Netgear Wireless connection problem

[Simon]

A friend (who is with IDNet) has a set up with a Netgear DG843G, and I think a WG111 USB wireless network adapter.  All was well last night, but when he switched his computer on this evening, although the router appears to be connected to the Internet, he can't connect, and the Netgear USB connection screen keeps asking to 'validate settings'.  He says there seems to be no option to actually do anything, other than to click Apply, which takes him back to the set up screen, but still doesn't allow the connection between the PC and the router.  No settings have been changed, as far as he is aware.

I was stumped with this over the phone, and he's asked me to go round tomorrow to help him sort it out, so I thought I'd ask here first, in case anyone's had the same problem.

[Lance]

Two questions to do with netgears running wirelessly in one night!

I'm afraid i can't help, but if the usual things don't seen to work i would do factory reset.

[Simon]

I was wondering if the USB dongle thingy has packed up.  Is this something likely to happen?

[Lance]

Sorry, i mis read and took it as the router screen kept coming up, not the dongle config screen. Perhaps reinstalling the drivers and software for the dongle might help. Of course, as you say, its not impossible for the dongle to have given up the ghost.

[Steve]

I'd try rebooting router and PC and then if no luck as Lance says reinstall the dongle software

[Simon]

I think he's done all that, Steve.  I would imagine that an internal PCI wireless network card would be infinitely better anyway, so I'm going to suggest he gets one.

[Ray]

I think he's done all that, Steve.  I would imagine that an internal PCI wireless network card would be infinitely better anyway, so I'm going to suggest he gets one.

I've always found it better not to use the connection software that comes with the wireless adapter, I've found a lot of it to be very poor and unreliable, I always use the built in Windows wireless connection software instead.

[Rik]

Might just be worth trying a different USB port...

[Simon]

Been round, and the router is alive and well, and appears to be seeing the wireless dongle, as all the lights are up.  Can't access the router to check the settings, as he didn't have an ethernet cable handy, and it won't connect wirelessly.  I think the dongle has had it, so we're going to wait for the new network card to arrive from Amazon.

[Rik]

Seems wise, Simon, they are more 'processor efficient' than USB dongles.

[vitriol]

I've always found it better not to use the connection software that comes with the wireless adapter, I've found a lot of it to be very poor and unreliable, I always use the built in Windows wireless connection software instead.

I agree, I had a friend that used Belkin USB wireless dongles and the software I found to be very unstable.  The Windows configuration is much better imo.

[Simon]

I'll advise that when he gets the new card.

[Baz]

Sounds similar to when my son had his wireless set up. The only thing I could find that worked was to re tick the box for broadcast the SSID name, wait till it was stable then untick the box. I also put the MAC address in the Access List to make it safer. I seem to remember that the position of the dongle took a while to get right too. Sat in the cradle was no good and the best position was just lying on the floor under the desk.

[Rik]

Wasn't it hard to see the monitor from there though, Baz?

Congratulations on becoming a Master.

[Baz]

Wasn't it hard to see the monitor from there though, Baz?

Congratulations on becoming a Master.

very good. surprised you never picked up on the position of the dongle bit

you got me with the master bit   but thanks for the karma

[David]

  well done Master Baz I would kneel at your feet but people might talk 

[Rik]

you got me with the master bit   but thanks for the karma

You moved from being a Grand Netter to being a Master Netter when you made the 1000th post, Baz.

[Baz]

ah right just clicked    im shocked at that. its something I never check and it doesnt seem that long that I started posting.

thanks guys.

kneel if you wish i'll say nowt  

[Baz]

that doesnt seem many posts to reach master status. whats the other levels

[Rik]

kneel if you wish i'll say nowt  

I'm laying under the desk, Baz. If it's good enough for you...

[Rik]

that doesnt seem many posts to reach master status. whats the other levels

The revealed 'titles' so far are:

New Netter  -        0-24 posts
Full Netter  -         25-74 posts
Regular Netter  -    75-124 posts
Addicted Netter  -  125-249 posts
Super Netter  -      250-499 posts
Grand Netter  -      500-999 posts
Master Netter  -     1000-2499 posts
Netter Nutter  -      2500-4999 posts
Live-in Netter  -      5000-7499 posts
Legendary Netter  - 7500-9999 posts
Extraordinary Netter - 10000-12499 posts
Power Netter -        12500-14999 posts

Members have yet to discover what comes next, but it shouldn't take too much longer when In comes back from Spain.

[Baz]

never thought I had posted this many.

whats your title Rik, cant see it there 

[Rik]

It's Administrator, Baz. We haven't got one for anything over 25,000 posts yet.

[Baz]

give yourself one then, you could change the  name whenever too 

[Rik]

Until someone else breaks the 25K mark, we have no need for any more titles. At that point, we'll be scratching our heads anyway. As staff titles don't reflect post counts, there's no problem, and former staff also don't reflect post count in their titles, so no issue when I stand down either.

[Ray]

  Baz, and  

[Simon]

I seem to remember that the position of the dongle took a while to get right too. Sat in the cradle was no good and the best position was just lying on the floor under the desk.

I think we may be talking about different things, Baz.  This "dongle" is basically a USB stick, so it has to be plugged in to a USB port.

[Rik]

Some come with an extension lead and socket, Simon, eg Belkin.

[Simon]

Oh right, well this one doesn't, but I believe the new network card does.

[Baz]

this one has a lead as Rik said so you could move it about like an aerial I suppose, to get good reception. didnt work too well.

[Sebby]

It might be worth deleting the profile from the NETGEAR application and re-creating it, just in case.

[Simon]

Well, to be honest, I think it would be much better if he had a network card anyway, so I'm not going to spend any more time on this USB thing, as even if I got it working, it could break down again.  I'm also going to ignore the software that comes with the card, and use the Windows network wizard, as that should hopefully be more reliable. 

[g7pkf]

Forget usb wireless "dongles" etc in a word you may get it working for a while but it will give you grief (and n my experiance lots of it).

ficed pc's use a wired connection (if possible) or a wireless pci card.

even laptops give grief on wireless (3 in the house and i spend about 2 hours a month re-configuring one of them)

best way:-

Fixed static ip wired computer.

no grief (except for wiring it in)

Sorry if that is not what you wanted to hear.

[Simon]

I know what you mean, Dean, but some people just can't be bothered with it all, and just want an easy solution.  Problem with this guy is, the PC is nowhere near a phone socket, and he doesn't want to pay out to have an extension installed, but can't be arsed to do it himself either.  We're both looking for the simplest way round. 

[vitriol]

A cat5e cable?

And suggestion for 25,000+ posts

Uber Netter

[drummer]

Well, to be honest, I think it would be much better if he had a network card anyway, so I'm not going to spend any more time on this USB thing, as even if I got it working, it could break down again.  I'm also going to ignore the software that comes with the card, and use the Windows network wizard, as that should hopefully be more reliable. 

Best thing really because USB dongles are a bit hit-and-miss at best, but they're actually rubbish and a complete waste of time.

Wireless PCI cards are the only realistic option and you've assumed correctly that only the card's drivers are necessary, as opposed to the useless wireless connection software provided.

Wireless Zero Configuration within Windows always works for me and I have no shame in endorsing it.

Laptops are very promiscuous though and will latch on to the first available network, even if it's not yours.

Shameless strumpets!

[Simon]

Presumably, I would have to hard reset the router, in order to bypass the current WPA security?

[Steve]

A hardware reset will reset the wireless network to open. How about wired with a laptop? I suppose it depends what else has been setup in the router in the way of services and firewall ammendments as I presume that they will disappear as well with a hardware reset.

[Simon]

In my view, the best thing would be to start afresh with the new network card.

[g7pkf]

Better if he stopped being tight and got a cable run.   

[Sebby]

Presumably, I would have to hard reset the router, in order to bypass the current WPA security?

You could always connect by ethernet.

[Simon]

Yes, I'll bear that in mind, Seb. 

[Rik]

Probably the easiest way to do this is to take your lappy along, together with a cable. You then have a controlled environment.

[Simon]

I don't want to mess up the connection on my lappy though.  I'm not really very well up on this, so I think I'll just do it the way I know how to. 

[Rik]

You won't affect your lappy - it's just a case of diving into the router interface from that.

[Simon]

But I still won't be able to get into his router without resetting it, because of the WPA, will I?

Off to work now... 

[Rik]

You will with a cable connection...

[Simon]

Yes, of course.  Duh!

[Myst]

Lol at the post count whores

its like a my d...ks bigger then yours substitute

/taxi

[Simon]

Sorry, I don't follow.  We're just discussing a wireless issue, aren't we? 

[Myst]

Whoops went into the wrong thread 

Sorry guys

2nd thoughts no i didnt.

It was in response earlier in the posts about forum post counts and suchlike
just on our forums folk indulge in such things.

Anyway was just a jokey throwaway comment and not meant to detract from the subject matter

[Simon]

Threads do tend to meander here, but we try to stick to the point with tech queries.  I guess the post counts bit could be split away in this case.

[Rik]

 

[Sebby]

Yes, of course.  Duh!

Indeed, hence my:

You could always connect by ethernet.

[Simon]

Penny stuck in the slot, Seb. 

[g7pkf]

I could answer this thread with a very good/excellent comment

but i won't.

Ive been working away for 4 days and the wife needs "some" attention.

penny for your thoughts comes to mind....

and i need to sort her iT needs first.

(else no food for me tommorrow)

and yes her laptops dropped off the fuc***g wireless network AGAIN (second time in 3 weeks)

[Sebby]

and yes her laptops dropped off the fuc***g wireless network AGAIN (second time in 3 weeks)

I hate wireless.

[g7pkf]

Have you ever tried to refuse it support from/to your wife?

No DON'T   

yuu will never get any support/S*X again

i promise you if you tell her to always plug it in youll get a whole load of verbal.

Mostly about all the ironing etc she does for you etc etc


I once pointed out she has to plug that in, You would not belive the language!!!

[Sebby]

I can't say I've had that exact issue, Dean.

[Rik]

Give it time, Seb.

[Steve]

Irons are definitely not "plug and play"

[Rik]

I don't know, Steve. Sue plugs while I play.

[Myst]

Keep on topic now or we will have Simon on again 

[Rik]

He's good on the spoons, I'm told.

[Simon]

[Myst]

Some folk need to get outside more 

[Rik]

We know.

[g7pkf]

Why?

It's cold out there.

Much rather be infront of my lovely warm open fire

[Rik]

Or, in my case, monitor.

[Simon]

Just to update, I fitted the new network card today, and all is up and running.  I connected the router by ethernet to copy the WPA key, then used the Windows network software, as advised, and all was very straightforward.

Thanks for all the advice. 

[Lance]

Great stuff!

[Sebby]

Glad it's now sorted, Simon.

[Rik]

USB dongles are a pain.

[Simon]

They are when they don't work!

[Steve]

Never sat on one yet

[Simon]

I wanted to stand on this one, but I wasn't allowed. 

[Rik]

It depends which way it's pointing, of course.

[Sebby]