Defending the Connection

Well, I seem to have gotten my son's computer connected to my home wireless network. On Friday, it seemed like an epic fail for the new adapter designed for Windows 7 after I abandoned the sputtering and then failed connection of the older adapter I first got to work even though it was configured for Vista, at max.

The adapter program loaded nicely, seemed to connect his wireless adapter to my router--but would not recognize my network. Nor could I get my network to recognize his computer, as it once had. Online help with Cisco said I might have to reconfigure my router and suggested I call their toll-free help line. So that's what I planned to do today. I double checked to make sure my router had up-to-date software (it did), so I wasn't sure what they could to to help, but that was my last hope before trying to split my wire and directly connect my son't computer.

But on Sunday, for kicks, my son plugged in his wireless adapter and--simultaneously to me noticing that my network was recognizing a new computer--he said that he was connected. It worked all day when he used it, and he didn't even want to shut down his computer lest he lose the connection. I'm not in that school of thought.

So this morning I tested his computer and it connected no problem! whew. Perhaps like many programs it just needed the computers to shut down and restart to work, although nothing prompted me to do that. I used to assume you had to shut down a computer and reboot. Now I don't assume that. I guess I'm wrong. so for now I don't need to use that 800 number the online chat guy gave me. I stored it away just in case.

Still, my cordless phone remains a weak point. It interrupts the wireless network whether we're talking the Wii or Mister's computer. So last night I ordered a new phone (and I was in the market for a new one since my existing one has really poor voice quality--I guess cheap phones will do that) that boasts both good voice quality and a comment that said it didn't interfere with his home wireless network. Sold!

I'm feeling so good I may try to use the old adapter to see if I can get Lamb's computer hooked up to the network, even though I don't think that the 7-year-old computer has the communications hardware needed to do that. She's still on XP, so more vulnerable to web mischief. But then again, her online destinations are very limited to reputable companies. And also on the other hand, I'm pleased as punch that my daughter is so hyped up on the air-dry modeling clay kit I got her (I just bought her 5 more pounds, plus glaze) that it distracts her even from her new Wii games. I might just try to connect her computer and if successful, hold off telling her I was successful.

Bottom line? I remain nominally still in charge of my technology world. I've got that going for me, eh?