wireless connections

[Dave]

Hi...

At my work there's a very basic wi-fi network. Now, my questions are as
follows:

Using network stumbler, i can *see* the network, mac details of the
router/whatever-it-is, now how do i connect to it? My intel proset utility
also finds the network, and when i click 'connect' it asks me for a 5 digit
password or up-to-10-digit 'WEP' - now when i click connect, nothing
happens, i don't get an IP address.

At my other contractual workplace, i can get an IP address, but then how do
i browse the net? Just set I.E LAN settings to 'automatically detect
settings' ?

And how would i browse network files?? My network places--> then what? I
mean, with wired lans workgroups should have the same name at least, does
wireless have the same requirement?

I know these sound like noobie questions, but i've searched google and i
think i'm experiencing what might be known as 'technophobia', at the ripe
old age of 21...

It's just irritating i can't connect to the networks as simply as i
thought....it's obvioulsy different from a wired LAN 10/100 connection! (duh
dave...)

Cheers in advance, ask any questions you need to help you answer if you feel
you're capable, as i've only confused myself futher now...

Dave

 

[Chuck]

Hi...

At my work there's a very basic wi-fi network. Now, my questions are as
follows:

Using network stumbler, i can *see* the network, mac details of the
router/whatever-it-is, now how do i connect to it? My intel proset utility
also finds the network, and when i click 'connect' it asks me for a 5 digit
password or up-to-10-digit 'WEP' - now when i click connect, nothing
happens, i don't get an IP address.

At my other contractual workplace, i can get an IP address, but then how do
i browse the net? Just set I.E LAN settings to 'automatically detect
settings' ?

And how would i browse network files?? My network places--> then what? I
mean, with wired lans workgroups should have the same name at least, does
wireless have the same requirement?

I know these sound like noobie questions, but i've searched google and i
think i'm experiencing what might be known as 'technophobia', at the ripe
old age of 21...

It's just irritating i can't connect to the networks as simply as i
thought....it's obvioulsy different from a wired LAN 10/100 connection! (duh
dave...)

Cheers in advance, ask any questions you need to help you answer if you feel
you're capable, as i've only confused myself futher now...

Dave

Dave,

In both locations, any wireless LANs are the responsibility of their owners.

For a wireless LAN with WEP, the owner obviously doesn't want anybody connecting
without asking for permission first.

For the second WLAN, if you're truly able to connect, and get an ip address, and
there's an available gateway to the internet, then it should indeed be part of
the settings you get when connecting. If you don't get internet access, then,
once again, you need to ask permission of the owner of the WLAN.

Wireless LAN security is a current matter of considerable concern in some
organisations. Don't try to bypass security -- ask permission to connect.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.