Can't setup Wireless Network

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GavinMannion

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HELP :D

I have a Laptop with a built in Realtek RTL8180 wireless card and a Linksys WRT54GS wireless router.

The laptop cannot see that I have a wireless network.

The Laptop is 1 meter from the router. the router works when I plug an ethernet cable into it.

I know nothing about this type of thing, please someone save me.

for now I have disabled all security options on the router and it says it is broadcasting....

What must I do now?
 
Two things to check...
1. Is the wireless on the ROUTER turned on? Log into the admin area to check this
2. Is the wireless on the LAPTOP turned on?

If both are on, is the laptop "scanning" for a wireless network?

Check those, and then report back :)

Cheers, Nick
 
i hope you do not have a sahara ... i found out the hard way that just because the wireless router's wireless is enabled and the laptops wireless card is installed and functional does not mean you are going to fly by no-wire OH NO, the sahara laptop has a button that manualy turns the wireless 'SIGNAL' on and off ... :rolleyes: maybe yours has one also ...
 
Also make sure the Router's SSID is not hidden, otherwise your notebook won't 'see' the router when searching for a wireless network
 
Well, a better place to start may be to jack into the router over CAT5 and verify its wireless settings that way as via cable you get around all that pesky having to know wireless is switched on business :p From there I would make sure the router and PC WLAN settings are properly set up before disconnecting the umbilical and trying again.
 
Wow that's a lot of responses... Here we go

1.Well, a better place to start may be to jack into the router over CAT5
My main machine is connected to the router using cat 5, it says Wireless SSID Broadcast enabled.

2. Also make sure the Router's SSID is not hidden
Does my last answer solve this as well?

3.the sahara laptop has a button that manualy turns the wireless 'SIGNAL' on and off
Not a Sahara but it does have a button, the button does nothing?

4.Is the wireless on the LAPTOP turned on?
I am pretty sure it is, I got into "Wireless network Connection" and clock on Refresh Network list. "No wireless networks in range"

5. The RTL8180 only supports 802.11b and not 802.11g
Yeah but the router support both?
 
also check the driver properties, the wireless signal might be turned off in the driver ... can't remember the wireless device in the sahara, 'cause it had such an option in the device manager
 
GavinMannion said:
4.Is the wireless on the LAPTOP turned on?
I am pretty sure it is, I got into "Wireless network Connection" and clock on Refresh Network list. "No wireless networks in range"
Click to expand...

That doesn't mean it is switched on. That connection wizard can't tell if wireless networking is on or off. There may be a switch on the front of the laptop that enables wireless networking. If in doubt, check the laptop manual.

It reminds me of a similar problem I had recently. I also have a WRT54GS and I had bought my daughter laptop.

Her laptop could see the network, but it would not connect.

Tore my hair out. I even phoned ACER and was ready to send the laptop back.

Then I twigged that I had used the wireless MAC filter security on the router, and all I had to do was add her MAC address to other MAC addresses on my network. Duff! :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Hmm will check the MAC address when I get home....

I can't find a switch and the manual has nothing in it, time for google to come to the rescue :)

I will check the driver as well...

Thanks
 
OKay.... I have progress...

The laptop I got still cannot connect but the new one my work gave me connects like a charm... So the router is 100% but maybe my new laptop is poked... Time to take it in....

Some info for people who wander across this thread.

I completely reset my router to factory defaults, left it on the side table near my pc and did nothing else.

Got my company laptop home, it connected automatically and I can browse the net on it.. Simple as that...

How far does it cover?

I have about 1000m2 land, the router is on the other side of the property and I am in the far corner... 2 Double walls and 2 single walls away and my connection speed is 18 Mbps. It says Very Low but since I am on a 1Mb line 18 is not bad :D... I thought I would have to get into the roof or buy repeaters but these routers have a decent enough range especially for normal sized houses...

/ Since that was all the info I wanted before I bought my modem I thought maybe it would help someone some time in the future....

Buy Linksys it is very simple to setup...

PS: I never knew I could type in the dark, I can't even see the keys and somehow I manage to hit all the right ones. I think I spend to much time on computers :D
 
did u check that you weren't running it on channels 12-14 ? Certain hardware are limited to 11 channels.
 
I will check the channel of the laptop when I get home, I know the router is running on 11 and I am 90% sure the laptop is as well, will check and report back :D
 
It was running on Channel 1, I changed it to Channel 11 like my router but still nothing.

I changed it's SSID on the card to match my network and still nothing...

I think the card is poked. My brother-in-law managed to get it to connect over the weekend for about 5 minutes but then it fell down again...
 
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