Windows 98 SE and wireless internet receievers

I like taking disgarded PCs and mix and matching components until I come up with something useful. These computers go in harsh environments where you wouldn't want to put a good PC. Like my garage.

One computer I've been working on is going to used in a yard barn at my parent's beach house. But in order to make it usefull I need to get the wireless internet reciever sorted out.

Since I've used my copy of Windows XP, one too many times, it won't work after 30 days so I've been having to use Windows 98 SE.

I save everything I download (like IE 6, Direct X, RP7, Media Player, etc. for Windows 95/98) so basically this computer will do virtually everything XP can do. Not only that it seems work faster. The only issue at the moment is trying to set up this computer to connect to the internet using a wireless device.

This PC meets all the requirements of the Beklin USB G receiever which so far is the only wireless reciever I've found that will work with Windows 98 SE.

It's got a 500 MGZ processor, 128 RAM (I've got more memory I can stick in there) but it only has 1.0 USB ports. According to the box, a 1.0 USB port doesn't matter.

This computer is within 10 feet of my router and I'm getting five bars but the connection to the internet is real flakey. It may stay connected for 5 seconds, then the connection drops out.

I've got an old Dell Optiplex that is running Windows XP, a 200 MGZ processor, 192 RAM and 1.0 USB port and I've been using a Linksys wireless G PCI card (can't remember the model number). According to the requirements, the processor is too slow but it works better than my other PC which is more powerful.

This Dell will connect to my neighbor's router which has one bar but eventually the signal drops out after 30 minutes and in order to reconnect I have to reboot the computer. It will stay connected to my router forever though.

So I'm trying to troubleshoot this. Is it the operating system? Is it the processor speed or the fact I'm using a 1.0 USB port?

Just based on my experience so far it seems to be related to the USB port speed more than anything.

Any ideas?

 

long rambling question
I will do my best to cover major areas of non connection
First see if you can log on to the router via a standard cable and regular network cable
fAs long as the adapter is noted as installed in the device manager you should be up and running - no question marks or exclamation marks
That means the drivers for the network card are installed and working
Next as part of the install you need to install a wireless utility program
Windows XP comes with a wireless utility not anything before
If the router was wide open ( no wep ) it might log on - perhaps - but its best to have that utility
You can also install netstumbler to see if the wireless card is seeing anything at all
reset router back to defaults - or at least leave open with no encryption to se if you can log on , it may be that you do not have the correct encryption key to begin with
Ensure that the ip and dns are set to automatic not static
Make sure router is high and not cluttered , change the channel ( 1 and 11 are first picks) , change the ssid from defaults ,
Lastly if you can get an ip from the router but no internet turn on or off the dns setting in the computer networking, assign an arbritrary name
I can never figure out why on the same router you have to change the setting from time to time on win 98. Perhaps someone can explain it to me
By the way i have set up wireless network cards on win 98 with as little as 166 mhz and 64 mb ram
Also check online at the maker of the card , perhaps they updated the driver
Make sure that you not only have the correct model of the card but also the correct version of that model. May not work otherwise
They usually have an explanation and a diagram online

also a helpful site : http://portforward.com/

 

I'll give it a shot. I still haven't purchased a 2.0 USB card yet so once I do that I'll try your method and see what happens.