Posts by aeinstein

On the contrary, I find them pretty useful. Both as a communicating tool, since pseudocode can differ according to the person, and as a tool to understand the algorithm better. For example I couldn't make head or tail out of the OP's pseudocode, since I am not used to pseudocode like that. But the flowchart was easier to understand. But this may depend on personal preferrence.

@aeinstein :- Glanced at the flow chart and it looked okay to me. What was the tool you used to draw it? Was it a free tool?

MS Paint (painstakingly produced!) saved as .bmp & converted to .jpg via IrfanView (v3.98, downloaded via CNET) (I only use it to convert images, but for that use, at least, it's a great free-ware product). After this experience I think Visio 2003 Professional Academic is not a too distant purchase!!! Btw, before this particular exercise I was not a fan of flowcharting, but I was able to follow the flow of the program much easier with the flowchart that I produced versus the pseudocode that I produced, so I now consider myself a convert! :lol:

Thanks for the feedback! :)

Hi All,

I've converted the pseudocode from this thread into a flowchart, and I'd greatly appreciate if anyone can point out any errors and/or inefficiences in the represented coding. as posted in the above referenced thread, the flowchart represents a solution for a chapter exercise, as follows: "The problem states that a library records monthly book withdrawls, capturing the Library of Congress Number, Author and Title, for each month (sorted by the Library of Congress Number for each withdrawl). The initial problem required the merger of the January and Feburary files - which I was able to do without difficulty, but the follow-on problem required that any redundant records, regardless of file of origin, not be written to the merged file."

Thanks!

Hi All,

The following problem solution has given me fits!!!:mad: The problem states that a library records monthly book withdrawls, capturing the Library of Congress Number, Author and Title, for each month (sorted by the Library of Congress Number for each withdrawl). The initial problem required the merger of the January and Feburary files - which I was able to do without difficulty, but the follow-on problem required that any redundant records, regardless of file of origin, not be written to the merged file. I think I've gotten it, but I've gone through it so many times by now that I'm not sure if I really have it, or if I'm just chasing my tail trying to get a solution. Any help/pointers would be greatly appreciated! :)

FYI I've included code blocks for the overall program as well as each component module, but it's the mainLoop() module that I'm actually concerned about.

Program pseudocode

comment: merge files "janResources" & "febResources" w/o writing duplicate 
comment: resource information (ie, ...LibCongressNum, ...Author & ...Title)
comment: assignment operator is "=" and equals comparison operator is "=="
Start
  perform houseKeeping()
  while bothAtEof == "N" then
    perform mainLoop()
  endwhile
  perform finishUp()
Stop

houseKeeping() module pseudocode

houseKeeping()
  declare variables:
  comment: file: "janResources"
    char janLibCongressNum = null
    char janAuthor = null
    char janTitle = null
  comment: file: "febResources"
    char febLibCongressNum = null
    char febAuthor = null
    char febTitle = null
  comment: end processing flag variable
    char bothAtEof = "N"
  comment: record comparison variable …

...but have you checked with Optimum Online to verify that things are working on their end?...

Yes: I contacted OOL before I made the thread-starting post, as well as having had my brother (who also has OOL) successfully send & receive a test message.

* Is this a send and receive error, or just a send error?

I just double checked: Good news: send only - I'm able to receive messages just fine; Bad news: I ran "nestat 1 -an" (which initiated a continuous nestat -an command at one second intervals), and port 25 was never listed as being listened for ("0.0.0.0:25 Listening" [nor any specific IP, such as "127.0.0.1:25" or "192.168.1.100:25"]). That doesn't make a lot of sense to me since I received the test messages without issue. Unfortunately that seems to point me back at an indeterminate firewall software issue...well, let me phrase that: I knew all along it was a firewall issue, I just thought I might get around it by manually enforcing port listening, after having confirmed and/or reset all firewall settings at their 'no-blocking' settings without resolution. :(

Thanks again DMR :)

Did you do that while (or immediately after) Outlook performed a send/receive operation?...

Yes: before launching OE, as well as immediately after initiating the send request so that netstat -an ran during the attempted data transmission prior to the failure to connect message. I must admit that I didn't run it afterwards, not seeing the sense in that as far as a possible resolution, but, out of a matter of curiosity I'll have to check that out! ;)

...1. In terms of the possible firewall issue...verify that the firewall is indeed disabled....

Yes, that was already done.

...2. Is the Outlook error isolated to one computer on the network, or is the conneciton problem common to all/any network clients?

Well, currently, there's only my laptop on the network, and I use web-based mail clients. Unfortunately, my sister's PowerBook died last week, and she uses an e-mail client (OE) - while setting that up for her is when I ran into the issue that started this thread. :(

Thanks anyway DMR! :)

does that computer get its internet through a router?

Sorry to say, but the router is not the issue - that would have been a nice, easy solution!!! ;) I realized after I posted the reply to you above that bypassing the router probably wasn't going to be the issue, because, according to the netstat (-an) command, listening isn't even enabled on ports 25 (POP) & 110 (SMTP) at this point. Typically that would preclude the router as being the initial issue, but then again, I've seen some pretty strange stuff in the world of networks, so, I don't tend to rule anything out entirely. I did just bypass the router, reset the router, logged off, turned off and then restarted the laptop - same results!

So, at this point, I'm still trying to figure out how to manually enable ports 25 and 110 and would greatly appreciate advise on how to do so in WinXP (Media Center Edition).

TIA

does that computer get its internet through a router?

Yes - I'll try bypassing it to see if it's a router config issue, but it'll have to wait until late this evening my time (3:40pm here, 5:40pm EST). Thanks for the heads-up!!! Should've thought of that myself!!! :o

Hi All,

Can someone let me know how to enable listening for TCP packets on ports 25 & 110 under Windows XP?

I'm having an issue with being able to send and recieve client-based e-mail (Outlook Express 6.0), and am receiving the following message:

The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'mail.optonline.net', Server: 'mail.optonline.net', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 10060, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E

I understand that the above is caused by a firewall - but even when I shut off all firewalls (I only use one: I have WinXP firewall off, Norton Personal Security trial version on new laptop expired, and I'm currently using Zone Alarm), I'm sill getting the error message referenced above.

I used the netstat -an command to verify whether or not WinXP was listening on 0.0.0.0:25 or 0.0.0.0:110, which is necessary to send & receive e-mail via an e-mail client, and neither where listed. So, it looks like I need to enable listening for ports 25 & 110 on (interface?) 0.0.0.0, which I would most certainly be greatful for any assistance in doing so! :)

TIA

Use DiskWarrior. That's my answer to everything.

Hi cscgal,

First, I'd like to thank you very much for such a timely reply - that's the fastest I've ever gotten a reply from any website forum post I've ever made :!: :!: :!: Sorry I didn't notice that right off - I was feeling my sister's STRESS at the time, which I'm sure you can understand! :)

Now, for the resolution: my sister decided to take her G4 up to the Apple Store (about a 90 minute drive to the North of town), and they advised her that the harddrive was shot and that there was no sense in running the DiskWarrior software. She's not sure if she's going to get another Mac at this point or jump to the "Dark Side" and get a PC - my hunch is that she'll get a Mac - at least that's what I'm going to advise! ;)

Well, thanks again for the quick-as-heck reply! :D:

aeinstein

Use DiskWarrior. That's my answer to everything.

I've been looking at Alsoft's DiskWarrior page, and while the current version of 3.0 needs to boot up to 10.x and be installed, it does come with version 2.1 - but it also needs to be able to boot up to OS 8.1+, unless I'm reading something wrong. :confused:

Use DiskWarrior. That's my answer to everything.

OK, that's possibly a life saving solution (not mine!), but at $99 plus I'd like to pursue a lower cost alternative(s) first! :eek:

Steps I've taken so far (which, are admittedly, just the basics), all of which have failed:

1st) Ctrl+Command+Option (initiated at GUI question mark prompt)

2nd) Command+Option+P+R (initiated at end of first beep tones & held until second set of beep tones started)

3rd) Reset PMU (disconnected all peripherals, A/C adapter & removed battery {which has a full 4-LED charge}, held power button for 5 seconds, reconnected A/C adapter & re-installed battery; left peripherals disconnected)

:-|

PS: just found DiskWarrior @ CampusTech for $74.65 plus, which is about the cost of an Apple Support ticket, but, I'm still open to possible alternatives if anyone has them.

Thanks cscgal on the DiskWarrior suggestion, it sounds like something my sister should get regardless! :)

Hi All,

Short & quick:
PowerBook G4 w/OS 9.2 & 10.4(? - upgraded from 10.0) won't boot up after aborted browser install.

The details:
My sister was trying to upgrade Netscape Navigator 4.7 to 8.1 on her OS 9.2 (she is running a dual boot OS 9.2/10.4(?) PowerBook G4 (15" screen, unknown GHz/MHz, but I am attempting to track that info down). The system locked up and after awhile she powered down the totally unresponsive system.

Unfortunately I wasn't around to advise her before/during/after the upgrade attempt.

Now, on attempting to boot up, all she is getting is a question mark GUI prompt - obviously alerting the user to the inability of the PowerBook to initiate a bootable OS.

The request:
Any suggestions on appropriate course(s) of action to get the system up & running would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Just got a reply message from my instructor - and now I've got a wee bit of egg on my face!!! :( He had a link on the course website detailing everything I needed to know, and then some, right from the get go! :o I guess all isn't for naught, since WolfPack hunted down the DMC++ compiler documentation!

Well, guess what? There was an extra end-of-line character in each of the last two string assignments, and that was the issue all along. Funny, I read and re-read that code listing a dozen times or so and didn't pick it up! :mad: Then I decided it might be a glitch in the compiler, so I closed all of my programs, logged off and shutdown the PC. Then I got up and got a handful of grapes from the refrigerator and talked to my sis for a few minutes; came back to the PC and rebooted it, and then recompiled the program, and guess what? NO CHANGE!!! :mad: Then I re-launched NotePad++ (I'm a new user, but so far I like NotePad++ very much!), and started re-reading the code list again, and saw the extra "\n"'s right away! :eek: Just goes to show that taking a break every once in awhile really does pay off! ;)

Hi All,

The program below is returning the following data...

A
1
AB
(empty line)
3
9

...when it should be returning...

A
1
AB
2
ABCDEFG
7

I've tried changing the assignment code statements to read MyString = MyString + "B\n"'; and MyString = MyString + "CDEFG\n"; , but that, expectedly, doesn't change any of the output, and I don't see any extra end-of-line characters. :confused: Can someone point me in the right direction?

// File Name: abc.cpp
// Project 4.2
// Author: (aeisntein, from text exercise)
// Date: 06.03.2006

#include <iostream> // necessary for cout command
#include "apstring.h" // point to apstring header file 

int main()
{
     // Declare empty string object MyString
     apstring MyString;

     // Assign value "A" to string object MyString
     MyString = 'A';

     // Output initial value of string object MyString
     cout << MyString << endl;

     // Output the length of initial value of string object MyString
     cout << MyString.length() << endl;

     // Concatenate character "B" to end of current value of string object MyString.
     MyString += "B\n";

     // Output current value of string object MyString
     cout << MyString << endl;
 
     // Output length of current value of string object MyString
     cout << MyString.length() << endl;

     // Concatenate string "CDEFG" to end of current value of string object MyString.
     MyString += "CDEFG\n";

     // Output length of current value of string object MyString
     cout << MyString.length() << endl;

     return 0; …

Hi Dave,

First off, thanks for the timely reply posts - very much appreciated! As for your latter two points, now that you've brought them up, I can see how they would be - and will be - good practices to follow. I presume that these procedures will be covered in due time during the course of the class that I'm taking, but if not I'll hunt them down in order to learn them as extracurricular subject matter.

Enter text containing whitespace...

Thanks! I could have sworn that I had written programs already that used cin with multi-alphabetic characters and whitespaces, but, after opening around 50 files or so to check, all of them had cin used in conjunction with char, or some numeric input. BIG guess here is that that's because string inputs hadn't been covered until getline was discussed! ;)

...(And do you want to leave whitespace, including a newline, in the input buffer?)...

...for which I understand the standard procedure is to flush memory with cin.ignore(80, '\n'); - correct?

...Oh, and always check return values.

Unless you're referring to the return statement at the end of a program (" return = 0; "), then I should hope that that process will be covered shortly.

Thanks again Dave! :)

Hi All,

If the user is to input text - alphabetic or numeric, when is it advantageous to use getline rather than cin? It's obviously easier to code something like cin >> favoriteVacationSpot; than something like getline (cin, favoriteVacatioSpot); , so I don't see the advantage of using getline. If anyone can elaborate somewhat on the differences it would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Okay I will go with the short story.

You RTF(ine)Manual.
Well any decent compiler should be able to compile multiple source files at once. You should be able to compile it by dmc sourcefile1.cpp sourcefile2.cpp , without any trouble for simple files.

:cool: looks like that worked - had my doubts at first, since there's a space between the two file names; figured the compiler would only recognize the first file - I'll have to finish the exercise to see what it actually does... thanks for the info! :)
long story? no manual - until now! :cool: thanks! :) (btw, STILL no answer from my instructor! :mad: )

Hi All,

Short story: How do you compile two .cpp files at once?

Text excerpt: "Step-by-Step 4-1: 1. Open apstring.cpp and stringex.cpp into a project in your compiler. The file apstring.h must also be available to your compiler."

All three files are downloaded from the Instructor's Text Resources of my online class' website and saved to the appropriate directory on my computer.

Is it a common capability of a C++ compiler to be able to compile two, or more, files at the same time? If someone knows how to do so - common or otherwise - the info would be greatly appreciated!

Long story: (No additional significant info, but if you like to know the explicit details...) I have a chapter exercise that I don't have a clue about how to start, and I'm wondering if anyone here can point me in the right direction. It's a "Step-by-Step" type of deal, in that the text provides more information as the exercise progresses, but I'm stuck on step one! I've got an IM into my instructor, but since he hasn't answered in over two hours I figured I'd try here. All of the pertinent info is up above, in the "Short story". I'm barely two pages into the chapter and I've re-read it several times and there is no reference to any sort of "project" capability with the compiler (Digital Mars (TM) C++ compiler, free version - my instructor advises that they use the …

Or you could just use dev -cpp, which does just about everything you need.

Obviously that's good advice for someone who's decided to commit to programming, which I haven't. I'll look into a specific IDE when I don't have to follow course requiremets - for now I have to use the Digital Mars C++ compiler for the course. Also, until I can actually complete at least the entry level C++ class that I'm currently taking, there's no sense in determining what IDE I might want to use moving forward. On the otherhand, should the day come where it would be appropriate for me to make such a determination - as I expect it will - then I'll definitely take your advice under consideration! :)

Hi PclubBbanger,

You didn't mention whether or not any of the computers currently have an Internet connection, or if any of them can already connect to one or more of your other computers. I'm going to presume that you don't have any connectivity, but please let us know for sure. The way that I would approach the problem is as if there was no connectivity to the Internet at all, and that none of the computers can connect to each other, and troubleshoot in a clean-sheet, step-by-step process. I would take it one computer at a time, starting with getting all of the computers connected to the Internet through the router first, then getting them to share files, and lastly getting the gaming to work. Towards this end I would set the LAN computer (the one connected with a cable directly to the router) as a baseline, by taking these steps:

1) do a normal power down on all computers - I would also recommend that you logoff of each user before shutting down each computer;

2) power down the router and the cable modem by unplugging their power cords - not simply hibernating them or using a power button if it/they have one;

3) unplug and re-plug each LAN cable end (RJ-45) running from the cable modem to the router, and the router to the desktop that is, once again, cabled directly to the router (Let's call this desktop "L" [for LAN]?);

4) then …

...It was working just before I installed Norton Personal Firewall...

1st, don't uninstall NPFireall - at least not yet.
2nd, disable NFP on both machines
3rd, let us know if you regain access or not - Good Luck!!!

You would like to try TextPad, Notepad++, or Crimson Editor which are free editors for windows and have syntax highlighting and other features that notepad does not provide.

For those who may be interested:

TextPad - This apparently is a "shareware" product - please remember to pay the requested $29.00 [USD], if you decide to keep the product!

NotePad++ - This is true freeware.

Crimson Editor - This, again, is true freeware.

Personaly, I'm going to try the two freeware products first, and then TextPad, to see if it's capabilities are enhanced enough beyond the freeware products to justify spending $29.00 - in about a month or so I'll post a follow-up to offer my opinion.

Thanks for the heads-up WolfPack!

Hi WolfPack,

OK, I'll definitely watch out for that in the future - I used notepad and, to the best of my recollection, I didn't use tabbing at all, but maybe a couple inadvertent ones got by! :)

Regards,
Paul

Thanks a lot Wolfpack, exactly the kind of info I was looking for!!! It may be a trivial program - not surprising since we've only covered the first three chapter of an novice level C++ text - but getting this information now helps me develop proper habits early on. I don't recall using any tabs, but I'll certainly watch out for that moving forward - along with the rest of your advice. Thanks again! :)

What are you asking exactly? Or put this way:- what answer were you expecting?

Basically, exactly what I put in the thread title.

With that I see that I could have declared and initialized the "cutoff" variable in one statement rather than two. Which then begs the question, can I declare multiple variables of the same data type and initialize them to one given value in just one code statement?

I'm a raw newbie at programming with a lot to learn, so I'm sure I haven't coded the most efficient program, even as simple as it is. With that, as I'm learing, I also want to develop good, concise and efficient coding habits. So, to put it a different way, aside from what I've mentioned up above, what could I have done better, if anything?

I hope that clarifies what I'm asking for! :)

Hi All,

As a non-required, ungraded, "activity", I coded the following program, and I'm wondering if there was an easier way for me to of solved the problem. Please note that this is only a second semester type course, and to this point we've only covered basic variables and constants, as well as the order of operations - we've yet to tackle strings, arrays and the like - so, I don't need to be fancy, but any pointers towards more efficient coding practices would be greatly appreaciated! :)

// File Name: transport.cpp
// Activity 3-1
// Author: (aeinstein)
// Date: 05.28.2006

//Activity 3-1: 
// "Suppose you have a group of people that needs to be transported on buses and vans.
// You can charter a bus only if you can fill it. Each bus holds 50 people. You must
// provide vans for the 49 or fewer people who will be left over after you charter buses.
// Write a program that accepts a number of people and determines how many buses must be
// chartered and reports the number of people left over that must be placed on vans.
// Hint: Use the modulus operator to determine the number of people left over."


#include <iostream.h> // necessary for cout command

int main()
{
     short buses, passengers, van;                                              // declare buses, passengers & van as short
     buses = passengers = van = 0;                                              // initialize buses, passengers & van to 0 (not neccessary, but...)
 
     int cutoff;                                                                // declare …

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : MAC Bridge Miniport

I'd avoid using a bridged connection.

Let us know what you see listed under Network Connections (click Start, Control Panel & then Network Connections if your in Classic View, otherwise click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections & then Network Connections).

Good Luck,
Paul

Hi Sunnypalsingh, Ancient Dragon & ivanCeras,

Thanks for all of your help, it's much appreciated, and it did answer the questions I had! :)

Hi all,

I'm transistioning from the networking end of things and moving to the programming side, so, even though I've been around here for quite awhile, I have a pretty basic queston: since the char data type has a minimum range values between -127 to 128, how is a letter character or symbol ever given a negative value? Also, can the char data type hold more than one character - up to the permissibe range limit - or is it constrained to a single character value?

TIA

PS: fwiw, I'm using the Digital Mars (TM) C++ compiler, as per the course requirements.

Sorry I haven't replied sooner - I've come down with the flu. It's unlikely, but your router may not be confirmed to assign IP address. As a double check do the same ipconfig/all on one of your hardwired pc's and see if the line that says "Autoconfiguration Enabled" also says "Yes". Also, the wireless card itself may not be enabled. On my Toshiba there's an external switch to enable a wireless connection, even though the wireless card is integrated into the system. Another item is to redo the "ipconfig/renew" command and post whatever error message you receive.

Since you referenced your pc as a laptop, rather than an iBook, G4, etc., I'll assume that you're running WinXP, but please confirm this or state otherwise. Open up a console window (Start/run/type "cmd" - w/o quote marks - & hit enter) and type "ipconfig" & hit enter; if the IP address is still a default (168.x.x.x) then type "ipconfig/renew" & hit enter; if you still get a default IP then type "cls" & hit enter & then type "ipconfig/all" & hit enter - it'll be a lot of info, but post everything that shows up.

I'm pretty much a hardware guy (so you software-centric gals/guys feel free to correct me as needed), but it sounds like there's either a system file corruption due to the installation or an issue with the software driver itself, being a corruption or compatibility issue, or just a poorly written/tested driver. If you haven't added any other software products - either applications or drivers for hardware/peripherals - then I would simply restore the system back to a date prior to when you installed the wireless card. Make sure you back up to separate medium and new/revised documents, images, etc. - I know you're not SUPPOSED to lose any such files when go back to a restore point, but I HAVE. It was a minor word doc file and I didn't bother to retype it, but I was quite suprised that I wasn't able to locate it anywhere on my computer after the restore. If the issue goes away after you re-install the drivers then it was just an installation glitch, but if the issue comes back, or if you have installed software that you'd rather not have to re-install, then you're going to want to contact Belkin (?; the card mfgr rather than the router mfgr if their different - fwiw, next time please post the name of the mfgr along with the product number, since few of us have a company's product line memorized! ;-) ), BEFORE the support window elapses, and see what's up.

In WinXP: click on the following buttons/links:
Start/Control Panel/Network and Internet Connections/Network Connections.
From here determine which Icon indicates the device through which your connecting (usually the device labled "Local Area Connection") then RIGHT click it once - you should get a pop-up menu on which you'll need to click "Properties". In the box that says "This connection uses the following items:" right above make sure the item labled "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" has a check mark nect to it.

How are you resetting the router?

OK, that's a good sign. If the D-Link isn't centrally located you may want to consider relocating it to a central/more centrally located position - rather than spending the money for another AP. If doing that helps maintain a connection throughout the house then, obviously, you're good to go. If not then getting AP's would be the way to go. Since you already have a D-Link, and if you're relatively happy with it, then I'd recommend staying with that mfgr. I haven't used anything but Linksys for personal setups, so I really couldn't tell you what other brands to go with, but basically so long as you can return the unit within a reasonable period then I would say just get the most cost effective unit and test the heck out of it before the return policy (find out all the details as some stores will want to charge a restocking fee if the unit is not defective, and if it is they'll want to simply swap it out - although speaking to the manager may get you around that barb). Remember to leave yourself a couple of days to return it just incase something unexpected props up. Good Luck and let us know how it goes! :)

If you're near the D-Link do you maintain a good connection?

If you're switching from one connection to another, whether it be from a USB to Ethernet, the otherway around or from one Ethernet connection to another, most cable modems need to be reset. The following is a typical process for switching connections, but it's important that you double check with your ISP, as some ISP's have the connection info configured into the cable modem and this reset process may well clear those settings. Even if that happens it's usually not a big deal to reconfigure the modem, but why look for more problems? Anyway, typically I would shut down the computer in question, unplug the power cord to the modem and wait approximately 15 seconds (the wait time is a much debated topic, but in the grand scheme of things its a small price to pay to get your connection going, imho). While you're waiting the 15 seconds or so for the modem to clear it's prior connection go ahead and change whatever cabling you need to. Once you've waited the 15 seconds or so and have changed the cabling as needed go ahead an power up the modem. The tell-tales (indicator lights) on modems can differ from model-to-model and mfgr-to-mfgr, but most all of them will have a power light, and then many of them will have either separate receive and transmit indicators or a single Internet or ISP connection indicator, as well as a PC or LAN connection indicator. Whatever tell-tales you have, wait to power up the …

Tell him "You're Welcome!" :-D

It has the following installed: D-link wireless 802.11b/g card, D-link 10/100 card

Then, aside from some possible initial setup configuring, you should be good to go. Let us know how it goes & Good Luck!

...we networked 3 computers using an Intelinet Wireless Router...

It's quite possible that you'll be good-to-go right out of the box, if it's got the optional built-in ethernet connection (scroll down to "Figure 6" here), otherwise you'll need a PC Card Network Adapter (or, since you're using a wireless router, I'd get a wireless PC Card, which is probably cheaper now-a-days anyway).

We are needing to connect all of our computers at work to one DSL connection...we have a total of 9 computers and very very small budget....any suggestions???
And would it be a problem that some are running xp, 2000, and 98??
Thanks
BJ

Ideally I'd recommend a 10-port or even 16-port (for future expansion) router & switch unit, but for someone with a "very very small budget" they may be a bit pricey. Alternately I'd say getting a three wireless routers ( $40.00 each - with mailin rebate ), connecting one-to-another via cross-over cables ($9.00 each ). It's not the ideal solution, but for under $150.00 it'll get the job done with the least amount of headaches.

...a 10 port hub and a router that can do NAT if not provided by the DSL provider...

In supporting broadband connections for over three years, I found hubs to be very problematic with LAN Internet connections. Technically everything you said is fine, but from a practical standpoint, from my experiences, someone who does not care to be intimately involved in troubleshooting would be well served to avoid the use of a hub in this situation.

... Is Linksys, Buffalo, or Belkin really any better or did I just get a bad model? ...

FWIW: I've only used Linksys routers for my personal use and my current one is a WRT54G, which I have in the garage. The garage is separated from the house with walls made of reinforced concrete (concrete with lots of metal rods in it, which, one would think, is probably an inhibitor to wireless connections). I recently switched the house phones to 5.8GHz cordless units, except for the garage, in which I still use a 2.4GHz unit (and it gets a lot of use). Even when all the cordless phones where 2.4GHz I didn't have problems with dropped signals (obviously, with the 5.8GHz units its not a problem either). I'm not sure that one datum point will help you, but I'd definitely get another Linksys(Cisco) unit again if I needed to. Good Luck!

What OS are you running?
What router?
Have you checked device manager to make sure the wireless card installed properly?

For the time being I'll assume that you're running WinXP (Home/Pro, doesn't matter for now), and that the card is not conflicted or improperly installed (software wise), but please confirm these points or post otherwise.

Run ipconfig/all and post the complete results - there'll be a LOT of info.

...And mostly just because they can...

Man, that just plain stinks! :evil:

You're IP address is the same for all three connections ("IP Address.......................: 192.168.1.96"), which doesn't make sense. When you're connecting through a router you would get the 192.168.x.x type of (private) address, but, typically, when you're connecting from the computer directly to your cable modem you would get an assigned (public) IP address used to access your ISP's network. On the other hand, it looks like you're connecting through a DNS redirect ("launchmodem.com"), but I was not able to ping them in order to obtain an IP address.

Many cable modems will require a rest when you connect a different device to it - for instance if I'm using my desktop to connect but want to switch to my laptop, and I'm not running my router, I would need to shutdown both units (desktop & laptop), power down my cable modem for at least 15 seconds (technically anyway), power up my cable modem, wait for sync (when the lights on the modme tell me it's properly powered up and that it has both a receive and transmit connection to my ISP, but that it doesn't have a connection to my pc - which makes sense since at this point I haven't powered up my other computer), then power up the laptop, wait for the modem-to-pc connection indicator to go solid green (at least on my particular modem) and then connect to the internet. The process would be the same if I was going from one …

...the network speed provided by ISP seems very small...

That all depends on your point of view I guess. We've come a long way since 300 baud acoustic couplings but 56.6kb/s, and even 14.4 kb/s wasn't really all that long ago, and comparatively speaking, that makes todays broadband connections seem like a 200mph supercar next to the model t's of yore.

...What I basically need is to get Windows to broadcast an ad-hoc network for the radio to pick up.

I'd recommend that you get a wireless router & plug it into the rj-45 wall jack - problem solved, no? - since having you're laptop act as a transcevier is going to be both a software and hardware solution, and as far as I know such a third-party product isn't currently available.