Orinoco (Lucent/Avaya) Ethernet Converter help

Hello, I have an Orinoco Ethernet Converter with a gold card in it. I can't get this thing on the network (at least it seems that way). My access point is an SMC Barricade. I have disabled WEP completely for the time being. If I set empeg to DHCP, it is given an IP that starts with 169 when my network is 192.168.0.*. The DHCP server on the SMC is working because I have laptops that get proper IPs wirelessly. I cannot find any firmware updates on Orinoco's site and I am using the latest configuration program (not the one that came on diskette). Between WAP11's and now this $300 solution not working I'm going nuts. If anyone can help I would be eternally greatful.

Connect a Linux box to the network, and run "tcpdump" to see what's going on.

-ml

Mark, thanks for the help, but I am clueless on what (most of) this output means. I have attached the file from the point I plugged in the Empeg. I am not imagining things, but this time it got 192.168.0.77 which is acceptable, but I cannot ping it (you will be able to see that in the attachment). let me know what you think. Thanks again.

Mmmmm looks like what my Mk2a does when connected to my Linksys hub (the one with a switched uplink).

No help from me on this. Anyone else?

Rob,

Forgive me if this is academic but when you say If I set empeg to DHCP, it is given an IP that starts with 169 when my network is 192.168.0.*. , can you verify/explain where the Empeg is connected? (I don't want to assume).

The 169.254.x.x address that's arped for in your tcpdump is, I think. a multicast DNS address - LMDNS (locallink?) - that is probably generated by the Orinoco and is not necessarily abnormal. I'm no wireless expert, so don't know your options to config that. Why it's arping for that on your local network, though, I haven't a clue, but that may be a place to investigate....

Will follow with interest (I'm on the verge of buying some wireless).

(edit: this is piquing my curiosity. What IETF/RFC seems to call LMDNS -- it's "linklocal multicast" -- MSFT seems to call APIPA. Or at least it used the same reserves 169.254.x.x. reserved range. Here's a link . Also, it may be just as likely that it's being generated by the SMC, I suppose. Maybe their tech support docs are less impenetrable than Agere/Orinoco!)

Jim

To answer a quick question, the empeg is connected to the Ethernet Converter.

Hello,

I have an Orinoco EC. I got the one without the serial port. I believe I am running the Silver card in it. Anyway, I works GREAT! I actually plan to mount it in the car, but I still need to make a 5V 1A power supply. Not hard, just takes time, and I have been working on my installation (I had to construct some fiberglass). I also need to get the antenna kit.

I have an Orinoco EC, and Orinoco Residential Gateway, and a Linksys Wireless AP + Cable/DSL router with PrintServer, and a SMC wireless card for a notebook.

The EC connects to the empeg, the RG is at the office on the network, the Linksys is at home, and the SMC card is in a notebook. So the wireless empeg and wireless notebook work on both the home and office networks.

I'll have a look around and see if I can give you any useful info.


Steve

I just solved it. The Ethernet Converter is set to Channel 3. I started changing the channels in the SMC, and I finally got ping. Sadly, nowhere in Orinoco's docs or the web was this information readily attainable. I still can't find mention of it. Hopefully this post will help someone in the future. Thanks to everyone that replied here!

Great!

To satisfy my own personal curiosity, can you tell us the ultimate Empeg's address? Is it on 192.168.0.0 or did it remain on 169.254.x.x? (essentially, do the Orinoco/SMC start with LMDNS then switch to bridging your existing 192.169.0.0 or does it continue to route to 169.254?)

Thanks,

Jim

In my case the empeg gets a 192.168.1.6 at home and 192.168.0.4 at the office. You can look at it like the Orinoco EC is invisible. My router actually shows the empeg MAC address against the IP and not the EC MAC address.


Steve

The empeg got 192.168.0.77. I just sync'd an album wirelessly and it worked fine.

One thing that is still puzzling me is how the Orinoco determines what channel it's on. After enabling 64-bit WEP, the Orinoco is now on channel 2 (was on 3 without WEP). I cannot see anywhere to configure this. As long as it stays at channel 2 now, I will be happy.

As long as it stays at channel 2 now, I will be happy.

And all is right with the world! Thanks to both of you for the final data. Yes, so the Orinoco acts as a (invisible, more or less) bridge as it should and the LMDNS address fades from the picture (we think!). I have to say that the documentatiion for that, whether Agre or SMC is pretty scanty.

Anyhow, looking forward to my first wireless. If the checkbook permits, will get an SMC WAP and a CF card for the Zaurus next month.

Jim

The channel is set in the access point. All klients should automagically change to adapt to the access point. If one channel does not work, that s probably because of radio interference from somethng(one) else.

Marius (Escort Cab + Mark II)

I've been using channel 6 without problem for a month with laptops. It seems everytime I change something on the Orinoco box it changes it's channel. I then have to adjust the SMC access point. Luckily, all my other clients are able to automatically determine the channel.

I am sure there is a hidden setting where you can force the channel, but believe me when I say there is almost no documentation.

Jim,

Your setup should be a walk in the park compared to mine. I think some of the problem is that the Ethernet Converter seems to be circa 1999. The software in the box makes no mention of Windows2000, so I was reluctant to load it on my XP machine. Thankfully, I was able to download newer software.

Another slight issue is that the box says IEEE 802.11 (not 802.11b). I would assume this is dependant on the card you use. However, the manual in the box makes mention of the Bronze and Silver Orinoco cards (not gold which is what I'm using). I never heard of the Bronze, but I know the Silver is 802.11b with 64-bit WEP. The Bronze looks like it's an 802.11b card without any encryption. So, it's weird that the box says one standard and the manual is saying another. I am pretty sure this was initially built for 802.11. I guess they didn't feel like changing the box?

I am pretty sure that if the Ethernet Converter had recent firmware on it, things would be much easier. A little documentation wouldn't hurt either. I should have taken sreen shots of the configuration program. It's unreal how some of the paramiters are labeled. For example... on a client config program you might see somthing that allows you to select the speed (usually Auto, 11Mbps, 5Mbps, 2Mbps, etc...). In this thing it uses words such as Slow, Standard, Excelerated and Turbo. WTF do those mean? I will attempt to find out more info about this thing. Mardibloke, a (former) BBS regular has two of these. One for his Empeg and one for Rio Receiver. Unfortunately I haven't seen him around in a while and I'm not the type of person to send someone email asking for help.

Anyway... The Ethernet Converter is working. If this thing stays working in a reliable manner, it is awesome. The ability to add wireless functionality to anything with an ethernet port is very appealing. I just wish they were cheaper. By the way, I bought it and the Gold card from Provantage. They were the cheapest I could find at $187.61 and they got it here quick. Thanks again guys.

Shame on me for neglecting the boards ! Been wondering around Europe, and work keeping me busy, plus a house move.

Cannot add anything really, as I am using them with the Orinoco RG-100.

I did upgrade to new firmware and also management / config tool for the RG-100 a little while back, much imporved ( eg MAC filtering, port mapping, and using better naming for the config options ). So would recommend this upgrade to anyone with the RG-100.

As you say the Converter does appear a very old design, with no firmware updates for a while - shame they have not reviewed the price !

If the price stays the same, I would try the netgear solution discussed on the Receiver BBS, should I need another one. However the Ethernet Converter is a neater solution for the car.