Wireless Issue

Paddy Fields

Hi all - I need to resurrect this thread as I'm trying to sort this problem for somebody. They are using a bog standard Netopia Cayman 3347W wireless modem/router from Eircom. They bought a Belkin Wireless G Notebook Card (F5D7010 - network adapter) but it does not pick up the wireless signal. I tested both and the Belkin works fine with my Netgear wireless router and my laptop can connect to their Eircom wireless signal so both components are working individually. The problem is they will not talk to each other.

I have searched on Google with no luck... Anybody know if there are known issues with these 2 components? The girl in Eircom tried to talk them into buying a Netopia wireless card but they are afraid it is just a sales tactic and not really a desire to help.

Thanks in advance.

Karoma

@Paddy Fields: Can you be a bit clearer re: what you tried. Did you try the Belkin card in your laptop? Is the SSID broadcast(i.e. Does the router/modem automatically appear when you View Available Networks) or did you manually enter the settings on your laptop? Were you the same distance from the router with each test? What was the signal strength(bars ,at least) when you were connected? What Operating Systems?

Paddy Fields

Ok Karoma - First of all my laptop is Acer, the Belkin card works in mine and connects to my home network (NTL on a Netgear router) so the Belkin is working fine.

My friend's laptop is Toshiba... The Belkin was installed on that but did not pick up their Eircom wireless signal. We suspected the Netopia modem but my laptop picks up their Eircom wireless signal so both components are fine individually.

My acer picks the signal up as "Excellent." Testing was conducted literally sitting beside the router. Operating system on both is XP Pro.

So far the likely culprit seems to be the Netopia 3347 having issues with the Belkin it is just that having searched there is no mention of it.

MickyJoe

Have you checked if their laptop using the Belkin adapter picks up your wireless router ? If this does not work then it would seem to point to the Belkin adapter in their laptop. Are there any indicator lights on the adapter and if so do they flash at all. Have you tried uninstalling and re-installing the Belkin drivers ?

Paddy Fields

Yes Micky this was actually the first thing I did and yes it picked up my signal and connected with no problems. I've told them to try and get a replacement modem/router from Eircom. Maybe the newer 2247 will work!

MarkR

If your laptop works with their router then it's not a problem with the router either. Try changing the channel on the router to see if that makes a difference.

Also, (not sure from reading) if you put their card in your notebook and disable your internal wireless, can you see their network?

Username!

MarkR you on the ball.

You need to disable or uninstall and other wireless software. Then install the Belkin software and use this to connect to the wireless network. Also, Belkins are awkward so you may need to convert your Wireless Key (WEP) from ASCII to Hexadecimal.

Try loading up Windows in Safe Mode with Networking and see if it operates that way...

Paddy Fields

Mark R - I will try changing the channel. Long time since I played with Eircom settings but to log into the Netopia, http://192.168.254 is address right? I forget the details... Username: User and default password is: broadband 1, is that correct?

Thank you all for the ideas so far.

Prisoner6409

Paddy you may be missing a 1 in that address, ie: http://192.168.1.254/.