AmyK

I just bought by first wireless router 4 days ago. It is a linksys wireless G model WRT54G. My only previous wireless experience is with my laptop which comes with a wireless card. My desktop does not have wireless. My laptop is a Sony Vaio with Intel Pro Wireless 2200 BG card.

Currently the linksys router is configured and the desktop is plugged into it and I am online. I am having trouble configuring the wireless. I spent about 5 hours on the phone with linksys and they gave up and said to return the router. After the last discussion, I thought that maybe the problem is a firewall blocking the wireless. I shut down all the firewalls I could find but that did not help.

I noticed over the course of the past 6 months, the laptop has had troubles connecting to some networks that includes unsecured ones. I usually connect to the same 2 locations. One is my friend's "linksys" titled network and the other is called "Ed". Lately, the Ed network drops the connection every few minutes and some days I stay connected a little longer while some days I can't get in at all. The "linksys" network always lets me in and just last week I spent at least 4 straight hours connected to it. So what I did with my new router was to change the name of my new wireless network from "amy" network to "linksys" network and I was then able to make the connection. BTW, I can't get into the unsecured network either. After I changed the name, the laptop worked all evening and was even using wpa encryption. I just turned it on again tonight and for the last hour the message reads acquiring network address. It connected briefly, like maybe 5 seconds and said there was limited or no connectivity with 4 bars. It seems to connect for about 5 seconds every 5 minutes. The Sony does not give the software for the wireless card and windows does all the controlling of the card. The laptop is 2-7 feet away from the router. The laptop just turned 1 year and 2 weeks old.

Any suggestions?? Thanks for your help.
Amy

streaker69

What did the owner of the 'Ed' network say when you asked him what the issue could be?

__________________
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.

Thorn

Let me microwave some popcorn. After that I'll jump over to the Moderator pages.

__________________
Thorn
"Read Altas Shrugged. Compare it to today. Repeat as necessary"

Airstreamer

/digging in the chest of drawers for the asbestos underwear

__________________
"America is at that awkward stage.
It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.."

- Claire Wolfe, 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution

AmyK

Ed didn't know anything about his computer equipment. BTW, linksys had me download firmware to the new router even though they said it was the latest model. My just logged into my network, this is many hours later. Is it possible I'm conflicting with someone else? My isp said not to use channel 6 because it's too busy. I'm on channel 11. That still doesn't explain all the eratic behavior.
Amy

wrzwaldo

Did ED know you were using the connection? What version is your router?

streaker69

Channel 1, 6 and 11 are the busiest/noisest channels there are.

Do a site survey determine if you're getting interference from an outside source.

__________________
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.

AmyK

Of course Ed knows I'm using his connection. My router is version 6. By doing a site survey does that mean download netstumbler program? That's how I found this site. The guy from my isp told me to use the program to find out what channels the people around me are using. I tried it and I get a message that no APs are active. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Looking at help file. Is it because my computer does not come with any software for my wireless card? Scan and autoconfigure buttons are clicked to on. BTW, my wireless connection to my router is still working this morning.
Amy

wrzwaldo

Are you using supported hardware?

streaker69

Probably not, but Habib from Linksys said it should work, her squishy will be arriving in the mail shortly.

__________________
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.

AmyK

My laptop is a Sony Vaio VGN-S560P with Intel Pro Wireless 2200 BG card. I have no idea if it is supported but I would expect that Sony and Intel are both popular and would be supported. I looked for the software for the card but don't see it on the laptop. The wireless card uses windows. Linksys never asked me anything about my wireless card or software.

theprez98

What does Ed's ISP say about sharing Internet?

__________________

wrzwaldo

So you did not read the NetStumbler documentation?

streaker69

With that, you would be wrong.

__________________
Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.

shamrock365

Maybe a damaged Driver for your internal card? I had an embedded card that did something simular but an update fixed it. As for the channel congestion maybe try channel 1. i believe its one of the 2.4Ghz Channels thats normally fairly unused and doesnt overlap.