Cant See Wifi Network

[Tman*]

Guys, I really hope someone can give me some advice because this problem is driving me nuts!

I have an open unsecured WiFi network on a large property. Visitors use it for complementary Wifi.

This unsecured network has been tried and tested, and works with all laptops, mobile phones etc.

I have a PC, with a USB WiFi dongle which for some reason unknown to me cant pick up this network:

So far Ive done the following:

1. Tested the dongle. I have several other secure networks on this property. Works 100% It just seems this specific network is invisible (although all other devices see it).
2. Updated Drivers.
3. Manually tried to configure.
4. Tested range (its well within range)

Can it be that this specific dongle cant connect to open, unsecured networks?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Thor]

I must ask this question. Is your router/access point broadcasting the SSID?

 

[Tman*]

I must ask this question. Is your router/access point broadcasting the SSID?

Yup. As I mentioned, visitors mainly use this network, so the SSID is visible to all.

 

[gregmcc]

Try booting PC with a live linux distro and see if the SSID works. If so then its something on Windows.

 

[FrancTheTank]

Depends on the wifi channel, some PCs or devices have US or Canadian setup for the wifi channels and don't "see" channels on the edge, e.g. Channel 12-14 I think.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels
Check the countries or interference
section.

 

[WAslayer]

stupid questions, but you always start with the basics when troubleshooting...

- is the dongle and the access point/router with the unsecured wifi network on the same band..? 2.4GHz/5GHz
- which channel is the wifi configured for..? the dongle for some stupid reason may not support that channel..

 

[Tman*]

Depends on the wifi channel, some PCs or devices have US or Canadian setup for the wifi channels and don't "see" channels on the edge, e.g. Channel 12-14 I think.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels
Check the countries or interference
section.

I think it might be a channel related issue now that you mention it.

Let me investigate and revert

 

[FapCop]

Tried switching through b g & n?

 

[Tman*]

Tried switching through b g & n?

hmm, The AP I am using complies with "IEEE 802.11b/g, wireless speed up to 54Mbps" http://www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/cat-37_TL-WA5210G.html

And the WiFi Dongle is "802.11n". I am by no means a network expert, but as far as I understand it shouldn't be a problem?

 

[FrancTheTank]

N should be backwards compatible.

 

[Johnatan56]

N should be backwards compatible.

Not if you set the network to only broadcast as 802.11n
Side note: https://superuser.com/questions/430...rk-have-poor-performance-when-in-b-g-mixed-mo

 

[Kingofmybbknowitalls]

I would have bet good money that TP-Link was involved.

Over the years I have learnt that they have very strange driver issues sometimes.

My current one works fine up to a point when it all of a sudden it slows down to a crawl, after which I have to disconnect and reconnect it to the network to get it going at normal speed again.

This is with a late-model 802.11ac TP-Link dongle.

 

[SauRoNZA]

You are running a channel above 11 which the dongle can't see.

Also you really should just secure that **** and provide them with the password.

It's often more trouble to override and use non-secure than it is to just use a key.

 

[Tman*]

I would have bet good money that TP-Link was involved.

Over the years I have learnt that they have very strange driver issues sometimes.

My current one works fine up to a point when it all of a sudden it slows down to a crawl, after which I have to disconnect and reconnect it to the network to get it going at normal speed again.

This is with a late-model 802.11ac TP-Link dongle.

This TP-link unit has served me well, and literally hundreds of other devices have connected to this network via the AP, which leads me to believe its either windows on this PC, or the adapter that is fault.

You are running a channel above 11 which the dongle can't see.

Also you really should just secure that **** and provide them with the password.

It's often more trouble to override and use non-secure than it is to just use a key.

Ill check out the channels this afternoon, together with the other suggestions in the thread, thank you.

I have a secured network too that I use for my "home" network, and the property is too big for anyone not on the actual property to pick up the unsecured network, so its perfect for visitors.

 

[Nameite]

Definitely the channel, that dongle cant see anything over channel 11 (could be a country limitation), try set it to channel 1 (not 6 because its the most used)

But i had something similar once which wasnt channel relate, just add the network on your PC manually, typing the SSID in (cap sensitive) and see if it connects...if it does then in future you will see the SSID...dont ask me the logic behind that though

 

[SauRoNZA]

Definitely the channel, that dongle cant see anything over channel 11 (could be a country limitation), try set it to channel 1 (not 6 because its the most used)

But i had something similar once which wasnt channel relate, just add the network on your PC manually, typing the SSID in (cap sensitive) and see if it connects...if it does then in future you will see the SSID...dont ask me the logic behind that though

In my opinion 1 is the most used, followed by 6 followed by 11.

But this being such a big property it should be irrelevant.

Best to use something like Homedale to just do a frequency usage check.

 

[Tman*]

Problem solved!

It was on channel 12, changed it to 1, and it worked like a charm!

Thank you all!