The setup: I have a wireless router (linksys, B-wireless). My laptop is an IBM running WinXP with a wireless card that'll pick up B or G. If you need more specs on either the router or laptop, let me know. Spyware free and virus free. The problem: I boot up my laptop, but it won't pick up my network right away (the SSID doesn't show up under available networks). It will connect to other networks (which I'm assuming are broadcasted by my neighbors). After a while it eventually does find mine, but it takes a while. The question: Does anyone know why it does this, or know what I can do to fix this?
Umm.......What do i look like?....i usually break these things we call computers
No bus seriously...i use the same wireless hook up for this computer...its custom made however...and mine works fine..idk...maybe it just takes a while longer to get a signal to it
well, what I would do is attempt to throttle your wireless adapter back to the B range. Probably the card is trying to connect at G speeds and can't do it. To attempt this, enter your device manager (right click my computer, properties, click hardware tab, click device manager button). In here, expand the heading network adapters, right click on your wireless adapter, and click properties. In the new window, under the advanced tab (if you have that option) you can configure some stuff regarding your wireless cards speed and power. If you can manually turn the Rate down (from 54 mbps to say 22 mbps), or set the compatability mode to B instead of G or B&G. Also, you may want to take a look at your IBM software on your system. Some come with the Access IBM connection software which could be mokeying with your system. Check that to make sure it's configured properly. Also, where is your system in relation to your access point? Maybe there is a lot of interference affecting your set up. Let me know if this helps. If it doesn't, let me know and I'll see if I can't find anything model specific to your comptuer.
(Saying this informatively not snobbishly: This is my 3rd year working in IT, so you don't gotta give me step by step directions on where to access things like the device manager, heh.) I really appreciate your help man. I looked at the options, but I don't know if I want to change those, cause when I go back to school in January, it'll be back to using G. As for the location of the router in relation to my computer, it doesn't make a difference where I bring my computer in the house, it's pretty much the same. Once it finds it though, it's connected at full strength and speed, so that why I don't think there's interference.
Actually, on B/G wireless card you can't tell the card to use B or G, at least on Linksys and Intel wi-fi cards. It's completely auto-negotiate. I'd say just set a profile for your AP manually and tell it to always connect to it. Even though you can't pick it up in the list of available networks you should be able to connect before the site-survey can pick up the AP.
Unfortunately, not knowing your background, I have to assume that you don't know squat about your computer. Having done this for 6 years, I've taken to assuming that the end user doesn't know whats what until they tell me they do. Something to think about might be updating the firmware of your wireless router, updating your wireless drivers, and perhaps doing some research to see if your brand of internal wireless doesn't like linksys wireless routers. I've had quite a few wireless adapters come through my office door that didn't like to work with our access points. Perhaps your are in a similar boat. Not being able to actually sit at the machine, I can't do much more than speculate. Take it easy.
You can tell it to use B, G, or both. I just checked it myself and saw the option. It's an Intel card. I have a profile for it, I'll check to see if I can force that one to run (it may have been using my school's profile at first, then not finding it just searching for any network). Thanks.
Yea, I know. I've had to deal with some people who I'm surprised were able to turn their machines on. I updated the firmware in late October, but I'll do it again and see how it goes. I almost always keep my software up-to-date, but I'll check on that too and let you know. Thanks.
The first thing I would think is that for some reason the WiFi router isn't sending out the beacon at regular intervals. That can be easily fixed via the http interface. But that's not normal.
Thanks to Scragman and MrEvil. My computer has connected normally the past 2 boot-ups, so I'm crossing my fingers hoping it's fixed. I re-activated my profile for my home ssid and I updated my IBM software (there was something in there about networking, though I don't think there was anything for the driver specificially).
