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← Revision 10 as of 2012-04-02 12:56:34
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| This document is an accessible and concise document for basic troubleshooting that must be done when a node is acting awry. | An accessible and concise guide to basic troubleshooting when a node goes awry. |
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| === 1. Can you see the ESSID? === | === Step 1: Can you see the ESSID? === |
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| === 2. Contact the PTP === | === Step 2: Contact the PTP === |
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=== 3. Make sure the Access Point has Power === Your access point is (most likely) a small device with an antenna connected to it. Find it, and make sure it is getting power. If it is, goto 2, otherwise, plug it in and goto 1. |
=== Step 3: Make sure the Access Point has Power === Your [[AccessPoint|access point]] is most likely a small device with an antenna connected to it. Find it, and make sure it is powered on. If it is, goto 2, otherwise, plug it in and goto 1. |
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| === 4. Get an IP Address === | === Step 4: Get an IP Address === |
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| Do you see an ip address? Most likely it looks something like: |
Do you see an IP address? Most likely it looks something like: "192.168.0.101" |
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| === 5. Open a Webpage === | === Step 5: Open a Webpage === |
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| === 6. Everything is Okay? === | === Step 6: Everything is Okay? === |
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| === 7. Investigate Wiring Problems === | === Step 7: Investigate Wiring Problems === |
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| Your setup, might look something like the above diagram. You will have a DSL modem, a Access Point, and often, a Captive Portal. Make sure these are connected to each other as shown. Also, at each connection check for a little green light - this is the "Link Light." If it isn't lit, then either the other end is disconnected or the wire is damaged. If you think everything is connected properly, goto 2. If not, do your best to connect the devices as shown in the diagram, if it still doesn't work - go to 2. | Your setup might look something like the above diagram. You will have a DSL modem, a Access Point, and often, a [[CaptivePortal|Captive Portal]]. Make sure these are connected to each other as shown. Also, at each connection check for a little green light - this is the "Link Light." If it isn't lit, then either the other end is disconnected or the wire is damaged. If you think everything is connected properly, goto 2. If not, do your best to connect the devices as shown in the diagram, if it still doesn't work - go to 2. |
Node Owner Help
An accessible and concise guide to basic troubleshooting when a node goes awry.
Contents
The most recent version of this document will always live here:
http://wiki.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/NodeOwnerHelp
This version is current as of: 2025-07-17
Troubleshooting
This section assumes you have a wireless-enabled device, and that you're unable to connect to a Personal Telco node. This document is a flowchart: start at the first step and work your way through until you solve the problem.
Step 1: Can you see the ESSID?
Each access point your computer can see is identified by its ESSID (or Network Name). A Personal Telco node, by definition, uses "www.personaltelco.net" as its ESSID. Your computer will have some software that lets you pick the access point you connect to by the ESSID. If you can see "www.personaltelco.net" in this list, goto 4, otherwise, goto 3.
Step 2: Contact the PTP
At this point, this document can't save you. Please contact us at info@personaltelco.net, describing the problem you have and what you tried using this document as guidance (and possibly things you tried without guidance).
Please let us know if this document was (or wasn't) helpful.
Step 3: Make sure the Access Point has Power
Your access point is most likely a small device with an antenna connected to it. Find it, and make sure it is powered on. If it is, goto 2, otherwise, plug it in and goto 1.
Step 4: Get an IP Address
Your device should get an IP address from the Node. If you have Windows, try this:
goto Start -> Run
- type "cmd", Enter
- in the black box, type "ipconfig", Enter
Do you see an IP address? Most likely it looks something like: "192.168.0.101" (TODO: add screen shot)
If not, try
- in the black box, type "ipconfig /release", Enter
- then type, "ipconfig /renew", Enter
- finally type, "ipconfig", Enter
Do you see an IP address now? If not, goto 7, otherwise goto 5.
Step 5: Open a Webpage
Open your web-browser. Cool people use "Firefox", less cool people use "Internet Explorer". Open any webpage, e.g. http://www.google.com. Can you see it? If you have a captive portal, you should see the [[SplashPage|splash page]] (with the Personal Telco logo) - if so, click "Accept", and then visit http://www.google.com. At this point, you should see the Google logo... If so, goto 6, otherwise goto one of these:
- Goto 7 if it says something like "www.google.com cannot be found"
- Goto 7 if it says something like "... is not responding" or "... cannot be contacted
Step 6: Everything is Okay?
If you reached here, it seems like all is well. Is it not? Perhaps you have a problem this document cannot prepare you for. Goto 2.
Step 7: Investigate Wiring Problems
http://www.personaltelco.net/~caleb/diagrams/PotentialNodeOwner2.png
Your setup might look something like the above diagram. You will have a DSL modem, a Access Point, and often, a Captive Portal. Make sure these are connected to each other as shown. Also, at each connection check for a little green light - this is the "Link Light." If it isn't lit, then either the other end is disconnected or the wire is damaged. If you think everything is connected properly, goto 2. If not, do your best to connect the devices as shown in the diagram, if it still doesn't work - go to 2.
Credits
Created by DonPark and CalebPhillips over beers at NodeLuckyLab. Updated -- DanRasmussen 2012-04-02 12:56:33