Need help connecting laptop wirelessly at a friend's

Dollardog

Hi, hope someone can help.

I am going to stay with some friends in a couple of weeks. Whenever I go there, although their home broadband comes up as an available network, I can't seem to connect to it.
They are on AOL and have a Speedtouch modem. We have tried putting in the WAP code and a password but it won't connect.

At home, I have an Orange Livebox and recently, it stopped talking to my laptop and my pc. I rang Orange and, with their instructions, I paired them back again - like with Bluetooth things.
Could this be why I can't connect to my friend's broadband. does it need to be paired? If so, how do you do that on a Speedtouch modem?
The trouble is, I don't like messing about with their modem too much, in case it stops it working with their pc, I'm a bit nervous of upseting their set up.
I bought an O2 dongle thinking that I would be able to connect using that, but it says that it is not a good area for O2 and it doesn't show at all on the list of available networks.

Hoping one of you lovely people can help.

TIA

The_Grandmaster

If you have an ethernet cable trying connecting your laptop to the router and see if that will enable the laptop to recognise the router and the wireless settings.

Dollardog

The_Grandmaster wrote: »

If you have an ethernet cable trying connecting your laptop to the router and see if that will enable the laptop to recognise the router and the wireless settings.

Thanks, I tried that though when my laptop wouldn't connect to my Livebox a few weeks ago, it would only work whilst plugged in, although had been working quite happily wirelessly before, it didn't make any difference and I had to resort to ringing Orange who talked me though 'pairing' them.

[Deleted User]

Hi,


you could try this, keep a note of your settings before you change anything, this is for Vista.



Right click on wireless icon (system tray) , or go to Control Panel,


> network and sharing centre


> manage network connections


> right click on your mates network


> properties


> continue


> networking


now, Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)


> properties,


now compare settings with your mates, you may have to hit the 'use the following' radio buttons, and adjust settings.


As I said before, take a note of settings before you change anything, in fact take a note of your home settings now.

Darren_G

Does your friend's network allow 'unknown' devices? My netgear router has the option to set up a wireless access list, and only those 'pre-approved' devices will be able to connect, even though the network is visible when they search for networks.

Dollardog

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,


you could try this, keep a note of your settings before you change anything, this is for Vista.



Right click on wireless icon (system tray) , or go to Control Panel,


> network and sharing centre


> manage network connections


> right click on your mates network


> properties


> continue


> networking


now, Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)


> properties,


now compare settings with your mates, you may have to hit the 'use the following' radio buttons, and adjust settings.


As I said before, take a note of settings before you change anything, in fact take a note of your home settings now.

I'll have to try that when I get there, thanks

Dollardog

Darren_G wrote: »

Does your friend's network allow 'unknown' devices? My netgear router has the option to set up a wireless access list, and only those 'pre-approved' devices will be able to connect, even though the network is visible when they search for networks.

I don't know, I bet they can't remember either, all I know is that they are on AOL and have a speedtouch router.

scheming_gypsy

Which WAP code have you tried putting in? a lot of routers will come with the code on the bottom of the router but a lot of people will also change the password. Once they've changed the password they stick it in on their connection and then forget about it.

Dollardog

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Which WAP code have you tried putting in? a lot of routers will come with the code on the bottom of the router but a lot of people will also change the password. Once they've changed the password they stick it in on their connection and then forget about it.

I did put the code on from the underside of the router and they told me what their password was and we tried that, but to no avail.

scheming_gypsy

what you could try is.. using their computer (that can connect)

• start
• run
• type in cmd and press enter
• type in ipconfig and press enter
• one of the lines will say "default gateway" and to the right it'll have an IP address such as 192.168.1.1
• open a web browser
• type in http://"default gateway IP address" and press enter

that should now take you to the console of the router. It might ask for a user name and password but if it's not been changed then there's no username and password (apparently). Somewhere in there should be a wireless section and it'll have the key that you need. If you can find it, you need to type it in EXACTLY as it is, on yours as they're case sensitive.

Dollardog

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

what you could try is.. using their computer (that can connect)

• start
• run
• type in cmd and press enter
• type in ipconfig and press enter
• one of the lines will say "default gateway" and to the right it'll have an IP address such as 192.168.1.1
• open a web browser
• type in http://"default gateway IP address" and press enter

that should now take you to the console of the router. It might ask for a user name and password but if it's not been changed then there's no username and password (apparently). Somewhere in there should be a wireless section and it'll have the key that you need. If you can find it, you need to type it in EXACTLY as it is, on yours as they're case sensitive.

Thanks, might have to try that when they are not looking ha ha.
They get worried that it might do something to lock them out or upset their system!! Mind you, I get worried I might upset it too!!