Belkin Network

I found another point of confusion. When I select the Network link in the Start Menu, it shows both computers, as expected, when connected via cable, but when going to the Network Map, the two icons representing the computers are somewhat strange. The first icon simply says Newhope, the name I gave for the secondary rig, but without the number 2 appended at the end. The second icon's name is also just Newhope, because that is the way that I did name it.

However, the MAC address given for the first icon is not that of the secondary rig, nor what I entered into the routersetup config. The second icon's MAC address is as expected.

Why would the MAC address and name not match the secondary's ID? Perhaps it is seeing a MAC that has been renamed by the router, but would that also be true of the name?

EDIT: In addition to the above, the last number of the secondary's IP is one number higher than what is shown in ipconfig /all.

I would understand that, if I were speaking of 3 separate devices, but I'm only speaking of one device...my secondary rig.

seekermeister said:

I found another point of confusion. When I select the Network link in the Start Menu, it shows both computers, as expected, when connected via cable, but when going to the Network Map, the two icons representing the computers are somewhat strange. The first icon simply says Newhope, the name I gave for the secondary rig, but without the number 2 appended at the end. The second icon's name is also just Newhope, because that is the way that I did name it.

However, the MAC address given for the first icon is not that of the secondary rig, nor what I entered into the routersetup config. The second icon's MAC address is as expected.

Why would the MAC address and name not match the secondary's ID? Perhaps it is seeing a MAC that has been renamed by the router, but would that also be true of the name?

EDIT: In addition to the above, the last number of the secondary's IP is one number higher than what is shown in ipconfig /all.

OK, log in to the router and go to the DHCP page. What computers are shown there, by what names? Did you clone any MAC addresses, or manually assign IP addresses?

I finally received a response from Belkin, but considering the fact that they seem to have mixed up the data that i already gave them, I'm not too sure how much to trust them. Here is their response:

We apologize for the inconvenience caused and for the delayed response.

We understand that the Belkin Utility does not work.

We are not sure about the device being used. From the information provided, we see that the router is F5D8055 version 2000. Windows Utility, by default, takes over the Belkin Utility on Windows Vista and Windows 7 computer. Thus, Belkin Utility will not work.

Please follow the steps given below for wireless configuration using Windows Utility:

A) If the operating system is Vista:

- Click "Start" on the bottom left hand side of your computer screen and choose "Control Panel".
- Click on "Network and Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center".
- In the "Network and Sharing Center" window, click "Manage wireless networks" on the top left hand side.
- Remove all the networks under "Preferred Network". Close all the windows.
- On the desktop or the main screen of the computer, click "Start" and choose "Connect To".
- A window would come up showing all the available networks. Highlight your network and click "Connect".

B) If the operating system in Windows 7:

The easiest way to connect to a wireless network would be through the system tray:

- Click on “Connections” icon on "System Tray" (bottom right hand corner) to find available networks in range
- Identify your network by "SSID" or network name and click "connect"
- Selecting the option “connect automatically” will save the network in preferred networks to connect
automatically)
- Type the security keys, when prompted

The alternative way of connecting to a wireless network would be as follows:

- Click "Start" and then "Control Panel"
- In the "Control Panel" window, click "View network status and tasks" under Network and Internet"
- Towards the left, we would find "Manage Wireless Networks"
- Select the preferred network and click “remove” on the top of the window
- After removing the preferred networks, please ensure that we are on the "Network and Sharing Center" window
- Click "Connect to a network" under "Change your network settings"
- It would show all available networks. Highlight your network and connect to it

If we have not addressed your concern, please get back to us with the following information:

1) Please confirm if the adapter is F5D8055 version 2000?
2) If the problem is not being able to use the Belkin Utility?
3) What is the operating system of the wireless computer?
4) If the connection is stable when Windows Utility is used?
5) If other wireless computers work fine in the network?

I have been trying to use the Belkin Wireless Utility, instead of the Windows Utility. I did open it once, and it did show the signals, but when I tried to return to it later, it no longer showed anything. Perhaps I will have to remove the Belkin Utility for the other utility to work, but it seems that all of the time I/we have spent on this over the weekend has been in vain. When I get my second wind, I'll try this way.

EDIT: Actually, I told them that I was multi-booting between XP and W7, yet this seemed to have gone over their heads. Since the I'm only using the Belkin Wireless Utility on XP, it seems as though it should work, but maybe not.

I'm really getting annoyed at this. I got the Windows Wireless utility running, and it does show the signal from my router, but when I hit the connect button, it opens a window asking for the network key, which I enter, and hit start. Instead of the wireless light on the adapter blinking continously, as it does with the Belkin Utility, it blinks 3 times 30 seconds after starting, and not again, until just before it times out. End result is still no connection.

I'm beginning to think that I wasted my money on the Belkin products. I formatted one of my Linux drives and installed W7 on it, hoping the wireless networking would be somewhat easier. I only installed the Belkin Network Adapter's driver, since their support said that the software wouldn't work in W7.

When I go to Network And Sharing, then click the Connect or disconnect link, it displays a window showing the available networks, including my own. When I select my network, it asks for Network Security Key, I enter it and select OK, and shortly it says that it was unable to connect. I'm beginning to think that either the router or the adapter is defective, but how do I determine which?