Node Owner Help

This document is a new attempt to make accessible and concise documentation for the type of basic troubleshooting that must be done when a node is acting awry.

TableOfContents

The most recent version of this document will always live here:

http://wiki.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/NodeOwnerHelp

This version is current as of: Date

Troubleshooting

This section assumes that you have a laptop that has a wireless client device which will allow you (when functioning) to use the node. This document works like a flowchart: you start at the first step and work your way through successive steps until you reach a goal.

1. Can you see the ESSID?

Each access point your computer can see, is identified by it's 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.

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 helpful.

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.

4. Get an IP Address

Your laptop 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:

(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.

5. Open a Webpage

Open your web-browser. Cool people use "Firefox", less cool people use "Internet Explorer". Goto a webpage, like this one: http://www.google.com. Can you see it? If you have a captive portal, you should see the splash page (with the Personal Telco logo), if so, try clicking "Accept" and then going to 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

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.

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.