Full signal strength but can't get online

[49erinnc]

I have stressed this one to death and just can't figure it out...

Installed a WRT54G at my girlfriend's and we have no problems using high speed when her laptop is connected via ethernet. However, when you unplug the ethernet, the signal meter in her system tray reads she's connected to her access point/SSID and the signal strength is excellent. However, she cannot get online at all. If she connects to her neighbor's access point, she can get online wirelessly. This is a problem on both of her laptops.

I took my laptop over there last night, saw her access point, connected, entered her passphrase and not a single problem. Connected to her access point, full strength, could get online and never lost a connection. But with her two laptops, you just can't get online.

Both computers are DELL laptops, running Windows XP and have built-in wireless. I don't know if there is a conflict with two wireless devices or what the deal is. I've even compared settings to the ones on my laptop and things seem to be correct. But she just flat out can't get online, despite it showing a full signal.

All firewalls have been disabled so I don't think it's an issue with that.

Any ideas. I'm at work so I can't troubleshoot on the spot but hopefully someone knows what's going on. Thanks.

 

[Joemonkey]

Have you tried updating the drivers on the two laptops? What security and encryption methods are you using? If you turn off all security/encryption can the laptops connect?

 

[whalen]

Sounds like a security setting issue to me too.....if her laptops are old they might not support WPA with the drivers/software currently installed....(if you are using WPA). YOu could try to disable security and connect, or use WEP if you are currently using WPA.

 

[JackMDS]

The content of these pages includes info that might help in solving basic problems with Wireless Connection.

http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.htm

Wireless - Basic Configuration.

Wireless Security for the Home User.

:sun:

 

[spidey07]

yep, sounds like a bad key or disagreement on security. many cards/drivers don't support a "passphrase" and require the actual hex key.

What security settings are being used?

 

[ITJunkie]

Are you using any MAC address filtering on the router?

 

[49erinnc]

Using 128 bit WEP encryption, created with pass phrase. One of her laptops is a brand new XPS M140. The other is another Dell but a few years older. Both have internal wireless. What's odd is that my laptop is a beater, yet I had no problem at all connecting to her access point.

I also have trouble even seeing the available networks when using her laptops, unless I check the box for letting windows manage, under the network properties. But I know that on my laptop, that box isn't checked and I can clearly see her access point and several others.

I just think it's strange that she can connect to neighboring signals and I have no problem connecting to hers. But with her two laptops, she cannot get online via her access point even though it's showing an excellent signal strength.

I haven't tried disabling all encryption. I figured that if I could get on with my laptop, that this would be irrelevant. We've called Dell which after 30 minutes, lead us to calling her ISP but they were of no help either.

Don't think I'm using any MAC address filtering unless it did that with the default router settings because I wouldn't have manually enabled/manipulated that.

She's bringing them over to my house tonight because I want to see if I can get online through my access point with her laptops. If so, then that tells me the problem is definitely related to her router and not her PC. But if that's the case, then I shouldn't have been able to log on with my laptop at her place.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
The content of these pages includes info that might help in solving basic problems with Wireless Connection.

http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.htm

Wireless - Basic Configuration.

Wireless Security for the Home User.

:sun:

After reading through those links, I'm inclined to believe there is a conflict between Windows Zero Configuration and her laptop's built-in wireless service. I know for a fact that WZC was operating. I stopped it at one point but I didn't really explore the Dell service to know if it was functioning.

Also, when I pull up her Network Status, I see a connection for her LAN, one for her wireless and then one for a 1394 Connection?? I'm guessing from memory on that "1394" number but it's a four digit number similar to that and it's always enabled/connected. I wasn't even sure what that connection was referring to. On my laptop, I only have my LAN and wireless.

 

[spidey07]

you could try updating the drivers on her client and making sure you copy/paste the wep key in hex, not the passphrase.

you can also check if you have an IP address by opening a command window and typing "ipconfig"

But most times if you don't get an IP, but you associate to the AP something isn't correct with security/encryption.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: spidey07
you could try updating the drivers on her client and making sure you copy/paste the wep key in hex, not the passphrase.

you can also check if you have an IP address by opening a command window and typing "ipconfig"

But most times if you don't get an IP, but you associate to the AP something isn't correct with security/encryption.

Actually, when we clicked on one of the options for repairing the connection, we got a message saying something to the extent of "cannot obtain IP address" or "IP address not recognized." I can't recall the exact wording but I definitely remember getting a similar message at one point during troubleshooting.

 

[49erinnc]

Well, I now have both of her laptops at MY house and I had absolutely zero problems getting online. Saw my SSID when viewing available networks, clicked to configure, entered my hex code and connected with no issues.

I want to attribute her problem at home to her router/router settings but I just don't understand how I was able to connect/get online with my laptop at her place but not with her two laptops. But yet I can get online at my house with both of her laptops. Odd...

 

[RebateMonger]

Have you tried calling Linksys yet? If the router is new, they have free technical support.

 

[Eltano1]

That happened to me before. What I did was to disable and enable the wireless connection, on Network Connection, also let Windows manage your wireless connection. If that does not work, reset the router and start from scratch.

Eltano

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: Eltano1
That happened to me before. What I did was to disable and enable the wireless connection, on Network Connection, also let Windows manage your wireless connection. If that does not work, reset the router and start from scratch.

Eltano

Yeah, I'm on IM right now having her disable security to see if that works. As for Windows, should WZC (Windows Zero Configuration) be "stopped" or should that always be running/automatic?

Edit: WZC is running on my laptop and I never have any issues with wireless. Also, I do not have "Use windows to configure my wireless network options" checked on my laptop either. Nor was it checked on either of hers when she was able to connect at my house.

 

[49erinnc]

Okay...after walking her through it, she is now able to connect as long as her encryption is disabled. As someone here suggested, I think I'll try to use the hex code instead of the passphrase the next time I'm over there. I think that may have been an issue.

Also, I have no idea why she is seeing a "1394" connection under her Network Connections. She has her "LAN" her "Wireless" and then "1394." When 1394 was enabled, she was unable to get online with her wireless connection. She disabled it and then got online but we're not sure what exactly it is? Any ideas?

Edit: NM...Google is my friend. Looks like the 1394 is just a firewire network with XP. We're just leaving it disabled which doesn't seem to create any conflicts.