another internet question: Mac(s) in house get wireless signal, PC doesn't

[villager]

In a nutshell: Housemate has a desktop Mac, running OS 10.4, along with a DSL from AT&T

I bought an Airlink wireless router to hook up to the DSL, and we have a signal throughout the house.

My old Mac iBook (from the G3 era) seems to get the signal no matter what.

My newer IBM T40, with XP, does not. Or rather, it does sometimes, and when I reboot various elements -- computer, router, modem --
the signal comes back on. For awhile. Then goes out.

Seeming not to affect the Mac(s).

And note, the PC doesn't have this problem anywhere outside the house.

I can't figure out where the glitch is! Any thoughts?

thanks!

[Sentath]

1. Ooog

ohkay, this is just me talking through my hat, you understand? But, it sounds like a slight protocol mismatch between the older laptop and the newer wireless router causing eventual hardware level lockup.

Can you get a fresh driver for it?

[DaveJ]

2. This may not help much...

I have a USB wireless network thumb-card for just such an occasion. I've had connectivity issues every now and then on different laptops and PC's, and when it seemed like the card was dead, after using a different network card for a few days the problem seemed to fix itself.

[villager]

3. thanks, folks! Though now I'm gonna have to look up "thumb card..."

...though I assume its one of those USB "antenna" plug ins?

[DaveJ]

4. Here's one...

I thought they were a little more common, but I had trouble Googling for one. Here is one example:



http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_USA&cid=5&scid=117&pid=1636

[villager]

6. Thanks!

n/t

[madokie]

16. I have a notebook with a pcmcia card and I'm wondering if I could use one of these

little dudes with a parabolic antenna of my own making it give me more range. My question is can I plug one of these into the laptop even though I have a pcmcia card installed in it, I know I can plug it in but will it work? most times the signal is ok, like 2 ro 3 bars out of a max of 5 but oftentimes it drops to nothing. I have already bought a high gain antenna and have it mounnted in a parabolic antenna on my router and due to that I have the signal I get now, before the high gain antenna and the homemade parabolic antenna I couldn't get a signal at all. Anyways if you get a chance or anyone else for that matter, to give me some pointers I will be forever indebted.

[Gore1FL]

17. Those seem to work OK

but I am not sure you'd be better off with one.

Did you use the windsurfer template with cardboard stock and foil? The dimensions are pretty decent on that.

You might try dd-wrt on your router. You can up the transmit power using that firmware (if your router is supported) -- just make sure you follow the instructions exactly to avoid turning your router into a high-tech brick.

Yo can buy a repeater as well. It slows down the connection a bit because it has to receive and re-transmit in both directions, but they can be effective--especially if all you are using is the internet Belkin makes one you can get from amazon for under $40. They can be hard to configure--supposedly, but I had no problem once I decided not to follow the directions.

You might also want to see if there is a setting in the driver (under device manager, and properties of your PCMCIA card) that allows you to up your transmit power.

[CK_John]

5. Does the Mac see the PC. If not, the PC may not be transmitting, check

network setting. Also check connection settings in IE internet options (Lan settings).

[villager]

7. I'm guessing it sporadically does not...

What would I look for in the LAN settings in IE?

Last times I checked, I didn't see anything I could correct or alter there...

[CK_John]

8. Automatic detect network vs proxy setting. Setting in IE affect how other browsers see the network.

In Firefox you have in tools->options->advanced->network you have a connection tab for setting, if these conflict with IE they can cause intermittent problems.

[villager]

9. thanks again -- hence, neither will work... What if I delete IE?

...out of curiosity...

But I will check the settin's...

[CK_John]

10. If you add/remove IE7 it will roll back to IE6, but that is taking a big security risk.

Also look at all setting and firewall options at ControlPanel-network connection then right click Lan select properities.

[villager]

11. Been to that screen before... what am I looking for when I get there...

Also, the machine has an older version of IE -- not the tabbed latest. While I'll stick with Firefox, is there any benefit to downloading a newer IE and keeping it parked on the machine?

[CK_John]

12. Yes, even if you don't use it a lot security software is added to the system. Also

I am not sure if we are talking about a PC or a laptop. If it is a PC are we talking about a PCI card or a laptop with a built in wireless or a laptop with a PCMCIA card.

If it is the laptop it could be heat problems, or radio switched to off.

Also the Mac is probably the dsl administrator and may be setup as an open wireless or a WEP or WPA system, which your system is not matching.

The Mac system may need to add your IP to a list of acceptable systems.

Another area is the dsl provider, we do not have ATT but some dsl providers have different fees for x num of systems addresses on the link.

Without looking at your Mac administration software and your wireless software, I can only point you in a direction to check.

First step: Insure the location of the problem.(Mac or LT). Suggest you take the laptop to a known hotspot(public library or cafe with open wireless) and see if your LT can connect. If everything is ok, then the Mac is the problem.

[villager]

13. The PC laptop connects everywhere else!

But I haven't traced the issue in the Mac yet...

Thanks much for your help!

[CK_John]

14. Ok, good hunting. n/t

[Gore1FL]

15. I had a problem with my linksys wusb54gs

I updated to the release candidate for XP servicepack 3, and the problem is now fixed.