Home wifi fine for some devices not others - Help appreciated

Gregster6

Gregster6

Gregster6

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Joined
25 Sep 2006
Posts
136
Team,

I'd be grateful if anyone can give me ideas to fix a wifi-related issue I have.

Short version: Home wireless network works fine for some devices but not for others...how to sort it out.

Fuller version: For as long as I can remember my iphone 3gs has struggled to connect to our home wireless network. It doesn't seem to have the problem on other wireless networks elsewhere. Because my home browsing is mainly done on my laptop I've not sought to fix the issue.

What is interesting (and perhaps relevant) is that (1) the home wifi is shown on the iphone as being available and having a good signal and (2) is capable of supporting the first google search you try and do, but then it invariably gets bogged down opening the first page you attempt to link to subsequently.

Now my ageing Sony laptop (6 years old) is on its way out and I've just bought a shiny new Samsung laptop. Horror of horrors! I'm getting exactly the same bloody thing. So:
- Great signal strength
- password entered fine and network joined
- not able to browse the web
- win 7 networking diagnostic cannot diagnose error
- the little network diagram in network centre shows a red cross between router and internet for new laptop when old laptop is connected fine and steaming away.

Has anyone else encountered this kind of thing and what should I try to fix it?

Broadband provider: Talk-Talk
Router: D-Link DSL-2780 Broadband Wireless N ADSL2+ Router

Thanks

Greg
 
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Is the routers 'idle time out' set to 0 (always on)? I know on older D-link models that a wireless connection wouldn't take the router out of idle mode so the connection would remain down. Might not be your problem but worth a try.
 
I'm not 100% sure on the firmware of your model and it is a talktalk only one so there isn't a manual for download from dlink. On the older models it is on the first page you see under ADSL setup. It says 'Idle Time Out :' you then put '0' as the value which means it never goes into idle.
 
Thanks again for the suggestion...have found the "always on" option and have enabled it. Seems to have improved things somewhat for the iphone but not the new laptop.

After a fun 45mins on the phone to Talk Talk tech support we have tried:
- blow-by-blow review of router settings
- review of basic wireless network settings on the PC
- remove and recreate wireless network connection on new PC
- remote reboot of the router and reset to default settings

Talk Talk agent's conclusion (which is frustrating but may be correct I guess) is that its out of their court and that I should pick up with Samsung tech support.

One thing I did check is the version of the wireless driver on the laptop. I compared it with the current version listed on the Samsung support site and it is current.

PC model is Samsung 9 series laptop NP900X3B. Been around for a few months in UK I think.

What would you do now in my shoes? The options I can think of are:
- try at another wireless network location
- get on the blower to Samsung tech support (closed Sun & bank hol Mon I think)
 
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What encryption model are you using, I know some devices struggle with the highest method. Does it improve if you drop down to a less agressively encrypted method?
 
Team,

Just tried the new laptop at a friend's house and the wifi works fine. They've got BT black upright crescent-shaped router (Home Hub I think).

2 more networks to try this week, London flat (BT Hub) and office unsecured wifi.

Encryption on my home wifi (which doesn't work) and the BT Home Hub I just tried (which does work) are both WPA2-personal.

So I'm happy that the wifi on the laptop actually works but am a bit puzzled as to where I need to be looking to get this sorted.

If the wifi works in London next week at flat and at work then I'll be back to thinking that its a Talk Talk router setting issue rather than a pc issue (where the Talk Talk service agent was trying to "drop me off" this morning).

Any thoughts?
 
Make sure you're using WPA2-PSK AES only in the router, not some mixed mode WPA2/WPA rubbish. Also switch off WPS, then retry.

If you still have issues post the make/model of your wireless card, you can grab this from device manager.
 
Ok Here are results of the encryption changes as per Rabtech's post


Trial 1: Change Security and Cipher settings as per Rabtech's post above

-----------Security------Cipher type--WPA type
Original:----WPA/WPA2---Both---------PSK string--------> OUTCOME: No change / no connect
Change to:-WPA2--------AES----------PSK string


Trial 2: Turn off security WPA2 > None ----> OUTCOME: No change / no connect*

* Although I say "no change" actually now my iphone is connecting and working nicely on WiFi. No change for the new laptop though!

-------------------------------------


I must confess that I'm not sure on wireless card make / model. Device manager includes the following under Network adapters:
- Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6230
- Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
- Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller

Is it one of these or one of the items listed under System Devices?

-------------------------------------

Thanks for the suggestion al4x.

Is the fact that old laptop works fine with the WiFi not an indication that the line is OK?

I'll try it if it makes sense but just wanted to check you'd spotted this in the opening post.

Cheers
 
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When you log into your routers admin page have you tried changing the channel it uses to each one of the available channels and test against each. Just wonder if something or someone elses signal could interfering with it.
 
Gregster6 said:
Thanks for the suggestion al4x.

Is the fact that old laptop works fine with the WiFi not an indication that the line is OK?

I'll try it if it makes sense but just wanted to check you'd spotted this in the opening post.

Cheers
Click to expand...

i read that as it didnt work, small phone screen i blame :)
 
Go here: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=21244&ProdId=3315&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%20%2864-bit%29*&DownloadType=%0ASoftware%20Applications%0A

Select either the top or second one down depending on your OS and download to your desktop. Goto Programs and Features and remove any Intel wireless drivers/Proset and reboot. Install the latest drivers using the file you downloaded to your desktop.

Leave your wifi set to WPA2-PSK AES (and WPS off) as this is currently unhackable. Touchwood, once the latest drivers are installed the laptop will connect and work fine.
 
Thanks Rabtech, will try next weekend when I am back home.

Interestingly, WiFi on the new laptop works fine in London flat too.

Cheers
 
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