Wireless Network Problems

[Antoniohawk]

I just got a wireless card (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051384276884&skuId=4163229&type=product) for my notebook, running Windows 98se. I can't seem to get the thing to access the internet connection via my wireless router. I have two computers hardwired to the router in one room and the notebook in another. My knowledge of networking and Windows 98se are almost nonexistent, so beware. :)

[Spookster]

Have you already configured your wireless router for your network?

[liorean]

Well, the first question will be:

What wireless connection type is used by your wireless router, what connection type is used by the router, what security settings do you have on them both.

You see, there are a number of settings that must match. First of all, they must both be capable of using the same WiFi spec, and be set to use it. Most routers are 802.11b/g, capable of both the 11 Mbit/s WiFi.b spec and the 54 Mbit/s WiFi.g spec. Cheaper WiFi card only support WiFi.b. So, if the router is set up to only use the speedier spec, it can't communicate with the lower speed spec. Then there is another specification, 802.11a, which operates at another frequency band. It has the same speeds as 802.11g however, so here you must beware that the card and the router use the same as well. There's also a speedier 802.11n in progress, that will be somewhere about 100 Mbit/s. Add to that non-WiFi wireless LANs such as HIPERNET, and it quickly gets to the point where you really need to know what spec your card and router are using. I assume you bought a package with router and card together, though - that's what most people do. That means that you know that they are interoperable already. You still must check so that the settings are to use the same spec, however.

Then there are a number of other factors. I, for one, haven't been able to get my Apple Airport Extreme Base Station to communicate with my PCs if I have password protected the network. The Mac, of course, doesn't even have to be configured... There are three security technologies for WiFi. These are WEP, WPA and WPA2. You must make sure that both card and station use the same security technology and the same strength of encryption.

Finally, you have connectivity. First of all you need to find out if the card can detect the network at all. (Can't help you there, I don't have the experience.) Then you need to make sure you connect on the right network using hte right name and channel. Suggested channels for 802.11b/g are 1,6 and 11, as these channels are the only ones that both are available everywhere and does not overlap in frequency span.

[Antoniohawk]

@Spookster
I'm not totally sure what you mean by that, but I did attempt to enable it as an access point.

@Liorean
Both the router and the wireless card are B spec only. The router is a Belkin and the wireless card is a D-Link. I have them both set for channel 11 and they both have the same SSID.

[Antoniohawk]

I'm still having trouble with this, but I'll have to work on it after the holidays, when you guys might be able to help me out. :)

[Basscyst]

Here are some things to check.

Can you ping your router from the laptop?

How bout the other PCs?

In your routers firmware under DHCP clients table (assuming you are using DHCP) do you see the lap top?

If you can't see any of it. Disable any WEP encryption and \ or MAC Address filters and try again. . . .Turn them back on once you get things square.

Basscyst

[Antoniohawk]

I pinged the laptop from the my main system and vice versa successfully. There are three items listed in the DHCP Client List, which is the two desktops plus the troublesome laptop (possibly). I'm not sure* what the names of the computers are so I don't how to check and see which is which.

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

you can right click on your My Computer Icon usually on your desktop then go to properties and click on the computer name tab, u will then see the name of the computer you are on, because your wireless card is picking up the router, chances are, you have a wep connection enabled, which means if you set to open key, then you would have to enter a key in order to connect, check to see what your encryption is and if there are any keys listed

[Antoniohawk]

On my router it says that WEP is disabled. :confused: