Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Phone Can't See WiFi Signal in Apt
Old 03-26-2018, 03:55 PM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,132
Phone Can't See WiFi Signal in Apt

I as over at my sister and her roomate's apartment today. Was burning up my data plan so asked if I could sign on to their wifi.

Both of them know very very little about computers. A hired helper there knows a bit more. So, I got a wi-fi passcode and tried but couldn't get in only to find out later that was the wrong signal. There apartment has two signals. One time Comcast did something to get my sister's roommate's tablet to work.

So, I'm thinking, okay. how about the other signal? But oddly, the other wifi didn't come up as a wifi signal nearby. But I could see that my roommate's tablet and the helper's phone saw and was on the wifi.

Finally, I gave up but now am scratching my head as to why the signal wouldn't show up as a possible wifi connection? Perhaps the guy from Comcast did some hard coding? Ideas? Would something like a simple power off/on of the router make the signal one my phone can see?
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-26-2018, 04:02 PM   #2
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,591
Perhaps someone disabled the "broadcast SSID" setting, so that the signal cannot be seen. In that case, just log into the router admin, locate that setting and change it.
MichaelB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 04:11 PM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB View Post
Perhaps someone disabled the "broadcast SSID" setting, so that the signal cannot be seen. In that case, just log into the router admin, locate that setting and change it.
Thanks for the tip. That sounds like a very valid explanation.

Not sure if I will pursue the fix though as one, don't want to risk messing thing up and two don't want to get too involved as my sister's roommate is the type that would want me to manage her network, among other things. She's the give one inch, she'll take two miles type. Plus, I don't want to risk messing up some settings.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 04:56 PM   #4
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 222
Is her WiFi broadcasting at 2.4 GHz or 5GHz? How old is your phone and does it support both or only 2.4 Ghz?
bw5972 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 04:57 PM   #5
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 222
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB View Post
Perhaps someone disabled the "broadcast SSID" setting, so that the signal cannot be seen. In that case, just log into the router admin, locate that setting and change it.
If this is the case, choose other and type in the name manually on your phone.
bw5972 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 05:14 PM   #6
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,203
Right, you could see what network they are on and type in that SSID. If it's password enabled, you'll either need to see the password on their device, and often it's hidden with **** and you may or may not be able to unhide it, or they'll have to tell you.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 05:14 PM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
street's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,424
You might can to check in settings that Airplane mode didn't get turned on. Also check WIFI setting and make sure it is on.

Mine not long ago did the something and my WIFI got turned off some how.
street is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 05:16 PM   #8
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 222
Quote:
Originally Posted by street View Post
You might can to check in settings that Airplane mode didn't get turned on. Also check WIFI setting and make sure it is on.

Mine not long ago did the something and my WIFI got turned off some how.
Airplane mode shuts off all radio based functions including WiFi.
bw5972 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 05:58 PM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,203
From the OP:
Quote:
So, I got a wi-fi passcode and tried but couldn't get in only to find out later that was the wrong signal.
Getting the wrong signal says that wifi for easysurfer's phone is turned on.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 06:02 PM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by bw5972 View Post
Is her WiFi broadcasting at 2.4 GHz or 5GHz? How old is your phone and does it support both or only 2.4 Ghz?
This sounds like a valid reason also.

Interesting. I've always thought wireless is wireless. Never thought about different speeds.

Did notice the signal I couldn't see had a 5.0 as part of the name and one I could see had 2.4 as part of the name.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 06:36 PM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by bw5972 View Post
Is her WiFi broadcasting at 2.4 GHz or 5GHz? How old is your phone and does it support both or only 2.4 Ghz?
I think this is the reason. I have a basic Moto G4 Play phone and I don't think 5GHz is supported. Probably the thing that made the most sense all day.

Had a rough day.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 09:34 PM   #12
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
REWahoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,004
Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer View Post
I think this is the reason. I have a basic Moto G4 Play phone and I don't think 5GHz is supported.
Thought this was incorrect as my basic G4 supports both 2.4 and 5GHz but the online specs confirm the G4 Play supports 2.4GHz only. Bummer.
__________________
Numbers is hard
REWahoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 05:46 AM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo View Post
Thought this was incorrect as my basic G4 supports both 2.4 and 5GHz but the online specs confirm the G4 Play supports 2.4GHz only. Bummer.
I assumed wireless is wireless and would have never thought about the unrecognized signal tip pointed out here.
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 06:24 AM   #14
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,591
The dual band is a likely reason the phone can not see the signal. The numbers in the signal name are a pretty good hint that's the cause.

Not wanting to become the default go to guy for network operation and support is a real good reason to not get involved.
MichaelB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 06:45 AM   #15
Moderator
braumeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,200
Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer View Post
Was burning up my data plan so asked if I could sign on to their wifi.
As we keep doing more and more with the little computers in our pocket, an unlimited data plan will become more and more common.
braumeister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 06:54 AM   #16
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
jimbee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,217
On an Android phone, I like using WiFi Analyzer to help locate signals and check signal strength. You can find it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...analyzer&hl=en
jimbee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 06:55 AM   #17
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB View Post
The dual band is a likely reason the phone can not see the signal. The numbers in the signal name are a pretty good hint that's the cause.

Not wanting to become the default go to guy for network operation and support is a real good reason to not get involved.

I'm already the default guy for some family members when comes to computer support. My sister and her roommate do not know who to use computers. The roommate wanted me to teach her how to set up and use the tablet.

I figure we already have one snakebit support situation here on this forum .

Speaking of family member support when I came home my SIL needed help in how to unzip a password protected file. Most difficult part (via Teamviewer) was locating the file buried in her mess of emails. Second difficult part was showing her that she is using Win 10 while she was convinced she was still using Win 7 .
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 08:40 AM   #18
Recycles dryer sheets
kneehigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 94
So, if you have access to the router, make sure the 2.4GHz is on and is broadcasting. If you don't have access to the router, type ssdi manually as well as your password. All the info mentioned already are good and valid. good luck...
kneehigh is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Android WiFi Experts? Wifi Auto Switches to Xfinity marko Other topics 5 02-11-2015 08:49 AM
Is There A Hand Signal For "Just Hang Up The Phone And Drive?" Rustward Other topics 48 04-10-2011 09:00 PM
cell phone signal booster Ronstar Other topics 4 06-04-2009 04:15 AM
See @ Last, See @ Last, Thank God I Can See @ Last Beachbumz Other topics 24 02-18-2005 07:16 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:51 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.