Wireless Connection Problem

[bornslippy]

Hello, I'm trying to set up my parent's laptop to access the internet from the other side of the house to the router. The belkin 54G router is connected to NTL, and the main pc connects to the router via ethernet cable. All works fine. The laptop used to connect wirelessly without a problem from where it was situated (about 10-15 metres from the router) up until a few weeks ago.

Anyway, I had a connection last night. Then I tried to activate the security settings and messed something up. I can connect the laptop wirelessly to the existing network (unsecured) when I'm in the same room or not so far away from the router. Back in the old room, however, it only picks up a secured network connection (which is the one I made secure) and not the unsecured one. It asks for a192 key, which I enter - then it just says acquiring network address for ages, and then finally "limited or no connectivity" despite saying it is connected to the network (I think it is acquiring a private ip address, and won't repair either). It doesn't seem to be really connected either, because I cannot do anything when it is connected to the secured network - regardless of whether the laptop is near the router or not.

In one way, it seems like a simple case of signal strength but that doesn't really explain why it worked fine before. Any ideas about how to correct this issue?

Thanks

Bornslippy

 

[bornslippy]

Sort of, both networks I'm pretty sure belong to the same router - but I don't understand why. As I said, I tried to setup security via the web browser and I think I created a new connection (the secured one which doesn't work).

When I access the router with the web browser from the pc, the SSID is the belkinxxxxA and unsecured. I can connect to but cannot access the router with the secured network, which has the same router name without the xxxxs.

The current wireless setup on the router (unsecured network) is: channel 6, ssid belkinxxxxA, Wireless Mode 54G auto, Broadcase SSID is on, Protected Mode is off, Turbo Mode is framebursting. WME support and No Ack are both off. With this network, the laptop mac address is seen and allowed access. If I go to the DHCP client list, both computers are connected to the network.

This is how it's configured, but I still can't get wireless access unless the laptop is very close to the router.

So you have an unsecured network in the room and a secured one outside the room? Sounds like there is a second wireless system near you.

Login to your router from the PC and configure the wireless setup again. Make sure you get the SSID name correct and also the WEP/WPA correct. If MAC Address filtering is on, make sure thastthe laptop MAC address is in the list and allowed access.