.  I have 
some ideas as to what may be happening, though, but it depends some on what 
your
kids did.  Is there a cable plugged into your computer?  If it has cable and 
wireless, and if you don't ever use wireless, turning off the wireless on 
the desktop
would be a good idea.

If you have a wireless connection only, I don't think that it is likely that 
the wireless is fighting with Windows.  I think it is more likely that you 
may be
conflicting with another computer on your network.  To know for sure, it 
would be necessary to know how all devices on your network were configured. 
If
there is a mixture of computers using DHCP and dynamic addressing, for 
example, could cause this behavior.  Life is no longer as simple as it once 
was.
Besides computers, I pods, cellphones, and game consoles may all be 
connecting to your network.  Therefore, I would first try unplugging your 
router for
thirty seconds and then plug it in again.  This should reset things and 
cause all devices to request addresses from your network again.  I should 
add that I
have had some trouble on my network with the way the BrailleNote gets 
addresses, so if you have a braillenote, and you use it on your network, let 
me
know.  I have also had some trouble on my network with Macs somehow freezing 
my wireless network.  If any of your kids have a MAC, you may need to
reset your router once in a while.  If you have internet through your cable 
company, you could have trouble during heavy traffic times with your 
connection.

Finally, be sure that you have some kind of security on your wireless 
network.  It is amazing to me how many networks I find as we are sitting at 
a stoplight
that have no security at all.  The security geeks will tell you that WEPP 
security with your phone number, for example, as a key won't keep any 
serious
hacker off your network and they are right.  I would argue, though, that if 
serious security becomes too hard to implement so there is no security, you 
are
better off using even the simplest security.  At least it will keep some kid 
next door from using your internet connection by accident.  My kids 
connected their
WII game center to a neighbor's unsecure internet network completely by 
accident.  The WII found it and connected and they thought they had it made.
When I asked where they entered our security key, it became evident that the 
WII was not connected to our network at all.  Somebody connected to your
network from outside could be causing unanticipated demands, and of course 
there are risks beyond the demands.

If none of this helps, we'll need more details.  However, if your network 
and your problems are complicated, you may need to get someone with some
background in networks to check it out locally.  Your internet service 
provider might be able to offer some help.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:40:12 -0400, Sherri wrote:

>Somehow on my desktop, the settings have been changed. I want to make sure
>that my Wireless Internet settings are being controlled by Windows and not
>the Wireless card or program. I am using a Linksis router and running
>Windows XP pro. I'm using Jaws 10 if that matters.

>My problem is the Internet keeps logging on and off. Someone said the
>computer might be arguing over which program is controlling its wireless
>settings. How can I make sure that Windows is controlling my settings? 
>Thank
>you. One of the kids messed with the router and it hasn't been right since.
>My laptop is fine; it's just the desktop and that is the computer on which 
>I
>primarily do my medical transcription work. Thanks in advance for any help.

>Sherri


>Sherri Brun, NFBF Secretary and Newsline® Coordinator
>Vice-president NFB Greater Orlando Chapter
>Secretary FDCP INC
>E-mail: flmom2006 at gmail.com
>www.nfbnewsline.org
>http://www.nfbflorida.org
>http://nfbfgoc.org

>"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." John
>Lennon
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