Automatically switch wireless networks and DUN's?

JohnnyTheRed · 11-10-2007

I have a laptop in a vehicle. When it is home it connects to my local wireless network. When it is on the road I use a dial up connection to Cingular. Is there any way, or any software, that can automatically switch from the WLAN to the DUN connection when I leave the house, and then automatically switch from the DUN to the WLAN when I am home?

Another way of saying it is that I want it to automatically sense if there isn't an internet connection, and when it does I want it to automatically connect. Furthermore, I'd like it to prefer to connect to the home WLAN connection over the Cingular DUN connection.

Thanks.

beakmyn · 11-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyTheRed

I have a laptop in a vehicle. When it is home it connects to my local wireless network. When it is on the road I use a dial up connection to Cingular. Is there any way, or any software, that can automatically switch from the WLAN to the DUN connection when I leave the house, and then automatically switch from the DUN to the WLAN when I am home?

Another way of saying it is that I want it to automatically sense if there isn't an internet connection, and when it does I want it to automatically connect. Furthermore, I'd like it to prefer to connect to the home WLAN connection over the Cingular DUN connection.

Thanks.

I thought this was built into windows or maybe Internet Explorer. I seem to remember a check box that said _dial if no network connection detected_

The keywords are: Network Manager

Or maybe simply changing the binding order in Windows Networking to use the wireless first then the DUN

MikeP928 · 11-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by beakmyn

I thought this was built into windows or maybe Internet Explorer. I seem to remember a check box that said _dial if no network connection detected_

The keywords are: Network Manager

Or maybe simply changing the binding order in Windows Networking to use the wireless first then the DUN

I have made that work using a Windows-managed internal modem as a failover. But I have not gotten it to work when the air card is controlled by separate software such as my Sprint/novatel air card.

Also, it usually will not trigger until the ARP cache has aged out and it realizes the old gateway no longer exists.

And getting it to switch back to the wlan when available is problematic. I have not seen a setting to tell the pc how often to check that the wlan is available. After pissing away many hours on a static setup, I don't think you will find a clean solution that will satisfy you.

MikeP

Thorn · 11-11-2007

The IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads' Access Connections program will do this automatically, and will seamlessly work across multiple DUN, wireless and wired networks. I currently have 15 profiles stored, of which I use 8 regularly. The AC program figures out what profile to apply based on what available connection it sees.

Caveat: It may or may not work with your laptop, as I've never tried it on anything other than a Thinkpad.*

* Of course, this begs the question why anyone would use anything other than a Thinkpad, but we can save that religious war for another day.

Starpoint · 11-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

The IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads' Access Connections program will do this automatically, and will seamlessly work across multiple DUN, wireless and wired networks. I currently have 15 profiles stored, of which I use 8 regularly. The AC program figures out what profile to apply based on what available connection it sees.

Caveat: It may or may not work with your laptop, as I've never tried it on anything other than a Thinkpad.*

* Of course, this begs the question why anyone would use anything other than a Thinkpad, but we can save that religious war for another day.

If I remember correct the Access Connections is set to favor the fastest connection so if you are wifi'ed and dock the laptop it switches over etc..

Thorn, which Thinkpad do you have?

Thorn · 11-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starpoint

If I remember correct the Access Connections is set to favor the fastest connection so if you are wifi'ed and dock the laptop it switches over etc..

You can set the latest version a couple of different ways.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starpoint

Thorn, which Thinkpad do you have?

I have a T-42 as my main unit and an A22m as my stumbling unit. I also have had three or four Thinkpads in the past.

11-10-2007	#1 (permalink)
JohnnyTheRed Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1	Automatically switch wireless networks and DUN's? I have a laptop in a vehicle. When it is home it connects to my local wireless network. When it is on the road I use a dial up connection to Cingular. Is there any way, or any software, that can automatically switch from the WLAN to the DUN connection when I leave the house, and then automatically switch from the DUN to the WLAN when I am home? Another way of saying it is that I want it to automatically sense if there isn't an internet connection, and when it does I want it to automatically connect. Furthermore, I'd like it to prefer to connect to the home WLAN connection over the Cingular DUN connection. Thanks.

11-11-2007	#4 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,099	The IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads' Access Connections program will do this automatically, and will seamlessly work across multiple DUN, wireless and wired networks. I currently have 15 profiles stored, of which I use 8 regularly. The AC program figures out what profile to apply based on what available connection it sees. Caveat: It may or may not work with your laptop, as I've never tried it on anything other than a Thinkpad.* * Of course, this begs the question why anyone would use anything other than a Thinkpad, but we can save that religious war for another day. __________________ Thorn "I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I am from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I am the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below... You got a problem with that?"

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