The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Melbourne PC User Group Wireless Network
George Skarbek

 
At Chadstone we have installed a free wireless network for members. This will enable members who have a wireless laptop to test it and use it when attending meetings at Chadstone, or just visiting.

Although these things are usually very easy to get going, there are a couple of traps and I will outline the basic steps required to make it work.
 



Figure 1. A sample of the ticket left
for you by the office.

 The main steps are:
  • Obtain a ticket from the office. If you are arriving in the evening there should be a couple left outside the office but to be certain you should phone the office in advance. See Figure 1.

  • Switch on the wireless connectivity of your laptop.

  • Select the Melb PC network from the list of wireless networks presented. See Figure 2.

  • Open your browser
     
  • Enter the name and password provided by the office. See Figure 3.

  • Start surfing

Before leaving home read the manual of your laptop and find out how to turn on the wireless facility. Unless you have a separate wireless card that you plug in, the wireless connectivity is not turned on by default; this is to conserve the battery. Turning it on will involve a small physical switch or a Function and other key combination and will save much frustration later.

The ticket that was issued for you is valid for three months and any unused time that day can be used at any time during that three month period. Note: presently the arrangement is that the ticket must be activated within 12 hours of it being printed. However, we are looking at an alternative approach.

After you have turned on wireless connectivity you should click on Start, Settings, Control Panel, Networking, select Wireless and then you will see the available networks. Right-click on this, select View Available Wireless Networks and you should see NetComm HS800. Select the Melb PC network from the list of wireless networks (see detail below), and ensure an initial connection is established. Click on this and select Connect. If you don't see the HS800 listed, you need to first track down the Connectivity problem.

If you clicked on Connect when selecting the Melb PC network and tried a Web site, the browser will automatically take you to the User name / Password screen. Type in the details from your ticket. Note: it's case sensitive.
 



Figure 2. Select the NetComm HS800 Wireless Network.

Having entered the password you will be able to start surfing, including accessing external sites.

If you return some days/weeks later, you can determine how much access time you have remaining by typing into the browser: http://1.1.1.1/info.html and the details will be shown. You will also see a Logout option at the point. See Figure 4.
 



Figure 3. Enter the name and password.



Figure 4. Usage information screen.

If It Doesn't Work

If you cannot see a network:

  • Have you turned on the wireless networking?

  • Check that you have a Wi-Fi compatible wireless card. All new devices are and they are the 802.11b or 802.11g standard. Note that 802.11a cards uses a different frequency and will NOT work with our equipment.
     
  • The wireless mode should be set to infrastructure and not to Ad-hoc. Ad-Hoc is only for connecting two computers together, equivalent to a local cross-over cable. This is altered via Control Panel, Networks, Wireless, Properties and then it will vary depending on your hardware, but typically it will be under Wireless Networks, Advanced.
Reprinted from the June 2005 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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