WiFi Networking (Telstra cable) and Win98

[Lotz-A-Landies]

(thread name previously "Networking WiFi and Win98")
A mate and member of this forum is still using an old Win98 PC with a Telstra cable internet connection. He has now been given a Win7 laptop and I want to help him set up a WiFi network (WiFi router) but still leave the win98 machine on the internet and hopefully able to share his files across machines.

All the WiFi router spec I can find ATM seem to require WinXP as a minimum.

Have thought about setting up the network plugging the Win7 laptop into the router and then use it WiFi once the network is running. Will this work?

Any recomendations for WiFi router (Make model) for this problem?

Diana :TakeABow:

[incisor]

any wireless router will work, finding a pci wireless card with 98 drivers might hurt a bit..

i just threw a heap of them out... :angel:

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I was going to leave the Win98 PC plugged in via the Ethernet cable to the router and the new machine/machines WiFi (at least that is the way I have my network here)

It just seems the vendors are suggesting the WiFi software needs XP or later.

[incisor]

wifi is OS independant as long as you can get a driver for your wireless receiver.

the router itself needs no driver.

maybe for the manufacturers desktop based setup utility but you are usually better off using the web interface to set your router up not the manufacturers crap utility software :p

[Debacle]

What are the specs on the old computer ? Have you thought of installing win7 on it. You can install it over the top of the old os and networking is pretty simple with win7 homegroups, as long as they are running the same os

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Thanks John

I have learn't over the years that while something is working O.K. and the owner is happy with it, then leave it be.

It would be a nightmare if we changed the OS and found that the machine didn't have sufficient RAM and/or the hardware was incompatible.

I think I'll try Inc's idea of using the browser interface from the Win7 OS, so it would be nice to get a recommendation for a router that will give my mate the least problems.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Thought I'd move onto the next issue before I muck up my mates internet access.

I have Optus cable for my internet and the WiFi router merely sits in between the Optus supplied (Motorolla) modem and desktop PC via the ethernet cables. Very much plug-and-play.

Have never had any experience with Telstra cable and wonder if there is anything I need to do when putting a WiFi router behind the modem? Particularly any logon script or machine ID I may have to enter into the gateway?

:TakeABow:

[incisor]

should be a straight forward setup using dhcp from your cable modem i would think

as for routers, i prefer dlink and tplink.. the former being the easiest to setup but do not use the supplied disk.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Have already bought a DLink :)

[heratio]

Hi, netgear usb cards still support Windows 98, see here Windows Adapter Card Compatiblity (http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1073/~/windows-adapter-card-compatiblity) they don't have the best range but certainly the easiest out of box soloution

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Thanks heratio

The Win98 machine already has an ethernet card for the cable modem, I am merely sticking the WiFi router on the ethernet between the modem and the Win98 PC.

AFAIK the router switch should not effect the operation of the PC, but what I don't know is if Telstra identifies machines by a machine name or ESN, which may need to be migrated to the router, or Telstra identifies the modem by an ESN.

I do know that when I first got my OptusHome cable, I needed to have a specific machine name to connect to the internet but since they changed to Optusnet Cable and replaced the modem, they recognise the modem serial number meaning I can place anything after the modem and it will work.

What I don't know is if Telstra is the same?

[Bushie]

When ever I have added new PCs or wireless devices to my network I've never had any problems with the Telstra cable. As yours modem -----> router ------> multiple PCs (some hard wired others wireless).


Martyn

[IndusD4]

I recently changed from Optus Cable to Telstra cable. The Optus setup was via Motorola Surfboard modem to a WIFI router. Telstra provided a new modem/wifi router in one, this was installed before the wifi router I already had so that all devices in the house migrated along without having to touch them.

You might be referring to a "Telstra bigpond" option that I have seen on some routers (on my old Dlink). I have not used that before as I was on Optus then, but I suspect that is an option that sends a keepalive packet every now and then to keep the link up. I've not seen this option in the wifi/router modem I just got from Telstra. I guess if your router has this option just tick the box, if you don't you might find that the connection between the router and Telstra drops and the first time you try to access the internet after that might take a little bit longer than subsequent access.

Ron

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi Ron

My mate has had the telstra cable for ages and didn't even know his new notebook had WiFi.

I have no idea about Telstra, but I suspect they would charge extra $ for the WiFi/Router/Modem if we requested an upgrade.

I guess I'll find out on Saturday when I set everything up. :o

Diana

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi People was about to install WiFi Router only to find the Telstra Netgear modem is a WiFi Router.

Does anyone know the default Username and Password Telstra uses with cable modems to access the browser interface?

[jboot51]

user-admin
pswd-admin

or
user-admin
pswd-BLANK

[Lotz-A-Landies]

or Username: admin
Password: password

:banana: :twobeers: