Wireless Networking

Atrocities · #1 April 11th, 2006, 08:40 PM

Ok, so I now I have a new lap top, by all rights it should be able to access my wireless DSL router, but no. No it does not see the network any where.

Does any one have a clue as to how, even after running the software supplied by Dell to "detect" a wireless network, I can get my new POS Dell Lap top to "connect" to my wireless DSL router?

Do I need to set up the router or something? My friends girl friends lap top instantly detected his DSL ISP connection, and he has the very same router and DSL service that I have.

The really bad thing here is that I cannot see the icons on the Lap Top, they are very very small. I might have to send this one back.

Captain Kwok · #2 April 11th, 2006, 08:46 PM

Is your wireless router set to broadcast? If it's not, then it won't show up on the laptop. You'll have enter the details manually (ie if there is wep stuff involved etc).

Suicide Junkie · #3 April 11th, 2006, 08:49 PM

Well, check the accessibility settings. There's usually a magnifier in there you can use.
Alternatively, you can reduce the desktop resolution to 800x600 say, and get the correspondingly jumbo pixels.

The settings on the router to look into:
- Broadcasting the SSID? You can turn this off after you get connected, and the laptop knows to look for it.
- Filtering connections? Might have to add the wireless' MAC to your allowed list.

Atrocities · #4 April 11th, 2006, 08:57 PM

Any idea of how I might check to see if it is set to broad cast? I have an actiontec DSL gateway. I have no idea if it is even set up to broadcast or not. The mode it is in is PPPoA.

That is about as much info as I have other than the lan info and dchp is on.

thanks guys.

Suicide Junkie · #5 April 11th, 2006, 09:00 PM

Well, that's the trick...

Have you got a computer with an ethernet connection handy?
Plug that in, and have the computer browse to 192.168.1.1, which should be the default address of the router.

It should ask for a password (see router documentation), and then let you in to poke the setup.

Atrocities · #6 April 11th, 2006, 09:02 PM

Ok, I found that wireless is off. Now how do I turn it on.... That is the $$ question.

Suicide Junkie · #7 April 11th, 2006, 09:14 PM

Probably just an option button or a dropdown with Enable/Disable

Kana · #8 April 11th, 2006, 09:37 PM

Or even an external button...??? What is the model number on the the dell?

Atrocities · #9 April 11th, 2006, 10:21 PM

Thanks guys. Figured it out. The advanced settings allow me to turn on and off the wireless feature. However, this version of the modem I have won't work. Qwest is sending me a new one.

Captain Kwok · #10 April 11th, 2006, 10:21 PM

For my linksys router it's under the wireless tab:

Wireless SSID Broadcast: ( ) Enable ( ) Disable