Wireless network not working

[foam12345]

Recently purchased and installed Linksys WRT54G. Finally managed to
get the computer (Thinkpad T42/XP-SP2 with internal Intel PCI Wireless
Adaptor) to connect to the router but now when trying to load web
pages browser won't connect (Firefox or IE6). Both browsers try dial-
up which suggests the wireless connection not recognized but it shows
connected on the Available Networks page.

Any ideas? Hardware problem, Settings problem?

HELP!

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
I am not sure what you mean by dial up, but if it is a matter of trying to
dialup with regular analog modem.
Log to the Browser Internet Options and under the Connection Tab check the
Never Dialup entry.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[John Wunderlich]

Recently purchased and installed Linksys WRT54G. Finally managed
to get the computer (Thinkpad T42/XP-SP2 with internal Intel PCI
Wireless Adaptor) to connect to the router but now when trying to
load web pages browser won't connect (Firefox or IE6). Both
browsers try dial- up which suggests the wireless connection not
recognized but it shows connected on the Available Networks page.

Any ideas? Hardware problem, Settings problem?

HELP!

Control Panel -> Internet Options -> "Connections" Tab
Check the box that says "Never dial a connection" or
"Dial whenever a network connection is not present", whichever works.

HTH,
John

 

[foam12345]

Check the box that says "Never dial a connection" or
"Dial whenever a network connection is not present", whichever works.

HTH,
John

Thanks for the info.
I think the problem is that although the computer recognizes the
network (as indicated by the network name and "Connected" on the
available networks page) the browser won't connect. It never tries to
dial when connected via cable modem. It has been suggested that it
might be a router security or authentication issue but I don't
understand why it connects in one way yet the browsers do not
recognize the existing connection.

 

[Lem]

Thanks for the info.
I think the problem is that although the computer recognizes the
network (as indicated by the network name and "Connected" on the
available networks page) the browser won't connect. It never tries to
dial when connected via cable modem. It has been suggested that it
might be a router security or authentication issue but I don't
understand why it connects in one way yet the browsers do not
recognize the existing connection.

It probably IS a security/authentication issue.

When you set up the router, did you configure any encryption or other
security measures? Try directly connecting to the router with an
Ethernet cable and then access the router's configuration utility. If
you haven't changed anything, you should be able to do so by entering
192.168.1.1 in a browser address bar. If you didn't change the default
userid/password for the router, leave the userid blank and use "admin"
(without quotes) as the password.

Temporarily disable all encryption and other security (e.g., MAC or IP
filters). Now try your wireless connection.

Assuming that you can successfully get a working wireless connection
with no encryption, you can now go back to the router configuration
(again use a wired connection) and configure encryption. I suspect that
you may have used WEP. If you did, you cannot use in your computer's
configuration screens the "passphrase" that you entered in the router
configuration. You have to use the HEX key instead. However, you
should not use WEP. Use WPA-PSK, sometimes called WPA-Personal (or
WPA2-PSK if your notebook's adapter supports that).

 

[foam12345]

When you set up the router, did you configure any encryption or other
security measures? Try directly connecting to the router with an
Ethernet cable and then access the router's configuration utility. If
you haven't changed anything, you should be able to do so by entering
192.168.1.1 in a browser address bar. If you didn't change the default
userid/password for the router, leave the userid blank and use "admin"
(without quotes) as the password.

Temporarily disable all encryption and other security (e.g., MAC or IP
filters). Now try your wireless connection.

Assuming that you can successfully get a working wireless connection
with no encryption, you can now go back to the router configuration
(again use a wired connection) and configure encryption. I suspect that
you may have used WEP. If you did, you cannot use in your computer's
configuration screens the "passphrase" that you entered in the router
configuration. You have to use the HEX key instead. However, you
should not use WEP. Use WPA-PSK, sometimes called WPA-Personal (or
WPA2-PSK if your notebook's adapter supports that).

What is so frustrating is that I have done what you suggested (no
encryption, no security (ZA or Win) and get the same result: the
router is recognized, connection established (shows "Connected" on
available networks screen), yet neither browser can load pages (IE6,
FF 2.0). Today I purchased a PCMCIA WL card to see if that helps.
More suggestions are welcome.

 

[Lem]

What is so frustrating is that I have done what you suggested (no
encryption, no security (ZA or Win) and get the same result: the
router is recognized, connection established (shows "Connected" on
available networks screen), yet neither browser can load pages (IE6,
FF 2.0). Today I purchased a PCMCIA WL card to see if that helps.
More suggestions are welcome.

What happens when -- from a computer that claims to be connected
wirelessly -- you enter 192.168.1.1 in the browser? Do you get the
router's configuration login screen? If not, you still are not really
connected to the router, regardless of what the "available networks"
page says. Open a command prompt window and type "ping 192.168.1.1"
(without quotes) and press enter. Is the ping successful?

Open a command prompt window and type "ipconfig /all" (without quotes)
and press enter.

Post the information below (right click in the command prompt window,
click on "select all," then press <CTRL>+C. Then paste (<CTRL>+V) into
the compose window of your post.) Do not edit/disguise this info.
Posting it in this NG will not compromise your security.


Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . :
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . :
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . :
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . :

Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . :