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[tedster]

Hi Marc, my router is a linksys WRT54G v. 8.  and plugs into my videotron modem.  My PC works fine through the router but it is not wireless.  The only reason I got the router was to test the wireless.  Another poster helped to up grade the OLPC so that with the security disabled I can actually log on to the internet.  Julie said she was using the WEP 64bit hex key etc, but I could not log on so Linksys people helpmed with a passphrase and an encryption but neither worked.  Probably didn't use the right one.  (.  Tried changeing to 128 buit and that didn't work either.  So now, I simply disable the security on the router, but when I don't want to use the OLPC which is most of the time I am in Mtl, I disable the wireless.  So it is a question of what to put in to the pop up that asks for the key! 

I really would like to be able to get an ethernet adapter that works though as I want to bring the OLPC when I travel and some places don't have wifi.    Thanks for the maps, I will try to make it, but I have to pack, blah blah. 

[jt42]

Hi Marc

I haven't tried WPA yet just WEP (so many other things I'm toying with).  With WEP, it saves my settings in Sugar so I never have to enter them more than once.  But I've been playing with Ubuntu booting from a USB stick and, in that, I always have to select the network from those available and enter my key - then it asks something about keyring (which I have still to research - will the keyring save my settings???).
julie

[jt42]

Hi Ted

Belkin makes a very small travel router (comes in a case) - it has only an ethernet port on the back - I think it's really designed for people who stay at hotels, etc., with hard-wired connections but they want to sit across the room with their laptops - you plug into the hotel network and connect - I have no idea how it works or anything but it looked great for travelling.  julie

[jt42]

p.s. Marc - I'm still on build 653

[tedster]

I think I am oklay with wirless.  I really want hard wire connection and I wish that someone here could advise me. 

[laforest]

Hi Ted,

Here's what I found :

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/USB_ethernet_adaptors

I don't know if you already found that page. I strongly recommend you pick
a model of USB Ethernet adapter that they say works out of the box.
After a few calls in Montreal, you might be able to track one of these
widgets down.

Thanks for describing your situation in detail. You did the right tests.

Marc

[laforest]

Thanks for your advice Julie.

I guess I'm close to the bleeding-edge with WPA2 64-bit Hex-encrypted on
a 656 build. I'll have it cleared this weekend.

[tedster]

Marc re that list, that is where I found the adapter in the first place.  I think Julie also bought the same one.  It does not work and I do not trust the list.  One can go broke buying stuff that doesn't work.  lol.

[jt42]

I did buy it but it was years ago for my Tivo machine so no money out of pocket on that one - but I'm sure adding up on the accessories!  (external keyboard, mouse, etc. as my fingers just don't do the teeny keyboard too well - also bypasses the sticky keyboard problem).

I hope you plan to have another session for the XO, Marc - I'd be there if I've got mine - I've meshed with a couple of people so far and it's great fun.   julie

[tedster]

Well I don't find the keyboard too small for me.  I may just use the XO for a bit and then give it away and buy a proper laptop for travel.  After all it isn't much smaller.  It sure eats up the time.  Fortunately one of the posters here is coaching me on the upgrade and getting th browser to work, etc.  he has spent hours doing this for me. 

[laforest]

Hi Ted, I bought the Linksys USB100M for myself and will try it out. I feel
pretty confident it will work. I should have it on Thursday and I can give you
some feedback then. The Belkin is probably better 'cause it's made for MacOSX,
so it lready has to be compatible to Linux.

By the way, I'm now up to 5 OLPCs + 2 Emulated, not counting your possible
machine. It'll be very interesting to see so many people interacting. I'm starting
to really like this little machine, despite it being so buggy some times 

I'll keep in touch,
Cheers, Marc

[tedster]

well I will try to bring mine on Thursday and you can show me how to make it work.  lol.  Can you email me privately with the times and the coordinates again? 

[laforest]

Hi Again Ted,
On this forum, I found
http://olpcnews.com/forum/index.php?topic=85.0
They confirmed that a D-Link and a Linksys USB100M USB-Ethernet Adapter
work. See nifty pictures.
I'll send you maps very soon.
 

[mtl user]

Hi Everyone. My name is Sandy and I'd like to meet up with people who actually know how to use their OLPC. I FINALLY got mine this week. I can get online, but my gmail is a nightmare! My cursor seems to disappear. Any ideas?
Also, none of the SD cards I have can be read. Ditto for anything happening with the USBs... Is there something I should know --like I need to install drivers? Help?
Will there be another meeting happening anywhere?
Thanks,
Sandy

[Flaf]

Hi Sandy
1- The cursor is "probably" still there but it gets so small that it can get realy difficult to find it on the XO screen. I know there is a workaround mentioned in the one of the forum. You may try a search to find it.
Personally (I aslo got my XO last week) I found that Gmail was a lot more usable with Firefox, you can install that easely on the XO by following the instruction at : http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Firefox2

2- There is a lot of problems reported with SD card. The bottom line seem to be :Make sure you get a good quality one. I've been using a Kingston 2G without any problem. Another form of problem reported with SD card and some USB keys relate to the formating of the flash memory on the device, the XO will accept many formats (like most Linux) but not all of them. So if your card was formated by a camera, MP3 player or some other specialised piece of equipment you should try reformating in from a PC (using a FAT32 format).
There is a quick test that you can run to see if your card or USB stick are reconnised by the system:
    - Start the XO
    - Open a termina; session
    - At the prompt type the following : df -k them hit enter
On the list that will be produce, look for "/dev/device" device will be "sda1" for a USB key or "mmcblk0p1" for a SD card.
If the proper device is not on the list then it is was not accepted by the system as a valid storage device. Again that could be caused by a poor quality device or, more likely, a invalid format.
email me if you need more info.
Francois