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.