Wireless Network Trouble

[abinidi]

I am trying to help my parents with their home-office wireless network.

 

Here is my setup:

 

Cable modem connected to 4-port wireless router

Printer connected via ethernet to 4-port wireless router

Desktop connected via ethernet to 4-port wireless router

Laptop 1 connected via wireless (PCMCIA wireless card)

Laptop 2 connected via wireless (built-in wireless)

 

All of a sudden, on Sunday, one of the laptops (laptop 2) has stoped playing with the network. Laptop 1 (and the desktop, for that matter) is able to share files, connect to the internet, and print, but laptop 2 acts like the connection doesn't exist.

 

In fact, when I view the wireless networks available (right now I have both laptops side-by-side), I'm seeing different wireless networks. Laptop 1 shows the home network (a secure network called "port"), and one additional network (called "linksys"). Laptop 2 shows two networks, "linksys" and "actiontec". But these two computers are side-by-side. Why wouldn't they show the same networks?

 

So, if you were troubleshooting this problem, what would you to do make laptop 2 play with the network again? I've tried the network setup wizzard (but it was already set with the correct settings). I tried the wireless setup wizzard, but it can't find the network I want to use.

 

Anybody have any advice??

[GroovyFish]

Hi Paul,

 

Wish I could help! Just wanted pass along my sympathies. I went through something similar two weeks ago. Turned out my wireless card was dying and finally gave up the ghost after about 2 days worth of trying everything to fix it. It received a less than dignified burial between the coffee grounds and banana peels.

[abinidi]

Update: (if this helps give direction to my problem)

 

The wireless router is a Linksys router. Computer 2 can connect to the linksys wireless network, and can connect to the internet (but can't print or share files). Here is what is weird, though: when lappy2 is connected to linksys, and I try to print, the green light on my network printer starts to blink, but then it stops, and a dialog box says that the document failed to print because it couldn't find a network connection. At that point, the wirless connection to linksys is lost. But my printer is connected to the wirless network "port" --which is a secure wireless network.

 

It should also be noted that "linksys" and "actiontec" networks are not secure.

 

I'm going to bed now, but I'll check back tomorrow and see if anybody was able to give me some advice.

 

Thanks,

[abinidi]

And thanks Groovyfish for the sympathy!! I appreciate it!

[stevevan]

If I read between the lines correctly, you are saying that the problem lies with the wireless connections...not the wired ones. You didn't say if you did, so I would start by verifying the profile settings in the Linksys configuration screen on the laptop(s). Next, I would verify settings on the router itself. I would also assume that you don't have the wireless connection set wide open (that would allow someone outside your house to change settings).

[Madmanmcp]

What has happened is you have connected to another network, a neighbors. Just determine which network is yours, go to each laptop and reconnect to the correct one.

 

Rightclick on the wireless network icon in the systray and select the "view Available Wireless Network" options. Click the Disconnect button to get off the bad network, click to highlight the correct network and click the Connect button.

 

Once all computers are on the same network YOUR network should work as it did before.

 

Almost forgot...click on the Refresh Network List on both laptops. See if that straightens out the differences in available networks.

Edited September 8, 2005 by Madmanmcp

[Madmanmcp]

Once you are connected I would suggest you secure your network. As Steve mentioned, your Router may be at risk. All routers come with a default password and its a simple task for folks to drive around the neighborhood and change peoples settings for "fun" using the default passwords because they were not changed. Next would be your network access, its a good idea to enable WEP to secure the network from unwanted eyes.

[cajunman4life]

I also switch on MAC filtering, and select "Permit only the PC's on the list..." and add each MAC address that I want on my wireless network to the list. This is a burden if you ever want to have a "wireless lan party" at your place, but for that use a different router

 

In all seriousness, I've got the latest firmware on my Linksys WRT54G router, and it allows me to use the AES algorithm for my security... nothing like strong wireless encryption

 

On an added note I noticed several dropped connections, until I updated to the latest firmware. Now I haven't had a dropped connection in days. I would check to see if there is an update available to your firmware.

[abinidi]

If I read between the lines correctly, you are saying that the problem lies with the wireless connections...not the wired ones.  You didn't say if you did, so I would start by verifying the profile settings in the Linksys configuration screen on the laptop(s).  Next, I would verify settings on the router itself.  I would also assume that you don't have the wireless connection set wide open (that would allow someone outside your house to change settings).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks, Steve. Yes, the problem is only in one laptop. Everything that wires directly into the router works correctly, and the problem is only with one (of two) laptops. The other laptop functions normally.

 

And it is an encrypted connection. You have to have a 10-character key to connect to the intranet. Is that what you mean about not having it set wide open?

[abinidi]

What has happened is you have connected to another network, a neighbors. Just determine which network is yours, go to each laptop and reconnect to the correct one.

 

Rightclick on the wireless network icon in the systray and select the "view Available Wireless Network" options. Click the Disconnect button to get off the bad network, click to highlight the correct network and click the Connect button.

 

Once all computers are on the same network YOUR network should work as it did before.

 

Almost forgot...click on the Refresh Network List on both laptops. See if that straightens out the differences in available networks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the advice, Mandmanmcp.

 

Here is what is weird, though. When the laptop is conencted to the linksys wireless network, when I try to print to my network printer, the printer starts to warm up, and the lights on the printer start to flash. Then the printer lights stop flashing, and I get an error message on the laptop. This indicates to me that they are connecting to some degree.

 

And when I go to the second laptop, I refresh the connections, but my "port" network doesn't show up at all on the one laptop -- even when the two laptops are side-by-side, 3 feet from the wireless router. One laptop shows the "port" network and the other one doesn't.

 

Once you are connected I would suggest you secure your network. As Steve mentioned, your Router may be at risk. All routers come with a default password and its a simple task for folks to drive around the neighborhood and change peoples settings for "fun" using the default passwords because they were not changed. Next would be your network access, its a good idea to enable WEP to secure the network from unwanted eyes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think it is secure. It requries a ten-character password in order to connect to it. Is this what you mean?

 

Can my router be working on two different wireless networks at the same time? Because I know the "port" network is working for the wireless laptop, and the wired computer and wired printer. But the "linksys" network is the one that tries to make a connection to the printer (the printer starts to make funny noises), but then doesn't work.

 

I think this is really weird.

 

I wonder if it has anything to do with the house getting struck by lightning on Sunday. That is about when the troubles were first noticed.

 

Thanks for your advice! I may have to call in somebody who knows what they are doing. I'm just a tinkerer, and usually I can tinker my way to success. Maybe not today!

[Madmanmcp]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the house getting struck by lightning on Sunday. That is about when the troubles were first noticed.

 

Well thats a piece of information you forgot to add

 

I suspect you maybe on to something. If the house got struck by lightening then electricity from the strike may have traveled throughout, jumping from circuit to circuit, wire to wire looking for the shortest route to ground. It may a cable or wire and fried your router or laptop. I've seen the strangest things happen in computers after a strike.

 

So I would suggest you start with that in mind. If you can get access to another wireless router, put it in its place and see if the laptops see the same networks they saw before. Be sure to unplug the old router so its not detected. If you only see one network then the problem is probably in the router. If there are still multiple networks on the questionable laptop then you have a more expensive problem (laptop).

 

Good luck

[Madmanmcp]

I think it is secure. It requries a ten-character password in order to connect to it. Is this what you mean?

 

Partially, yes. That "password" is the encryption "key" used in WEP. There is stronger encryption but you are probably fine. The other protection I was talking about is the password used to setup your router. Did you change that password or did you leave it as is was?

[abinidi]

Partially, yes. That "password" is the encryption "key" used in WEP. There is stronger encryption but you are probably fine. The other protection I was talking about is the password used to setup your router. Did you change that password or did you leave it as is was?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Good question. I don't rembember. But if I replace the router (which it looks like I may have to do), I'll be sure to change it next time.

 

Thanks for your help.

[jwbowden]

Paul, you didn't say - but have you tried rebooting your router? Usually all I do is simply pull the power out, wait a few seconds, and put it back in.

[abinidi]

John,

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunatley, I did try to unplug the router... actually I unplugged the router AND the cable modem. Then I turned back on the cable modem, waited for it to reset, and then plugged back in the router.

 

Still having the same troubles.

 

But thanks, all for your suggestions.