Wireless Networking In Several Locations (XP Service Pack 2 Machine)

[Bobby Mir]

Hello All,

I have a laptop user at our work that frequents different locations with
wireless ready internet. I was just wondering what the optimal method would
be for him to be set up so that he requires minimal interaction with XP in
allowing him access to any of the networks when he is in the different
locations. My understanding is that as long as the networks have been
configured at least once, then the user will not have a problem "connecting"
to the different wireless networks when in there presence. The user visits
3 locations in total. Work, home, and client site. All required
information is available (such as SSID's, network keys, etc.). If
configuring them at least once is not enough, is the next best thing to add
each of the 3 networks under "preferred networks" when looking under
wireless network settings?

Laptop specs are: Intel Centrino 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive,
Wireless NIC/Bluetooth Module, Windows XP SP2. Any help would be
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bobby

 

[Malke]

Hello All,

I have a laptop user at our work that frequents different locations
with
wireless ready internet. I was just wondering what the optimal method
would be for him to be set up so that he requires minimal interaction
with XP in allowing him access to any of the networks when he is in
the different
locations. My understanding is that as long as the networks have been
configured at least once, then the user will not have a problem
"connecting"
to the different wireless networks when in there presence. The user
visits
3 locations in total. Work, home, and client site. All required
information is available (such as SSID's, network keys, etc.). If
configuring them at least once is not enough, is the next best thing
to add each of the 3 networks under "preferred networks" when looking
under wireless network settings?

Laptop specs are: Intel Centrino 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive,
Wireless NIC/Bluetooth Module, Windows XP SP2. Any help would be
appreciated.

Probably the easiest thing for your user would be to use third-party
multi-network management software. First check to make sure he doesn't
already have something like that installed by the laptop OEM, Thinkpads
have have Access IBM for instance. Standard Dells and HPs don't. Here
are a few links to third-party software that may help:

http://www.netswitcher.com - NetSwitcher
http://www.globesoft.com/mnm_home.html - MultiNetwork Manager
http://www.mobilenetswitch.com - Mobile Net Switch

Malke

 

[Bobby Mir]

So there's no XP native way of doing that even though he can be set up for
each network? The user has a HP NW8240 series laptop, so no HP
configuration software that came with it would allow that. Surely there has
to be a way, no?

 

[Richard G. Harper]

My laptop handles such situations very handily - as long as the network has
been configured it will find and connect to it again when it sees it. You
may well want to put them under preferred networks, in order that they're
likely to be used, so as to prevent any rogue site from blowing away
previously-remembered settings.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Bobby Mir]

Hi again,

Richard, thanks for the input. What posed to me post this question was due
to the fact that the last time the user went from one location to another, I
believe XP thought it was in the same location and it was a bit of a
struggle to get him on the network in the location he was at. I'm not sure
why, maybe because the routers were identical (I honestly can't think of any
other reason)? So I thought to add the connections under preferred networks
thus eliminating any possibilities of that happening.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Regards,

Bobby

My laptop handles such situations very handily - as long as the network
has been configured it will find and connect to it again when it sees it.
You may well want to put them under preferred networks, in order that
they're likely to be used, so as to prevent any rogue site from blowing
away previously-remembered settings.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hello All,

I have a laptop user at our work that frequents different locations with
wireless ready internet. I was just wondering what the optimal method
would be for him to be set up so that he requires minimal interaction
with XP in allowing him access to any of the networks when he is in the
different locations. My understanding is that as long as the networks
have been configured at least once, then the user will not have a problem
"connecting" to the different wireless networks when in there presence.
The user visits 3 locations in total. Work, home, and client site. All
required information is available (such as SSID's, network keys, etc.).
If configuring them at least once is not enough, is the next best thing
to add each of the 3 networks under "preferred networks" when looking
under wireless network settings?

Laptop specs are: Intel Centrino 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive,
Wireless NIC/Bluetooth Module, Windows XP SP2. Any help would be
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bobby

 

[Richard G. Harper]

If the routers were identical that wouldn't hurt anything - but if the SSIDs
were, then that would cause problems for certain. If Windows sees one
network called "Linksys" and you configure that network, the next time it
sees a network called "Linksys" it will assume the same settings will work.
If they won't then you have to re-configure the "Linksys" network and in the
process will lose the settings that were there.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hi again,

Richard, thanks for the input. What posed to me post this question was
due to the fact that the last time the user went from one location to
another, I believe XP thought it was in the same location and it was a bit
of a struggle to get him on the network in the location he was at. I'm
not sure why, maybe because the routers were identical (I honestly can't
think of any other reason)? So I thought to add the connections under
preferred networks thus eliminating any possibilities of that happening.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Regards,

Bobby

My laptop handles such situations very handily - as long as the network
has been configured it will find and connect to it again when it sees it.
You may well want to put them under preferred networks, in order that
they're likely to be used, so as to prevent any rogue site from blowing
away previously-remembered settings.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hello All,

I have a laptop user at our work that frequents different locations with
wireless ready internet. I was just wondering what the optimal method
would be for him to be set up so that he requires minimal interaction
with XP in allowing him access to any of the networks when he is in the
different locations. My understanding is that as long as the networks
have been configured at least once, then the user will not have a
problem "connecting" to the different wireless networks when in there
presence. The user visits 3 locations in total. Work, home, and client
site. All required information is available (such as SSID's, network
keys, etc.). If configuring them at least once is not enough, is the
next best thing to add each of the 3 networks under "preferred networks"
when looking under wireless network settings?

Laptop specs are: Intel Centrino 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive,
Wireless NIC/Bluetooth Module, Windows XP SP2. Any help would be
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bobby

 

[Bobby Mir]

Hey Richard,

I just realized that after I replied to your last post. I was looking
through screenshots that were taken by the user and this solves all my
problems. I noticed the SSID was identical to the SSID to the other
location, and that for sure will through off a computer and it would act
like it was never set up previously. Thanks for the insight once again!

Problem solved.

Cheers,

Bobby

If the routers were identical that wouldn't hurt anything - but if the
SSIDs were, then that would cause problems for certain. If Windows sees
one network called "Linksys" and you configure that network, the next time
it sees a network called "Linksys" it will assume the same settings will
work. If they won't then you have to re-configure the "Linksys" network
and in the process will lose the settings that were there.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hi again,

Richard, thanks for the input. What posed to me post this question was
due to the fact that the last time the user went from one location to
another, I believe XP thought it was in the same location and it was a
bit of a struggle to get him on the network in the location he was at.
I'm not sure why, maybe because the routers were identical (I honestly
can't think of any other reason)? So I thought to add the connections
under preferred networks thus eliminating any possibilities of that
happening.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Regards,

Bobby

My laptop handles such situations very handily - as long as the network
has been configured it will find and connect to it again when it sees
it. You may well want to put them under preferred networks, in order
that they're likely to be used, so as to prevent any rogue site from
blowing away previously-remembered settings.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hello All,

I have a laptop user at our work that frequents different locations
with wireless ready internet. I was just wondering what the optimal
method would be for him to be set up so that he requires minimal
interaction with XP in allowing him access to any of the networks when
he is in the different locations. My understanding is that as long as
the networks have been configured at least once, then the user will not
have a problem "connecting" to the different wireless networks when in
there presence. The user visits 3 locations in total. Work, home, and
client site. All required information is available (such as SSID's,
network keys, etc.). If configuring them at least once is not enough,
is the next best thing to add each of the 3 networks under "preferred
networks" when looking under wireless network settings?

Laptop specs are: Intel Centrino 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive,
Wireless NIC/Bluetooth Module, Windows XP SP2. Any help would be
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bobby

 

[Richard G. Harper]

You're welcome.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hey Richard,

I just realized that after I replied to your last post. I was looking
through screenshots that were taken by the user and this solves all my
problems. I noticed the SSID was identical to the SSID to the other
location, and that for sure will through off a computer and it would act
like it was never set up previously. Thanks for the insight once again!

Problem solved.

Cheers,

Bobby

If the routers were identical that wouldn't hurt anything - but if the
SSIDs were, then that would cause problems for certain. If Windows sees
one network called "Linksys" and you configure that network, the next
time it sees a network called "Linksys" it will assume the same settings
will work. If they won't then you have to re-configure the "Linksys"
network and in the process will lose the settings that were there.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Hi again,

Richard, thanks for the input. What posed to me post this question was
due to the fact that the last time the user went from one location to
another, I believe XP thought it was in the same location and it was a
bit of a struggle to get him on the network in the location he was at.
I'm not sure why, maybe because the routers were identical (I honestly
can't think of any other reason)? So I thought to add the connections
under preferred networks thus eliminating any possibilities of that
happening.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Regards,

Bobby

My laptop handles such situations very handily - as long as the network
has been configured it will find and connect to it again when it sees
it. You may well want to put them under preferred networks, in order
that they're likely to be used, so as to prevent any rogue site from
blowing away previously-remembered settings.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hello All,

I have a laptop user at our work that frequents different locations
with wireless ready internet. I was just wondering what the optimal
method would be for him to be set up so that he requires minimal
interaction with XP in allowing him access to any of the networks when
he is in the different locations. My understanding is that as long as
the networks have been configured at least once, then the user will
not have a problem "connecting" to the different wireless networks
when in there presence. The user visits 3 locations in total. Work,
home, and client site. All required information is available (such as
SSID's, network keys, etc.). If configuring them at least once is not
enough, is the next best thing to add each of the 3 networks under
"preferred networks" when looking under wireless network settings?

Laptop specs are: Intel Centrino 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive,
Wireless NIC/Bluetooth Module, Windows XP SP2. Any help would be
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Bobby