Any advice on getting a netbook to connect to a network?
sylvie369
Posts: 1,622
I bought an Asus netbook today, expecting, of course, to be able to connect to my home wireless network. So far, no go, after several hours of trying.
- I know that the network is up and running, because I can still connect with my other laptop.
- I am able to get the Asus to connect to the network through an Ethernet cable. Yes, I have unplugged the cable again after testing that.
- The Asus is able to detect the network, gives the right SSID, and tells me that the signal is "excellent".
- I'm pretty certain that I have the right encryption key - when I type in a different one, I get a message telling me it's not the right key. When I type in the right one, I get different error messages.
- I have 64-bit WEP for security, and that's set on both ends (though the Asus doesn't give options for other numbers of bits).
- The Asus uses Windows 7. When it fails to connect, it goes into a typically unhelpful Windows help screen that eventually tells me to reset the router, which of course makes no difference.
I haven't yet had a chance to see if I can connect to Wifi hotspots elsewhere, though there is an unsecured network here that I can see - when I try to connect to it, I get the same "Windows was unable to connect to..." message I get with my network.
By the way, my router is pretty old, and it's 802.11b. The Asus is supposed to be b/g/n.
Any ideas?
·
- I know that the network is up and running, because I can still connect with my other laptop.
- I am able to get the Asus to connect to the network through an Ethernet cable. Yes, I have unplugged the cable again after testing that.
- The Asus is able to detect the network, gives the right SSID, and tells me that the signal is "excellent".
- I'm pretty certain that I have the right encryption key - when I type in a different one, I get a message telling me it's not the right key. When I type in the right one, I get different error messages.
- I have 64-bit WEP for security, and that's set on both ends (though the Asus doesn't give options for other numbers of bits).
- The Asus uses Windows 7. When it fails to connect, it goes into a typically unhelpful Windows help screen that eventually tells me to reset the router, which of course makes no difference.
I haven't yet had a chance to see if I can connect to Wifi hotspots elsewhere, though there is an unsecured network here that I can see - when I try to connect to it, I get the same "Windows was unable to connect to..." message I get with my network.
By the way, my router is pretty old, and it's 802.11b. The Asus is supposed to be b/g/n.
Any ideas?
·
Comments
Good Luck.
It'd be a lot less frustrating if you could get rid of all that "To connect to a network, select the network you want to connect to and click 'connect'" Smile that keeps popping up each time I try something. I suppose that's a large part of what drives people to Linux.
With my eeepc I'm using easy peasy, and I'm happy with it. I installed it in a SD card, so the original windows is still there, even if I'm not using it anymore.
www.geteasypeasy.com/
Anyway you can boot a live distro from a USB pen, and check if your WiFi works.
wiki.geteasypeasy.com/Get_Easy_Peasy
If you are happy with it get a SD card, install it, and get Brad's tools.
Massimo
Windows has a feature(?) where it won't connect to a wireless network if that network isn't broadcasting the SSID, even if you enter the correct SSID in the network settings. In XP, the SSID has to be broadcast. In Vista (and I believe W7), there is a check-box somewhere in the network adapter settings for "Connect to this network even if BSSID isn't broadcast", or something to that effect. Checking this will automatically connect you without receiving the SSID.
It's a good policy to not broadcast the SSID if possible, as it makes your network a little bit less visible to casual war drivers. With XP, you kind of have to deal with it. With Vista/W7, you need to find that check-box.
What letters or numbers could you be confusing any of the letters with?
Okay, to answer all of this...
- The router IS broadcasting the SSID. The network appears in the list of available networks on the netbook's network connection list, and I just double-checked in the router firmware, and yes, it's set to broadcast. I think I must have had some issue with that in the past, because I know once upon a time I tried it without broadcasting, for security's sake, but something stopped working. I also do see the checkbox on the netbook for·connecting to networks that are not broadcasting their SSIDs, but I shouldn't need that, as I can see this network right there in the list. I dunno, maybe I should try it anyway.
- The preamble is set to "long", which is the default for this router. I checked that in the router firmware just now, to make certain.
- I don't think that my problem has to do with typing in the wrong encryption key. As I said, when I type in a key that I know to be incorrect, I get a message clearly saying it's not correct. When I type in what I think is the proper key, I don't get that message, but it still doesn't connect. I don't have any letters past "F" in the key I'm typing in.
I'd consider using a Linux test to make sure that the wireless really works, but I'm nowhere near that point yet. These things are supposed to work correctly out of the box. I'm no network jockey, but I'm certainly not so stupid as to be unable to follow the basic directions to get a netbook going. I know how to log onto my router to check and change the settings, and I know what a WEP key is, and what an SSID is. The basic directions assume you don't know any of that. It took me about 30 seconds to verify that my preamble is set to "long", so I don't think that the problem is me. Surely it's not this difficult for everyone.
The most likely possibilities seem to me to be that·either
- my router is so old that there's something hidden in its settings that just doesn't work with 2010 netbooks, or
-·there's something in my antivirus/network protection software that's blocking the connection. I'm using (gasp) Norton's (yeah, I know...). But I tried temporarily turning off the network protection and then connecting, and it made no difference at all.
I think that trying to connect to a different network will tell me something, and that's what I'm going to try next. If it won't connect to those either, then there's something wrong with the netbook, and I'm not going to change any of my network settings here (because I know that the moment I do that, I'll have to go through all of this again to get my laptop back on the network). I guess·if it DOES connect to those other networks, then the next step will be to temporarily turn off my network's protection, and see if I can connect then.
Post Edited (sylvie369) : 3/8/2010 2:08:11 PM GMT
I think you're on the right track to check another wireless site, perhaps a friend's place or a local hotel. The other test would be to bring in another "foreign" laptop and see if it will connect to your router.
Cheers,
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Tom Sisk
http://www.siskconsult.com
·
I'm still open to ideas for the home setup. Thanks for the help so far.
We bought a DSI and both Gamestop and Bestbuy said it only worked with Linksys and FIOS.· They had a list of routers it was compatible with.
I bought a Netgear adapter for a computer and either it was bad from the beginning or it doesn't work with Dell because it was 25 feet away from the router and it said 'no signal'.
WEP is not secure, so you can consider an upgrade worth the time for the sake of security.
www.computerworld.com/s/article/9015559/Don_t_use_WEP_for_Wi_Fi_security_researchers_say
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy
Massimo
Noooooooooo! Don't suggest that. I love people who have WEP networks. They provide me hours of entertainment when I travel. With the latest aircrack tools you can generally poke a hole in WEP in less than 2 minutes.
Once you're in, a neat trick is to do an nmap scan of their networks looking for printers. After determining the manufacturer of any printers on the network you can knock up an "official" looking printer status page and leave them a message with the printer stating it is low on water. That or a ransom note for the tins of anchovy in the cupboards signed the cat.
Additionally on networks with exposed shared drives, new folders sometimes appear containing old BBC videos of Led Zeppelin. Dunno how that happens. Must have a virus or something..
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
You only ever need two tools in life. If it moves and it shouldn't use Duct Tape. If it does not move and it should use WD40.
Once you've done the test, put security back on.
This will get you to the "lowest common denominator", and if it doesn't work, it's time to splurge the $50 bucks for a new access point.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
John R.
Click here to see my Nomad Build Log
It looks like WPA and WPA2 are the standards now, right?
===================
I just set up the FTDI drivers and RealTerm on the netbook, and that went as smooth as silk. Among other things, it's going to be attached to the receivers for my XBee rocket telemetry gizmos, and it looks like that's going to be pretty straightforward to set up.
Why would you do this? Adding another level of complexity to an already problematic network installation? Maybe for a quick test. Maybe.
The fewer devices, the better, and especially when they are in "series" (or more properly "cascaded"). Each one adds latency and potential for other nasties.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
John R.
Click here to see my Nomad Build Log
I haven't noticed any latency problems.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Powered by enthusiasm
When you first booted the computer and went through all the win7 setup steps, did you select a default network? I did, and it automatically connects every single time.
This may be a stupid and insulting suggestion, but be sure you have your wireless enabled. For my netbook, there's a little slide switch on the front edge of the netbook, which enables and disables the wireless.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
(no longer new) SD Card Adapter·Now available!· Add extra memory to your next Propeller project with ease!
When I went through the Win 7 setup steps, I tried to select my network as the default, and it had the same glitch that I had when I came back after setup and tried to connect.
I think I'm going to skip right to getting a more modern router, given the security concerns and the fact that I'm a couple of generations out of date (and 802.11n routers run well under $100).
I did set up all sorts of other stuff (Thunderbird, MS Office, Propeller and Arduino environments) on the netbook today, and I'm very pleased with it. Other than not being able to connect to my home network, everything works very smoothly, and faster than I'd have expected, given all the heat netbooks take for being underpowered. New hardware installation (serial-USB converters, Propplugs etc.) happens noticeably faster than on my desktop (which is only about two and a half years old).
BTW, what's a preamble?
Long Preamble:
- Compatible with legacy IEEE* 802.11 systems operating at 1 and 2 Mbps (Megabits per second)
- PLCP with long preamble is transmitted at 1 Mbps regardless of transmit rate of data frames
- Total Long Preamble transfer time is a constant at 192 usec (microseconds)
Short Preamble:- Not compatible with legacy IEEE 802.11 systems operating at 1 and 2 Mbps
- PLCP with short preamble: Preamble is transmitted at 1 Mbps and header at 2 Mbps
- Total Long Preamble transfer time is a constant at 96 usec (microseconds)
What does this all mean to the end user?Most access points (AP) and broadband·Wi-Fi routers are configured for a Long Preamble or have a setting that automatically detects the preamble and adjusts accordingly. A majority of client·Wi-Fi adapters should also be pre-configured in the same manner. This is done as a precautionary measure for networks that may still employ legacy devices.
Post Edited (kf4ixm) : 3/11/2010 7:03:32 PM GMT
I had the same type of problem recently: the answer appeared to be that modern laptops need modern
routers and vice-versa.
That brief summary is the short version of what was a much longer tale!
Regards,
T o n y
I have the Acer Aspireone. Bought myself the Belkin wireless and hooked it up to my older router. Set my key and up I went!
Now the funny part is that I bought also a Belkin usb antenna for my other laptops, and they have a hard time connecting! It drops a lot.
My little netbook, is just humming along...
For you, my bet is that the OLD wireless router is the culprit...
You could purchase a new one at "wallmart" and if it does work right away..keep it, if not then, just return it...
Cheers
Yosh..
Thanks for the info re. "preamble". That's a pretty clear explanation.
I guess the lesson really is "keep up with the times".
Oh, and so I'm not using WEP anymore, so the only odd things coming out of my printer should be odd things that I sent it myself.