Get network from computer > usb > G1?

[jayray]

I get horrible reception in my house, just tragic. On again off again, but mostly off, unless I hang upside down in front of my downstairs window during daylight hours. However, this is not a feasible position for my computer, where I do alot of gaming. Between rounds I like to have something to do. The G1, plugged smack into my PC's USB port, seems like it ought to be able to pick up network data flow right off the box.

Is this possible?

[inportb]

Never tried that... but did something similar with WiFi:
Network <=> Laptop <=> WiFi <=> G1

I'm not sure if the G1 supports usbnet, but if it does, the routing should be similar.

On the other hand... why not just set up a wireless router? I had to use my laptop as a router because I didn't have a router handy in my dorm.

[jayray]

I can answer your question. I have a wireless router downstairs, near the aforementioned window. It connects wirelessly to the others in my house but like the TMob cell towers the signal doesn't reliably reach my room. Instead I have an unsightly hundred foot ethernet cable snaking across my room, down the stairss, along the ceiling in the hallway and into the router.

I have a wireless card I could plug into my computer. Is there a way to use that as a router to light up my room? If so, I wouldn't ask you to explain it all here... I can follow directions pretty well from a guide online. Perhaps a link or a good search term?

[Dixie]

I hate to ask what seems like a stupid question, but does your G1 get a good wifi signal when standing in front of the wireless router??

As for unreliable wireless connection, there are many things that can effect it - microwaves, some cordless phones, thick walls (think garage wall), distance from the router, etc. If my PC was wireless and getting bad reception, I wouldnt expect any different from my phone... but since you ran cable, that will be hard to troubleshoot without unhooking, and adding the NIC to your PC.

But yes, if a wireless NIC gets good reception in your room, then your Phone should too....

[Broo]

I don't think the USB -> G1 will get you internet access unless there is a driver for the PC and software in the G1 to support (like WinMo devices).

As for plugging a USB 802.11b/g dongle into your PC and connecting, it should work- but it is not the easiest thing to do. I assume you are using Windows so look up 'Internet Connection Sharing'; with this you can use a wired connection into the PC and bridge it out to a wireless connection for sharing.

Microsoft Article for WinXP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126

If you are getting bad WiFi reception with the phone another option is a Wireless Extender. There are either extender dedicated devices or most vendors have an extender mode built into their routers if you purchase a 2nd similar device (check the manual online before purchasing). LinkSys is very good at this...

[inportb]

But yes, if a wireless NIC gets good reception in your room, then your Phone should too....

It stands to reason... but consider that the phone outputs a slightly weaker signal due to its power limitations. So while it may receive signal from the AP, it might not be able to send information back reliably.

I have a wireless card I could plug into my computer. Is there a way to use that as a router to light up my room? If so, I wouldn't ask you to explain it all here... I can follow directions pretty well from a guide online. Perhaps a link or a good search term?

But from what you've said, you have a computer, a wireless NIC, and an Ethernet NIC. You could configure your wireless NIC in master mode (as an access point) and set up routing between it and the Ethernet NIC.

What operating system do you run on that machine? I can do this quite easily on Linux, but I've seen someone do this on WinXP.

[jayray]

Dixie, that's a good question! I haven't tested the G1's reliability specifically next to my router. I've had the G1 for about two weeks and I know that when I'm downstairs, connectivity doesn't drop. Besides having improved cell reception, there is the signal from my router and from a bar across the street. If the signal I'm on loses its connection, there are at least two other sources the G1 can grab. At best I can say that the G1 is good at transferring between them, but I can't say for sure that my router is stable, wirelessly speaking.

Broo and Inportb, perhaps the day can be saved after all. I run Windows XP Pro. Stashed away in my closet is a Belkin Wireless N Nic, matching the router downstairs. Tomorrow, when I have time, this whole ICS / master mode business will be looked into.

Now I really wish I had taken the time to learn linux. I wonder how difficult it would be to tweak the G1 to grab network through the USB. But I'm getting miles ahead of myself...

Thanks for the suggestions.

[inportb]

Well if it does 802.11b/g, you should be good to go. This might help you, though I've personally never tried it: http://www.netlife.co.za/content/view/35/34/

[jayray]

(ventmodeon)

Well now. I think my ethernet connection is completely destroyed. I'm typing this on a roommates computer since I have no connectivity from my own. I have no idea how this could have happened. I didn't touch that connection until it went gonzo, I swear!

I found two help pages on microsoft's website which detail the same procedure in which a wireless card is turned into a host for an ad-hoc network. I think you linux people would consider the wireless card as being in master mode. Windows has its own lingo but I believe them to have the same effect. So after some futzing around with some outdated drivers I downloaded off of Belkin's website, I found the right one and got the wireless card working. Its a bad ass card which comes with its own antenna and my connection to the router kicks butt. Except through the ethernet cable itself, I've never seen such a strong steady signal.

So I set up the card as per these two MS help pages but the G1 did not find it, not even after I manually entered the SSID. I decided to look around on the net for additional tips and suggestions. Here I discovered that the ethernet card was no longer providing an internet connection.

I disabled/enabled it. No help.
I rebooted my PC. Nope.
I rebooted the modem and the router. Nope.
I uninstalled the wireless card and rebooted. No help.
I plugged my ethernet directly into the modem. No help.
I rolled back to the restore point prior to all of my wireless shenanigans. NO HELP!

So right now I'm on a friends PC looking for a new set of Via drivers to reinstall the ethernet stuff.

What's odd is that through all of this the modem and the PC both showed a steady connection to each other. They know each other exist they just refuse to speak.

Networking was never so frustrating. ACH!

(ventmodeoff)

[jayray]

Okay, after much wailing, pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth, my network has decided to work. I think--tentatively--that the problem was in the router. I reset her back to factory default and after a few minutes of negotiating with the modem, the connection reappeared. I am slowly trying to add in all the changes I've introduced to it over the last year and a half and as of right now, things are stable. So I'm more or less back at my default configuration prior to attempting the ad-hoc mode.

I'm wondering if all this isn't worth the trouble. I'm a tenacious hound dog though, and want to see this through. Its all for the G1 community!

In case anyone out there is interested or has experience with this, here are some links all describing the genesis of my woes. These three links all come from the MS website, and all detail the same thing in different ways.

Adhoc 1

Adhoc 2

Adhoc 3

As above the idea is to install a wireless card into a wired computer and use the card to link the PC with other wireless cards. Basically, this turns your computer into a DHCP router. Except it doesn't. Or didn't in my case.

One snag comes to mind here in my case. I think this procedure changes the wired PC's IP. I've had mine set to use a specific IP all this time and would like to continue doing so, as I use my PC for some select server functions where a static IP is helpful. Perhaps that figures into this melee somehow. I don't know. Windows registry is mysterious. Perhaps there was some internal logic conflict that windows couldn't handle. That doesn't explain why my actual router stopped handshaking with the modem for two hours, or why it started to work again after I reset it.