Do I need a new network adaptor? 15 January at 2:24AM in Techie Stuff 18 replies 424 views

Money_Grabber13579

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?

cymruchris

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.

https://support.eero.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005497223-Can-I-set-my-eeros-to-use-the-2-4-or-5-GHz-frequency-#:~:text=eero%20uses%20a%20single%20SSID,of%20the%202.4%20GHz%20frequency.

And if you can't get it to talk properly - maybe try a 5ghz wifi usb adapter like this one (others are available):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WN823N-Wireless-Supports-10-9-10-13/dp/B07LGSDBTF/ref=sr_1_3?crid=20RU2JDWENHSL&keywords=tp-link%2Bwifi%2Bdongle&qid=1673750610&sprefix=tp-link%2Bwifi%2Bdongle%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-3&th=1

Johnmcl7

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.

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

would your old router work ok?

Money_Grabber13579

cymruchris said:

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.

https://support.eero.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005497223-Can-I-set-my-eeros-to-use-the-2-4-or-5-GHz-frequency-#:~:text=eero%20uses%20a%20single%20SSID,of%20the%202.4%20GHz%20frequency.

And if you can't get it to talk properly - maybe try a 5ghz wifi usb adapter like this one (others are available):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WN823N-Wireless-Supports-10-9-10-13/dp/B07LGSDBTF/ref=sr_1_3?crid=20RU2JDWENHSL&keywords=tp-link%2Bwifi%2Bdongle&qid=1673750610&sprefix=tp-link%2Bwifi%2Bdongle%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-3&th=1

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.

Money_Grabber13579

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.

Money_Grabber13579

frugalmacdugal said:

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.

Bonhomie

Money_Grabber13579 said:

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

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

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

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?