how to configure Westell 327W for wireless network?

miltboyd · 06-05-2007, 12:02 PM

I have two computers, each running Win XP home, SP2, all updates.
The EMachine desktop has a cable connection to the Westell 327W provided by Verizon when I subscribed to DSL. It has no wireless card.
The Dell laptop has a wireless card, and establishes a good connection to the 327W.
Each has full use of the Internet.

The EMachine has a printer, and some files, that I would like to access from the laptop. Similarly, the laptop has files that I want to access from the desktop. I think I want a "wireless network" between the two computers, in other words.

problem: I can't find/ figure out how to configure the 327W so as to accomplish this. Note: the serial number on the 327W indicates that it is a special design made specifically for Verizon. Not sure what might have been crippled or altered.

background: I have used computers since 1958, written application software, wired up a lot of systems, inserted a lot of cards, but I'm brand new to wireless, and I'm flummoxed.
The home system used to be: EMachine had a dialup connection to the 'Net, and the two computers used HomeRF technology to share files and printers.

**johnwill** · 06-05-2007, 03:05 PM

You don't have to do anything to the router, that's not where the file sharing difficulties lie.

Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking.

PING each computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. You can obtain the IP address of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG. This should work for any Windows version. A failure here needs to be corrected before you go any farther.

All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing.

If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login.

While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing.

mbass · 07-28-2009, 09:35 PM

I don't know how old this thread is, but I hope someone is still monitoring it. Referring to the reference above about correcting a failure in pinging computers in my home network: this is exactly my problem. Any tips? I have great internet access on my desktop (connected by ethernet to the 327W) and both laptops (both connected wirelessly with WPA encryption). But the computers cannot see each other - they can't even ping each other, or even the modem. Just for grins I tried pinging the WAN and gateway IP addresses and that worked (but I don't know if it that's significant).

I recently upgraded from a much older modem because I kept losing my internet connection (which was bridged to a Linksys router). I never had a problem networking computers and file sharing with the Linksys router, but can't make it work with the Westell. One other peice of info: when I received the 327W I found to my chagrin that is a Bellsouth model, and I am a Verizon subscriber. But I would expect this to effect networking and file sharing.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

06-05-2007, 12:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
miltboyd Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1 OS: Win XP home SP2	how to configure Westell 327W for wireless network? I have two computers, each running Win XP home, SP2, all updates. The EMachine desktop has a cable connection to the Westell 327W provided by Verizon when I subscribed to DSL. It has no wireless card. The Dell laptop has a wireless card, and establishes a good connection to the 327W. Each has full use of the Internet. The EMachine has a printer, and some files, that I would like to access from the laptop. Similarly, the laptop has files that I want to access from the desktop. I think I want a "wireless network" between the two computers, in other words. problem: I can't find/ figure out how to configure the 327W so as to accomplish this. Note: the serial number on the 327W indicates that it is a special design made specifically for Verizon. Not sure what might have been crippled or altered. background: I have used computers since 1958, written application software, wired up a lot of systems, inserted a lot of cards, but I'm brand new to wireless, and I'm flummoxed. The home system used to be: EMachine had a dialup connection to the 'Net, and the two computers used HomeRF technology to share files and printers.

06-05-2007, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: how to configure Westell 327W for wireless network? You don't have to do anything to the router, that's not where the file sharing difficulties lie. Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking. PING each computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. You can obtain the IP address of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG. This should work for any Windows version. A failure here needs to be corrected before you go any farther. All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing. If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login. While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-28-2009, 09:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
mbass Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 OS: windows xp	Re: how to configure Westell 327W for wireless network? I don't know how old this thread is, but I hope someone is still monitoring it. Referring to the reference above about correcting a failure in pinging computers in my home network: this is exactly my problem. Any tips? I have great internet access on my desktop (connected by ethernet to the 327W) and both laptops (both connected wirelessly with WPA encryption). But the computers cannot see each other - they can't even ping each other, or even the modem. Just for grins I tried pinging the WAN and gateway IP addresses and that worked (but I don't know if it that's significant). I recently upgraded from a much older modem because I kept losing my internet connection (which was bridged to a Linksys router). I never had a problem networking computers and file sharing with the Linksys router, but can't make it work with the Westell. One other peice of info: when I received the 327W I found to my chagrin that is a Bellsouth model, and I am a Verizon subscriber. But I would expect this to effect networking and file sharing. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.