Help with Wireless

NOLUCKNIK

Hello I wonder if any of you people can help

I recently purchased a new sony vaio laptop. up until now I have been using aol broadband on my pc (not wireless) so when I got the laptop, I phoned aol and changed my package to wireless broadband, and they sent me the router and installation disks.

I received my router, network user id and password in the post yesterday so last night i was trying to set up the wireless on the laptop. It all seemed to install ok but wen i try to connect wirelessly, it just comes up with an error.

I phoned aol technical help last night and they checked a few things and they told me that everything is ok at their end. They also checked to see if i could access the internet using the ethernet cable which i can. They think the problem is with my computer as opposed to the router, because no error lights are showing, and advised me to contact the manufacturer.

I bought the laptop from Argos so phoned their technical helpline. They also checked some of my settings and have told me that everything is fine. (Since I bought the laptop I have been able to connect to wireless internet in public places, so they said if there was a problem, i wouldnt have beenable to do that). They think the problem is with the router and told me to phone aol again.

I phoned aol and surprise surprise, they say there is no problem with the router and there must be something wrong with my Wireless Network Adaptor and told me to get in touch with Argos Technical Helpline again. I am waiting for them to call me back but just feel I'm being pushed from pillar to post. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be as I'm sure argos are just gonna tell me its an AOL problem again

Sorry for the long post but i'm not very 'up' on this sort of thing :rolleyes:

[Deleted User]

NOLUCKNIK wrote: »

Hello I wonder if any of you people can help

I recently purchased a new sony vaio laptop. up until now I have been using aol broadband on my pc (not wireless) so when I got the laptop, I phoned aol and changed my package to wireless broadband, and they sent me the router and installation disks.

I received my router, network user id and password in the post yesterday so last night i was trying to set up the wireless on the laptop. It all seemed to install ok but wen i try to connect wirelessly, it just comes up with an error.

Can you type the error out here?

NOLUCKNIK wrote: »

(Since I bought the laptop I have been able to connect to wireless internet in public places, so they said if there was a problem, i wouldnt have beenable to do that). They think the problem is with the router and told me to phone aol again.

This heavily suggests the router / laptop aren't configured correctly for wireless i.e. no hardware fault.

NOLUCKNIK wrote: »

I phoned aol and surprise surprise, they say there is no problem with the router and there must be something wrong with my Wireless Network Adaptor and told me to get in touch with Argos Technical Helpline again.

At this point I'd have said well I can connect to other wireless networks - explain that Mr "Expert"

NOLUCKNIK

Deleted_User wrote: »

Can you type the error out here?



This heavily suggests the router / laptop aren't configured correctly for wireless i.e. no hardware fault.



At this point I'd have said well I can connect to other wireless networks - explain that Mr "Expert"

Thanks for quick reply. The error just says "Windows cannot connect to (name of my network)" and it gives me the option to diagnose the problem or connect to another network. When I click diagnose the problem, after about 20 seconds it says "windows cannot diagnose the problem". Forgot to say in OP also that sometimes my network doesnt even show up in the available networks box. I somehow always manage to pick up 2 different bthomehub networks (must belong to some of my neighbours)

Oh and when I was on fone to aol, i told the guy that I could connect to the other networks and he went away to check something (apparently) and came back and told me that he could see that the wireless thing wasnt instlalled properly on my pc

espresso

NOLUCKNIK wrote: »

Oh and when I was on fone to aol, i told the guy that I could connect to the other networks and he went away to check something (apparently) and came back and told me that he could see that the wireless thing wasnt instlalled properly on my pc

You should connect your PC to the wireless router using the Ethernet cable and log in to it's configuration screens. If you then change the wireless network name (SSID) to something unique, you will know that you are definitely trying to connect to your own wireless network. You do not need to install any software on your PC but you will need to configure the wireless encryption to make your connection secure.

NOLUCKNIK

espresso wrote: »

You should connect your PC to the wireless router using the Ethernet cable and log in to it's configuration screens. If you then change the wireless network name (SSID) to something unique, you will know that you are definitely trying to connect to your own wireless network. You do not need to install any software on your PC but you will need to configure the wireless encryption to make your connection secure.

thank you. i am connected to the wireless router using the ethernet cable just now and the guy at aol gave me a number to type in the address bar and it came up with the congifuration thing and all that seemed to be ok

[Deleted User]

espresso wrote: »

You should connect your PC to the wireless router using the Ethernet cable and log in to it's configuration screens. If you then change the wireless network name (SSID) to something unique, you will know that you are definitely trying to connect to your own wireless network. You do not need to install any software on your PC but you will need to configure the wireless encryption to make your connection secure.

Spot on - I configured a wireless virgin modem / router with the CD and it surprisingly didn't install anything - just ran me through some standard set up screens and what plugs into what.

Can I ask what the make and model of the router is? It'll be easier to find the right guide then and point you in the right direction to configure it correctly, and safely, for your own use.

scotsjamie

i had a similar problem with my router ,my pc could find other networks in range but not my own, the problem turned out to be a digi sender, used for sending tv signal from one room to another, i had changed the channel it was on and it was interfering with my routers wireless signal. also may be worth checking the wireless zero configuration is started, to do this you got o control panel--administartive tools--services, then depending on vista or xp its either wlan auto config , or wzc in xp, make sure they are started, if not, where it says service status press start and then ok.
I hope this helps a little, and these steps are merely what i have done in the past, im in no way a techie expert.

espresso

NOLUCKNIK wrote: »

thank you. i am connected to the wireless router using the ethernet cable just now and the guy at aol gave me a number to type in the address bar and it came up with the congifuration thing and all that seemed to be ok

That number e.g. 192.168.1.1 is the IP address of your router. Did you enter the wireless configuration page and enter a passphrase for your WPA encryption? This passphrase will also then need to be entered into any other device that you want to connect to the router e.g. this makes it secure so that others can't connect to your router and use your bandwidth.

NOLUCKNIK

Deleted_User wrote: »

Spot on - I configured a wireless virgin modem / router with the CD and it surprisingly didn't install anything - just ran me through some standard set up screens and what plugs into what.

Can I ask what the make and model of the router is? It'll be easier to find the right guide then and point you in the right direction to configure it correctly, and safely, for your own use.

It's just a Thomson Speedtouch router

Wookey

NOLUCKNIK wrote: »

thank you. i am connected to the wireless router using the ethernet cable just now and the guy at aol gave me a number to type in the address bar and it came up with the congifuration thing and all that seemed to be ok

Hi, setting up wireless can be a real headache the 1st time around, your moving in the right direction now though. You should have the user and password for the router, use these to gain entry to it now. Several things could be stopping you being able to connect wirelessly.
1st thing to check is if wireless is turned on, once thats done pull the ethernet cable and check if you can connect wirelessly.
2nd thing to check if you still can't connect is the wireless security, this should be turned of, again pull the ethernet cable and check for wireless connectivity.

[Deleted User]

espresso wrote: »

That number e.g. 192.168.1.1 is the IP address of your router. Did you enter the wireless configuration page and enter a passphrase for your WPA encryption? This passphrase will also then need to be entered into any other device that you want to connect to the router e.g. this makes it secure so that others can't connect to your router and use your bandwidth.

http://help.aol.co.uk/configure-your-thomson-speedtouch-wireless-adapter/article/20070322084009990001

Details for your router and for the software I believe you've installed...

WPA: Wireless security tutorial:
http://help.aol.co.uk/interactive-help/wpa-wireless-security-tutorial/article/20070919064409990006

Problems installing the modem router:
http://help.aol.co.uk/broadband/problems-installing-the-modem-router/article/20060921102709990004

Problems installing the wireless adapter:
http://help.aol.co.uk/broadband/problems-installing-the-wireless-adapter/article/20060921120609990004

AOL PDF guide:
http://download.newaol.com/uk/broadband/pdf/AOLStayConnected.pdf

And finally, if you're still struggling take a look at, AOL Broadband troubleshooting:
http://help.aol.co.uk/broadband/aol-broadband-troubleshooting/article/20060802092709990003

Can you tell me which Speedtouch it is e.g. 545 or whatever other number it may be?