Netgear Wireless connection problem

[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?