Barb's Connected World » 802.11

D-Link DSM-750 Media Center Extender (FAR better than Linksys!)

Barb — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:10:57 +0000

I’ve just setup a production DSM-750 Medialounge Media Center Extender. This new extender streams everything over Wireless 802.11n Draft 2.0 (using a DGL-4500 in 5GHz mode) including High Definition Live and Recorded TV from a Vista Ultimate x64 box with two DCT (OCUR) tuners.

Some unboxing and setup images can be found at one of my websites.

Out of the box, the DSM-750 blows the dinky Linksys DMA 2100 out of the water. Solid construction and a nice looking peripheral that doesn’t look like cheap plastic in my living room. The DMA 2100 has no optical SPDIF (RCA flavor digital SPDIF only) and worse, does not see Atheros based 802.11 Draft 2.0 N SSID’s and probably some other brands. The DMA 2100 only has two antennae. D-Link has all the ports and three antennae, which really helps with wireless connectivity .

D-Link integrates network setup with Extender setup and it is a real easy task to get up and running. While I admit to having had experience with a beta engineering sample, the engineering sample was wired only without the 802.11n dual band capability. I was really impressed with how well it worked and how integrated it was. D-Link has tons of experience with something like 6-7 previous versions in the Medialounge wireless media player line. This experience shows.

The Linksys takes forever to connect to the host Vista machine while the D-Link connects seamlessly and far more rapidly.

In my opinion, if you have a choice between the Linksys DMA 2100 and the D-Link DSM-750, the D-Link is well worth the wait. Linksys was first to market, but the race is not always to the swiftest.

Technorati tags: D-Link, Medialounge, Media Center Extender, Vista, 802.11n, OCUR, Digital Cable Tuner

Wireless Networking Gear-The Softer Side

Barb — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:47:24 +0000

I’ve got this great DAP-1555 Draft 802.11n “Xtreme N Duo Mediabridge” that I use to wirelessly enable my Xbox 360. (You can buy these in pairs to add to existing networks. And if you want to use your 360 wirelessly, you’ll definitely want “N” speeds.) The device itself supports both the 2.4 and the 5.0 Ghz bands. In my wifi oversaturated neighborhood, the 5 GHz side is truly a neccessity!

My only beef was that the stark white color made the device stick out like a sore thumb. I stumbled on a page on D-Link’s web site that showed some skins for the DIR-655 router. Since the form factor for the DAP-1555 is the same, I decided to go for it. I went with a color scheme that sort of matches my Xbox 360.

New Expert Zone Column on My Connected Home

Barb — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:19:54 +0000

Microsoft has published my column on Vista computers and devices that all work together transparently on my home network.

Technorati tags: Vista, Media Center, MCE, OCUR, DCT, WiFi, home networking

BBC’s Panorama Investigative Show Thinks WiFi is Unsafe

Barb — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:04:15 +0000

The basis for all of this nonsensical conclusion is apparently some unsubstantiated leap between mobile phone technology and equipment and a theorized similarity to WiFi equipment. Say what?

Someone at Panorama is WiFi phobic. My long standing opinion of the BBC as being grounded in meticulous research and analysis has crashed and there are no survivors.

Technorati tags: WiFi, 802.11, Wireless Networking, Technology

How to bolster wireless security away from home

Barb — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:02:47 +0000

If you travel with a laptop and connect wirelessly, you need to take extra precautions. Most public wireless providers and hot spots use no security at all. Everything you send and receive is sent in the clear with no encryption. If you are using a VPN connection to your office, you will have the protection of an encrypted tunnel. There are several methods of implementing VPN. For more information, see Charlie Russel’s column Connect to Your Corporate Network from Home with Windows XP. You can also use the information in Charlie’s column to connect while you’re on the road. If you can’t use a VPN tunnel to your office, consider using a Remote Desktop connection to a computer you’ve left running at home. You can use Vista Ultimate or Business (32 or 64 bit), Windows XP Professional, Media Center Edition or Tablet PC Edition as a Remote Desktop host machine but not Vista Home Premium or Basic and Windows XP Home. Vista Home Premium, Vista Basic, and Windows XP Home, however, can be used as the remote client. If you are going to do this, you really want to use a router/gateway (and honestly, you don’t ever want to connect a computer directly to a broadband modem). You’ll need to forward port 3389 to this computer (see the router docs). To make this easy to do, get yourself a free domain on www.dyndns.com and get a router that has easy transparent support for DYNDNS. I recommend the D-Link DIR655 (Circuit City is stocking these as of 5/1/07) or the older D-Link DGL4300. For details on using dyndns, see:

http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/howto.html

and

http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/

Take additional security precautions when using public networks outside your home. Follow these additional steps to make your wireless connection more secure. When connecting to a new public network (hotels, municipal, etc.) be sure to specify Public when prompted.

Configure the Vista or Windows XP SP2 Firewall to be on with no exceptions.

To do this in Vista:

a. Right click the wireless icon in the notification area

b. Select Network and Sharing Center

c. Click Firewall on the lower left

d. Select Change Settings

e. Acknowledge the UAC prompt

f. Select Block all incoming connections

To do this in XP:

a. Right click the wireless icon in the notification area

b. Select Change Windows Firewall Settings

c. Click Don’t allow exceptions and then click OK

Vista users should also turn off all file and print sharing in the Network and Sharing Center window. If you are using Windows XP Home edition, turn off file and print sharing on your laptop when you travel. If you are using any other version of Windows XP, turn off Simple File Sharing.

Don’t visit any website or use any program that lets you send passwords, account numbers or other sensitive information in the clear. Use SSL connections for email. If you don’t know how to configure Outlook Express or other email client for SSL or if your ISP does not support this, it is probably your ISP has a secure SSL based webmail application that you can use. If in doubt and there is a choice for secure or encrypted versus normal or non secure, always select the secure version. SSL sites normally have URL’s that begin with https://

Use online banking with care. Most banks offer SSL online access. Read the fine print carefully.

Only use online merchants who provide a secure SSL site. Internet Explorer and most other browsers will display a padlock icon on the bottom status bar when accessing a SSL secured site.

Technorati tags: WiFi, Wireless Security, Home Networking, Remote Desktop

TX1000 – Much nicer wireless with 802.11 Draft N ExpressCard from D-Link

Barb — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:07:29 +0000

One of my few complaints about HP’s TX1000 is the 802.11g performance with the embedded Broadcom radio. 802.11a on the same wireless radio is better, but the G side performance was not up to my expectations nor was it as good as other Vista Broadcom chipset/driver combinations.

So, I asked my friends at D-Link for one of their new ExpressCard/34 draft 802.11n cards.

It (DWA-643) arrived this morning. The difference was like night and day. I can copy files over the network at blazingly fast speeds and no dropped connections.

D-Link uses Atheros (as opposed to Broadcom) chips in their draft N gear.

Technorati tags: TX1000, D-Link, 802.11n, Vista

Is Your Wireless NIC Logo’d for Vista?

Barb — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:15:30 +0000

If you want to know if there is a signed WHQL’d driver for your wireless NIC, this page has the list you are looking for. Remember that some of the larger vendors like Atheros, Broadcom, Realtek et al produce the wireless radios in your Netgear, D-Link, Linksys etc. wireless card so if your particular model isn’t listed, it doesn’t mean no support.

Note that some drivers are on Windows Update only. This means that unless you first connect with a hardwired connection, you will never be able to pull down the driver.

Vista Hardware Ecosystem

Barb — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:28:10 +0000

On the residential networking side, lots of new devices (and hopefully old devices via firmware upgrades) work transparently with Vista over the network using LLTD and other Windows Rally technologies. I’ve seen cameras, photo frames and wireless routers so far.

Saw a demo today at a private showing of WCN Simple Config using my favorite router, the D-Link DIR-655 (GigE, Draft N, what could be better?). This Window’s logo’d router will be on display at the CES 2007 Partner Pavilion. It supports configuring a new SSID with WPA2 over a wired connection using a vendor supplied 8 digit authorization key. I wrote about this last year. And now the finished consumer routers are available. It’s great news for the unexperienced consumer.

Vista Home Networking

Barb — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:57:50 +0000

(Republished from Vista Community

Column/July 2006 by Reader Request)

Since the launch of Microsoft Windows XP, I’ve spent a lot of time helping friends and family set up wireless routers. Over the past few years, I’ve also helped a number of people configure wireless networked devices connected to home theater systems that stream music from a host PC and I’ve helped them add IP based Internet camera to their home networks. When Windows XP first launched, it was not an easy task to setup a home network and perform these tasks. A network setup wizard was provided, but it was basic and didn’t handle enough of the work to make home network setup a painless experience.

And not too long ago, the only way to setup a secure wireless network using a wireless router was to log in to a web based administrative page on a router and then navigate an often confusing web interface. Many people didn’t even bother to setup wireless security because it was too difficult. Eventually, a number of manufacturers included proprietary, non standardized setup programs and wizards. Two developments over the past several years since the launch of Windows XP have provided some relief. UPnP, which I first wrote about in May 2002, was the first major step in enabling an easier network setup because it provided the basic ability to discover a new device on the network and access its web based administrative page (Presentation URL). The second was Windows Connect Now (WCN), which I first wrote about in June 2005 which provided better end user tools to setup computers and devices. This technology enabled Windows XP users to setup a wireless network using a wizard and a USB flash key. The devices that could be configured in this manner needed an onboard USB port. These two new technologies took time to make their way into retail residential equipment. UPnP is now ubiquitous and USB based WCN has begun to appear, most notably in a group of devices from D-Link systems. This is wonderful technology, but there are still a limited number of wireless routers and peripherals with a USB port.

I’ve got very good news for anyone who has struggled to setup a secure, simple wireless network that includes computers and devices. Features built into Windows Vista coupled with redesigned and intelligent wizards can make this an easier process.

Note: this column was based on Windows Vista Beta 2. There have been significant changes to Network Center in later builds on the way to RTM. My webcast on August 24^th was based on newer builds. In this article, I will:

· Preview Two New Vista Networking Technologies

· Set up a Network with Simple Config and Windows Connect Now

· Preview Link Layer Topology Discovery

· Preview Vista’s Network Center

· View and Specify File and Print Sharing Options

· Preview the Network Map

· Discuss older operating systems and older hardware

Preview Two New Networking Technologies

Windows Vista builds upon UPnP and WCN and adds a group of new technologies, referred to as Windows Rally, which will greatly simplify the setup and maintenance of a secure home network. One of these new technologies, Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) works with both wired and wireless devices to enabled automatic topology discovery. LLTD has optional Quality of Service (QoS) Extensions that applications can use to diagnose problems, especially those involving signal strength on wireless networks or bandwidth issues in home networks. Fortunately, many recent existing devices will be upgradeable via new firmware to support LLTD so you may not need to purchase new routers, Internet Cameras, or other networked devices to take advantage of LLTD features. All computers running any version of Windows Vista also support LLTD. Microsoft is working on back porting LLTD to Windows XP via a Service Pack or QFE update.

Windows Connect Now in Windows Vista now is coupled with a new Wi-Fi Alliance standard called Simple Config (working name, subject to change). This technology lets Vista discover an unconfigured router/access point or a device and setup a wireless network over a wired Ethernet Connection. Simple Config uses a 4 or 8 digit to authenticate and confirm that the user has permission to configure a device.

Microsoft’s Networking and Devices team and Buffalo Technology provided me with an off the shelf wireless router running developmental firmware which implements Simple Config and LLTD. D-Link Systems provided me with developmental firmware for their DCS-950 Internet camera that implements LLTD.

Set up a Network with Simple Config and Windows Connect Now

Using the Buffalo Technology hardware provided to me, I was easily able to setup a new wireless router using WCN with “over the wired network” Simple Config. While I was using developmental firmware, it was very clear that this technology is a huge ease of use win for home users.

There are several entry points to invoke the new wizard, but not all of them were completed in the builds I was using when I authored this article. The steps I used to access and use the new wizard (as shown in my demo movie) are:

1. Click the Start button, then Network

2. The Network Window will display

3. Click to select Network Center

4. In the Network Center task pane, select Set up a connection or network

5. Scroll to the bottom of the list and select Set up a network

6. Click next

7. A window will display with Network Settings detection in progress

8. A default network name will display. Accept it or type a new name. (This name will appear in wireless network list after setup is complete).

9. Use the secure default WPA passphrase or type a new one. Or click the advanced network security link for more options

10. Using advanced network security options, a drop down menu lets you select different security types, such as WPA2-Personal, etc.

11. Type in the 4 or 8 digit PIN provided by the manufacturer then click next.

12. Specify File and Printer sharing options, and then click next.

13. Windows Vista now configures your wireless access point/router.

14. You can now use WCN and a USB flash key to setup the wireless network you’ve just configured on other Vista or Windows XP computers.

15. The network you’ve just setup is now available in the list of Wireless Networks you can access on the computer used for setup.

Preview Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD)

Another major new networking technology called Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) provides automatic discovery of LLTD compliant devices. LLTD in combination with UPnP can classify the device’s capabilities, show a unique embedded icon, and display it on Windows Vista’s Network Window (see Figure 1) and accurately position the device on the Network Map.

Figure 1: The Network Window shows discovered devices. Right clicking a UPnP enabled device will display a shortcut menu, if available.

D-Link’s DGS-950, with developmental LLTD firmware and UPnP support is identified as belonging to the Media Devices category and at the “mainevent” Network Location in the lower portion of the main Network Window.

Double clicking the device icon will also open the device’s Presentation URL (embedded administrative web page), if one is available using UPnP. Right clicking the device’s icon in the Network Window displays an entry on a shortcut menu to invoke/display that page. The properties link on the shortcut menu displays a window with a link to the presentation URL, the vendor’s web site and other information about the device, such as its MAC address, serial number, and IP address as shown below in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Device Details for a UPnP/LLTD D-Link DCS-950 Internet Camera display information in a properties window.

Preview Vista’s Network Center

Vista’s Network Center (Figure 3) is a one stop command and visualization center that aggregates almost every wizard and control application related to Networking. There are several paths to reach the Network Center including selecting Network from the Start button and then Network Center or you can use Start button, Control Panel, Network and Internet, View Network Status and Tasks.

Figure 3: Network Center displays the connection status of your computer graphically.

A red X would appear on a network segment where connectivity was broken, helping you trouble shoot what’s wrong. In the image below, my Vista laptop computer is successfully connected through the “mainevent” (wireless) network. The signal strength is displayed, and additional links are available to view the Status of the connection.

The task pane on the left of the Network Center window links to other network visualization and control features:

1. View network computers and devices displays the same view as Figure X above.

2. Connect to.. displays the list of available wireless networks

3. Diagnose Internet connection invokes Vista’s new Network Diagnostics which in many cases identifies the issue and offers the exact solution needed to restore connectivity

4. Set up a connection or network displays the different kinds of networks you can setup and connect to, including:

· Ad hoc

· Manually connect to a wireless network

· Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection

· Connect to the Internet

· Set up a dial-up connection

· Connect to a Workplace

· Set up a network

Depending on the selection made, a wizard based process guides you through the steps. Earlier in this column, I demonstrated how to set up a new wireless network using WCN Simple Config.

1. Add a device to the network uses Windows Connect Now technology to discover an unconfigured device connected to your existing network and a similar wizard to the one used to setup a new network.

2. Reorder wireless networks displays the list of configured wireless networks and allows you to change the order. It also allows you to create and manage wireless network profiles.

3. Manage network connections displays the network adapters and their current status.

View and Specify File and Print Sharing Options

The state of Discovery and Sharing is shown in Network Center with a link to Network File and Print Sharing (see Figure 4) that lets you customize who has access to shared content on the computer, the Public Folders, attached Printers, and the contents of your Media Library.

Figure 4: Network File and Printer Sharing – many sharing settings can be changed directly from this control panel applet.

Tip: To share a folder not in the Users folder hierarchy, open Computer from the Start button, navigate to the folder you wish to share, right click this folder and then Share.

Preview the Network Map

A link labeled View Full Map in the Network Center window displays a graphic representation of the computers and devices on your network. The Network Map (Figure 5) relies on LLTD to map the layout of your network.

Figure 5: Windows Vista computers and devices with LLTD firmware will be placed on the Network Map where you can graphically view how they are interconnected.

As you can see in the image above, in my Network Map I have three Windows Vista computers, my D-Link DCS-950 camera with LLTD developmental firmware connected through switches and a wireless access point all connected to a residential gateway that connects to the Internet.

On the bottom of the Network Map is a listing of devices that could not be placed on the map. You can see Gifthorse, which is a Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 computer and my D-Link DGL-4300 Gamer Lounge router. These were discovered via UPnP but since they don’t include support for LLTD, they aren’t shown on the main map. The “Gateway” at the top of the map is actually my DGL-4300. I also have a Windows 2003 Server computer (running in workgroup mode) and in Vista Beta 2, it does not appear at all. (Microsoft is back porting a LLTD responder to Windows XP and when this update is released, Windows XP computers including Pro, Home, Media Center 2005 and Tablet Edition will be properly mapped.)

Older operating systems and other older hardware

As of July 11, 2006, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Millennium. There will be no further security updates or patches. If you’re still using any of these older versions of Windows, consider upgrading your operating system if the computer meets minimum Windows XP specs. Or consider replacing the computer with a new Vista ready computer. Prices for reliable computers even at the entry level have never been lower.

If you’ve been sharing a printer (even an older discontinued printer) attached to an older computer with an older operating system, or even sharing a printer on a newer operating system, there are work arounds and options to use older printers in Windows Vista. While I have a newer HP Photosmart 8450 Ethernet printer in my third floor home office, I also have an older HP Photosmart 7550 USB printer that I very much wanted to use on another floor with my Acer Ferrari 4000 laptop running Vista x64. But, I had several obstacles to overcome:

1. This printer was no longer supported by HP and x64 drivers for Windows Vista will not be available.

2. I did not want to hardwire the printer to a laptop and I wanted the printer to be located in my first floor utility room where my washer and dryer reside.

3. I don’t have wired Ethernet on any floor except my third floor home office.

As I researched the x64 driver issue on the HP support site, I learned that the x64 driver for the HP DeskJet 990C would be a good match for this now obsolete but still usable printer. My next step was to consider a wireless print server of some kind. I found D-Link’s DPR-1260 4 port wireless print server online. This is an impressive wireless print server with two USB and two parallel ports. It even supports many multi function print/scanner/copier all-in-one devices. And it supports WPA-Personal for strong wireless security.

After setting up the DPR-1260 itself through the web based administration application, I used the Add Printer wizard in Windows Vista x64 to install the HP Photosmart 7550. Here are the steps:

1. Start, Printers, Add a Printer

2. Select network printer

3. Stop the scan wizard and select printer is not on this list

4. Select Connect to a printer at an IP address (Advanced)

5. Enter the IP address you previously assigned to the print server and uncheck auto-select printer driver

6. Select Standard Network Printer Server (4 ports)

7. Select the port the cable is connected to (I used USB1 which is marked on the print server hardware)

8. Select HP as the manufacturer and DeskJet 990C as the model

9. Accept or change the printer name displayed and print a test page

10. The printer installation finishes

11. The wizard offers the option to share the printer. Since it is not necessary to access this printer in this manner, I did not select this option. Instead, I set this printer up on my other Windows Vista and XP computers individually.

I’m really happy with my wireless print server solution. I can now wirelessly print a quick shopping list or a web page to my ground floor printer. I’ve brought new life to this old printer by finding a compatible driver for Windows Vista x64 and will have the convenience of a second printer for years to come.

Summary

The new networking technologies and wizards in Windows Vista, in combination with support from the manufacturers of residential/home networking equipment will clearly provide the easiest network setup experience possible. The “connected, networked home” is becoming mainstream, and thanks to Windows Vista, your home network will be easy to configure, expand, and trouble shoot.

WPA hack for the MN-740 game adapter

Barb — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 21:08:13 +0000

I’ve been struggling with whether or not to post the link to the information that enables you to add WPA to a Microsoft MN-740 game adapter by turning it into an unsupportable quasi D-Link DGL-3420.

As a Microsoft MVP I pursued every channel available to me for an extended period to attempt to convince MS to do the work (or contract it out) to upgrade this device to WPA-PSK. It would not have taken a huge amount of work or effort.

As a near militant proponent of WPA to replace laughable WEP encryption, I’ve decided to post the link to the information.

Here are the disclaimers:

1. I don’t condone this hack

2. You will void your warranty

3. Microsoft won’t support you

4. I won’t support you

5. You could brick your device and have to throw it out (if you do, buy the real D-Link DGL-3420, it’s awesome)

6. Reverse engineering is illegal according to many EULA’s

7. It may not work

8. Anything else I can’t think of at the moment

9. I’m not taking responsibility

If you read this far, here’s the link http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13360873

My 360 is up!

Barb — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 21:07:28 +0000

Currently trying the Media Center Extender functions on my Xbox 360.

Connected via a D-Link DGL-3420 gaming adapter.

Running wide screen 1080i and Dolby Digital 5.1

Automatic Self Configuring Secure Wireless Home Networks

Barb — Fri, 06 May 2005 14:19:05 +0000

No longer are self configuring secure wireless home networks the stuff of dreams and imagination. The average residential user just can’t cope with the hoops needed to configure a wireless network and secure it. Windows XP’s Wireless Network Setup Wizard and Windows Connect Now, coupled with some of the latest network as well as consumer electronics gear, provide the residential user with a new and bulletproof way to setup a wireless network from scratch.

But you have to have the “right stuff” from the right vendor. D-Link has done it up right. Check out their DI-624S ‘wireless storage router’. This router can be configured with a USB Flash Drive/thumb drive/memory key that was used with the XP Wireless Network Setup Wizard. Even better, when you’re finished with setup, the two USB ports on the router itself provide shared Network Attached Storage for USB hard drives and Flash drives for any computer on the network.

Even more exciting is the extension of the Windows Connect Now technology to consumer electronics devices such as wireless streaming media players. Check out D-Link’s latest MediaLounge (DMS-320RD). Here’s what happened after I plugged a USB Flash Drive with my WCN network settings into the WCN USB port on the back of this device.

I’d configured the network with strong WPA-PSK security using a 63 character random passphrase. After OK’ing this with the supplied remote control, the secure wireless connection was made, the device received an IP via DHCP from the router and I was off and running.

I’m impressed.