Newbie question--connecting to wireless network

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

Dear Folks,

Installed a wireless router for a friend.

The laptop, equipped with wireless, "sees" the wireless network, but I can't
get the browser or email program to connect.

Any ideas?

thanks

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

"Adam Smith" <adamsmithwi@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6q0Lc.30537$6t1.30210@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> Sorry, I should have mentioned the OS, it's Windows XP.
>
> I'm not at the computer at the moment, so I can't tell you the IP
Address.
>
> But the network icon shows up in the tray, but that's it.
>

Well, it depends on if the machine is getting an IP that is going to allow
it to connect to the Internet. It can get an IP, but it may not be an IP
from the DHCP server on the router that is going to allow the computer to
access the Internet.

Duane

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 21:52:45 -0500, "Adam Smith"
<adamsmithwi@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Installed a wireless router for a friend.

I guess all wireless routers are the same. Any reason why you didn't
bother disclosing the make and model? You might wanna throw in some
details like how the router connects to the internet, make and model
of the DSL or cable modem/bridge, and make, model, and OS on the
laptop.

>The laptop, equipped with wireless, "sees" the wireless network, but I can't
>get the browser or email program to connect.
>
>Any ideas?

Nope. None whatsoever thanks to the lack of useful information.
However, I like mysteries and am quite fond of guesswork. My
guess(tm) is that since you have a connection, but no traffic, you
have either:
1. No IP address issued by the router DHCP server. Use IPCONFIG to
check your address.
2. Screwed up WEP or WPA key.
These are related. I suggest you turn off WEP and WPA on both the
router and laptop for the time being, and just get it working. Then
turn on WEP or WPA (prefered).
3. You didn't setup the DSL or cable modem login on the wireless
router WAN side correctly. Check the status page of your unspecified
router and see if you're really connected to your ISP.

I also posted some rather detailed step by step troubleshooting
instructions a few daze ago as:
http://www.google.com/groups?selm= [...] %404ax.com

Also, you might wanna try plugging the laptop directly into the
unspecified wireless router using ethernet and see if it can be made
to work. If that works, then your problems are exclusively in the
wireless part of the puzzle. If not, turn OFF the [deleted expletive]
Windoze firewall, ZoneAlarm, Norton Firewall, etc and try again. Once
ethernet is working, then tinker with the wireless part.


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558