I'm turning into a real geek....

June 11, 2003 1:08 PM from

OK, so, at home, I just got a satellite modem. Which, now that it is working, works better than I thought it would. So, being the total geek that I am, I decided that I *must* have a wireless network at my house for my laptop. (might as well, right?) So, this is the story:

1) I bought the Linksys WAP11 which was either defective or didn't like my switch and would not be recognized no way no how.

2) CompUSA dude talked me into getting the router based one, which, after some discovery, I found out that routers and satellite connections don't mix.

3) Got tired with linksys and bought a Belkin Access Point instead (and belkin card for the Laptop) which was cheaper, and the AP is very little and you install the software prior to hooking it up (which seems smart but not something that Linksys does). Got home and realized that Belkin did not include a CAT5 with the AP like Linksys did. So, I set up the AP with a cross over cable even though it said that you can't and had it somewhat working. Went to bed because my hubby was yelling at me (I guess you are supposed to sleep more than 4 hours a night or something.)

4) Got the correct cable, got everything happy- but couldn't connect. At this point I was about to throw the laptop out the window. Easy fix- being the idiot that I was (and should have *really* known better) I forgot to correctly configure my firewall to allow the laptop access (oops! almost had a broken laptop over pure stupidity).

5) I am now posting from my now wireless laptop!!!

6) I now have to fight off my husband from trying to hijack the laptop and turning it into his "race car shop in the pole barn" computer now that it has a wireless connection.......

12,638 views 46 replies

Reply #1 June 11, 2003 1:15 PM from

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Hehe. A happy ending story, if you can keep your husband away from it.

Reply #2 June 11, 2003 1:19 PM from

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Yeah, but:
1) real geeks grow beards and write books on obscure corners of *nix that get published by O'Reilly
2) real geeks wear shirts of their favourite sites (don't tell me you do that!)
2) real geeks won't get talked into things by CompUSA dudes

Although, judging from the fact that you're giving us a detailed account of your venture into network hell, I'd say you're on your way to become one, yes.

Okay, so the beard thing might be a bit difficult in your case.

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse

Reply #3 June 11, 2003 1:28 PM from

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Crae, I think that i get extra points because I'm female

I hope i don't grow a beard.....but I am known to wear T-shirts with site names on them...and shirts that were free at trade shows....

The only way that the CompUSA guy got me to try it was because the first one didn't work and the second one was on sale. I had no help from then out because I no longer trusted them with my precious netwroking.....I named my access point cappuccino. Java is one computer and the other is esspresso....hmm...coffee sounds good.....

Reply #4 June 11, 2003 1:38 PM from

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Wait a sec, you "hope" you don't grow a beard? Or in other words: you're not sure about it yet?

Reply #5 June 11, 2003 1:47 PM from

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#4 by craeonics - 6/11/2003 1:38:38 PM
Wait a sec, you "hope" you don't grow a beard? Or in other words: you're not sure about it yet?

well, you never know when a bad hormone problem could sneak up on ya'...

I've seen some serious upper lip hair on women, so I guess it would be possible..

Reply #6 June 11, 2003 1:54 PM from

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I've seen some serious upper lip hair on women, so I guess it would be possible..

I was once walking down 8th Ave. in NYC, where I saw a woman standing next to a man. As I walked closer, I saw it was really a woman standing next to a woman. I swear, she had a full-blown gotee, no lies, nicely trimmed and everything. Tis' a wierd world we live in.

[Message Edited]

Reply #7 June 11, 2003 2:17 PM from

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In NYC you will see everything,but did it occur to you that you may have been right the first time?Their are men that look like women, women that look like men,men that are women, women that are men, its tough to tell.Oh yeah Ill say "networking" and "karmagirls laptop" just so im still in the topic,and meet all the sociopolitical requirements of the board.

Reply #8 June 11, 2003 2:28 PM from

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1) real geeks grow beards and write books on obscure corners of *nix that get published by O'Reilly

I have a beard and have at least installed every OS at one time or another....

2) real geeks wear shirts of their favourite sites (don't tell me you do that!)

I have two Wincustomize.com teeshirts....and am known to wear them...

2) real geeks won't get talked into things by CompUSA dudes

I don't listen to them.....they'd have to have loud voices for me to do that, anyway...

But I can count...the last one 'should' be '3)'..... Spell checker

Reply #9 June 11, 2003 2:45 PM from

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Ut-Oh!

You May Be A Geek If...

You have ever sent E-mail to someone sitting next to you.

You have ever had a dream involving computers.

You have ever modified an ini file.

You would sell your grandmother for more bandwidth.

You've ever found "stray" diskettes or mini cds when doing laundry.

You get up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom and stop to check your E-mail on your way back to bed.

You find yourself interrupting computer store salesman to correct something he said.

Your friends use you as tech support.

If you have ever dozed off while at the computer.

Have ever e-mailed yourself .

You've ever named a computer.

You have more than one copy of the same version of software on your machine.

You can't carry on a conversation without talking about computers.

You have ever chatted with someone while talking to them on the phone.

You check the national weather service web page for current weather conditions (rather than look out the window).

You get really excited when Yahoo adds your link.

Your pet has a web page.

You can install a wireless network and interface it to a satellite modem.

I don't even want to say how many of those I can relate to!

Reply #10 June 11, 2003 2:49 PM from

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, congrat jafo, you are going to the next round, and makes chance at a washingmachine

Any of you familair with blue tooth?

Reply #11 June 11, 2003 2:52 PM from

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btw: where can I get that 'trade your grandmother for more bandwitch? '

and are the icons broken?

Reply #12 June 11, 2003 3:41 PM from

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Karmagirl COOL

it's sweet huh?

glad to hear it came together for you and you nailed it

Reply #13 June 11, 2003 3:43 PM from

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if you can visually disassemble machine code looking at a memory segment dump then you're starting to get geeky.

Reply #14 June 11, 2003 3:48 PM from

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, or read a TDR and walk to the missing terminator or break in the wire

Reply #15 June 11, 2003 4:49 PM from

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Decorating for the holidays means installing a Christmas WinStyles theme.

Reply #16 June 11, 2003 5:17 PM from

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have a beard and have at least installed every OS at one time or another....

i remember you saying you had no experience with OS 9.1 and 10.2...

The heck with satellite modems... I will stick to the much faster cable modem.

Reply #17 June 11, 2003 5:34 PM from

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DSL and or Cable is nice, but is not always an option

My Son just picked up the Titainum Laptop I've wanted for a while now. Sucker beat me to it, though I did get a Gary Fisher "Nirvana" which he didn't get

Wonder if he will trade, hmmmm

Reply #18 June 11, 2003 6:41 PM from

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Oh, KarmaGirl, if you haven't setup the encryption for your wireless, you might want to do that. Anyone with a Yagi directional on the same freq can sit in their car or what have you and tap into your feed. Also it can help with interference from other things such as Cordless phones and such.

just some thoughts.

Reply #19 June 11, 2003 6:52 PM from

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My Son just picked up the Titainum Laptop I've wanted for a while now. Sucker beat me to it, though I did get a Gary Fisher "Nirvana" which he didn't get

I would. after all, as my name says, I love bikes.

Reply #20 June 11, 2003 9:51 PM from

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kona...I meant real OS's....

Reply #21 June 11, 2003 9:59 PM from

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Why is OS X not real? You jealous because it is more stable than XP?

Oh well who really cares?

Reply #22 June 11, 2003 10:17 PM from

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kona....I have never owned a Mac...so cannot install its OS....and the only other one I haven't had my hands on is the famous 'Babya System'...and I plan never to do so...

As for 'stability' I am certain any OS can be broken, be it Mac, Windows, Linux, BeOS, QNX or any other you care to suggest....

Reply #23 June 11, 2003 10:19 PM from

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You should try a mac... You would love the skinning possibilities alone.

No need to stsrt a arguement so thanks for your words.

By the way can you tell that croc guy hes crazy?

Reply #24 June 11, 2003 11:13 PM from

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croc guy??

Jafo, ever worked with SUN ?
(and ofcourse, evry OS can be broken, but if you don't 'try' linux is pretty stabile, it even starts up again and coninue after a power disruption.

Reply #25 June 11, 2003 11:16 PM from

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croc guy??

steve erwin (spelling) the croc hunter

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