New wireless N card doesn't show any networks??

peanutismint · 11 Apr 2011 at 13:24

I've recently upgraded to Windows 7 and found that my old wireless network card was no longer supported. I've just bought an (admittedly cheap!) mini PCI-e wireless N card to replace it but after installing, it doesn't seem to be able to find any wireless networks?

I let Windows 7 install the default drivers and it said it was successful, but when I click to show wireless networks none are listed. I then went back and installed the Ralink driver and software that came with the card to see if that was the issue, but no networks were found in the Ralink config program either....

Any ideas? Dodgy card? Should be easy to get a refund/replacement if so... (should have bought from OcUK!!

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pcAnywhere · 11 Apr 2011 at 13:31

I assume you've turned on the routers "Broadcast SSID" thingy

peanutismint · 11 Apr 2011 at 13:44

Yeah, several networks show up on my Mac and other machines; it's just this one... I guess it could be the card, unless there's something I'm missing?? Device manager says it's all fine; have tried uninstalling/reinstalling the card/drivers and using Windows/Ralink drivers.....weird!

Buchanan0204 · 11 Apr 2011 at 14:05

Connected the antenna to it?

memyselfandi · 11 Apr 2011 at 14:08

The wireless access point router isn't set to use MAC address filtering is it?

peanutismint · 11 Apr 2011 at 14:26

Buchanan0204 said:
Connected the antenna to it?

Yep, both!

memyselfandi said:
The wireless access point router isn't set to use MAC address filtering is it?

Nope; we used to use MAC filtering but had so many friends coming over wanting to connect various devices it got tiresome so just WEP and password now! (total nerd house!

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Buchanan0204 · 11 Apr 2011 at 14:29

peanutismint said:
Yep, both!

Nope; we used to use MAC filtering but had so many friends coming over wanting to connect various devices it got tiresome so just WEP and password now! (total nerd house! )

Change that to WPA2 or WPA. WEP is *&@"

1. is it within reasonable range, can you move it closer to check?
2. Does it find any network, not just yours?
3. Try setting up a manual profile, input your SSID and encryption key. Save it. See if it connects.

peanutismint · 11 Apr 2011 at 14:32

Oh sorry, I meant to say WPA2 - all these different standards get confusing!

It's at the same range as my macbook, which has full signal; it doesn't find any networks - will try inputting a manual profile but can't understand what the problem would be? Just Win 7 being picky??

Also, I lol'd at your sig Buchanan0204

edscdk · 11 Apr 2011 at 14:35

sit next to the router does it get a signal?

what channel is your wireless on? if its over 12 change it to something lower

peanutismint · 11 Apr 2011 at 19:29

Nope - absolutely no signal. In the Ralink software I can turn the 'radio' on and off, but no amount of this seems to work.....

*UPDATE*

a few hours after changing my wifi channel to '1' it magically popped up on my machine, except the password doesn't seem to work, despite me being 100% sure it's correct - I know this sometimes happens when the signal isn't quite strong enough.... might try experimenting with different radio channels.....

nilrem · 11 Apr 2011 at 19:34

Is it configured to 'N' only , if so and there aren't any 'N' networks in range then you won't pick up any networks, as it's only scanning for 'N'.

peanutismint · 12 Apr 2011 at 11:44

I don't think so, but even if it was, my router is setup to only broadcast an N signal so that wouldn't be a problem.... the network did show up, temporarily (for like a split second) so I know it's there, it just doesn't seem to want to see it permanently....