selective wireless connection

dellWlan

yesterday having changed nothing laptop lost its wireless connection

desktop also lost wireless connection but is connected via ethernet to router so still has internet.

both say limited connectivity if they connecty to router at all with no internet

iphones connect no problem though so i don't know whats going on.

any ideas???

Thanks.

dellWlan

looks like its just the laptop, the desktop's problem is an asus wlan card with a broadcom driver.

and tried another laptop and again no issues with that

but dell studio laptop still saying everything is ok but won't connect to router

bhickey

The limited connectivity will normally be as a result of not getting IP address settings and/or DNS settings from the wireless router when connecting.

If you could post your wireless interface's IP settings that would help.

What operating system is on the laptop? If Windows XP, then click on <Start>, <run> and type 'cmd' (without the quotation marks) and click on <Ok>

This will bring up a black screen with a command prompt. Type 'ipconfig /all' (without the quotation marks) and press <Enter>. Post the results.

dub45

Do you have a firewall on the laptop? if so have you tried turning it off?

Is the laptop seeing the wireless network?

dellWlan

Thanks for the responses. I haven't gotten a chance to look at the laptop again today. I'll put the ipconfig results up in the morning. The laptop can see the wireless network 99% of the time but is getting a can't connect error. Occasionally saying it can't get a response from the router.
iPhone is occasionally asking for wpa key and saying it can't join. But only at extremities of range. When laptop error occurred it was connecting 100% of the time.
If it helps in the meantime it's an eircom router and a dell studio 15 laptop running vista router firmware up to date and latest driver for dell WLAN card installed.
Needless to say first instinct is to blame netopia router

dellWlan

Turned off firewall on router and security but no improvement. Norton firewall on laptop and has never had trouble connecting to wi fi before. Macaffee yes, it blocks everything it seems. Norton has always been good for me on several laptops desktops and OS's.

dub45

dellWlan wrote: »

Turned off firewall on router and security but no improvement. Norton firewall on laptop and has never had trouble connecting to wi fi before. Macaffee yes, it blocks everything it seems. Norton has always been good for me on several laptops desktops and OS's.

Did you try turning off the firewall on the laptop? the fact that something has always been good before does not rule out a new issue. For example a mcaffee update caused chaos around the world a few months ago.

If the iphones are connecting it would seem to rule out a problem with the router. Any possibility of trying the laptop in another wireless situation?

dellWlan

here's the ipconfig /all results

top lot are with ethernet plugged in
second bunch are without

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\user>ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Kidney-Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1510 Wireless-N WLAN Mini-C
ard
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-E1-CF-7D-61
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-70-72-4E-17
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d55c:797d:c912:e13%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 31 August 2010 13:09:19
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 31 August 2010 15:09:18
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 251666800
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-10-13-19-FD-00-21-70-72-4E-17
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{94BB73F5-6FCA-4133-B70B-0CA339557
8DD}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{72EDFADF-A7C3-41BD-8E14-15D285D67
828}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 6TO4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
C:\Users\user>ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Kidney-Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1510 Wireless-N WLAN Mini-C
ard
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-E1-CF-7D-61
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-70-72-4E-17
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{94BB73F5-6FCA-4133-B70B-0CA339557
8DD}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{72EDFADF-A7C3-41BD-8E14-15D285D67
828}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 6TO4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
C:\Users\user>

dellWlan

tried turning off norton firewall and no improvement.

here's an ipconfig from a third laptop running windows 7

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Lisa>ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Lisa-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 70-F1-A1-74-9F-41
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : B8-AC-6F-66-BA-1C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Reusable ISATAP Interface {F1956CA0-50BD-482A-A178-7D6FD21002F3}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{393E0D1F-6D3D-4ABD-828B-04E7E97F2437}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
C:\Users\Lisa>

dellWlan

should have added that was while 3rd laptop had limited connectivity, no closer and no problem connecting.

on previous laptop wireless network now not showing but if i look at the dell wlan utlility its there at full strength.

also numerous drops in wi fi on all devices.

its getting worse

bhickey

There are a few too many variables here so let's narrow the options down a bit and take things one step at a time.

1. Factory reset the Eircom router.
2. Connect to the router via an ethernet cable and verify that you have Internet access.
3. See if the problem laptop can connect via wireless (note that the wireless SSID and/or password may be different now after resetting the router).
2. If wireless still not working (either no connection or no Internet), connect to the router via an ethernet cable again and change the SSID to something completely new (i.e. one that the laptop would definitely NOT have previously saved settings for). See if the problem laptop can connect via the new SSID.

dellWlan

bhickey wrote: »

There are a few too many variables here so let's narrow the options down a bit and take things one step at a time.

1. Factory reset the Eircom router.
2. Connect to the router via an ethernet cable and verify that you have Internet access.
3. See if the problem laptop can connect via wireless (note that the wireless SSID and/or password may be different now after resetting the router).
2. If wireless still not working (either no connection or no Internet), connect to the router via an ethernet cable again and change the SSID to something completely new (i.e. one that the laptop would definitely NOT have previously saved settings for). See if the problem laptop can connect via the new SSID.

believe i factory reset router both unplugged and pin in the back.

connected by the ethernet has internet

can't connect wirelessly when connected by ethernet ssid and password verified on the netopia wireless page

told laptop to forget network via network management screen, and its definitely not trying to connect without prompting and password. it does seem that its just not getting a response.

had a similar problem with ipod touch and a different wifi router it could see it and not connect unless another device was already connected, although laptop won't connect wirelessly then either.

bhickey

So is it that the laptop sees the SSID of the network but when you try connect nothing happens? Does the laptop work on other wireless networks? Try changing the channel on the Eircom router wireless settings. Set it at 1 first and if that doesn't make a difference then try 11 (it's probably 7 at the moment). Br default all Eircom routers are on the same channel and this can cause interference issues.

dellWlan

bhickey wrote: »

So is it that the laptop sees the SSID of the network but when you try connect nothing happens? Does the laptop work on other wireless networks? Try changing the channel on the Eircom router wireless settings. Set it at 1 first and if that doesn't make a difference then try 11 (it's probably 7 at the moment). Br default all Eircom routers are on the same channel and this can cause interference issues.

it can see the ssid alright although the range of the router is pretty poor, other end of next room is about as far as you'll get it.
haven't tried other networks but will try that as soon as i can.
and have the router set to continuously search for free channel
default is 7 alright but from the dell wireless utility its currently broadcasting on channel 4

bhickey

dellWlan wrote: »

default is 7 alright but from the dell wireless utility its currently broadcasting on channel 4

Okay well try locking it to 1 just to help rule out interference as a contributing factor.

Actually if you're really bored you could download Netstumbler and see if you can see what networks are about and what channels they use,

dellWlan

bhickey wrote: »

Okay well try locking it to 1 just to help rule out interference as a contributing factor.

Actually if you're really bored you could download Netstumbler and see if you can see what networks are about and what channels they use,

i'll try that next.
thanks for all the help. i really appreciate it.

i won't get back to the laptop for another day or two, but hopefully it'll get sorted. and i'll be back online if not.

dellWlan

miraculously fixed. did nothing for a week and its all working again fine.
thanks.

bhickey

dellWlan wrote: »

miraculously fixed. did nothing for a week and its all working again fine.

I hate that