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Do I need a new network adaptor?

I have a reasonably old laptop (possibly around 8 years old) and a desktop (around 4 years old). Both are in full working condition and could connect to the internet. A few weeks ago, I moved my broadband provider and they provided, as a router, an Amazon eero.  Since then, my laptop has not been able to connect the the internet, but the desktop can (the laptop can’t find the signal from the router).

I’m not very knowledgable about the various Wi-Fi protocols but is this likely to be due to the network card on the laptop not being able to detect the latest signal type of the eero (which I think is ‘n’ or IPv6)?

If that is the case, it seems I get get network cards which can be plugged in via USB but can anyone recommend one which would be able to detect the signal from the eero, is not too bulky and doesn’t cost the earth?
Northern Ireland club member No 382 :j
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Comments

  • cymruchris
    cymruchris Posts: 5,559 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 15 January 2023 at 3:48AM
    Have you checked what frequency your new router is transmitting on?

    Most routers in recent years transmit a 2.4ghz or 5ghz signal - and it could be that your new router has been set to transmit only on the 5ghz signal, meaning the wifi card in the laptop may not be able to see it if it's old, and can only see 2.4 ghz signals. I don't have an Eero - but I gather they transmit a sort of mix of the two - and it might be causing the laptop to not see anything. 

    First thing to check would be to have a look in the router settings.

    In the desktop browser - you can log into your router using an address in the search bar which is commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1

    You might need to look at your emails/instructions as you should be faced with a login screen.

    Sometimes the default is 'admin' and 'password' - but you'll need to see what yours is. (Might even be printed on the router label).

    Then once in see whether there's an option to transmit in 2.4ghz only - or something similar.

    There's a bit more about it here - this indicates you may only be able to do it temporarily to set up a connection.
  • Johnmcl7
    Johnmcl7 Posts: 2,838 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I had the same problem with my Mum's laptop (quite an old one) and an Eero router, no matter what I did I couldn't get it to see the Eero router.  Disabling the 5ghz mode which helps with some 2.4Ghz devices didn't help at all with the laptop, it still wouldn't see the Eero device.  I fitted a newer internal wireless card for her and it worked fine after that, unfortunately I don't have any experience of the USB wi-fi dongles.
  • Hi,
    would your old router work ok?
  • Have you checked what frequency your new router is transmitting on?

    Most routers in recent years transmit a 2.4ghz or 5ghz signal - and it could be that your new router has been set to transmit only on the 5ghz signal, meaning the wifi card in the laptop may not be able to see it if it's old, and can only see 2.4 ghz signals. I don't have an Eero - but I gather they transmit a sort of mix of the two - and it might be causing the laptop to not see anything. 

    First thing to check would be to have a look in the router settings.

    In the desktop browser - you can log into your router using an address in the search bar which is commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1

    You might need to look at your emails/instructions as you should be faced with a login screen.

    Sometimes the default is 'admin' and 'password' - but you'll need to see what yours is. (Might even be printed on the router label).

    Then once in see whether there's an option to transmit in 2.4ghz only - or something similar.

    There's a bit more about it here - this indicates you may only be able to do it temporarily to set up a connection.
    Thanks, I’ll take a look at this a bit more closely when I’m back home again. I do remember going into the eero settings in the app though and turning on legacy mode (which I think turns off IPv6) and disabling 5Ghz but neither resulted in the laptop being able to see the connection. I’ll take a look at that network adaptor too, thanks.
    Northern Ireland club member No 382 :j
  • Johnmcl7 said:
    I had the same problem with my Mum's laptop (quite an old one) and an Eero router, no matter what I did I couldn't get it to see the Eero router.  Disabling the 5ghz mode which helps with some 2.4Ghz devices didn't help at all with the laptop, it still wouldn't see the Eero device.  I fitted a newer internal wireless card for her and it worked fine after that, unfortunately I don't have any experience of the USB wi-fi dongles.
    Thanks, that doesn’t sound promising then that I’ll be able to get it working with the existing network card, so maybe I’ll just buy that replacement and see if that works. At present, I’m trying to hotspot the connection from the desktop but it’s very slow.
    Northern Ireland club member No 382 :j
  • Hi,
    would your old router work ok?
    The old router did work but unfortunately it was the standard issue sky router and had to be returned when I moved away from sky.
    Northern Ireland club member No 382 :j
  • Bonhomie
    Bonhomie Posts: 365 Forumite
    100 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 16 January 2023 at 9:22AM
    I have a reasonably old laptop (possibly around 8 years old) and a desktop (around 4 years old). Both are in full working condition and could connect to the internet. A few weeks ago, I moved my broadband provider and they provided, as a router, an Amazon eero.  Since then, my laptop has not been able to connect the the internet, but the desktop can (the laptop can’t find the signal from the router).

    I’m not very knowledgable about the various Wi-Fi protocols but is this likely to be due to the network card on the laptop not being able to detect the latest signal type of the eero (which I think is ‘n’ or IPv6)?

    If that is the case, it seems I get get network cards which can be plugged in via USB but can anyone recommend one which would be able to detect the signal from the eero, is not too bulky and doesn’t cost the earth?What laptop exactly? it's difficult to imagine why someone would imagine that is not information critical to their query.
    What laptop exactly? It's difficult to countenance why someone would imagine that information is not critical to their query.
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 13,941 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Routers typically allow 5GHz and 2.4GHz and which Wi-Fi protocols to be selected; typically older machines will need 802.11b or g at 2.4GHz, which may not be enabled at the router.
    There may also be security options (WPA-something) set which improve security but aren't supported on older equipment; you are then faced with the choice of opening up security or ditching your older kit.
  • Bonhomie
    Bonhomie Posts: 365 Forumite
    100 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 16 January 2023 at 9:40AM
    prowla said:
    Routers typically allow 5GHz and 2.4GHz and which Wi-Fi protocols to be selected; typically older machines will need 802.11b or g at 2.4GHz, which may not be enabled at the router.
    There may also be security options (WPA-something) set which improve security but aren't supported on older equipment; you are then faced with the choice of opening up security or ditching your older kit.
    or simply utilising a newer network adaptor  :) 802.11b is twenty four years old. 802.11g is twenty years old. The laptop in question is eight years old.

    It's all guesswork since they haven't bothered to reveal the other half of the equation.

    Without more information, I would say the first step would be to switch the eero device to Legacy Mode in the first instance.
  • km1500
    km1500 Posts: 2,789 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Have you tried having no wifi password set on the router (ie open network - anyone can connect) and see if the laptop can see the router then?
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