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I figure most of you guys are computer guru/tech savvy.
Purchased my first go at high speed internet, just 256KB but it beats 44kb dialup.

Now my problem. I purchased a linksys G wireless and an adapter for my son's computer upstairs. He get's on and stays on fine.

Secondly, my wife's new Inspiron laptop came with wireless g adapter built in. It repeatedly hooks and refuses to hook up. So it's the problem child of this setup.

The Wireless Linksys required a firmware update and it began working better, but the wife's laptop is still intermittent. Suggestions?

My shop is only thirty feet from the house but fifty feet from the laptop to the wireless Router, you guessed it, no signal.

Should I take it all back to Staples and upgrade to the wireless N that is now out. Says it has seven transmit and receive paths and will go the distance.

I'm all ears. Please ask me a question. This is totally frustrating to be near but not quite there. Thanks in advance. James

Try downloading Boingo.

I'm running small wireless networks at home and at work. I had trouble with my inspiron on both of them. Installed boingo and not had problems since.

My house has aluminum siding which makes a great RF shield.
No signal outdoors for me either except for near windows and doors.
My wireless system works fine, but only indoors. I wish that I could offer more info, but my son is the local guhru, and he is out with his friends, and probably will not be home 'til late.

Al

Hmmm, okay, I'll check out Boingo.
Thanks for the advice, no steel siding for me.
And, N, stands for Nice.

Right now G, stands for don't Go far!

At least I can now load a page with pics without waiting for each to load as I watch.....

Still open to suggestions. N is expensiveR!

The Router is Linksys and it came with a searching type software called PCConnect. We can run it and it will usually but not always connect. I wonder if it's the other computers using up resources that keeps the Dell Inspiron from connecting reliably?

I'm frustrated enough to go spend more money but don't relish the idea. I guess I'll have to to get my shop to ever have a computer hooked up on the net. Maybe I just don't need a computer down there anyway?

My experience suggests that the inspiron isn't very good at seeing wireless networks, let alone connecting to wireless networks. The hardware works, but you need better software.

Boingo is free so you shouldn't need to spend more cash. I can easily find all networks in the local area using it, I can even connect to one in the Nortel Networks building next door to work. It's so easy to use I've now got all the computers in the wireless network at work using it 'cause I got sick of people asking me for help to get connected - not my job but nobody else knew how to make it work.PaulB39043.9084606481

Thanks Paul, the whole thing seems like a crap shoot. I don't know how any of it works.

I did go to the site and it is free and has some nice testimonials.

I quit pulling out my hair, it's all gone, I'm working on my biting my nails now....

Aha, searching Dell Support for any available downloads for the wireless G adapter it had emblazoned in red print, Critical UPdate necessary immediately.

So, it's over there downloading, kind of hard to believe it will stay hooked up wireless long enough to complete the Dell wireless update, we'll see.

Thanks. Reading feedback on the Linksys it's pretty good, but the older version 5 and earlier seemed to be more reliable. I'll let you guys know how this comes out, and thanks for all the THINKING comments. Sometimes you come to the end of yourself and need a jumpstart. Many thanks, James

Three steps to high speed heaven, well four...

1. Throw away a bad modem and buy another new one.
2. Update firmware on all Linksys Wireless Routers, if there is one.
3. Check to see if Dell shipped you a computer made in Malaysia, yes, then check to see if there are driver updates for their wireless G product onboard your asian computer, yes. Download them.
4. Ask your acquaintances at the OLF, they know everything and will keep suggesting stuff until it's fixed......

And, Hesh, thank you for your 'extra mile' PM's, I think I'll print out your picture and carry it in my wallet to show folks what an OLF brother looks like...

Well, I'm in the shop surrounded by glory...

I borrowed my wife's laptop and it's working...

IN MY SHOP. Here it is Thanksgiving, 12:24 a.m.

I guess you can hear the quiver of excitement in my voice. You know the feeling, you ventured out on the ice and it held.... now I'm gonna have some fun.

Thanks everyone, success is sweet. Could you believe that guitar Robbie O'brien showed this week, oh my goodness, a fliptop..... James

Well, I always figured you'd get more power if you plugged it in, but I guess wireless (~ cordless?) routers have their place....
wait...
oh...
You are talking about wireless ROUTERS, not router routers.   

All the elation turned to major disgust this afternoon. The Router refused to hook up to anything, even the internet.

Removed the wireless Router, linksys, G, 54MBPS, and the modem hooked right up. So firmware update didn't help after all.

The Inspiron Dell didn't have a chance to hook on today, so at least I can't fault that. I think it's time to try another brand. Any suggestions? 14 day refund at Staples here I come.

Thanks to all who tried to help me. Don't mind that "whumping" sound it's just my head hitting the wall.   

Netgear stuff is pretty good. It's all I've used though, so my experience is a bit limited as far as different brands are concerned.

Okay, I purchased a Motorola Surfboard and am returning a Gambit no-name Suddenlink pawned off on me. They may be fine but the Surfboard just caught my eye. Same money.

Then, I returned all the Linksys stuff, Staples took it with a smile. I like it when they don't whimper.

I purchased a Netgear 108 Mbps, WGT64 Super G. They hawk a 400 feet range, we'll see about that. The linksys was having trouble doing 50 feet to the shop.

Now, get this, the Netgear was $76 after rebates including one USB 108 MBPS 2.0 wireless adapter. I considered the N but it was still pricey 129 plus 59 for an adapter for the upstairs desktop.

I'll report my success, shoule there be any. I didn't try Boingo because I thought I had it with all the firmware driver upgrades. Football on in the background, LSU is threatening the Hogs....

[QUOTE=James Neunder] I figure most of you guys are computer guru/tech savvy.
Purchased my first go at high speed internet, just 256KB but it beats 44kb dialup.

Now my problem. I purchased a linksys G wireless and an adapter for my son's computer upstairs. He get's on and stays on fine.

Secondly, my wife's new Inspiron laptop came with wireless g adapter built in. It repeatedly hooks and refuses to hook up. So it's the problem child of this setup.

The Wireless Linksys required a firmware update and it began working better, but the wife's laptop is still intermittent. Suggestions?

My shop is only thirty feet from the house but fifty feet from the laptop to the wireless Router, you guessed it, no signal.

Should I take it all back to Staples and upgrade to the wireless N that is now out. Says it has seven transmit and receive paths and will go the distance.

[/QUOTE]

I've got a Linksys Wireless-G router, and found that the range is totally crap. My PC is a Dell Dimension, and it's a pretty stable unit.

The router is in the dining room (where the telephone socket is) and one computer is connected via Ethernet, my computer is wireless. The Ethernet cable runs through a hole in the wall to the living room, to our main PC. Connection problems are nill with the Ethernet connected PC, with exception to when we have to reboot or rather reset the factory setting and reconfigure to PPPoA to get a new IP addy.

However with my PC, I am only ten feet away from the router with my USB wireless adapter and the signal isn't brilliant, at all. Sometimes the signal strength is poor, then I have to move the adapter around!

Evertime I boot up my PC, I have to unplug the wireless adapter and reconnect it to get a connection.

There are also heat generation problems; the adapter gets mighty hot, which is part of the design, I recommend you check your son's adapter is in a place where it is getting adequate ventilation.

I recommend you telephone the helpline, they are incredibly helpful; I had to telephone them a few times myself.

Otherwise go get a refund.



Sam Price39045.7540162037

Thanks Sam. It's great when you know folks who have gone down these dark alleys before you. I kind of feel like a cave man who lucked out and got a nearby lightning strike on a bush and enjoyed fire for a few days.

Then the fire went out....

I took back all the Linksys modules and bought 108mbps Netgear with a wireless adapter for my son's computer.

I'm headed up there now to boot his computer and install the adapter, then on to the Dell Inspiron Notebook....

I swapped out the isp supplied Gambit modem for a Motorola Surfboard. I got tickled when I turned over the Motorola to see made in China. But it works and had some cool cd software to show any dummy (me) how to hook it up. Yeah, I got it wrong and had to switch some wires. I had them right on the other modem.....

I will say this, Netgear has a major cool installation cd and it's online and surfing through the router at least. Now for the wireless... It does have WPA encryption...

Thanks folks, James

Hey everyone, I got it all finished. We are now wireless and on high speed for the first time.

My son's desktop has a Netgear 108Mbps USB adapter.
My computer is hooked through the Ethernet connection on the Netgear 108 Mbps Router.
My wife's new Dell Inspiron uses Dell's standard G internal adapter to connect.

All are working flawlessly now, but the bad modem, and the bum Linksys Router, really threw me for a loop. What I don't understand is why they get such good ratings.

The Motorola Surfboard Modem is great as is the NetGear Router and Wireless. I really liked the setup software that came with the Motorola and the Netgear.

Best regards to all of you who helped, James

James,

I went through a couple of Linksys routers before I finally gave up on them. The first one's WAN (Internet) port just up and quit one day, and they both would frequently go into "fault" mode, requiring that they be reset -- like several times a week. I finally switched to a Netgear wireless, and haven't looked back. That was a couple years ago. I'm typing this from my laptop out in the shop, and no worries.

Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live

Thanks Michael, that's very reassuring. I know Linksys had great routers at one time, but it's not the one I had either. I had version six and someone told me to go five or older. And if that wasn't bad enough, I had to update the firmware to get it to work properly.

When I purchased the Netgear, my installation went fairly smoothly, loved the installation cd. Foolproof, no, not when I'm at the helm. I got stumped here and there, but it all worked in the end and I'm happy with the product.

Another product I'm very happy with is the Motorola Surfboard from WalMart. It cost a bit more ten bucks more than a cheaper modem they had, but it's great and it too had a great cd software.

Hesh may have been right about the N series of wireless, while my distance is good, it could be better. I took the linksys back and doubled my area and speed for less money with the netgear 108 super G.

I should have tried the MIMO wireless, it has a second antennae and seven inputs and outputs, better technology I heard, more money of course. I'm happy with my "affordable" system for now. When I upgrade to 4 or 9 MBPS maybe I'll update the wireless too?

The dell laptop driver updated and hasn't had any issues, hooks up great to the Netgear. I too can tote it to my shop and surf on.

Back to the lacquer tomorrow.