T30 WiFi wireless feature - using it with 56K dial-up??

[g8tzl]

I have a T30 with a built in Wi-Fi card. I also have various USB/PCMCIA cards for my other Thinkpads - T21 etc.

I have yet to move to broadband!!! I like to keep the old Dial Up technology going until its no more

I have recently acquired an SMC Barricade SMC7004AWBR wireless router (made in 2001) which has a serial port for a 56K dial up external modem. It basically acts a backup in case the broadband connection is lost.

Hopefully it should be possible to use the WiFi feature of my T30 to link up to the wirless router and access the internet via an external 56K modem??

There is little detailed mention on the internet other than people saying it should be possible

Any thoughts? Will the "old" wireless router need a "master" computer "hard wired" to the router/modem/phone line - so I need to use 2 pc's - or can I just connect the wireless router/external 56K modem to the phone line and do all the configuration via the WiFi link??

Thanks

[Purcy]

I don't have an answer for you but just wanted to say "God Bless You"; I didn't think anyone still used dial up. We are actually paying less now on Verizon broadband ($14.95/mo) than when we had dial up years ago ($21.95/mo)

[goofyGAguy]

I don't have an answer for you but just wanted to say "God Bless You"; I didn't think anyone still used dial up.

* Raises hand *

[rkawakami]

FYI: http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=view ... SA&pid=881

From reading the brief description and downloading a users manual, it appears that you can select a dial-up modem connection using the browser interface to the router. You should also be able to use your wireless system at the same time.

Very nice to have dial-up as a backup (well, in your case, the only net connection) to DSL or cable. It's only been twice in the last 10 years or so that my DSL went out and I had to fire up the modem in the Gateway tower.

[g8tzl]

Thanks for the warm wishes and feedback

Ray - thanks for the link to the SMC site.

I need to do more reading as I've never experimented with Wi-Fi and networks?

The SMC user manual is a bit vague when it comes to using Dial-Up

Just to confirm, can I just connect a 56K modem into the phone line and wireless router and then use the Wi-Fi link on my T30 to do all the configuration? So I only need 1 pc to make the whole wireless thing work - OR do I need a "master" PC permanently "hardwired"/connected to the wireless router/modem ??

Thanks

[papollonia]

I don't have an answer for you but just wanted to say "God Bless You"; I didn't think anyone still used dial up. We are actually paying less now on Verizon broadband ($14.95/mo) than when we had dial up years ago ($21.95/mo)

I have not been on the forum in a very very long time...
I love this forum!!!

Hey don't be so hard on the guy... LOL!!

I just got off of dial-up in April.. You know what it was alot faster then it use to be.. I guess because very few people are using it anymore.

I loved paying $9.99 compared to my cable modem monthly bill.. But I also love having wireless at my home..

[g8tzl]

I am sending this message using my T30 wi-fi and the SMC wireless router (11Mbps connection) and a serial 56K dial up modem - so it does work!!

I have things to tweak like WEP encryption and removing the 300sec inactivity timeout - I lost my 1st "long" posting!!!

[rkawakami]

Hey, congratulations! Being able to wirelessly connect to your router and have it dial out (in lieu of a broadband connection) seems to be a good thing to have as a backup. The inactivity timer is certainly meant to keep your dial-up costs as low as possible, assuming that you are either paying long distance charges for the phone call or are being billed by your ISP for the minutes you are connected.

[g8tzl]

Hi Ray

I think this is the 5th message I've tried to send using my dial-up Wi-Fi link!!! The Wireless connection has been terminating if there is not BOTH up and down traffic flow - you can spend an hour searching the internet using Wi-Fi but if you stop sending "2 way data" , such as when you send 10 minutes typing an email/forum message , the Wi-Fi link terminated.

I had a feeling this was due to a firmware/driver issue with either the SMC wireless router , the Diamond 56K modem or the T30 Wireless card. But I spent hours trying to tweak different settings in XP and the SMC config page. My test was to see if I could successfully download a 35min Ad-aware update ie. a longish one way traffic flow - and its just worked!!!!!

This was after I flashed the SMC router with a later firmware version I went from version 1.93n to 1.93s1. I wished I had downloaded the new firmware file 1st!! The readme info says that the latest firmware "solved a lock up issue with wireless XP" There was a useful utility that made the flash process easy!!

By the way , I'm paying around $3.50 a month for dial-up which provides 5 hours a day on line time. The SMC wireless router cost just $1 from a junk sale. The 12v 2A switch mode PSU was faulty but I had a spare - interestingly , the PSU voltage still measured 12v with NO load , but dropped to 5v with a load - so its always worth checking PSU's under load conditions - I did this immediately the SMC did not power up , but I guess I could have thought the PSU was OK !!!

Well , I'm about to try and send this message - I'll be either screaming or chearing in the next 10 seconds!!! - its not worked

[g8tzl]

The Wi-Fi link again failed after typing the above message - BUT I was able to regain the connection without losing the message - previously when I reconnected , I had lost the Forum message.

So I'm not sure what's going on - the 35 min Ad-aware download was OK. So maybe the problem is if there is NO traffic flow. But previously , the Ad-aware update failed after 5-10minutes. Maybe I need to update the T30 Wi-Fi firmware/drivers? Maybe I am getting some QRM - but the wireless router is only 4 foot from the T30. I did notice that when my cell phone rang (900Mhz band) , an earlier download did stop but started again as soon as the ringing stopped. The 56K modem is also not disengaging - so its not due to too much idle time I think. Its the Wi-Fi link which is failing - sometimes the T30 loses the signal and I have to research. Other times , the signal is still present - "Wireless network connected" - but to get back on line I need to disable and renable the wireless link!!! More experimenting I guess!!

[RealBlackStuff]

Try this freebie, to keep the connection open:
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Netw ... eeper.html

[g8tzl]

Thanks RealBlackStuff - Connection Keeper looks useful.

When I connect the Diamond 56K external modem directly to the T30 serial port , there is no time out problem. Likewise when I use the internal 56K modem, there is no time out issue. Is this because there is some "connection keeper" software already built into the Diamond external /T30 internal modem drivers?? - or maybe built into XP or IE6.

Does the SMC Barricade use a "generic" driver for the Diamond 56K serial modem??

I guess there must be a need for "Connection Keeper" software but I don't read much about people complaining of timing out when drafting emails/Forum messages etc - except me

[g8tzl]

This is a 15 min time out test - if you can read this , then connection has not timed out. I have been reading that IE6 has a KeepAliveTimeout value of 1 minute - all something to do with HTTP 1.1 - I have enabled the "Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connection" - maybe SMC router firewall blocks any "KeepAlive" stuff.

As well as Connection Keeper software , I have found some other more basic stuff such as Stayon and Stay Live - both are tiny packages (around 200KB) compared to 3MB for Connection Keeper which does more such as a Pop Up blocker and redialer.

I'm also thinking that maybe my built in dial up modem is causing problems with the external modem?

Also maybe I have some Spyware which is trying to dial out and tries to use the internal dial up modem. When I lose the Wi-Fi connection , the internal dial up modem always pops up when I try to send something???

Did not work - but have reconnected. I tried dialing my landline with my cell phone - it rang engaged - which suggests that I am still connected to the ISP server - also all the red lights are still on the external modem - except SD/RD which are not flashing

[poshgeordie]

You could of course type your message in Word, dial in and do a copy and paste into the forum.

Apologies for finding such a simple solution to your problem, but hopefully it'll save you some money as well !!

BTW you must live in East London, after all they're building the Olympic village and it looks like they've forgotten broadband cabling......!

[proaudioguy]

I'm also thinking that maybe my built in dial up modem is causing problems with the external modem?
When I lose the Wi-Fi connection , the internal dial up modem always pops up when I try to send something???

Go to Control Panel, select Internet Options. Select the Connections TAB. Select NEVER DIAL A CONNECTION. Click OK

[g8tzl]

Thanks proudaudioguy - I did try the NEVER DIAL option some time ago and I could not then get an internet connection at all - but I will try it again

I am currently testing Connection Keeper 7.4

Intially , every time it attempts to contact the internet (set to every 1 minute) , the dial-up connect option box keeps popping up spot on every minute. I kept clicking it away and eventually it stopped popping up - I don't know why!!

I think my T30 "thinks" its connected to a broadband connection via the Wi-Fi - although the wireless router is actually connected to a 56K modem rather than a broadband modem.

When Connection Keeper tries to call the internet, it seems to only check the internal dial-up modem and assumes that there is no connection.

Connection Keeper 7.4 does NOT seem to have an option to keep the Wi-Fi network connection busy - it only "sees" the different internal dial-up options I have.

We will see if I can send this message now NO NO - did not work - had to disable and then reenable Wi-Fi to send message

[g8tzl]

I have now enabled the "NEVER DIAL" option while I was still connected via Wi-Fi.

I will see if this works - I will wait 10 minutes and then send this message!!

[g8tzl]

Well with the NEVER DIAL option , I got a box which said "No connection available - with the options to work "Offline" or "Try again".

I clicked on "Try again" and the message was sent!!!

After a period of being "idle" , its like the T30 is looking for an internal modem dial up connection but when it can't find it , it uses the active Wi-Fi connection as long as you click on "Try again"!!

So , as long as there is up/down traffic , the Wi-Fi 56k dial up works great all day. But when there is , say , a 2 minute idle period , the T30 Wi-Fi to Wireless router link "goes to sleep" BUT the router - modem - ISP connection is still active. To wake up the T30 WiFi /wireless modem link, I need to either disconnect and reconnect the Wireless network option OR , maybe , enable NEVER DIAL option and then click on "Try again" when a Forum message is not sent!!! BUT this still does not answer why big downloads fail after anything between 5 and 50 minutes.

[g8tzl]

I waited 15 minutes before I sent the above message and it worked!!!!! There was also no "No connection" box!!!

[g8tzl]

This is another 15 minute idle test after having completely disconnected the wireless router and 56K modem and reconnecting from scratch - initial connection seemed to go OK.

I am also NOT running Connection Keeper.

Will send this message in 15 minutes

Apologies for these test messages.

[Radioguy]

I was just thinking that this would be a great act of vengeance against someone stealing your wifi.

[g8tzl]

It worked !!!! Idle for 15 minutes and message was sent

Thanks proaudioguy!! Hopefully enabling NEVER DIAL is the answer. I guess I just need to remember to switch it back when I use the internal dial up modem

When using the internal T30 dial up modem , should I enable "Dial whenever a network is not present" OR "Always dial my default connection"??

In my previous tweaking , I also enabled "Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections". Any idea what this does and if its OK to just leave it enabled???

[g8tzl]

Radioguy - I did not bother with any encryption for a few days so maybe somebody did try to connect

Any initial delight would have soon been turned to disappointment Mind you, dial up is getting faster as more people switch to broadband In fact , dial up is 100% OK for general searching , email , Ebay etc. The only problem is big downloads (such as Window updates) but I just do these overnight .

I was playing with a wireless Netbook in the local shopping mall the other day - I was actually disappointed at the broadband speed compared to my dial up connection !!!!

Anybody any ideas about useful WiFi software for identifying other users and which channels they are using. Windows detects about 6 other users around me - most are weak but I guess its best to find a "quiet" channel for max range. When I switch on my Wi-Fi router , I "lose" about 3 other users - I guess they are either on the same or adjacent channels.

I enabled encryption because I thought somebody else connecting might be causing the timeout problem!!! Is it "safe" to just go with "10 digit" encryption??

Hopefully this message will be sent OK No more words from now means YES

[proaudioguy]

It worked !!!! Idle for 15 minutes and message was sent

Thanks proaudioguy!! Hopefully enabling NEVER DIAL is the answer. I guess I just need to remember to switch it back when I use the internal dial up modem

When using the internal T30 dial up modem , should I enable "Dial whenever a network is not present" OR "Always dial my default connection"??

In my previous tweaking , I also enabled "Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections". Any idea what this does and if its OK to just leave it enabled???

If you need to switch to the internal modem then you need to select either one of those options. Always dial would be more fool proof. You could also manually dial it though. That's easy to do.

I think your WIFI drivers are flaky. That is the most likely answer. Your Dial up modem router deal is working fine.

The computer thinks it's on a network with a broadband connection, that is exactly what it is on, just that the connection to the internet is very slow.

Get all the windows updates. Maybe it will clear up the flaky WIFI.

BTW, I've had the same issues with a particular linksys WIFI card. Not all drivers are created equal.

[proaudioguy]

Radioguy - I did not bother with any encryption for a few days so maybe somebody did try to connect

Any initial delight would have soon been turned to disappointment Mind you, dial up is getting faster as more people switch to broadband In fact , dial up is 100% OK for general searching , email , Ebay etc. The only problem is big downloads (such as Window updates) but I just do these overnight .

I was playing with a wireless Netbook in the local shopping mall the other day - I was actually disappointed at the broadband speed compared to my dial up connection !!!!

Anybody any ideas about useful WiFi software for identifying other users and which channels they are using. Windows detects about 6 other users around me - most are weak but I guess its best to find a "quiet" channel for max range. When I switch on my Wi-Fi router , I "lose" about 3 other users - I guess they are either on the same or adjacent channels.

I enabled encryption because I thought somebody else connecting might be causing the timeout problem!!! Is it "safe" to just go with "10 digit" encryption??

Hopefully this message will be sent OK No more words from now means YES

If your router is capable you could just use Mac Address filtering.
WEP is easily cracked. Even I can do it with available tools and I'm ignorant. WPA is a better choice. No encryption is asking for trouble If the router supports it, you might be able to shield individuals on the network from each other for some added protection. Also turn off file sharing in your computer.

The software you seek is called Netstumbler.

[g8tzl]

Thanks proaudioguy.

The SMC Barricade only has WEP encryption - it was made in 2001.

I don't think any new wireless routers with WPA encryption have serial ports for dial up modems.

When I booted up this morning , the dial up connection had reverted to "Dial whenever a network connection is not present" even thought I clicked on "Apply" and "OK" when I set the connection up for "NEVER DIAL". I think maybe my ISP software is reapplying the original setting at boot up - I guess I can just remove the ISP stuff and use manual connection like on all my other Thinkpads.

I think setting the dial-up connection to "NEVER DIAL" has solved most of the time out problems I think there might be some firmware/driver issues that results in occasional drop outs. I have updated the SMC firmware to the latest on the US site - in the readme info , wireless issues with XP was listed as a fix. Apparently , there are later firmware versions available but these are not available on the US site - only SMC Europe BUT this site is no longer operational - I'm not sure why SMC USA does not list the later firmware??

OK on Netstumbler - I will experiment on my 600E and an IBM PCMCIA wireless card

[proaudioguy]

When I booted up this morning , the dial up connection had reverted to "Dial whenever a network connection is not present" even thought I clicked on "Apply" and "OK" when I set the connection up for "NEVER DIAL". I think maybe my ISP software is reapplying the original setting at boot up - I guess I can just remove the ISP stuff and use manual connection like on all my other Thinkpads.

Def get rid of that ISP software. That is a missing piece of this puzzle. Those ISP offered softwares ALWAYS suck eggs in my experience. I always tossed the disk and setup manually.

And you're welcome. I'm just glad I could finally be of help to someone!