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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. |
An accessible and concise guide to basic troubleshooting when a node goes awry. |
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| http://wiki.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/NodeOwnerHelp | https://personaltelco.net/wiki/NodeOwnerHelp |
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| This section assumes you have a wireless-enabled device, and that you're unable to connect to a [[PotentialNodeOwnerFaq|Personal Telco node]]. This document is a flowchart: start at the first step and work your way through until you solve the problem. | |
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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. |
=== 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, go to Step 4, otherwise, go to Step 3. |
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| === 1. Can you see the ESSID? === |
=== 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). |
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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. |
Please let us know if this document was (or wasn't) helpful. |
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| === 2. Contact the PTP === |
=== 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, go to Step 2, otherwise, plug it in and go to Step 1. |
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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). |
=== Step 4. Get an IP Address === Your device should get an IP address from the Node. If you have Windows, try this: |
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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 |
* go to Start -> Run |
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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" (TODO: [[NeedsUpdate|add screen shot]]) |
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(TODO: add screen shot) If not, try |
If not, try this: |
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| Do you see an IP address now? If not, goto 7, otherwise goto 5. | Do you see an IP address now? If not, go to Step 7, otherwise go to Step 5. |
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| === 5. Open a Webpage === | === Step 5. Open a Webpage === |
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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: |
Open your web browser. Cool people use "Firefox", less cool people use "Internet Explorer". Open any webpage, e.g. http://google.com. Can you see it? If you have a [[CaptivePortal|captive portal]], you should see the [[SplashPage|splash page]] (with the Personal Telco logo) - if so, click "Accept", then visit http://google.com. At this point, you should see the Google logo... If so, go to Step 6. Otherwise: |
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* 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 |
* Go to Step 7 if it says something like "www.google.com cannot be found" * Go to Step 7 if it says something like "... is not responding" or "... cannot be contacted |
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| === 6. Everything is Okay? === | === Step 6. Everything is Okay? === |
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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. |
If you reached here, it seems like all is well. If not, perhaps you have a problem not covered in this document: go to Step 2. |
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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, go to Step 2. If not, do your best to connect the devices as shown in the diagram, if it still doesn't work - go to Step 2. |
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| Created by DonPark and CalebPhillips over beers at NodeLuckyLab. | Created by DonPark and CalebPhillips over beers at NodeLuckyLab. Updated by DanRasmussen. |
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:
https://personaltelco.net/wiki/NodeOwnerHelp
This version is current as of: 2025-07-26
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, go to Step 4, otherwise, go to Step 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, go to Step 2, otherwise, plug it in and go to Step 1.
Step 4. Get an IP Address
Your device should get an IP address from the Node. If you have Windows, try this:
go to 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 this:
- 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, go to Step 7, otherwise go to Step 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://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, click "Accept", then visit http://google.com. At this point, you should see the Google logo... If so, go to Step 6. Otherwise:
- Go to Step 7 if it says something like "www.google.com cannot be found"
- Go to Step 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. If not, perhaps you have a problem not covered in this document: go to Step 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, go to Step 2. If not, do your best to connect the devices as shown in the diagram, if it still doesn't work - go to Step 2.
Credits
Created by DonPark and CalebPhillips over beers at NodeLuckyLab. Updated by DanRasmussen.