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1. Q. HOW DOES WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS WORK?
A. Your understanding of how wireless laptops and PC's can communicate with a wireless "hot spot" across long distances may in the future help you to determine why you can't get your unit to access the Internet at some times.
First you need to understand that a "Hot Spot" is getting its Internet signal that it sends on to you from an Internet Service Provider in the same way that you must subscribe to a provider service to connect to the Internet at home. In simple terms, it would be like the Internet Service Provider buying a loaf of bread and sharing the loaf among numerous people. Internet Service Providers limit the amount of "bandwidth" (or slices of bread) each subscriber gets. Otherwise the bread would quickly be gone and used up and no one could have any.
Hot Spot providers are usually allotted more "slices of bread" however than an individual can get on his own, so the Hot Spot owner is able to divide up his share among subscribers of his choosing.
So, a Hot Spot must have an Internet signal coming into it via a modem. The signal then goes into the Hot Spot's "router" which divides up the slices and sends them out to users of their choosing. In this case the slices of bread are merely a medium over which you can request data from the Internet (your computer sends out a digital request when you click on a "link" or type in a web address) and the data you requested comes back to you digitally if you have an operational system and an adequate connection and the data you were requesting does in fact exist where the system expects to find it. If all those things succeed you are able to see on your screen the data you sought. Your browser (Internet Explorer is one brand of browser) interprets the digital signal that comes back and displays it on your screen in a way that you can understand it.
Surfing the Internet is a constant series of digital requests that you initiate and the Internet replies back to you by sending you the digital data that it finds. The data you receive can be text or photos or digital artwork and sometimes sound. Usually what you see on the screen is a combination of text and graphics or photos.
Second, the connection that your wireless equipment achieves with the Hot Spot is crucial to the normal flow of data. The Hot Spot at Bradshaw Mountain RV Resort utilitzes a system called "DHCP" to lock onto your signal and then the DHCP assigns your wireless equipment a temporary IP address. You are recognized by the system because of your unique IP address for the length of the Internet "session". The Hot Spot's router knows where to channel all your data flow due to your unique I.P. address. The next time you log in for another session you may be given the same IP address or you may be given a new one and someone else may now be assigned the IP address you had last session. The DHCP manages all this behind the scenes.
Both the Hot Spot and router and your equipment must be able to "talk back and forth" in order for DHCP to work. During extemely weak signal periods, DHCP "enabling" may or may not happen. The 2.4GHz radio wave that the signals travel over are effected by many elements and at times the signal may pass easily from the point of broadcast and at times it may not. It may seem that the easy solution would be to amplify the signal so that the lowest signals are still adequate to achieve DHCP enabling, but the FCC regulates the strength of the signal we can broadcast and therefore we are unable to do much here to improve the broadcast. We are able to "move" the signal around the area we want to cover by adding antenna and access point locations around the park, but adding these also adds to the complexity of the system and opens the door for additional transmission errors. Within the limits of today's technology and the equipment we have to work with, the best a Hot Spot can do is work to achieve the best balance it can in moving the system around a large area. Obstacles such as trees and walls have a big effect on transmitted signals and at times these are hard to work around.
Another thing that makes data transmission difficult between your location and the Hot Spot is the signal coming from your own wireless adapter. At times the signal coming "to" you is adequate but the signal your adapter sends back may not be. Moving the location of your laptop/PC and adapter can make a difference, as well as connecting an antenna to your adapter (the antennas that are sometimes incorporated into adapters are often removable and can be replaced with better antennas or antennas that can be placed in better locations).
2. Q. I CAN RECEIVE EMAIL BUT I CAN'T SEND ANY.
A. This is a common problem that travellers face with their email. The reason is most likely that the email service you normally use does not allow you to connect thru another Internet Service Provider and then use their email system. There are two easy solutions to this problem.
The first solution is to use your home Internet Service Provider's webmail service. Webmail is a little different from regular email in that you access it from your Internet browser instead of through email handling software like Outlook or Outlook Express. Most Internet Service Providers do offer a webmail service so that their subscribers that travel can get their email on the road even though they are connecting to the Internet through another service provider.
Go to your home service provider's home page and look for information about "Webmail". Or, if you can't find the information there, call them and ask them if they block sent email when you are connected from a different provider and then ask them if they have a "webmail" service. They can tell you how to access webmail.
The second solution is to start using a different type of email. Email that is not connected to your home service provider is more likely not to block your sent mail. Hotmail and Yahoo mail are good examples. Occassionally Hot Spot operators will have their own email server and can give you an email address to use.
Bradshaw Mountain RV Resort does not at this time offer email accounts to it's guests.
The downside to using a different email address from the one you use at home (to communicate with your friends and family and business contacts) is that you will want to send out emails to everyone you want to communicate with, letting them know that your email address "on the road" is different from the one you use at home. Some people choose from the beginning not to use their email service provided by their service provider at home, knowing that when they are on the road they will face difficulties. These people use a service like Hotmail or Yahoo mail all the time as their primary email address.
In summary, for most travellers, using Webmail is the best solution.
NOTE: Webmail is stored on the (hard drive) storage space belonging to your home service provider and is not downloaded to your own PC's hard drive like Outlook and Outlook Express do. When you open an email in Outlook or even in services like AOL, the mail you open is copied to your hard drive. Webmail does not do this. Your webmail stays fresh and available to you via your Internet browser until you arrive home and can open the same emails with Outlook or whatever software you are using at home. Once you read those mails there, it no longer exists in webmail. Webmail is intended for "on the road" use only and usually has limits to the amount of email you can store there. Sometimes these limits are imposed based on length of time the emails have been on the provider's storage space and sometimes they are limited by the amount of kilobytes the mail takes up. When your webmail reaches its limitations, the provider will automatically start "dropping" or deleting your oldest webmail. When this happens, the emails are gone. You won't be able to retrieve them with Outlook or whatever email handler you use at home, when you get home. If you are going to be on the road a long time, the only good solution is to make a decision about which email service will best suit your needs. Again, Hotmail and Yahoo mail or other similar mail handlers are probably a good choice for you.
3. Q. I HAVE A USERNAME AND PASSWORD. WHAT NOW?
A. If you haven't used your wireless enabled laptop for a wireless Internet connection before, but you are certain you have everything hooked up and the related software installed, you are ready to begin. In most cases, your wireless adapter has a program that came with it that finds wireless signals in the area and reports the names of the broadcasts which may or may not be ready to connect to. It helps to know the name of the Hot Spot you're wanting to connect to. In our case, it is BMRVR1. You might find that there is more than one listing of BMRVR1 because you may be picking up signals from more than one of our antennas. In the case of multiple instances of BMRVR1, choose the one that shows the strongest signal. (If you haven't figured out which program was installed for seeking out signals, go to Start and then Programs and then look for an entry under programs that matches the brand name of your wireless adapter that you installed. Under that heading you should find a "utility" program that seeks out wireless signals. Most adapter software also installs a small icon in the bottom tray on your screen, near the time display at the right-hand side of the tray. You can click on that symbol to initialize the utility. If you've found that icon in the "tray" you might notice that the icon itself will display information as to whether or not the card is picking up signals, by means of changing colors or symbols. One brand of adapter's software uses an icon in the tray that turns from red to yellow to green to indicate the strength of the signals it is receiving, with green indicating the best signals. Another brand usess a white symbol when no signal is found and green when signals are found.)
Now, look also to see if in the same tray at the bottom of the screen is a symbol (icon) that looks like two little PC monitors side by side, or a single monitor in some cases. That icon is a feature of Windows that can tell you some things about your connection(s). If you don't see either of those symbols in the tray, it isn't a problem. It just means you will go to the related program by clicking on Start and then Control Panel and then an icon that says something about Networking. With Windows XP the correct icon says "Network Connections". (Hint: Sometimes it is easier to find the correct utility in Control Panel if you "Switch to Classic View" instead of the default "Category View" that XP uses to display the Control Panel.) What you are looking for now are icons (or a single icon) that tells about your Local Area Networks or Wireless Networks. At this point you can click on any of the Local Area Networks and modify it for the connection you're trying to establish here, or choose one that seems to best fit this situation (like clicking on one that has been used for a wireless connection in the past), or you might even have the option to "Create a New Connection". If one of the icons already shows itself to be "Connected, Firewalled" then you may not have to go any further with this operation, but click on it to be sure. What you are looking for is a window that displays Connection Status. If you've found the right utility, at the top should be two "tabs". One tab is for "General" information, and one tab is for "Support". If your connection already showed itself to be connected, click on "Support". If you get a screen then that shows "Enabled by DHCP" and the IP address shown under that is 10.59.1.X (the X stands for any number greater than 1 and less than 240), then you are already connected and you can proceed directly to Internet Explorer and begin surfing (assuming your Firewall is already enabled for this connection and you have your desired Anti-Virus and Spyware software enabled).
If you've found your way to the display of Local Area and or Wireless Connection icons but none show themselves to be connected, or no connection exists, you need to create a new connection or edit one that is already there. In either case you are looking for the Connection Status of the connection you are wanting to establish, and you will click on the tab that says "General". At the bottom of that window is a button called "Properties" next to a button called "Disable". Click on "Properties". At the top of the window that comes up is a box showing your adapter type. Next to that is a button that says "Configure". Most likely the adapter is already configured and you will probably be safest NOT to change any of the settings there. Further down the window is a list of items like "Client for Microsoft Windows" and maybe some more items with boxes checked next to the name of the service. The service you want to edit is usually the bottom one and has to do with "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)". It is the TCP/IP settings we are needing to fix. Click on "Properties" after clicking on and highlighting the line about TCP/IP protocol, and then check to be sure that both items on the window that comes up are set to "Obtain an IP address automatically". If IP addresses are showing in any the boxes, then "Obtain an IP address automatically" is not checked and you need to check those now, for both the IP address and the DNS servers. Once that is done, you can click on OKAY and then click on OKAY in the previous window. Now when you get back to the Connection Status window, the message should say "Acquiring Network Address" or "Connected". If this operation fails, and DHCP does not assign an IP address starting with 10.59.1. (and then some number between 2 and 239 in the fourth position), there are other problems that need to be addressed that are beyond the scope of what we are trying to cover in this "Answer".
If you have gotten this far and you feel that DHCP has properly assigned an address to your connection, you can leave this window and open your Internet Explorer or other browser and see what happens. If you feel that an address has been assigned but it isn't the 10.59.1.X number you were hoping for, leave the Status window open and click on the icon in the tray that is associated with your adapter and do a Site Survey there and select one of the BMRVR1 signals to connect to. The Status window should show you that it is attempting to Acquire another address appropriate to the BMRVR1 signal you clicked on to Connect to in the adapter utility.
When you finally achieve establishing an IP address that matches the 10.59.1.X criteria, you are ready to go to your Internet Explorer (or other) browser to see if you can get an Internet signal. If a window doesn't pop up in the browser asking for the Bradshaw Mountain RV Resort Username and Password assigned to you, then something isn't set right in either Connection settings or possibly in the Internet Explorer settings themselves.
And now a word about Internet Explorer settings: To view these or make changes, at the top of the Internet Explorer window click on "Tools" and then "Internet Options". There will be several tabs on the top of the Internet Options window. Click on "Connections". You need to do two things on this page. If you have any Dial Up connections listed, click on "Never use a dial up connection", and then go to the bottom of the page and click on "LAN Settings". The boxes on this page should usually all be un-checked. If trying the Internet Explorer after un-checking the boxes still doesn't bring up the prompt to enter Username and Password, you can go back and check the top box under LAN Settings only (Automatically Detect Proxy Settings). This probably won't help but its worth a try.
In summary, the most critical settings that must be correct are:
first, the TCP/IP settings that allow you to achieve a proper DHCP enabled IP address ("Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS addresses automatically" are crucial) and second, the settings that disable dial-up connections. Also be sure to turn on the Firewall service in Windows or additional Firewall programs if you have any installed, and turn on your Anti-Virus before entering your Username and Password.
If you have a connection showing "Connected, Firewalled" you are probably ready to enter Username and Password and begin surfing.
4. Q. I HAVE EVERYTHING SET CORRECTLY, BUT DHCP WILL NOT ASSIGN ME AN IP ADDRESS.
A. There are times when our wireless system is not operating "up to par" or signals are weak for various reasons. The first question to ask is "Are other people in the RV park getting connected?" If they are, you may want to take your laptop to the Clubhouse and try to make a connection there. The signal is often strongest in the Clubhouse and if you can make a connection there, the signal was probably just too weak to reach inside your RV. The signal may be stronger later and you may be able to make a connection from inside your RV at a later time, but for now accessing the Internet from inside the Clubhouse may be your only option.
If you take your laptop to the Clubhouse and try to get a connection established there and you still can't make a connection, even though you are certain your settings are correct, you might need to ask a Resort Manager on duty to check the system.
The management can check the Hot Spot equipment to see if the lights on the equipment show proper operation. If the lights on the equipment indicate a problem the management can check for wires that may be unplugged at the equipment (four green lights should be lit on the modem and at least 5 green lights should be lit on the Hot Spot router) or they can unplug the power to the equipment and wait a few seconds and plug them back in and in effect re-set the sytem. If these things do not correct the problem, a technician may have to be called. Re-setting the system should be seen as a "last choice" and if other people in the Resort are achieving connections, the system should NOT be re-set and a technician should be called or you should attempt to find other causes for not being able to connect.
5. Q. DHCP IS ASSIGNING A PROPER IP ADDRESS BUT I STILL CAN'T ACCESS THE INTERNET OR GET TO THE USERNAME AND PASSWORD SCREEN.
A. Check your Internet Options settings in your browser. If you are 100% certain everything is set correctly on your end, and the DHCP is enabling the connection with a 10.59.1.X address and you still can't get to the Internet or Username and Password screen, ask the management to check the modem. Occassionally the modem alone needs to be re-set. If the third light on the modem is un-lit the modem needs to be un-plugged and re-set. If the third light is red, there is currently no Internet transmission coming from the source and the management needs to check that their telephone lines are properly plugged in. There is another possibility if the third light on the modem is red. There may just not be an Internet transmission coming from the source at this time. These periods are usually very brief, but they do happen, and when they happen there is nothing anyone can do but wait to see if the Internet transmission returns (the third light on the modem turns green). If management at the Resort reports that the third light on the modem is red and staying red for a long period, they should call the DSL service provider's repair department.
In summary (for Bradshaw Mountain RV Resort management agents):
*** Third light on modem is off (not lit): unplug the power to the modem only, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in to see if all four green lights return (this takes about a minute).
*** Any other (of four) lights on the modem are off or red, unplug the power to the modem for a few seconds, and plug it back in to see if all four green lights return and if they don't check all wires to the modem to see that they are plugged in.
*** Third light on modem is red: Check phone wires. If no problem is found, call technician and/or service provider.
*** "Sys" light on Hot Spot router is not lit: unplug the power to the Hot Spot router and wait a few seconds and plug it back in to see if 5 or more green lights return.
6. Q. MY CONNECTION WAS FINE BUT THEN IT BEGAN RUNNING VERY SLOW OR STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER.
A. In this case, something could be happening on your end that could be causing the slow-down. For instance, is your Anti-Virus software doing an update (downloading updates) behind the scenes and you weren't aware of it? This can slow your Internet surfing down considerably if not stop it altogether. Other software, including Windows, can sometimes perform Automatic Updates which use up bandwidth and slow down the system. If none of these situations are occurring, it is possible the signal from the antennas has gotten temporarily weak or that errors in the current user database have clogged the system. Usually if you wait a while and try again the system will have returned to normal.
If your current surfing session is important and you need a good signal NOW, you can try taking your laptop to the Clubhouse to see if you get a better signal there. This is often a good temporary "fix" if you can't just wait for the signal to return.
One thing that helps the system to operate smoothly is for users to perform a "Logout" when they are finished with an Internet "session".
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOGGING OFF:
If you have a pop-up blocker running, first go to Tools at the top of your browser, and click on Pop-Up Blocker and then Pop-Up Blocker Settings. Add to the list of allowed Pop-Up sites the following: 1.1.1.1
Now, in your browsers address box at the top of the screen, where you normally type in web addresses, type in: 1.1.1.1/info.html
A window will come up showing you the amount of usage time remaining on your account, and you will see a button called "Logout" at the bottom of the window. Click on it to log yourself out.
Occassionally we have a problem with "cross talk" when an antenna station sees more than one user as the same user and assigns a duplicate IP address to more than one user. Logging out after each session helps to make sure this doesn't happen. In most instances the system will function adequately even when more than one user shares an IP address, but you may see error messages indicating that the system is having to compensate for and work around the duplicate IP addresses it sees.
7. Q. IT'S MY FIRST TIME ACCESSING THE WIRELESS NETWORK AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO ENTER MY USERNAME AND PASSWORD.
A. This can happen when you connect to one of our signals that goes through one of our repeater stations. The repeaters we use are technically designed to repeat the signal for just one additional remote user, but luckily for us they do handle multiple users adequately without causing crossed signals. In this case it is possible you will also see "Windows System error" messages pop up on your screen while you're surfing. The error is explained to be "duplicate IP addresses assigned" (or something to that effect), but in reality our system does compensate for the detected error and always assigns unique IP addresses tied to the unique MAC address of your adapter and you can disregard the error message and continue surfing (assuming that you are able to continue normally after clicking on the message's balloon or window).
WARNING: If you logged for on the first time and didn't see the screen asking for username and password but were able to use the Internet anyway, your username and password won't be "activated" and next time you want to log on, more than 24 hours may have passed and then your username and password are no longer valid (and you won't be able to log on if asked for them). The best way to keep this from happening is to make a connection after receiving a username and password from within our clubhouse (use your laptop in the clubhouse) within 24 hours of their being issued to you. Inside the clubhouse the signal doesn't go through a repeater and you will always be asked to use your username and password there. The first time you enter your new username and password to begin a session, the username and password become automatically "activated" and they will be recognized by the system for the duration of the time period you were allotted (this varies from one day to up to three months of accumulated usage, depending on how long you intended to be our guest when you arrived).
8. Q. I TRIED TO LOG ON WITH MY USERNAME AND PASSWORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE USERNAME AND PASSWORD WERE INVALID EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF USAGE TIME REMAINING.
A. Occassionally the system will disconnect your connection without you realizing it while you are surfing, for various reasons, and yet the system will sometimes fail to mark the connection as completely disconnected. When you try to log back on, the system sees you as already connected and will not let you connect again (the system thinks two people are trying to connect with the same username and password simultaneously). If you wait a while (possibly a few hours) eventually the system will catch up and do a true disconnection so you can log in again but to avoid this inconvenience the best idea is to ask management for a second username and password. Be sure to activate them within 24 hours and then just hang on to them in case you need them.
9. Q. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS I CAN ENHANCE MY CONNECTION?
A. If you're running Windows XP, try this: First, click on the Start button and then click on Run, and then type CMD in the box and click on OK. This brings up a DOS command prompt in a DOS window. Now type ipconfig /release and then [enter]. This should release any IP address that was currently established. Now, type ipconfig /renew and then [enter]. This should establish a new IP address for you if your unit has been able to communicate with our router. If the signal coming from our antennas (or sometimes from our router when it needs to be re-booted by the management) isn't strong enough to make a connection between your unit and the router, you'll get an error message. But, if it did in fact assign your unit an IP address of: 10.59.1.X (the X stands for any number between 1 and 239) then you should be able to go to Internet Explorer and use the Internet. If you have a good signal after following these steps but then it fades during your Internet session, try the release and renew process again. Sometimes you may need to try the process several times before you actually establish a good clean connection.
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