Most offices are secured by firewalls which require complicated proxy settings to use the internet. This creates a problem for many users who take their laptops to office and later find it hard to undo the proxy settings to use the internet when they come back home. A solution to this problem can be the previously reviewed Free IP Switcher, however, it requires entering network settings manually and does not auto-detect proxy and associated settings. A better alternative can be JimIP Switcher. It  has the ability to auto detect network settings for creating a network profile, which can be used to separately manage multiple connection settings (e.g. network settings for home and office network). This way you can connect to a network without having to manually reconfigure settings repeatedly. Each profile can be assigned a relevant name for easy identification. With JimIP Switcher, you can optionally configure default printer settings, WINS (Windows Internet Name Service) Server settings, and map network drives.

To save a profile by automatically detecting your network settings, click the IP Switcher button (blue colored button on the right). Click  Save Profile (Tick Mark icon button) to preserve the profile settings. You can give a custom name to the profile to easily remember the attributes of the network profile. For instance, you can select the profile labeled as “Office Network” so that when you go to office, you can restore the proxy settings.

If a network (such as a home network) obtains IP from a DHCP server, then simply choose DHCP to allow the profile to fetch details from ISP’s DHCP server.

The arrow icon button provides configuring additional settings, which include a default printer, WINS server settings and selecting a network drive associated to a network profile.

JimIP Switcher is a handy software for those who frequently require switching between multiple networks with associated proxy and WINS server settings. It works on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Download JIMIP Switcher

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If you have a mobile and a laptop(or a PC with a wireless card/USB modem) but no Wifi, how would you connect to the internet? MWconn is a free handy utility that lets you connect to the internet using two mode of operations GPRS/3G(UMTS). It uses two speed ranges, EDGE/HSPA and supports various PC cards and USB modems, you can find the complete list here.

When you run this tool for the first time, you will have to configure various settings of your network provider. Settings for few network providers is already given which can be selected from the list. If your network provider is not listed, then you will have to call them and ask for the settings.

Once you have entered all information in the Config.exe file, go here:

C:\Users\GI Nakodari\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\MWconn

and then select whether you want to establish a GPRS/UMTS(3G) connection or both by clicking on their respective executable files. Please read the Manual that comes with this tool to understand how it works. Once the setting has been established, you will see various information, such as, upload/download speed, signal strength, battery status, warning when exceeding data volume or online time, and much more.

You can also retrieve and charge prepaid credit, control your PC by SMS, send batch SMS, automatic or manual selection of network modes, etc. It works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and also on Linux when using Wine.

Download WMconn

Enjoy!

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Do you have multiple networks and would like to manage them all in one place? NetSetMan is a free tool for Windows that lets you manage up to 6 different network profiles. Want to change the IP of a network or maybe you want to change the DNS server? Instead of following the extra-long steps in Windows XP and Vista, you can now manage all network settings from one simple window.

Apart from some general settings, there are additional options such as modify PC Name, DNS Domain, and Workgroup, map the Network drive or Printer, etc. You can change these settings for different network profiles and they are saved forever unless you don’t change them back.

You can quickly change the profiles by right-clicking the system tray icon and selecting the desired network.

Move your mouse pointer over the system-tray icon and you will see detailed information on all your networks.

It is obviously not a new software through, but the recent release includes some important bug fixes and tweaks. So it is recommended that you install the newest version of this tool. In free version you can manage only 6 network profiles, but the pro version comes with unlimited profiles(only if you have some bucks to spend). Enjoy!

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Note: There are many software available to find and manage WiFi networks and I have covered few here on this blog, but this is the first time I have come across a WiFi gadget for Windows 7/Vista sidebar.

Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor is a gadget for Windows 7/Vista sidebar that lets you monitor WiFi networks around you and shows the information of your connected and nearby networks in full details. It has a radar like graphic interface which helps you monitor the status in real time.

Once you have installed the gadget, open Windows 7/Vista sidebar. Now right-click sidebar icon and select Add Gadgets.

Now double-click Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor or simply drag it to the sidebar, it will automatically detect the networks and show you some basic details in the sidebar. You can select the adapter and change some basic settings by going to Properties. It has nine different color skins available, you can choose the one that suits your theme.

Click this Gadget to see the complete details such as number of networks, their details, statistics, etc.

Click the image above to enlarge.

Bring a free little gadget, it can come really handy if you have multiple WiFi networks. Since it is just a gadget, no software installation is required and it takes very little memory resources. Enjoy!

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