wireless access

[Khan]

Can any one tell me why I could connect wireless at various airports but can't at home?

The laptop tells me I have a great connection, but I can't connect to anything.

 

[LOL!]

Your wireless router at home has to be plugged into the internet somehow. You also will need to enter your password into your connection or otherwise manage it. So just getting the connection is only half the battle.

 

[LOL!]

Another thread to look at on the same subject: Bogleheads :: View topic - Source of router information?

 

[Khan]

The EEE had connections at airports. Now it tells me it has great connections. But it can't connect to anything.

 

[RunningBum]

Check your DSL or cable router to see if the Internet light is on, or whatever light indicates that it is actually connected to the internet. This is the problem LOL is referring to. If this router has lost it's internet connection, you can't connect to anything. If it's not connected, you could try turning it off for 15 seconds, and then turning it back on, and wait a minute or so for it to completely fire up.

Has this ever worked with this laptop, or did it just stop when you came back home?

If it's never worked, there may be other things, like you have a security passcode that you'll have to configure on the laptop.

 

[eridanus]

Open a cmd shell (windows) or a terminal/shell (linux) and type 'ipconfig'. You'll see your "default gateway" IP -- something like 192.168.0.1. Now open a browser window to that IP.

Log into your router and go the wireless tab or link. Check your wireless password and type of broadcast (802.11.g or 802.11.n or both) as well as security mode and algorithm. Now check if the router has a live WAN (internet) connection.

Make sure that the broadcast type and password match what the laptop has.

 

[braumeister]

Definitely sounds like your internet connection is gone, while the wireless network is fine.

Turn off the router (some of them are quite persistent, and need to be powered off (unplugged) for up to two minutes in order to be sure that they get reset).

 

[KB]

Does your laptop have an on/off switch for the wireless? If so, it might be switched to off.

 

[East Texas]

Our buildings are all steel. We have to put a repeater outside for the wireless to go between buildings.

 

[Rustic23]

If your wireless router has wired ports, plug a cable into your computer and directly into your router. If you get internet, then you know the connection between your dsl and router is good, and it is in your wireless settings. In fact, I would start by plugging into your dsl directly, if that is good, then plug the dsl into the router, and the computer into the router. That way, you test each one at a time.

While I don't think it is entirely necessary, when I am going t repower stuff, I turn on the dsl/cable router first, then the wireless/wired router, then the computer. The computer has to get an IP from the router, and the router from the dsl. Doing it in reverse, for me, seems to make sure each has a good IP.

 

[Meadbh]

It does sound as if the problem is your internet connection. Unless you have a "rocket stick", which I do. If your house is stucco the transmission may be poor.

 

[walkinwood]

A very basic question so please excuse it if the answer is obvious.
Do you have a wireless router at home?

 

[harley]

Rustic has the best solution. Make sure you can connect wired first. If that doesn't work you'll be troubleshooting your internet connection. If it does, then it's a wireless problem.

 

[youbet]

A very basic question so please excuse it if the answer is obvious.
Do you have a wireless router at home?

I'm reading Khan's question the same way you are walkinwood.

Khan - the wireless signals your computer latched onto at the airport were "open access." The wireless signals your computer is seeing at home belong to your neighbors and are probably set up to be secured so that you would need to know a unique special code to use them.

Your computer can show you a list of all the signals it is receiving, their names and whether you need to provide a special code to use them or not.

I can see a dozen signals here at my home in suburban Chicago. I'm sure there in the Dayton area you have plenty of neighbors with wireless networks in their homes whose signals reach your home as well. Typically, private systems in people's homes are secured and while your computer receives them, your computer can't connect to them for internet access.

 

[omni550]

I'm trying to use my new Asus eee to access the internet via my home wireless network (a Linksys Wireless-G router).

I know that I have it set up with wireless at home, as that is how I access the internet when using my Dell laptop.

I don't recall what password was used when I set this up. Is there any way to recover the password or reset it?

I have a fear that, in tampering with the current setup, I will lose the functionality that I currently have.

I tried following a suggestion above. I have the IP address, Subnet mask, and Default Gateway numbers but now I'm stuck.

omni

 

[REWahoo]

You should be able to reset the router to factory settings (no password). Look for a small hole at the back of the router where you can insert a paper clip - the hole should be labeled "reset".

 

[FIRE'd@51]

Khan - the wireless signals your computer latched onto at the airport were "open access." The wireless signals your computer is seeing at home belong to your neighbors and are probably set up to be secured so that you would need to know a unique special code to use them.

Your computer can show you a list of all the signals it is receiving, their names and whether you need to provide a special code to use them or not.

I can see a dozen signals here at my home in suburban Chicago. I'm sure there in the Dayton area you have plenty of neighbors with wireless networks in their homes whose signals reach your home as well. Typically, private systems in people's homes are secured and while your computer receives them, your computer can't connect to them for internet access.

This is what happens to me when I visit my mother's apartment. She doesn't have a computer, so no internet connection; but it seems one or two of her neighbors don't have their routers secured, so I can poach their signals with my laptop and do some surfing.

 

[omni550]

I was just poking around in my desktop Under "Network and Internet Connections" and I see that there's an option called "Set up a wireless network for a home or small office".

A thought just occurred to me (as I don't know the password that was originally used), can I just set up a NEW wireless network and add my old Dell and New Asus computers to it?

To complicate matters, I seem to recall that my seldom-used color printer (located upstairs) has a wireless connection to my PC (downstairs). If I can set up a new wireless network, that would need to be added as well.

omni

 

[REWahoo]

Omni, yes you can set up a new network but you will need to reset the router to wipe out the old encryption (password). That will allow you to start over as if you just pulled the wireless router out of the box.

 

[omni550]

You should be able to reset the router to factory settings (no password). Look for a small hole at the back of the router where you can insert a paper clip - the hole should be labeled "reset".

REW,

Thanks.

OK, I will try that. Before I do, I'm trying to understand what I will be doing after the reset. What do I need to have "in hand"?

BTW, I did find the Linksys Setup Wizard CD, if that's of any use at this point.

omni

 

[REWahoo]

After the reset you should be able to run the setup wizard and it will walk you through setting up your router - and adding a new password. You'll need to add the new password to your computers and printer to be able to access your network again. The Linksys CD and some patience is all you should need...

 

[Rustic23]

Actually after the reset, you should see a new router in your wireless conections like lynksys, or DLink, and it will be an unsecured wireless signal. If you stop now you will be able to connect, but your wireless network will not be secured. As Wahoo said, you run your setup program for the router to secure it.

 

[harley]

Also, once you do the reset, there may still be a default ID and password. Look up your model at Default Password List. If you have a Linksys it's probably either admin and (none) or admin and admin. But doublecheck to make sure. It's probably on your install disk too. But then it's just a matter of setting your network back up and securing it (or not), then connecting.

 

[kumquat]

Do the setup wired, then go wireless.

 

[omni550]

Do the setup wired, then go wireless.

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

Are you saying that I am supposed to hook up everything (desktop, 2 printers, 2 laptops) with wires to the router, then disconnect the ones that are wireless (printer, 2 laptops) and use them as wireless henceforth?

omni