AOL and wireless networking

Tickdick00

Hi

If anyones thinking of trying to set up a wireless AOL network then please take this simple bit of advice - DON'T BOTHER !!! It will save you days of frustration, expensive phone bills and soaring blood pressure.

I bought a wireless laptop in the sales and also bought a wireless router. I had read that AOL only support certain makes of router so bought a NETGEAR DG834GT. Couldnt get the thing to work so rang AOL who told me that they didnt support the Netgear DG843GT, only the Netgear DG834G !!!!! They wouldn't help me.

I managed to get PC World to exchange the router for the correct model ( which, surprisingly was done without problems!)

I managed to get online while the router was set up on an unsecure basis but as soon as I tried to set up a secure network, AOL didnt recognise the wireless signal.

I then rang AOL to ask for their help again ( I love 0870 numbers!). They talked me through things but then asked what wireless adaptor I was using. I told them it was built into the laptop and they said that they didnt offer support for this type of adaptor. (The adaptor is an Atheros AR5005G) They said the adaptor wasnt properly configured for AOL and I would need to speak with the manufacturer, Fujitsu Siemens.

I rang Fujitsu to be told that as I had bought the PC from PC World they( Fujitsu) didnt offer a phone back up service and that I would have to ring PC World's diagnostic Centre for help.( they dont tell you that at PC World !)

I rang PC World who said that as I hadnt purchased an extended warranty, the only way they could try and help me was if I phoned an 0906 number at £1.50 a minute !!

Here I sit with a five day old computer -can get on the internet fine on an unsecure network . AOL dont want to know, Fujitsu dont want to know and PC World dont want to know !

Has anyone had the same problem or can give advice as to how I can set this router up for secure wireless connection?

Your help would be greatly appreciated !!!

msdl28712

you need to change the mtu to 1400 on the router configuration

loobylou36

I am on aol with a netgear wireless router, I have 3 computers running from it, including a laptop alll security enabled, but a couple of days ago my daughter's computer lost connection and after trying to no avail to re-establish a connection I telephoned aol support who were useless and too be honest quite rude!
I telephoned the netgear support line and they were absolutely brill!! Had me up and running again in no time, I would try ringing netgear to see if they can help you. Good Luck!!!

espresso

Tickdick00 wrote:

Hi

If anyones thinking of trying to set up a wireless AOL network then please take this simple bit of advice - DON'T BOTHER !!! It will save you days of frustration, expensive phone bills and soaring blood pressure.

All you had to do was Google for +DG834GT +AOL to get the answer!

:rudolf:

Tickdick00

espresso wrote:

All you had to do was Google for +DG834GT +AOL to get the answer!

:rudolf:

Thanks but I went into PCWorld armed with a list of AOL supported components and the lovely people there insisted that the DG834Gt was the same as the DG834G but in a different box !!!! Wonderful customer service !!

albertross_2

Further info on the mtu for AOL here:

http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n100603.asp

this will only fix any connection issues between your router and AOL, but will not address a wireless problem, which is completely different.

(The wireless signal is between your laptop and your router, and shouldn't be affected by your ISP choice (although AOL is a "funny" ISP so I can't be sure)

There are some tips on how to setup security in the wireless sticky thread..